How to Get to Vancouver Island

I may be a bit biased, but I think Vancouver Island is pretty perfect.

It has everything anyone could ever want.

Whether you want city life or countryside. Mountains or ocean. Surfing or mountain biking or skiing. Caving or floating around in a hot tub boat. It's all here.

But one big (and maybe the only 😉) downside to living here is the fact that it's an island. Which means it's a bit tricky and pricey to get off of.

Unfortunately, there is no bridge or tunnel that connects Vancouver Island to the mainland. So you have to get here by ferry, plane or helicopter.

Ferry

BC Ferries is the major ferry service that runs between the island and the BC mainland.

There are many BC Ferry lines that connect the island and the mainland including the most popular routes between Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (Victoria), Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Duke Point (Nanaimo), Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) and Departure Bay (Nanaimo).

There are many other routes that connect more northern parts of Vancouver Island, as well as the Gulf Islands.

You can walk on or take your car on (for an extra fee).

*Note that there is limited service with these ferry lines. Having a reservation is crucial at this point, especially in the high season.

To find the best route for you, see the schedules, and book a reservation, visit the BC Ferries website: https://www.bcferries.com/

We also have a brand new ferry service that offers a walk-on only, fast ferry transfer between downtown Vancouver and downtown Nanaimo (only 70 minutes!). This is through Hullo Ferry: https://hullo.com/

There are also two ferry services available to get from Washington state to Vancouver Island:

• The Coho Ferry provides daily service between downtown Victoria and Port Angeles.

• Clipper Navigation, a passenger-only catamaran service, from runs between Victoria and Seattle.

Plane

The island has five larger airports that are served by major airlines: Victoria (YYJ), Comox (YQQ), Nanaimo (YCD), Campbell River Airport (YBL) and Port Hardy Airport (YZT).

Or you can take a float plane into Victoria, Maple Bay, Comox, Nanaimo, Tofino or Salt Spring Island with Harbour Air: https://harbourair.com/

Helicopter

If you want to travel in style, you can take a helicopter here! It's a pretty fun and beautiful experience.

Helicopter service goes to Victoria and Nanaimo with Helijet: https://helijet.com/