Transportation

By Sea
Victoria is well-connected to mainland British Columbia and Washington State by vehicle and passenger ferries and high-speed catamarans. Each day, dozens of ferries cross the straits granting breathtaking views of the rocky coastline, forested islands, inlets, and often, marine wildlife. Victoria's arrival points include the Inner Harbour, the Town of Sidney and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal; thirty minutes from downtown Victoria, near Sidney.

B.C. Ferries
(250) 386-3431 or www.bcferries.com
Extensive ferry system linking the Lower Mainland with Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Car ferry service. Hourly sailings in summer months; 7 am - 10 pm, odd hours in the winter months
7 am - 9 pm. Crossing time from Tsawwassen (Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (Victoria) is 1 hour 35 minutes.

Black Ball Transport - M.V. Coho
(250) 386-2202 or www.ferrytovictoria.com ferry service between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria. Four daily sailings May to October.
Two sailings per day March to May and October to November. One per day November to February. Crossing time is 95 minutes.

Victoria Clipper
1-800-888-2535 or www.victoriaclipper.com
Stable, high speed catamaran service. Numerous daily summer sailings between Seattle and Victoria. One daily sailing in winter. Passenger service only. Seattle’s Pier 69 to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Crossing time is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Washington State Ferries
(250) 381-1551 or (250) 656-1831 or www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries
Car ferry service from Anacortes, WA through the San Juan Islands to Sidney, BC (17 miles N.E. of Victoria). One sailing daily, minimum of two during summer. Crossing time is 2-3 hours depending on sailing and route.

Victoria-San Juan Cruises
1-800-443-4552 or www.whales.com
Day cruise from Bellingham, WA to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Tours depart daily May 11 to October 6; one sailing per day. Passenger service only. Crossing time is 3 hours.

The Ferry Traveller - Victoria Express
(250) 361-9144 or www.ferrytravel.com/vexpress.htm
Rapid Transit between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria’s Inner Harbour. May to September; 3 sailings daily.
Passenger service only. Crossing time is 1 hour.

By Air
Located thirty minutes from downtown Victoria and five minutes from Sidney, Victoria International Airport serves daily flights from Vancouver International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma Airport, as well as direct flights from points throughout Canada and the U.S. Regular float plane and helicopter service to downtown Victoria is available from Vancouver and Seattle. Charter flights for sightseeing, wildlife viewing, hiking and fishing excursions, and to more remote Vancouver Island locations are also available.

Air Canada (connector)
1-800-663-3721 or www.aircanada.ca
16 daily flights linking Vancouver and Victoria airports. 3 flights linking Victoria and Seattle Monday to Friday; 2 flights Saturday and 2 flights Sunday. Flight time is 30 minutes.

Helijet Airways
1-800-665-4354 or www.helijet.com
Sikorsky S-76 and S-61 helicopters; twin-engined, 12 and 21 passenger aircraft. 22 flights daily between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver, harbour to harbour. 3 flights daily Victoria to Seattle, Ogden Point to Boeing Field. Flight time is 30 minutes. Service to Abbotsford, Langely and Whistler also available.

Harbour Air
Victoria (250) 385-2203 or www.harbour-air.com
Seaplane service between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver, harbour to harbour.
10 daily flights in high season, 8 in off season. Flight time is 35 minutes.

Horizon Air (Alaska Airlines connector)
1-800-547-9308 or www.horizonairlines.com
7 flights daily between Seattle and Victoria Airports. Flight time is 30 minutes.

Kenmore Air
1-800-543-9595 or www.kenmoreair.com
Seaplane service between Seattle and Victoria, Lake Union to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. 8 flights daily. Flight time is 30 minutes.

North Vancouver Air
1-800-228-6608 or www.northvanair.com
Regularly scheduled flights to Vancouver, Whistler, Tofino, Campbell River and Powell River.

Pacific Coastal
1-800-663-2872 or www.pacific-coastal.com
12 daily flights between Victoria airport and Vancouver airport south terminal. Flight time is 30 minutes.

West Coast Air
1-800-347-2222 or www.westcoastair.com
Seaplane service between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver, harbour to harbour.
10 daily flights in high season, 8 in off season. Flight time is 35 minutes.

WestJet Airlines
1-800-538-5696 or www.westjet.com

By Land
Scheduled motorcoach service is available for travel from Vancouver and Seattle to Victoria, as well as to and from other Vancouver Island destinations. Motorcoach travel off the island involves ferry service. Rail service is offered between Victoria and Courtenay, located 219 kilometres (131 miles) north of Victoria, with several stops along the way. Travel options around Greater Victoria and surrounding areas include taxi and limousine service, airporter bus service and public bus transportation. Car, RV, bicycle, motorcycle and scooter rentals are also offered at various locations in the Victoria area.

To drive:

Airporter Service
(250) 386-2526
Shuttle van that meets all flights at Victoria International Airport and delivers to hotels and bed & breakfasts. Travel time from airport to downtown Victoria is 30 minutes.

Gray Line of Seattle
(250) 384-0233 or (206) 626-6090 or www.victoriatours.com
Departs Seattle in a.m. from several downtown points. Travels to Vancouver to connect with BC Ferries
to Victoria.

Pacific Coach Lines
1-800-661-1725 or www.pacificcoach.com
8 trips per day between Victoria and Vancouver via BC Ferries; 16 trips during summer months. Passengers can also board Pacific Coach Lines while enroute BC Ferries for transportation to downtown Victoria, downtown Vancouver or Vancouver International Airport.

*Current transportation schedules available on the websites noted.

For more information: