Getting Here

Come on over

By air and water, getting to Vancouver Island is part of the adventure

Sail with your vehicle, as a passenger aboard a tour bus or as a foot traveller via full-service ferry systems operating from the B.C. mainland and Washington State. Victoria is 107 kilometres (76 miles) southwest of Vancouver. The trip by car and ferry, or bus and ferry, takes about two hours each way from terminals on the Lower Mainland to Nanaimo and Greater VIctoria.

By air, the trip is a 35 minute fl ight.

Fly into international and regional airports at Victoria, Nanaimo and Comox by commercial airliners either direct from the Prairie provinces and Toronto or on a connecting fl ight from Vancouver or Seattle. Or you can make the trip in memorable style aboard a Harbour Air fl oatplane or a Helijet helicopter soaring across the Salish Sea and Puget Sound.

Water aerodromes with fl oat-plane scheduled service are located in Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, Campbell River, Port Alberni and Tofi no. Harbour Air fl ies into several locations around the Island. You can board at Harbour Air’s spectacular terminal in the Inner Harbour and get just about anywhere aboard the company’s fl eet of Twin Otter aircraft.

B.C. Ferries provides vehicle and passenger ferry service between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. They also provide year-round connections between various Island communities and the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, Haida Gwaii and mainland northern B.C. For comprehensive schedules and how to make reservations, see bcferries.com

HARBOUR AIR SEAPLANES

STAY SAFE, FOLLOW PROVINCIAL GUIDELINES

For British Columbia’s response to COVID-19 and updated rules and restrictions regarding travel, please visit gov.bc.ca

DAILY FLIGHTS FROM CANADIAN AND U.S. AIRPORTS TO:

Victoria (YYJ) Nanaimo (YCD) Comox (YQQ)

SCHEDULED AND CHARTERED CONNECTIONS PROVIDE QUICK ACCESS TO MANY ISLAND COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING:

Duncan (DUQ) Qualicum Beach (XQU) Tofi no/Long Beach (YAZ) Port Alberni (YPB) Campbell River (YBL) Alert Bay (YAL) Port Hardy (YZT)

BC FERRIES VESSEL SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND IN ACTIVE PASS BETWEEN GALIANO AND MAYNE ISLAND.

ADOBE STOCK THE WASHINGTON STATE COHO FERRY READY TO DEPART VICTORIA HARBOR IN THE MORNING.

B.C. FERRIES TERMINALS

SWARTZ BAY, SIDNEY/VICTORIA

For ferry service from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, Vancouver Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island Swartz Bay to Southern Gulf Islands - Mayne, Galiano, Pender, and Saturna Islands.

DEPARTURE BAY, NANAIMO

For ferry service from: Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver.

DUKE POINT, NANAIMO

For ferry service from: Duke Point to Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver Campbell River - Quadra Island (Quathiaski Cove) Salt Spring Island (Vesuvius Bay) - Crofton Comox - Powell River (Little River-Westview).

WASHINGTON STATE

Ferry connections from Washington State include Black Ball Ferry Line’s MV Coho, connecting Victoria’s Inner Harbour with Port Angeles, and the passenger-only Victoria Clipper which runs to Seattle and back.

Sail a private vessel to the Island and visit many of the communities connected to the 3,340 kilometres of coastline. Moor at a secure port and enjoy a harbourside community or at a private cove to enjoy a secluded beach.

IF YOU GO

COVID 19: Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents are allowed into Canada with proof of two approved vaccine doses at least 15 calendar days before entering the country. For up-to-date regulations, check travel.gc.ca/

For COVID 19 regulations within the province of B.C., see www2.gov.bc.ca

PASSPORTS AND VISAS: Visitors from countries outside of Canada must have a valid passports and, in some cases visas. For the most up to date information, see U.S. Customs and the Canada Border Service Agency websites.

CUSTOMS: People entering Canada must complete a Canada Customs declaration form. You may bring into Canada 40 ounces of liquor, 45 ounces of wine and 288 ounces of beer. You may also bring in up to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes and seven ounces of tobacco. Revenue Canada, Customs and Excise: Victoria downtown branch: 400-1321 Blanshard St. Victoria International Airport: 201-1321 Electra Blvd. Sidney; Canada Customs airport o ce 250-363-6644. For more info, visit cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

CURRENCY: British Columbia uses Canadian currency. Most businesses o er exchange rates for U.S. dollars and there are currency exchange businesses and banks who o er rates on several currencies.

TAXES: A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% and a provincial sales tax of 7% apply to most products and services in the province. There are also additional taxes on short-term accommodation that is applied to the prices of hotels and lodging. B.C. LIQUOR REGULATIONS: The legal age to buy and consume liquor in British Columbia is 19. Two pieces of identifi cation are usually required.

B.C. CANNABIS REGULATIONS: Recreational cannabis use became legal in Canada on Oct. 17, 2017. You must be 19 years or older to buy, use, possess or grow non-medical cannabis in B.C. Non-medical cannabis is sold exclusively at government-run stores, licensed private retailers and the B.C. government’s online store. It is illegal to take cannabis across Canada’s national borders, whether you are entering or leaving Canada.