Getting to Vancouver Island by Ferry: A Spectacular Approach

Travel Tips from a Local on How to Get to Vancouver Island by Ferry

Are you planning your Vancouver Island getaway? We have insider tips and everything you need to know about getting to Vancouver Island by ferry.

Nestled off the west coast of Canada, our beloved island can be reached by air or sea. Today, we'll set our sights on the enchanting maritime route. Join me as we unravel the many options for ferry travel, promising an unforgettable approach to Vancouver Island.

As a Vancouver Island local, I've travelled on the ferry many (many) times. Use my travel tips below to help you navigate the ferry systems.

This article contains a few affiliate links. This means that if you happen to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

How to Get to Vancouver Island from Vancouver via British Columbia Ferry Services

Whether you come by car, RV or with only a backpack, arriving by ferry is the most popular way to get to Vancouver Island.

BC Ferries is the main connection between Vancouver Island and the mainland (Vancouver). When coming from Vancouver, you have a few options available. West Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay terminal), Tsawwassen terminal, or via the Sunshine Coast (Powell River).

Vessels serving customers on BC Ferries between Vancouver and Vancouver Island offer a wide range of passenger services. Although the mix can vary from ship to ship, you can typically find the following amenities on your trip across the water.

Insider Tip: As tempting as it is to catch up on social media during the crossing, ensure you enjoy the view. It's not uncommon to catch a glimpse of whales, dolphins and/or porpoises en route.

Ferry Amenities

• An all-inclusive buffet (Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay only) offering a wide selection of hot and cold items, a salad bar, a decadent dessert bar and more
• A Self-Serve restaurant offering pre-packaged Bread Garden fare. This includes sandwiches, wraps, sushi and salads.
• There is an on-site White Spot serving hot and cold entrees, burgers, and every kid's favourite—the Pirate Pak.
• Coffee and Snack shop
• Retail Shop

Insider Tip: The food on the ferries is not the same quality as you would expect at a regular restaurant. It's also not cheap! We always try to eat before or after crossing the water.

Ferry Cost

Please visit the BC Ferries Website for current rates. (They are forever changing and sometimes offer specials throughout the year). However, here are a few great tips concerning cost:

• Group rates: Discount rates are available for groups of 10 or more travelling together. This is the case for both walk-on passengers and travellers in one vehicle. To qualify, you must book at least seven days in advance. Not applicable on all routes. You need to call BC Ferries for information: 1-888-223-3779

• Seniors rate: BC Seniors travel free Monday through Thursday, except for holidays. You must present a BC Services Card, a BC Driver's License, a BC Identification Card, or a Birth Certificate. If you present a Birth Certificate, proof of residency in BC is required. The BC Seniors discount applies only to the passenger fare.

Insider Tip: Reserve your ferry! Getting to Vancouver Island by ferry has become increasingly popular. Yes, you pay an extra $20.00, but it's more than worth it, especially in the summer. Trust me, waiting at the terminal for two to three sailings in a hot parking lot is never fun.

Horseshoe Bay Terminal: West Vancouver to Nanaimo

Crossing Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

If you decide to board the ferry in West Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay), you'll land in Nanaimo at the Departure Bay Terminal. Due to location, this is a great choice if you are planning to explore:

• Nanaimo
• Parksville and Qualicum Beach (Oceanside area)
• Tofino and/or Ucluelet
• Comox and/or Courtenay
• Campbell River
• Vancouver Island North (anywhere north of Campbell River)

Horseshoe Bay Amenities

The Horseshoe Bay Terminal has no real amenities to speak of. Unless, of course, vending machine snacks are your thing. With your ticket in hand, however, you can walk over to the shops and restaurants in the bay. There, you will find quite a few food options. You'll need your BC Ferries ticket to re-enter the terminal (so make sure to hang on to it!).

Horseshoe Bay Ferry – Sunshine Coast – Vancouver Island

If you have extra time to explore our beautiful coastline, take the circle route through the Sunshine Coast. It's quite a lot of ferry rides, but if you are up for the adventure, it's totally worth it!

• First, take the quick 40-minute ferry ride from West Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast (Horseshoe Bay to Langdale ferry).
• Leisurely make your way up to Earl's Cove, taking in the sights.
• Then, board the Sechelt to Powell River ferry (Earl's Cove to Saltry Bay). A 50-minute crossing.
• Drive to Powell River (and, of course, spend some time there).
• Once in Powell River, you board another ferry bound for Comox (on Vancouver Island). A 1 hour and 30-minute crossing.
• From there, you have plenty of options. You can head north and see the wonders of Campbell River, Telegraph Cove, or Port McNeil. (To name a few). Or, head south towards Nanaimo and Victoria.
• To complete the circle, board either a Nanaimo to Vancouver ferry or a Victoria to Vancouver ferry.

Vancouver to Vancouver Island: Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal

If you decide to depart from the Tsawwassen terminal, there are two options for a landing destination on Vancouver Island: Victoria (Swartz Bay) and South Nanaimo (Duke Point).

Getting from Vancouver to Victoria

If you plan to tour around Victoria, leaving from Tsawwassen is your best choice. The one-hour and 35-minute route to Victoria is, in my opinion, the most scenic. The passage over the Salish Sea is dotted with several small islands, giving you ample opportunity to glimpse wildlife. So, I advise you to sit back and enjoy your mini cruise!

Getting from Vancouver to Nanaimo

If you hope to explore more of the island along the way, I highly recommend taking the Tsawwassen ferry to Duke Point. This way, you can slowly make your way to Victoria. There is much to see in the small towns between Nanaimo and Victoria.

The Tsawwassen to Duke Point (South Nanaimo) ferry crossing takes 2 hours.

Insider Tip: It's a bit of a longer trip, but it is typically less busy than the ferry arriving in Departure Bay.

Tsawwassen Terminal Amenities

The Tsawwassen Quay Market features a variety of food offerings to tempt your taste buds, including (but not limited to) Starbucks, Sushi, Pizza, Chinese food, BBQ fare, a Salad bar, Sandwiches, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, a bakery, an Ice Cream shop, and more.

There is also a variety of unique merchant stores.

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BC Ferries Insider Tips

Reservations

No matter which BC Ferry you decide on, always make a reservation!

This is especially true if you plan to tour Vancouver Island in the summer. The off-season (late October – early March) sees limited ferry traffic. However, planning ahead is essential if you are hoping for a specific ferry.

On long weekends, waiting for hours is not uncommon for your chance to board the ferry. Those with reservations and assured loading passes will always bump the poor suckers who decided just to take their chances. Trust me when I say it's NOT worth it!!

Even with a reservation, you must arrive at least 30 minutes before boarding. Vancouver traffic can be much like any other big city – hectic at the best of times. So make sure you leave yourself enough time. It's always better to be early than late. (Your reservation is completely voided if you miss your designated ferry time).

Please note that reservations are only necessary for vehicles. Although there are times during the summer when walk-on passengers are turned away due to high volumes, this is not the norm.

Luggage Service

Baggage service is available for walk-on passengers on all major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The maximum weight for each item is 50 lbs. Drop your bags into the baggage handling area, and your luggage will be transported for you, just like on a plane.

Parking

Parking is at a Premium! This point is only relevant if you are walking on the ferry.

Again, especially during the summer, it is not uncommon to discover full terminal parking lots. (This is especially true for the Horseshoe Bay terminal). Driving onto the ferry is expensive, so many people decide to walk on. However, this causes major parking lot issues (that BC Ferries has yet to address).

Being dropped off by a friend, cab, or bus is always the best option.

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Getting to Vancouver Island via Hullo Ferry

A new way of getting to Vancouver Island is the Hullo Ferry. This service offers a 70-minute passenger–only ferry ride from downtown Vancouver to downtown Nanaimo.

This fast ferry is a convenient option when a vehicle isn't necessary where you're going. It gets you downtown fast, and the connections to/from YVR or the cruise ship terminal are all within easy walking distance of the Vancouver Hullo Ferry terminal.

The best part? For an additional fee, guests can sail with up to 3 large bags or suitcases and select sports gear.

Depending on the time of year, they have 4 – 6 round-trip sailings, with extra late-night sailing for special events such as hockey games, concerts, etc.

Hullo Ferry Terminal Locations

• The Vancouver ferry terminal is located at #28 – 1055 Canada Place, across from the Vancouver Convention Centre and in the same general area as the seaplane terminals.

• The ferry terminal is near the Port Authority at 100 Port Way on the Nanaimo side. It's within walking distance to downtown Nanaimo.

• The Nanaimo terminal offers a shuttle bus service! The 20-passenger bus will pick up and drop off guests from the Coast Bastion Hotel and near the Bus Exchange at the corner of Port Drive and Front Street.

• Both ferry terminals have access to nearby paid parking options. The Vancouver side is much more expensive than the Nanaimo side.

3 Ways to Sail with Hullo (and what's worth the extra cost)

When you book a crossing with Hullo, you choose among 354 reservable seats across three service levels. Bookings are available online and at the terminals on the same day of travel, up to 10 minutes before they sail. However, pre-booking is always recommended!

• The Comfort Level is the standard entry-level rate for everyone. It includes a reserved seat on the main deck and complimentary Wi-Fi. 

• Premium Level offers enhanced seating on the upper deck with better views, priority off-boarding, and your own personal charging port. This premium level is currently $10 more than the Comfort Level, and in my opinion worth the extra charge.

• Business Level offers all the Premium benefits with the added perk of even cozier seating and complimentary treats. The Business Level is currently $20 more than the Comfort Level. Although the free snacks and recliner are a nice touch, I'm not sure it's worth the extra money.

Hullo Ferry Insider Tips

• Their check-in process is faster than BC Ferries. This means that as long as you have a reserved seat, you can board the vessel up to 5 minutes before leaving! (They do have a 5-minute cut-off, so don't leave it to the very last minute).

• As mentioned above, the Premium Level gets you priority boarding, which means you get to pass by the other ferry guests on your way into and off the boat. This is especially convenient when it's raining. They haven't figured out a great system for boarding their guests, and you often stand in line out in the elements. So, my best tip is to dress for the weather (umbrella, raincoat, etc.) if you've opted for the Comfort Level.

• Cats and small dogs no more than 10 kg (22lbs) are welcome on board at no additional cost. Pets must be in a contained pet carrier and on your lap for the entire trip.

• If you are travelling with infants, bringing a stroller is free of charge, and there is dedicated space to accommodate collapsible strollers.

• They are currently working on allowing a limited number of non-electric bikes onboard with an additional reservation. Stay tuned for that info!

Further Ideas on Getting to Vancouver Island

Click on either link below if you need information on:

Ferry Services from Washington State

Getting To and Around Vancouver Island By Bus

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Conclusion: The Scenic Route to Vancouver Island

Getting to Vancouver Island by ferry is more than just a mode of transportation—it's an integral part of the adventure. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller, the ferry offers a way to experience the island's natural beauty before you even arrive. From spotting marine wildlife to soaking in views of coastal mountains, the journey is an unforgettable prelude to the island’s many wonders.

So, whether planning a day trip, weekend getaway, or extended stay, getting to Vancouver Island by ferry sets the stage for the ultimate West Coast experience.

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