Ferry to Vancouver Island
Most hikers don’t fly. They get to Vancouver Island by vehicle / passenger ferry.
The best ferry if you are driving to Port Alberni or Bamfield is out of Horseshoe Bay, a half hour north of downtown Vancouver on the TransCanada highway. This ferry lands at Duke Point near Nanaimo, perhaps 2 hours driving to Port Alberni where you could catch the ferry to Bamfield. (Allow another 2 hours over really rough gravel roads if you want to drive to Bamfield.)
The best ferry for Port Renfrew is out of Tsawwassen, about 1 hour south of downtown Vancouver but fairly close to the airport. This ferry lands at Swartz Bay, a half hour drive north of Victoria — allow 2 hours or more to drive from the ferry to Port Renfrew.
A ferry to Vancouver Island is a beautiful trip – a big highlight for WCT hikers who have never been on an ocean ferry.
- Vancouver, BC — Vancouver Island
- Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay
- Horseshoe Bay to Duke Point
These ferries makes 10 – 15 crossings each day. You may wait a couple of hours to get on if you have a vehicle. The ferries are busy in summer. Waits can get very long on Sunday afternoons, Friday evenings and holidays.
Generally you don’t need to book in advance for a ferry though if you are on a tight schedule you may want to phone in a reservation, (888) 223-3779 in BC or (250) 386-3431 if calling from outside the Province. BC Ferries web site.
- Port Angeles, Washington – Victoria, BC
- Coho
- Victoria Star (passengers only)
The best ferry from the US is the (seasonal) automobile ferry, the Coho out of Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. (US 1-800-833-6388, Canada 1-800-972-6509)
The Coho is convenient & very inexpensive (especially if you are driving a vehicle). Passengers pay US$7 one way. Most vehicles cost US$29 one way.
Bit of trivia — Millennium terrorist Ahmed Ressam was caught exiting the Coho ferry with a trunk load of explosives. He was en route to Los Angeles where he planned to blow-up LAX.
If you don’t have a vehicle, there’s another (admittedly more expensive option) – the Victoria Star (passenger only) ferry. It costs US$12.50 one way, $25 return from Port Angeles.
Tip: If you have time, visit Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics, close to Port Angles.
- Seattle, Washington – Victoria, BC
- Victoria Clipper (passenger only)
- The Princess Marguerite III
Out of Seattle, you could take a high-speed catamaran, one of the Victoria Clipper ships. Check the schedule at their web site.
Prices vary slightly, but most hikers will pay US$69 one way / US$115 return. You might get a cheaper fare if you telephone & ask about specials:
- (206)448-5000 (Seattle)
- (250) 382-8100 (Victoria)
- (800) 888-2535 (North America)
The Princess Marguerite III
The same company, Clipper Navigation, Inc., offers a vehicle ferry between Seattle and Ogden Point, Victoria. Maybe you can find the fare & schedule on their web site. We couldn’t.
