VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND &
GULF ISLANDS BRITISH COLUMBIA
TRANSPORTATION GUIDE & TRAVEL INFORMATION
Airlines - Taxi - Car Rental - Limousine - Cycling - Recreation Vehicles - Scooters/Motor Bikes - Ferries - Bus - Trains - Victoria Harbour Authority (Boats) - Water Taxi
Distance Calculator for British Columbia (how far is it from....to)

Victoria and Vancouver Island: This page is a detailed guide to assist you in getting to and from Vancouver Island and in using ground transportation while on the Island. There are a variety of ways to travel to and from Victoria BC and Vancouver Island and there are a number of ways to get around the Island when you get here. Victoria is on Vancouver Island.  There is no bridge and there is no tunnel.  You must travel on the water or in the air. 

The Gulf Islands: The most common way to get to the Gulf Islands is to use BC Ferries. From Victoria, the Ferry rides range between 40 minutes and 90 minutes approximately, depending on which of the Gulf Islands you wish to visit.

If you are travelling to Vancouver Island or the Gulf Island by private boat then you might want to check the Marina page.

By Air: A number of major airlines fly to Victoria such as Westjet, Air Canada, Alaska Air (Horizon), West Coast, Harbour Air, Kenmore Air, Pacific Coastal and Hawkair. Major carriers are: Westjet, Air Canada and Hawkair flying out of various Canadian destinations to Vancouver Island. You can fly using these carriers to Victoria, Nanaimo, and Comox. Seair Seaplanes flys to Victoria, Nanaimo and many of the Gulf Islands from the Sea Plane Terminal in Vancouver. There are a number of smaller airlines and floatplanes that travel to Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox and Port Hardy from Seattle and Vancouver. Float Planes include West Coast Air Harbour Air, and Kenmore. Check below for details or visit their web sites. Helijet Airways also will fly you to Vancouver Island by Helicopter. Some of the float planes land in the heart of Victoria at the Inner Harbour which is right downtown. The Helijet landing pad is 5 minutes from downtown.

By Ferry: British Columbia Ferries, Washington State Ferries and the Coho Ferry bring you by car. There are passenger only Ferries coming to Victoria from Bellingham(San Juan Shuttle Ferry), Port Angeles (Victoria Express) and Seattle (Victoria Clipper). You can also come to victoria by Helicopter and float planes.

CHECK OUT OUR HOW DO I GET TO - PAGE

Private Boat: You can also come to Victoria by private boats and anchor at one of the marinas in the Inner Harbour, Oak Bay and Sidney. Check out contact information for local marinas.

Ground Transportation: While in Victoria you can move around by foot, by car, cycle, scooter, motor cycle, bus, boat, limousine, taxi and kabuki cabs. Check the transportation services listed below. Please contact these services well before you plan to come to Victoria British Columbia. If you are coming, copy this list and it will be handy when you are here! Following are some options for your consideration.

Airlines

Harbour Air Seaplanes West Coast linking Victoria - Vancouver - Langley - Gulf Islands - Richmond - Nanaimo  Phone: 1-800-665-0212 E-mail:

Helijet Airways International  E-mail
Toll Free 1 800 665 4354, North America's premiere scheduled helicopter airline service, serving the Pacific Northwest since 1986, offers daily scheduled service between Vancouver and Victoria (35 minutes), British Columbia. With flights over the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, some of the most beautiful scenery in the world is encountered. These helicopter flights fly from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria in about 35 minutes.

West Coast Air
Provides downtown to downtown floatplane serive between Vancouver and Victoria.

Pacific Coast Airlines
Flies out of the Vancouver International Airport South Terminal to Victoria.

Hawkair
Hawkair flies out of the Vancouver International Airport South Terminal to Victoria.

Air Canada
Air Canada flies out of the Vancouver International Airport.

Kenmore Air
Kenmore Air flies from downtown Seattle to Downtown Victoria in about 40 minutes.

Horizon Air
Horizon Air flies from Seattle's Seatac airport and Portland to Victoria's International Airport.

Seair Seaplanes flys to Victoria, Nanaimo and many of the Gulf Islands from the Sea Plane Terminal in Vancouver.

Victoria International Airport is 18 km north of Victoria on Hyw. 17 (Pat Bay Highway).  It is about 2 km south of Sidney by the Sea and about 7 km south of the Ferry Terminal at Swartz Bay.

TAXI SERVICE

Victoria Taxi, phone 383 7111

Blue Bird Cabs, phone 384 1155

Beacon Taxi of Sidney, phone 656 5588

Empire Taxi, phone 383 8888

Empress Taxi ., phone 381 2222

Avis Car and Truck Rental, phone 386 8468

Discount Car and Truck Rentals - 310-2277

Dollar Rent A Car - 383-3659

Enterprise Rent-A-Car - 475-6900

Hertz, phone 952-3765

Island Rent-A-Car - 384-4881

Thrifty, phone 383 3659

National Car and Truck Rental - 250-386-1213

ROYAL LIMOUSINE & VAN SERVICE:  Victoria, B.C., Phone: 250-389-0004, fax: 250-658-5311, Email: royal-limousine@shaw.ca

We take people on totally personalized sightseeing tours, in immaculate Cadillac sedans, superstretched limousines, and eleven passenger luxury vans. We have P.A. systems, and we provide a commentary.There are tinted windows as well as FULL AIR-CONDITIONING IN ALL THE VEHICLES. Our professional chauffeurs take you on a scenic drive through Victoria; then to Butchart Gardens and back through the scenic routes. Travel the Malahat Drive to the Native Heritage Center, and Chemainus' City of Murals. Airport, ferry tours. Call Marguerite for a quote.

Cycle BC Rentals, 747 Douglas Street (open year round) and 950 Wharf Street, Phone:380-2453 and / or 885-2453, fax: 477-9660, Toll Free: 1-866-380-2453 or Email:info@cyclebc.ca

Canada's largest selection of new quality motorcycles (cruisers, sport and sport touring), scooters (single and 2 person models) and bicycles (mountain, hybrid, tandem, and accessories) at guaranteed best rates.

Rent by the hour, day, week or longer. Group rates available. Two downtown Victoria locations and one in Vancouver (motorcycles only)

Head office - Motorcycle reservations

(250) 380-2453

1-866-380-2453

707 Douglas St. Victoria, BC V8W-2B4

---

Victoria -

Motorcycle & Scooter depot

(250) 385-2453

950 Wharf St. Victoria, BC V8W-1T3

Bicycle depot

(250) 380-2453

707 Douglas st. Victoria, BC V8W-2B4

Budget Car & Truck Rental (250) 953-5300

Fairfield Bicycle Shop, 381 2453

Galiano Bicycle, phone 539 9906 (on Galiano Island)

Harbour Scooter Rentals, phone 995-1661

Island Spoke Folk, phone 537 4664 (on Saltspring Island)

Sports Rent, phone 385 7368

True Value Hardware, 656-1661

Wheel Fund Quadricycle Rentals, phone 920 8678

More Bike Info

Bakers, phone 592 4470

Big Boy's Toys, phone 656 2132

Fennell's Roaming Homes, phone 652 3941

Swartz Bay Tent Trailers, phone 655 7133

Triangle RV Center, phone 656 1122

True North RV, phone 656 2132

MV Coho Ferry
Ferry service between Victoria BC and Port Angeles, Washington
430 Belleville St. Victoria, BC V8V 1W9, Phone: 250 386-2202

The Victoria Express Passenger Ferry E:mail: info@victoriaexpress.com
"Your way to a two nation vacation!"


For a day trip or a leisurely getaway, the Victoria Express offers, no long ferry waits no long boat ride! Enjoy the advantages of guaranteed reservations to charming Victoria from Port Angeles, Washington, the International Gateway to British Columbia. The beautiful Olympic Peninsula and the majestic Olympic National Park are your backdrop as you take the one-hour crossing of the Strait of Juan de Fuca before landing in downtown Victoria's Inner Harbour, just steps away from the Parliament, the British Columbia Royal Provincial Museum, and Victoria's landmark Empress Hotel. Overnight packages available, which can include tours and sightseeing. Discounts for seniors! Toll Free: 1 800 633 1589, Victoria: 1 250 361 9144, Seattle: 1 360 452 8088

BUS 
The bus depot is on the corner of Douglas and Belleville right next to the Empress Hotel.

Knight Limousine and West Coast Trail Express  

(250) - 477 8700, Fax (250) 477 8774 or E-mail

We have a CHARTER BUS SERVICE to anywhere on VANCOUVER ISLAND. Very reasonable Hourly & Daily rates are available. We can provide SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE to & from the VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT & the SWARTZ BAY FERRY TERMINAL. Our professional drivers are ready to take you on SIGHTSEEING TOURS of Victoria and Vancouver Island, to your CAMPING or HIKING destination, SKIING trip, or SPORTING event. From May to September, we provide DAILY SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE from Victoria & Nanaimo to all TRAILHEADS of the WEST COAST TRAIL & the JUAN DE FUCA TRAIL. Our buses are SCHOOL BUS CERTIFIED. For more information about our services and rates, see our web site.

The Airporter   250 386 2525   Bus from the Airport to Victoria Hotels.

Azure Transport Ltd.  250 537 4737  Offers tours to Saltspring Island

Gray Line Bus Tours This company offers tours of Victoria and Vancouver Island. Passenger Service to Vancouver and throughout Vancouver Island. Contact 1-800-663-8390 or locally at 250-388-5248

Greyhound Canada - Contact 1-800-318-0818 or locally at 250-388-5248 Offers daily bus service to destinations throughout Vancouver Island

Pacific Coach Lines (Victoria 250-385 4411, or Vancouver 604-662 8074 --toll free at 1-800 661 1725), travel from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria frequently. They also travel between Vancouver and Victoria International Airports

B.C. Transit - 250-382-6161
Although a bit tedious, but inexpensive, you can go by Transit Bus from Downtown Vancouver to the Ferry and from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to Victoria on B.C. Transit Busses. call 382 6161 in Victoria. B.C. Transit busses provide public transportation throughout the greater Victoria area.

Gray Line of Seattle
Gray Line of Seattle (phone 214-934 8700 or toll free at 1-800-426 7532 -US only) provides Bus service from Downtown Seattle to Downtown Victoria.

International Coach Tours Ltd., phone 382 6660

Tofino Bus Express Bus Service offering daily shuttles from Victoria to Tofino and from Tofino to Victoria, Toll Free: 1-866-986-3466

Wilson's Transportation Ltd., phone 475 3235

Local Buses:

250-384-6161 or 250-727-7811 for Handi Dart for people with special needs.

TRAINS 
The train station is on Pandora, right next to the Blue Johnson Street Bridge.

Via Rail  phone 1 888 842-7245
Via Rail operates a daily service between Victoria and Courtney (part way up Vancouver Island). This is a great way to see some of the beauty of the Island and avoid the busy Island Highway. Many Victoria residents, take Via Rail to Chemainus, spend the day shopping or touring and then return on the evening run. The train leaves Victoria each morning around 8:15 a.m. (call to check the schedule).

This section has special directions to specific locations.
How do I (foot passenger) get from the BC Ferry Terminal to Butchart Gardens?
The simpliest and fastest way is to call a cab. Fares can cost $30.00 or more (2005).
You can take the local transit bus by catching the number 70 bus to Sidney. As the bus driver to tell you when you are at James White and 5th because you want to transfer to 75 downtown, which will take you to Butchart Gardens. (Approximate time 40 min).

How do I (foot passenger) get from the BC Ferry Terminal to the Victoria International Airport. Again, use a taxi (about 7 km, 4 miles or so) or take the BC Transit, #70 downtown. Be sure to ask the bus driver as you board or while you are waiting to make sure you have the right bus.