Getting to Victoria
By Barbara Ballard
Victoria is reached by air or ferry, unless you can afford your own boat. You can opt to board the ferry as a foot passenger or drive on board. But be warned, during peak tourist season and holiday weekends, car lineups can stretch to several hours wait time. Whether you choose to go by air or sea, the views are spectacular.
By Air
Victoria is served by the Victoria International Airport (about a half hour drive north of the city on the Saanich Peninsula), regular float plane service to the Inner Harbour, and scheduled helicopter flights to downtown. For schedule details contact the following:
Pacific Coastal Airlines
1-800-663-2872
Flies from Vancouver to Victoria for $49 one way.
Air Canada/Air BC Connector
250-360-4088 or 1-800-776-3000
Frequent daily flights linking Vancouver and Victoria and Victoria and Seattle International Airports.
Canadian Airlines International/Canadian Regional
1-800-426-7000
Frequent daily flights between Vancouver and Victoria international airports.
Harbour Air Seaplanes
250-384-2215 or 1-800-665-0212
Schedules daily flights between Victoria and Vancouver harbours. Daily tours of Victoria, Gulf Island and Olympic Peninsula.
West Coast Air
604-688-9115 or 1-800-347-2222
Scheduled daily flights between Victoria and Vancouver Harbours.
Helijet Airways Ltd.
250-382-6222 or 1-800-665-4354
Frequent daily helicopter flights between Victoria and Seattle downtown to downtown, and Vancouver and Victoria downtown to downtown, or to Vancouver airport.
Horizon Air
1-800-547-9308
(Alaska Airlines connector) - Schedules flights daily between Seattle, Port Angeles and Victoria airports.
Kenmore Air Seaplanes
425-486-1257 or 1-800-543-9595
Scheduled daily flights between Seattle and Victoria harbours.
By Sea
Victoria and Vancouver Island are well-connected to the British Columbia mainland and Washington State by scheduled vehicle and passenger carrying ferries and passenger only high speed catamaran service. Dozens of sailings each day are available from several points to terminals near Sidney on the Saanich peninsula (30 minutes from downtown Victoria) and to downtown Victoria.
BC Ferries
250-381-1401 or 1-888-223-3779
Frequent daily scheduled service (passengers and vehicles) between Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver off I-5) and Swartz Bay (north of Victoria). Also frequent service between Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) and Departure Bay (Nanaimo), to the Gulf Islands and other B.C. points. Full caféteria service and other amenities on main route ships.
Black Ball Transport
250-386-2202
"M.V. Coho" scheduled service and passenger service between Port Angeles, WA, and Victoria harbour. Daily passenger-only service between Bellingham, WA and Victoria harbour.
Victoria Clipper
250-382-8100 or 1-800-888-2535
Scheduled daily high-speed catamaran service (passengers only) between Victoria and Seattle harbours.
Washington State Ferries
250-381-1551 or 1-800-843-3779
Scheduled ferry service (passengers and vehicles) between Anacortes, WA, and Sidney, B.C.
Gray Line of Seattle
206-624-5077 or 1-800-426-7532
Daily service to Victoria is via the Victoria Clipper.
Pacific Coach Lines
604-662-7575 or 1-800-661-1725
Frequent daily scheduled service between Vancouver and Victoria via BC Ferries.
Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.
