BC Ferry Info For Travel to Salt Spring Island
The BC Ferry service makes regular trips to 3 different terminals on Salt Spring Island. If you're flying from another location, you can land in either Vancouver International Airport or Victoria International Airport for easy access to a ferry terminal.
This page provides details on each of the three routes...
| From Vancouver (Tsawwassen) | From Victoria (Swartz Bay) | From Crofton |
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Booking a sailing ahead of time is the best way to avoid the disappointment of having to wait around to get to Salt Spring Island. If you don't wish to make a reservation, be sure you're plenty early to the ferry terminal, especially if it's a holiday weekend.
Tsawwassen to Salt Spring (Long Harbour)
The length of a ferry ride from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island ranges, depending on which sailing you catch.
The non-stop sailing takes 1.5 hours. The three stop sailing, which stops at Galiano, Mayne, and Pender Islands, takes twice as long - 3 hours. There's also a 2 stop sailing on specific days.
Check the online schedule here
Reservations OnlinePrepaid vehicle reservations are available on sailings between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands.Simply register for a 'myBCFerries' account and you can manage all reservations from there. |
Reservations by Telephone
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Swartz Bay Departures (North of Victoria) to Salt Spring
Reservations are NOT available for travel between Swartz Bay and the Southern Gulf Islands. However, there are frequent daily sailings.
The ferry terminal is very close to the airport and the trip takes just over 30 minutes once you board the vessel. You dock at Fulford Harbour, which is at the south end of Salt Spring.
Check the online schedule here for departure times
From Crofton (Vancouver Island) to Salt Spring (Vesuvius)
The sailing from Crofton docks at Vesuvius Bay on Salt Spring Island. (Crofton is about 40km south of Nanaimo.) This one is a very small ferry and the sail is only 20 minutes long.
The fares are less than any other route to Salt Spring. Timing is important on this one though, because it's heavily used by Salt Spring commuters so keep that in mind if you're coming from Crofton.
Check the online schedule here
Make sure, if you're able, to go out on the deck and experience (at least some of) the voyage from outside. It's exhilarating!
The air is fresh, the ocean alive! In fact, we've always considered the ferry ride one of the main highlights of a trip to any of the Gulf Islands. Make sure you have your camera on hand in case you're out on deck at just the right moment to spot some passing orcas or cavorting seals!