Bowen Island, BC

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Bowen Island is an island municipality that is part of Metro Vancouver. Located in Howe Sound, it is approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) wide by 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long, and at its closest point is about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of the mainland. There is regular ferry service from Horseshoe Bay provided by BC Ferries, and semi-regular water taxi services. The population of 4,256 is supplemented in the summer by about 1,500 visitors.

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Flying to Bowen Island

The nearest airport for Bowen Island is Vancouver International (YVR), about 35km from the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal.

To reach Bowen Island from YVR, the most direct route is as follows:

• Canada Line from YVR Station to Vancouver Waterfront (up to every 8 minutes)
• Translink Horseshoe Bay Express Bus 257 from West Georgia Street to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal (every 15-20 minutes)

Alternatively, taxis are available outside the Arrivals area at YVR.

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Ferries to Bowen Island

Like most of the gulf islands, Bowen Island depends on deliveries of gasoline, heating oil and propane gas by road tankers from the mainland. To ensure safety, one ferry crossing each week is designated a ‘Dangerous Cargo’ sailing and is restricted solely to fuel tankers. No other vehicles or passengers may use these sailings.

Click on the schedule below to download a printable version:

The Queen of Capilano, the Bowen Island ferry, leaves Horseshoe Bay between the hours of 5:45 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The crossing time is 20 minutes. All tickets include return fare. When you depart Bowen you will not be asked to show your receipt. Be aware that ticket sales close ten minutes prior to the scheduled sailing and sometimes there are lineups to purchase tickets, so give yourself enough time. As you sail across the channel, enjoy the views of Howe Sound and watch for marine and bird life.

When the time comes to leave Bowen, there are a few do’s and don’ts to remember when you head down into the ferry line-up – but this valuable how-to guide ferry guide produced by Toursim Bowen Island will help you navigate the lineup and avoid issues.

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Getting around Bowen Island

Wanna know a secret? You can leave your car at home and take public transit to Horseshoe Bay. When you arrive on Bowen you arrive in the heart of Downtown Snug Cove. Most shops and restaurants, Crippen Regional Park, trails and beaches are all within walking distance from the ferry terminal. But we also have public transit and active transportation options to help you explore more of the island.

Various areas of Bowen Island can be accessed by the Bowen Island Community Shuttle Buses, part of TransLink. You can pay for your fare with a Compass Card, credit card or cash and the transfer you received from the Vancouver buses will work on Bowen with no extra charge. Note: these are small community buses with limited seating – not a tour bus. Please be mindful of others who require the use of the bus.

There are three bus routes but the #282 Mt. Gardner has limited service and only operates on weekends and holidays. The #280 (Bluewater) services the western side of the island, with stops in Artisan Square. The #281 (Eagle Cliff) services the eastern side of the island. Please be aware that all buses have reduced service on weekends and holidays, so ensure that you check the schedules carefully, including your return trip because you don’t want to be stranded after hours. There’s no taxi or ridesharing services on Bowen.

The bus schedules are designed to align with the ferry schedule. However, delays happen and missed connections may occur. If the ferry is late, the buses will wait for the ferry. Therefore, the buses may run late, too.  

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Inter-city bus travel via Vancouver

A limited number of inter-city buses start and finish in downtown Vancouver. There is no direct inter-city connection to Horseshoe Bay, so transfer to the Horseshoe Bay Express bus in Vancouver.

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