Vancouver Island stretches for 460 kilometres, from the ornate colonial capital of Victoria in the south to Cape Scott’s windswept beaches and rocky headlands at its northern tip. Along with the Gulf Islands, this rugged paradise combines old-growth forests, snowcapped mountains, and untamed shorelines to create one of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems. Experience world-class whale watching, birding, and fishing, or just let your worries drift away in the waves of the Pacific.
| For visitors from Europe, it’s easy to underestimate just how big Vancouver Island is. Vancouver Island covers a land area larger than Scotland or Belgium, but with a population of less than 1 million. Half of the population lives in and around Victoria in the far south of the island, with huge tracts of forest and mountains across the north, serviced by a handful of smaller towns and cities. The northernmost tip of Vancouver Island lies at the same latitude as the south coast of England. |
Flights to Vancouver Island
Flights into Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
| Victoria International Airport is about 22km from the centre of Victoria, and is not directly connected to Victoria by public transit. There are several car rental companies at the airport, as well as taxis and Uber for passengers wishing to travel into the city. Visit https://yyj.ca/ for more information. |
Air Canada flies into Victoria from Vancouver and Toronto
Westjet flies into Victoria from Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary and Edmonton
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies into Victoria from Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna and Prince George
Harbour Air flies into Victoria from Vancouver Airport (South Terminal) Check out the South Terminal Shuttle below.
Air North flies into Victoria from Vancouver and Whitehorse
Flair Airlines flies seasonally into Victoria from Calgary between April and September
Porter Airlines flies into Victoria from Ottawa and Toronto
Alaska Airlines flies into Victoria from Seattle
Flights into Nanaimo Airport (YCD)
| Nanaimo Airport is approximately 18km south of downtown Nanaimo and is a regional airport served by just 10-12 flights a day. There is a small cafeteria in the terminal and vending machines in the departure lounge. A limited public transit service operates to both Nanaimo and Duncan. The Nanaimo Airporter offers convenient shuttle services to Nanaimo hotels and ferry terminals, and several taxi companies also serve the airport. There is no Uber service available. Visit https://ycd.ca/ for more information |
Air Canada flies into Nanaimo from Vancouver
Westjet flies into Nanaimo fromVancouver and Calgary
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies into Nanaimo from Kelowna
Flights into Tofino Airport (YAZ)
| Tofino Long Beach Airport is located 11km south of Tofino and 30km north of Ucluelet. There is a car rental desk at the airport during the summer months but a local car rental company (Otus Rentals) will deliver cars to the airport if pre-booked. There are local taxi companies serving both Tofino and Ucluelet, but no public transit. Visit https://www.tofinoairport.com/ for more information. |
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies into Tofino (Long Beach) Airport from Vancouver Airport (South Terminal)
Harbour Air flies into Tofino (Long Beach) Airport from Vancouver Airport (South Terminal)
Flights into Comox Valley Airport (YQQ)
| Comox Valley Airport is located 5km from Comox and 10km from Courtenay, alongside the Comox Air Force Base. The airport terminal is compact and at busy times, car parking can soon reach capacity. The airport is served by an infrequent public transit service to Courtenay, and there are several car rental desks at the terminal. Taxis and shuttles are also readily available. Visit https://www.comoxairport.com/ for more information. |
Air Canada flies into Comox from Vancouver
Westjet flies into Comox from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies into Comox from Vancouver and Kelowna
Flights into Campbell River Airport (YBL)
| Campbell River airport is located about 10km south of downtown Campbell River. With just a handful of flights departing each day, facilities at Campbell River Airport are limited, but include a small cafeteria open until 2pm each day. There is no public transit at the airport, but Airport Shuttles meet every commercial flight and taxis are also readily available. Budget and National car rentals are also available. Visit https://crairport.ca/ for more information |
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies into Campbell River from Vancouver and Bella Bella
Flights into Port Hardy Airport (YZT)
| Port Hardy Airport (YZT) is located at the northeastern end of Vancouver Island. It’s about 10 km east of downtown Port Hardy, the largest northern community on Vancouver Island and served by an infrequent public transit route from Port Hardy. The airport has a small snack bar and vending machines, and car rental is available from Budget or National Car Rentals. For more information, visit the Transport Canada website. |
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies into Port Hardy from Vancouver
Seaplanes to Vancouver Island
Seaplanes from Richmond (YVR) depart from the floatplane dock near to Vancouver Airport South Terminal. A shuttle bus operates between the main terminals at YVR serving both the South Terminal and the Floatplane Dock.
South Terminal Shuttle Winter Schedule (October to April)
South Terminal Shuttle Summer Schedule (May to September)
Seaplanes flying into Victoria Inner Harbour
Harbour Air flies into Victoria from Richmond (YVR) and Vancouver Harbour
Kenmore Air flies into Victoria from Seattle (Lake Union)
Seaplanes flying into Victoria Airport
Sunshine Coast Air flies into Victoria Airport (Water Airport) from Sechelt (Sunshine Coast)
Seaplanes flying into Maple Bay
Gulf Island Seaplanes flies into Maple Bay from Richmond (YVR)
Seaplanes flying into Nanaimo
Harbour Air flies into Nanaimo Harbour from Vancouver Harbour, Richmond (YVR) and Sechelt (Sunshine Coast)
Sunshine Coast Air flies into Nanaimo Harbour from Sechelt (Sunshine Coast)
Seair Seaplanes flies into Nanaimo (Departure Bay) from Vancouver Harbour and Richmond (YVR)
Kenmore Air flies into Nanaimo (Departure Bay) from Seattle (Lake Union) during the summer months
Seaplanes flying into Tofino (Summer only)
Harbour Air flies to Tofino from Vancouver Harbour and Richmond (YVR) during the summer months
Seaplanes flying into Comox (Summer only)
Harbour Air flies into Comox from Vancouver Harbour during the summer months
Seaplanes flying into Campbell River (Summer only)
Corilair flies into Cambell River from the Seair terminal at Richmond (YVR) between late June and early September
Helicopters to Vancouver Island
Helicopter flights into Victoria Harbour Heliport
Helijet flies to Victoria Harbour Heliport from Vancouver Harbour Heliport, with limited flights on weekdays from Vanvouver Airport (YVR)
Helicopter flights into Nanaimo Harbour Heliport
Helijet flies to Nanaimo Harbour Heliport from Vancouver Harbour Heliport with limited flights on weekdays from Vancouver Airport (YVR)
Vehicle & Passenger Ferries to Vancouver Island
Vehicle & Passenger Ferries into Victoria
| Swartz Bay ferry terminal is located at the northern end of the Saanich peninsula, about 32km from downtown Victoria. Driving to/from Victoria takes around 30 minutes, but there is also a frequent public transit service connecting right to the ferry teminal. |
BC Ferries sails to Victoria (Swartz Bay) from Vancouver (Tsawwassen). Advance bookings are recommended.
| For travelers from the USA, ferries arrive and depart from the Inner Harbour, just steps away from downtown Victoria |
Black Ball Ferries (MV Coho) sails to Victoria Inner Harbour from Port Angeles (Washington, USA). Advance bookings are recommended.
Vehicle & Passenger Ferries into Nanaimo
| Ferries from Vancouver arrive at two different ferry terminals in Nanaimo. Ferries from Tsawwassen arrive at Duke Point Ferry Terminal, about 16km from downtown Nanaimo. There is no public transit to or from Duke Point, but taxis and shuttles are available. Ferries from Horseshoe Bay arrive at Departure Bay Ferry Terminal, just 3km from downtown Nanaimo. Frequent public transit is available from right outside the terminal, as well as inter-city bus connections across Vancouver Island. |
BC Ferries sails to Nanaimo (Duke Point) from Vancouver (Tsawwassen). Advance bookings are recommended.
BC Ferries sails to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay). Advance bookings MUST be made on this route.
Vehicle & Passenger Ferries into Comox
| Little River Ferry terminal is approximately 8km from Comox and 10km from Courtenay. A limited public transit service operates to and from the ferry terminal, together with a daily inter-city bus service connection to Nanaimo. |
BC Ferries sails to Comox (Little River) from Powell River (Sunshine Coast). Advance bookings are recommended.
Vehicle & Passenger Ferries into Port Hardy
| Bear Cove ferry terminal is located about 9km from Port Hardy, with a limited public transit connection to and from downtown. A daily inter-city bus service operates between Port Hardy and Campbell River. |
BC Ferries sails to Port Hardy (Bear Cove) from Prince Rupert and the Central Coast (Bella Coola). Advance bookings are strongly recommended on this route
Fast Passenger-only Ferries to Vancouver Island
Fast Passenger Ferries into Victoria
FRS Victoria Clipper sails to Victoria Inner Harbour from Seattle Clipper Terminal, Seattle (USA)
Fast Passenger Ferries into Nanaimo
Hullo Passenger Ferries sails to Nanaimo Ferry Terminal (Port Drive) from Vancouver Harbour Ferry Terminal
Inter-city buses on Vancouver Island
BC Ferries Connector bus
For passengers arriving in Vancouver without a car, the BC Ferries Connector offers a through express bus from downtown Vancouver, Vancouver Hotels and Vancouver Airport to Victoria, via the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry.
Inter-city connections on Vancouver Island
IslandLink is a network of bus routes across Vancouver Island, connecting with BC Ferries arrivals at Nanaimo (Departure Bay). Tickets may be pre-booked at https://www.islandlinkbus.com/
Walk-up passengers may board at Departure Bay if seats are available.
Port Hardy Express Bus Campbell River – Port McNeill – Port Hardy
Tofino Express Bus Nanaimo – Port Alberni – Ucluelet – Tofino
Island Express Bus Nanaimo – Courtenay – Campbell River
Victoria Express Bus Nanaimo – Victoria
Local public transit on Vancouver Island
BC Transit operates a series of Regional Public Transit routes across Vancouver Island.
For more detail click on one of the links below:
Services throughout the Victoria Region, including Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, Sidney and Sooke
Services throughout the Cowichan area, including Mill Bay, Duncan, Chemainus and Ladysmith – also express routes to Victoria and Nanaimo
Services throughout the Nanaimo Region, including Departure Bay Ferry Terminal, Parksville and Qualicum Beach
Services throughut Port Alberni and surrounding area
Services throughout the Comox Valley including Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland and Buckley Bay – also connections to Campbell River
Services throughout the Campbell River area, including Oyster River, for connections to Courtenay.
Services across Mount Waddington Region, including Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Woss
Island Transportation 