Planning Your Trip to Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is easily accessible by air or ferry from mainland Canada and the United States, making it a perfect getaway destination.

By Water

B.C. Ferries
Most visitors arrive on the Island by ferry from the Vancouver area. B.C. Ferries offers frequent, reliable departures and you will enjoy the scenic view and comfortable seating. Food services, gift shops and tourist information are all available on board. Fares are reasonable and, of course, you can bring your car with you.

We recommend the route from Tsawassen Terminal (south side of Vancouver) to Duke Point/Nanaimo, a crossing time of 2 hours. You may also depart from the north side of Vancouver by taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay Terminal to Departure Bay/Nanaimo, a crossing time of 90 minutes. Our guests tell us that a ferry voyage is a most relaxing way to de-compress and ease into their holiday. Once you debark in Nanaimo, you are approximately one hour's drive from Ships Point Inn.

www.bcferries.com
Telephone: 1-250-386-3431

Comox Valley Harbour Authority
Pleasure crafts arriving from Georgia Strait, the Gulf Islands and Baynes Sound will find safe moorage at Comox Harbour Marina on the East Coast of Vancouver Island. The drive from Comox to Ships Point Inn takes about 30 minutes.

www3.telus.net/comoxharbour/
Telephone: 1-250-339-6041

By Air

Vancouver Island is served by several airports, including Victoria International Airport (YYJ), a popular point of entry that is served by larger carriers such as Air Canada and Horizon Airlines/Alaska Airlines. Ships Point Inn is about 2-1/2 hour's drive from YYJ.

Our smaller island airports are served by regular "hopper" flights from both Victoria International and Vancouver International. For example, Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) is served from Victoria by Air Canada, WestJet, and Pacific Coastal Airlines, and from Vancouver by Pacific Coastal. Comox is about 30 minutes' drive from Ships Point Inn.

Another regional airport is Nanaimo Airport (YCD), about 90 minutes from Ships Point Inn. Nanaimo is served from Vancouver International by Air Canada and Canadian Western Airlines.

If you'd like to experience a water landing, consider Baxter Air's floatplane service from Vancouver to Nanaimo. Baxter also offers scenic floatplane tours of the Island coast.

Air Canada
www.aircanada.ca
Telephone: 1-888-247-2262

Horizon Airlines
www.horizonair.com
Telephone: 1-800-547-9308

Alaska Airlines
www.alaskaair.com
Telephone: 1-800-252-7522

WestJet Airlines
WestJet also offers service to Comox from mainland airports, such as Calgary. www.westjet.com
Telephone: 1-888-937-8538

Pacific Coastal Airlines
www.pacific-coastal.com
Telephone: 1-800-663-2872

Canadian Western Airlines
www.cwair.com
Telephone: 1-866-835-9292

Baxter Air (float plane)
www.baxterair.com
Telephone: 1-800-661-5599

Vancouver Island by Railroad

Via Rail

A timeless mode of travel that offers unique wilderness views not easily accessible by car. Via Rail operates the historic Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railiner which leaves Victoria most mornings for Courtenay, with scheduled stops at Parksville and Qualicum Beach, and passenger drops at some smaller communities along the way. (Ships Point Inn is only 10 minutes from the E&N stop in Fanny Bay.) In the evening, the E&N makes its return southward to Victoria.

www.viarail.ca
Telephone: 1-888-842-7245

Vancouver Island Highways

By car or bus, motorcycle or bicycle. Whatever your mode of transportation, you'll appreciate the fully-developed highway system that services the entire length of the Island. Highway 19 is a four-lane express route from Victoria north to Campbell River. Highway 19A, referred to locally as "the Oceanside Route" or "Old Highway 19," is a more leisurely drive that follows the original coastal route.

Gray Line Bus Tours (formerly Laidlaw Coach Lines)
Gray Line of Victoria offers coach service from Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island to Victoria in the south. Numerous stops along the way provide wonderful opportunities for visitors to get on or off in many scenic locations.

www.grayline.ca
Telephone: 1-800-663-8390

Comox Valley Transit System
www.rdcs.bc.ca/Transit/TransitMain.html
Telephone: 1-250-339-5453