Boat & Ferry Travel in Vancouver

BC Ferries operates two major ferry terminals outside Vancouver. From Tsawwassen to the south (an hour's drive from downtown), ferries sail to Swartz Bay near Victoria, to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and to the Gulf Islands (the small islands between the mainland and Vancouver Island). From Horseshoe Bay (45 minutes north of downtown), ferries sail to the Sunshine Coast and to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Vehicle reservations on Vancouver to Victoria and Nanaimo routes are optional and cost C$15 to C$17.50 in addition to the fare. There's no extra charge for reservations on Gulf Island routes.

HarbourLynx runs direct, high-speed, foot-passenger-only service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The trip takes 80 minutes and costs C$25 plus tax each way.

The SeaBus is a 400-passenger commuter ferry that crosses Burrard Inlet from Waterfront Station downtown to the foot of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver. Leaving every 15 to 30 minutes, the bus takes 13 minutes and costs the same as the TransLink bus. With a transfer, connection can be made to any TransLink bus or SkyTrain.

Aquabus Ferries connect several stations on False Creek, including Science World, Plaza of Nations, Granville Island, Stamp's Landing, Spyglass Place, Yaletown, and the Hornby Street dock. Some Aquabus ferries take bicycles, and the company also operates two historic wooden boats on some runs.

False Creek Ferries provides foot-passenger service between the Aquatic Centre on Beach Avenue, Granville Island, Science World, Stamp's Landing, and Vanier Park.

False Creek and Aquabus ferries are not part of the TransLink system, so bus transfers aren't accepted.

Boat & Ferry Information

Aquabus Ferries (604/689-5858. www.aquabus.bc.ca). BC Ferries (250/386-3431; 888/223-3779 in B.C., Alberta, and Washington state. www.bcferries.com). False Creek Ferries (604/684-7781. www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca). HarbourLynx (866/206-5969; 250/753-4443 in Nanaimo; 604/688-5465 in Vancouver. www.harbourlynx.com). SeaBus (604/953-3333. www.translink.bc.ca).