From the B.C. Mainland

BC Ferries operates daily service between Tsawwassen, about an hour south of Vancouver, and Swartz Bay, at the end of Highway 17 (the Patricia Bay Highway), about 30 minutes north of downtown Victoria. Sailing time is about 1½ hours. Peak-season weekend fares are C$12 per adult passenger and C$42 per vehicle each way (including taxes and a fuel surcharge). Bicycles are carried for C$2.50. Lower rates apply midweek and in the off-season; higher rates apply for recreational and other oversize vehicles. Vehicle reservations on Vancouver-Victoria and Nanaimo routes are optional and cost C$15 to C$17.50 in addition to the fare. Reservations, which can be made by phone or online, are recommended if you're traveling with a car on a summer weekend. Reservations are not necessary for foot passengers or cyclists.

BC Transit buses meet the ferries at both ends, but if you're traveling without a car, the easiest option is to take a Pacific Coach Lines bus.

BC Ferries also sail from Horseshoe Bay, north of Vancouver, to Nanaimo, about two hours north of Victoria. This route makes sense if you're traveling with a car from Whistler or Vancouver's north shore to Vancouver Island.

Ferries from the mainland have cafeterias, video games, work stations with electrical outlets, and a gift shop. You can book a cabin for an additional C$25, or, for an extra C$10, enjoy some peace and quiet (and free coffee, snacks, and newspapers) in the Seawest Lounge.

Another option from Vancouver is to travel on the Ocean Magic II. Operated by Prince of Whales, this trip combines four hours of whale-watching with a trip between Vancouver and Victoria. The 74-passenger boat leaves Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver daily at 8:15 AM and returns from Victoria at 3:30 PM. Options include returning by floatplane, staying in Victoria and returning on a later date, or adding a trip to the Butchart Gardens. One-way fares start at C$119.

From Washington State

Black Ball Transport operates the MV Coho, a car ferry, daily year-round between Port Angeles, Washington and Victoria's Inner Harbour. The car and passenger fare is US$44; bikes are carried for US$5.50.

The Victoria Clipper runs daily year-round passenger-only service between downtown Seattle and downtown Victoria. Sailings take about 3 hours, and the one-way fare from mid-May to late September is US$79; bicycles are carried for an extra US$10.

Between late May and late September, the Victoria Express provides daily passenger-only service between Port Angeles, Washington, and downtown Victoria. Sailings cost US$12.50 (US$5.50 for bikes) and take an hour.

Washington State Ferries runs a car ferry daily between mid-March and late December from Anacortes, Washington, to Sidney (some runs make stops at different San Juan Islands), about 30 km (18 mi) north of Victoria. Bikes are welcome and the sailing takes about three hours. One-way high-season fares are US$53.70 for a vehicle and driver.

Between May and September, Victoria San Juan Cruises offer narrated foot-passenger day trips from Bellingham, Washington, to Victoria with a salmon barbecue dinner on the return trip; overnight packages are also an option. One-way high-season fare is US$54.50.

Within Victoria

Victoria Harbour Ferries serve the Inner Harbour, with stops that include the Fairmont Empress, Chinatown, Point Ellice House, the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, and Fisherman's Wharf. Fares start at C$4; discounted multiple-trip passes are available. Boats make the rounds every 12 to 20 minutes, daily, between early March and late October. If you're by the Inner Harbour at 10:45 on a Sunday morning in summer, you can catch the little ferries performing a water ballet—they gather together and do maneuvers set to classical music that's played over loudspeakers.

To and around the Cowichan Valley and the Gulf Islands

The Mill Bay Ferry, a car ferry operated by BC Ferries, sails several times a day between Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Peninsula and Mill Bay in the Cowichan Valley.

BC Ferries also sail several times a day from Swartz Bay, about 30 minutes north of downtown Victoria, to Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano and Saturna islands. Sailings to Salt Spring take 30 minutes. Sailings to the other islands take from 25 minutes to two hours, depending on the destination and number of stops. Reservations are not accepted on these routes. You can also sail to three or four different islands directly from Swartz Bay.

Salt Spring Island can also be reached from Crofton, about 20 minutes north of Duncan in the Cowichan Valley. Twenty-minute sailings leave about once an hour.

BC Ferries also sail to the Southern Gulf Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna, and Salt Spring) from Tsawwassen, about an hour south of Vancouver. Vehicle reservations, at no extra charge, are recommended and are required on some sailings on these routes.

If you're planning several sailings on BC Ferries, you may save some money with BC Ferries SailPass, which offers multiple crossings for a set fare.

Gulf Islands Water Taxi runs passengers and bicycles between Salt Spring, Mayne, and Galiano islands. The boats run Wednesday and Saturday in July and August and on weekdays the rest of the year. On Salt Spring Island the Queen of de Nile runs from Ganges Marina to Ganges town center.

Boat & Ferry Information

BC Ferries (250/386-3431; 888/223-3779 in B.C. www.bcferries.com). Black Ball Transport (250/386-2202 or 360/457-4491. www.ferrytovictoria.com). Gulf Islands Water Taxi (250/537-2510. www.saltspring.com/watertaxi). Queen of de Nile (250/537-5810 Salt Spring Marina). Prince of Whales (888/383-4884. www.princeofwhales.com) Victoria Clipper (206/448-5000 in Seattle; 250/382-8100 in Victoria; 800/888-2535 elsewhere. www.clippervacations.com/). Victoria Express (360/452-8088 or 250/361-9144. www.victoriaexpress.com). Victoria Harbour Ferries (250/708-0201. www.victoriaharbourferry.com). Victoria San Juan Cruises (360/738-8099 or 800/443-4552. www.whales.com). Washington State Ferries (206/464-6400 or 888/808-7977. www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries).