By Bus in Victoria and Vancouver Island

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By Bus

Pacific Coach Lines operates frequent daily service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria. The bus travels on the ferry, so transfers are seamless.

BC Transit serves Victoria and surrounding areas, including the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, Victoria International Airport, Butchart Gardens, Sidney, and Sooke. Double-decker buses operate on some routes. A single-zone fare is $C2.25 (exact change only), and an all-day pass costs C$7. The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle, run by Gray Line West, runs half-hourly service from downtown Victoria to Butchart Gardens. The C$39 fare includes admission to the gardens; you can include a stop at Butterfly Gardens (admission included) for an extra C$10. Duncan Transit, a separate BC Transit network, serves the Cowichan Valley. At press time, a small-bus system was planned to start operating on Salt Spring Island in 2008. Currently, the Ganges Faerie Mini Shuttle serves the ferry terminals and the village of Ganges. The other Gulf Islands don't have transit services.

Bus Information

BC Transit (250/382-6161 Victoria; 250/746-9899 Duncan Transit. www.bctransit.com). Ganges Faerie Mini Shuttle (250/537-6758 or 250/538-9007. www.gangesfaerie.com). Gray Line West (250/388-6539 or 800/663-8390. www.graylinewest.com). Pacific Coach Lines (604/662-8074 in Vancouver; 250/385-4411 in Victoria; 800/661-1725 elsewhere. www.pacificcoach.com).