We are planning on renting a car at YVR, driving to and parking at Tsawwassen terminal, and walking on to the ferry bound for Victoria. Since we're keeping the rental for two weeks, the $ difference was negligible. My question is what is the best way to get to Victoria after arriving at Swartz Bay? Also, what is the best way to get back to Swartz from downtown Victoria? Advice appreciated!

The answer: Your rental car is the best way of getting from the ferry terminal to the attractions around Victdoria.

I am afraid that your logic in leaving your car at Tsawwassen eludes me.
How do you plan on getting around after you arrive at Swartz Bay? It is about 20 miles or so from there to Victoria.
I suppose there are buses, but I don't see the logic in leaving your most convenient form of transportation behind. Why rent a car in the first place? It does not cost THAT much to take a car on the ferry.

To see the sights, and make the trip over worth the effort, I strongly suggest visiting Butchart Gardens. They are special. BUT, they are quite a few miles out from downtown Victoria.
So the logic of renting a car and leaving it behind when you need it for mobility and convenience is not on my wavelength.

You can catch a bus right on the ferry that will take you to downtown Victoria. Costs about $10.50 I think. They announce where the bus ticket counter is on the ferry and when it is open. You could also walk off the ferry and catch a city bus for $2.50. You might have to wait a bit and I don't know how many stops it makes on its way into town, but it might not be a bad way to go if you don't have luggage.

If you do decide to take the car across and don't want to risk sitting in a lineup, add another $30 to the bill for reservations ($15 each way).

I have to agree with another poster, why bother parking your rental car at the ferry terminal, just drive onto the ferry with it and then you won't have any transportation problems while on Vancouver Island. If you know what ferry you want to catch, make a reservation - it will cost an extra $15.00. Go on the website www.bcferry.com to make these reservations.

Thanks for the input. I guess I was trying to avoid the hassle of a car, but I'm hearing that if I want to see the gardens and easily get to and from the ferry landing / Victoria, that the car is the best bet.

If I take the car and land at YVR at 11:55 a.m., would a 3:00 p.m. ferry be doable as far as a reservation? Would 2:00 be pushing it?

Personally I would go for the 3:00 p.m., you could probably make the 2:00 but that would be dependent upon no plane delays, getting your luggage right away, no delays along the way, etc.

I have taken the ferry with my car several times. I never had a reservation and I never missed the boat because of a long line. Of course I went at 9 AM when the morning rush hour traffic had subsided.
And I came back mid day.

A car is not a problem in Victoria except close to the waterfront.
If you have your car, you can travel at your pace and not worry what the bus is doing. By the time you pay several bus fees, you have come close to amortizing the extra cost of driving your car onto the ferry.

Those are big boats by the way.
I think the ones on the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route will hold about 450 vehicles.

There are always a big line of huge trucks on that ferry it seems like.

I didn't bother with reservations at one time either but lately I have always found the ferries busy, even in the off seaason. Maybe it has just been bad luck, but now I reserve if I want to get to the other side by a certain time.

if you are going july, august or september i would definitly reserve. when you consider the cost of a 2 week vacation, this $30 probably worth it. those ferry terminals are dull and i wouldn't want to wait around in them longer then necessary. when you make a reservation, you need to be there at least 40 minutes before sailing or you loose your spot.

I found you could catch a cab (or if'n you're cheap, the airport shuttle) to where the bus from Vancouver to Victoria stops at a hotel (used to be the Delta?) a mile from the airport on Hiway 99. It goes to the ferry, rides across (you have to get off and wander the ferry during the crossing) and then carries on downtown to Victoria.

If that hotel has a rental agency, you can rent the car after taking the bus back...

40 minutes - did they change it? Last time I used a ferry reservation (in May) you had to be there between 30 and 60 minutes before the sailing.

Also, last I heard, the buses stopped going to the Delta but I don't know what the situation is now.