Five of the Southern Gulf Islands have BC Ferries service: Salt Spring, Pender, Galiano, Saturna and our home, Mayne. They sit in the Salish Sea between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Each one has its own pace, its own trails and its own way of doing things.
We made this page to help you choose an island, or a few. Here you will find how the ferries link up, tips for hopping between islands, a map of every terminal and a short quiz. Then head to each island's page for the details.
Answer five quick questions and we'll match you with an island.
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Island-hopping here is very doable with a little planning. Sailings between the islands run less often than the big mainland boats, and many stop at more than one island on the way. Mayne's Village Bay sits in the middle, so a lot of inter-island trips stop or transfer here. Pick two or three islands, check the schedule for every leg, and leave room for a slow sailing or a missed connection. Island time is part of the trip.
Routes are drawn as simple lines between terminals, not exact sailing paths. Tap a line or a terminal for details. Always check bcferries.com for the latest schedule.
Tsawwassen · Sturdies Bay (Galiano) · Village Bay (Mayne) · Otter Bay (Pender) · Long Harbour (Salt Spring)
Reservations strongly recommended. Saturna connects by transfer at Mayne or Galiano, or by thru fare via Swartz Bay.
Reservations availableSwartz Bay · Otter Bay (Pender) · Village Bay (Mayne) · Sturdies Bay (Galiano) · Lyall Harbour (Saturna)
Not bookable. Many sailings stop at more than one island, and some Saturna sailings transfer at Mayne. Also carries inter-island travel.
First come, first servedSwartz Bay · Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring)
Not bookable. A short crossing to the south end of Salt Spring.
First come, first servedCrofton · Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring)
Not bookable. Links Salt Spring's west side with Crofton on Vancouver Island.
First come, first servedInter-island sailings are fewer than mainland ones, and some only run on certain days or dates. Look up each leg on the BC Ferries schedule before you book a place to stay.
Sailings between Tsawwassen and the islands take reservations, and BC Ferries strongly recommends them for vehicles. Without one you travel in order of arrival, and summer and holiday sailings fill up.
Sailings between Swartz Bay and the islands can't be booked. Arrive early on busy days. Saturna-bound vehicles that reach the Swartz Bay booth 15 minutes before certain sailings get priority boarding.
Travel between the islands has its own inter-island fare, priced one way and lower than the mainland fare. The Swartz Bay to islands fare is priced as a return. Use the fare calculator on bcferries.com for your exact trip.
If no direct sailing from Tsawwassen suits you, ask the Tsawwassen ticket agent for a thru fare to your island via Swartz Bay. Thru fares can't be bought at the self-serve kiosks. Connections are not guaranteed, so allow extra time.
Long Harbour links to Tsawwassen and the other islands. Fulford Harbour links to Swartz Bay, and Vesuvius Bay links to Crofton on Vancouver Island. Check which terminal your sailing uses before you set out.
Foot passengers skip the vehicle lineups and fares are lower. Salt Spring has a local bus. On the smaller islands, plan on walking, cycling or arranging a ride ahead of time.
Ticket sales close shortly before each sailing: 10 minutes for foot passengers at Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, and about 5 minutes at the island terminals. If you have a reservation, check in earlier than that.
Mayne sits right in the middle of the Southern Gulf Islands, so it is an easy base for day trips to the others. Here is where to start.
It depends on what you want. Salt Spring is the biggest and busiest, while Pender, Galiano, Saturna and Mayne are smaller and quieter. Try our quiz above, then read each island's page.
Sometimes, but it is tight. Some days have sailings that let you spend a few hours on a neighbouring island and come back, and some days do not. Check both legs before you go, and give yourself two or three days if you can.
No, but it helps on the bigger islands. Walking on is cheaper and you skip the vehicle lineups. Salt Spring has a local bus, and on the smaller islands most people walk, cycle or arrange a ride.
Sailings between Tsawwassen and the islands can be booked, and BC Ferries strongly recommends it for vehicles. Sailings from Swartz Bay, between the islands, and on the Crofton and Fulford routes are first come, first served.
From the mainland, ferries leave Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver. From Vancouver Island, they leave Swartz Bay, north of Victoria, and Crofton for Salt Spring's Vesuvius Bay.
Saturna's terminal is Lyall Harbour. Sailings from Swartz Bay go there, often with a stop or transfer at Mayne or Pender. From Tsawwassen you usually transfer at Mayne or Galiano, or take a thru fare via Swartz Bay.
