Victoria Travel Tips

Although SALTS does not provide or arrange travel before or after trips, we hope the following information will be useful as you finalize your travel plans.

General Tips

• Book flights and accommodation (if needed) as soon as possible.
• Make sure you are familiar with your travel and accommodation provider’s policies regarding check-in times, identification required at check-in, baggage limits, and minors travelling alone.
• Anyone travelling from outside Canada must know and carefully adhere to Canada’s entrance requirements as provided by Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA.
• Always confirm schedules directly with your travel provider(s); closer to the departure date make sure nothing has changed via their websites or by phone. Most state that schedules are subject to change without notice!
• Summer trainees and V-Crew will have an option during completion of the online profile to join our Travel Share List (highly recommended). The list allows those sailing to connect to coordinate shared transportation or accommodations and is updated as participants opt-in. Post profile submission, joining can be requested by email.

Flight delays and cancellations have been increasing in frequency over the last few years. We suggest arriving at your departure location the day prior to sailing to avoid potentially missing embarkation. 

Transportation

Victoria is located on Vancouver Island, 100km southwest of the city of Vancouver, BC. There are many transportation options for trainees travelling to and from Vancouver Island and from outside Greater Victoria. Tourism Victoria - Getting Here is a great resource with links to these and other transportation options.

Ferries

• BC Ferries operates service between the Swartz Bay Terminal, 30 minutes north of Victoria, and the Metro Vancouver ferry terminal of Tsawwassen. There are frequent sailings during the day with public buses and taxi service available to downtown.
• Black Ball Ferry Line operates the M.V. Coho ferry with up to 3 daily crossings between Victoria’s Inner Harbour and Port Angeles, Washington, USA.
• FRS Clipper offers service once daily each way between Victoria’s Inner Harbour and Seattle or Friday Harbour, Washington, USA.
• Victoria Harbour Ferry provides a fun, local experience to get from a number of docks around Victoria’s Harbour to the SALTS Dock (Chinatown Dock stop).

Airlines

• Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is located about 30 minutes north of downtown Victoria by car.
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Connection through to Victoria by air or by ferry via public or hired transportation.
• Harbour Air and Kenmore Air operate from the Victoria Harbour Airport (YWH) in the Inner Harbour.
• Pacific Coastal Airlines provides flights to and from Victoria International Airport and many locations in British Columbia, all connecting through Vancouver International Airport’s SOUTH Terminal. They also offer charter services.

Local Transportation

• BC Transit provides public bus transportation in Greater Victoria, with regular service to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal and several trips per day to and from the Victoria International Airport YYJ. If you need to change buses for your trip, ask the driver for a day pass upon boarding the first bus. Fares can also be paid using the Umo App. 
• Translink provides public transportation from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.
• BCFerries Connector (operated by The Wilson’s Group) offers service connecting Victoria and Vancouver, with the option to include the ferry crossing and service to both the Victoria and Vancouver airports.
• Vancouver Island Connector (operated by The Wilson’s Group) services areas between Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, and Tofino.
• IslandLink provides service on Vancouver Island between Victoria and Campbell River, including the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo (to Horseshoe Bay) and the Buckley Bay Ferry Terminal (to Denman and Hornby Islands).
• Taxi services or Uber

Accommodation

These sites are good resources for accommodation, transportation and attractions: Tourism Victoria; Super, Natural British Columbia (Hello BC!) - Victoria; Trip Advisor - Victoria Capital Regional District, BC, Canada; Visitor in Victoria.

Gear

If you have forgotten something, or perhaps you are flying and would prefer not to transport all items from the packing list, you can find many items from providers nearby to our dock such as Grove Outdoors Consignment, Robinson’s Outdoor Store, MEC or Value Village.


The information on this page is updated as available. While we strive to provide accurate information, we strongly caution that you check all information for accuracy and contact service providers directly.