How to get to Galiano Island

If you’re wondering how to get to Galiano Island, whether you’re travelling from Vancouver on the mainland or from Victoria on Vancouver Island, you’ve come to the right place. Galiano is one of the most popular weekend getaways near Vancouver and is just a short ferry ride from both major cities.

But navigating the BC Ferries schedule can be confusing, especially for first-time passengers. So, let’s take the time to break it all down: ferry routes, walk-on options, reservation tips, and even float plan services. Start planning your next Galiano Island adventure here.

Tucked into the Salish Sea, between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland, is Galiano Island. The Island is serviced by several major BC Ferry routes, with multiple daily sailings from both Vancouver (Tsawwassen) and Victoria (Swartz Bay). For those travelling to Galiano from one of the other Southern Gulf Islands, there are also several more roundabout schedules to get you here.

Keep in mind that BC Ferry schedules to and from Galiano Island reflect seasonal traffic, which means during the peak summer season, there are more options daily for getting to Sturdies Bay. During the winter, schedules are adjusted to reflect the slower travel season.

All ferry routes to Galiano serve vehicle traffic, from motorcycles to large RVs and trucks towing boat trailers.

For walk-on passengers and bicycles, no reservations are required on any routes. If you’re traveling with pets, they will need to stay in your vehicle for the duration of the trip or stay in the designated on-board pet area.

Lucky for you, Galiano is the first stop for most sailings from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (on the Vancouver side). Check the schedule to grab one of the short 55-minute sailings to Sturdies Bay. There are usually three or more a day. 

If one of these direct routes doesn’t work, there are alternative routes that hit other islands first, before looping back around to Galiano. These longer routes take anywhere from one hour and 45 minutes to nearly three hours.

This is a reservable route. If you are heading to Galiano with a vehicle from Vancouver, grab a reservation beforehand, especially during peak summer months and long weekends. During the busy warmer months (May through September), you could face a multiple-sailing wait at the terminal if you haven’t booked in advance.

For those heading to Galiano from Swartz Bay (which is on Vancouver Island, close to Victoria), the ferry to Galiano takes a little longer as most routes tour several islands before stopping at Sturdies Bay. 

There are a very limited number of direct sailings from Swartz Bay that take an hour and 15 minutes. But more typical times range from one and a half hours to over two hours, often with a transfer on Mayne Island. On Mayne, you’ll be asked to leave the ferry and circle back around to load onto a different vessel.

This is a non-reservable route, so plan to arrive at the terminal with plenty of time to spare!

While usually less direct, with fewer (or no) daily options, it is possible to travel within the Southern Gulf Islands via ferry. Advance planning is definitely required, and often, you may have to grab a ferry to the Swartz Bay terminal first, then catch the next sailing to Galiano.

Travel time will depend on where you are coming from, but ranges from less than an hour from Salt Spring Island to over three hours via Swartz. Again, many routes require you to transfer vessels on Mayne. 

These are non-reservable routes, so plan to arrive at the terminal with plenty of time!

Schedules change frequently. Before you head to the ferry terminal, check out the BC Ferries Galiano Island Schedule or phone 1-888-223-3779 for assistance. 

Heading to Galiano without a car? No problem! BC Ferries is easy to navigate, even if you don’t have a car.

From Vancouver, you’ll have to make your way to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, which is about an hour by public transit from downtown. If you’re walking or biking to a Galiano Island-bound ferry, you will not need a reservation.

From Victoria, take public transit to Swartz Bay. From downtown, a bus to the ferry terminals takes between 60 and 90 minutes. Again, you do not need a reservation.

While waiting at either terminal for your Galiano-bound ferry, always pay attention to the announcements. Often, several ferries are arriving and departing simultaneously, and you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss your loading time.

The same goes for once you are on board. Your ferry may be bouncing between islands, or you may be required to transfer on Mayne. Pay attention to the announcements, and you’ll get where you want to go.

• From Vancouver: Set your route along Highway 17 to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. 
• From Victoria: Take Highway 17 towards the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.

Although the inter-island trips and the route from Victoria are non-reservable, you definitely will want to lock in round-trip ferry reservations from Vancouver if you’re driving.

Summer sailings from Tsawwassen to Sturdies Bay fill up fast, and standbys can often face a several-sailing wait on long weekends.

BC Ferries advises arriving at the terminal 45 to 60 minutes early. BC Ferries reserves the right to release your spot without a refund if you haven’t shown up 30 minutes before departure.

No matter where you are travelling from, once you arrive at the ferry terminal, follow Gulf Islands signs to the toll booth to grab your ticket and collect your “Sturdies Bay” dash card, to place in your windshield. The booth agents will direct you to the specific lane bound for Galiano.  

Yes, you can fly to Galiano from Vancouver! While Galiano doesn’t have a landing strip or airport, two local companies offer float plane service here regularly. The float plane landing location is in Montague Harbour.

SeaAir offers daily trips to the Island from the Richmond (YVR) location, while Harbour Air offers private charters here.

There is no greater adventure than a trip to Galiano on board your own boat. The Island offers four moorage options, with the most picturesque and serviced being the Montague Harbour Marina.

Montague Harbour Marina is the full-service moorage option, with zero-ethanol gas and diesel, 15/30-amp power, Wi-Fi, and garbage and recycling services. The on-site market stocks all the grocery essentials and more, while a seasonal restaurant serves sunset views with dinner. 

This is one of the most popular destinations in the summer, and moorage reservations are strongly recommended. Winter and annual contracts are also available. This marina is also serviced by the famous “Pub Bus,” the Hummingbird Pub, a bucket list activity on Galiano Island.

Right next door is the local CRD public dock at Montague Harbour. This is no frills, just three small floats, which mostly caters to Parker and Wise Island residents, emergency vessels, float planes, and visitors bound for Montague Harbour Provincial Marine Park’s mooring buoys. Space is tight, and rafting is mandatory during peak months. 

At the north entrance to Active Pass, you’ll find Sturdies Bay Wharf, which shares an approach with BC Ferries. Half of its 80-foot float is reserved for essential services, and the rest welcomes short stays. There are limited amenities (no power or water), although groceries and fuel are close by in the village. But fair warning: you may be woken up by passing ferries! 

Further north, Spanish Hills and mid-Island Retreat Cove offer quiet, resident-dominated floats where rafting is compulsory. Both provide good anchorages but virtually no shoreside services — supplies are several miles away (Montague Harbour is the closest provisioning point).

Before you set sail in the Southern Gulf Islands, be sure to check out your options and review 

the rules for navigating the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve here.

Galiano is the longest Island in the region, with only a few options for getting around without a vehicle. You’ll need to plan ahead, as services and destinations are spread out.

Currently, there are no taxis on Galiano, but a seasonal summer Community Bus operates a southern loop several times a day, as well as a northbound route with limited daily runs. All-day fare costs $5, and schedules are posted on Facebook. Email galianobus@gmail.com for more information.

If you are planning to walk to your destination on Galiano, the usual rules apply. Roads here are narrow and winding, with no shoulders. Walk against traffic, and pay extra attention to the many blind corners and hills that span the roads. Make sure to wear bright colours and bring a light if walking in rainy weather or after dark.

For the more adventurous pedestrians, you’ll be happy to know that Galiano is chock-full of hiking trails that take you through stunning topography and unique ecosystems. You’ll want to plan a few Galiano hikes during your visit.

For anyone heading to Galiano on a bike packing adventure, here is what you need to know. You’ll disembark the ferry at Sturdies Bay, the southernmost end of the Island. It’s roughly 25 km to the road’s dead-end on the north end, so an out-and-back is approximately 50-plus kilometres, mostly along Porlier Pass.

While fully paved, the road is hilly and narrow, with no shoulder. Often, ferry staff will hold back cyclists to allow vehicle traffic to get a head start and prevent unnecessary congestion behind the bikes. Speaking of which, if you are travelling with others, ride single-file and use pull-outs when cars stack up behind you.

Services thin out quickly once you leave the ferry terminal. The last reliable amenities are the cafés, stores, and washrooms around Montague Harbour. 

No bike? Galiano Adventures rents e-bikes beside the terminal for about CA$100 for a full day. You can also rent a bike from Bodega Ridge’s Pink Geranium Café. 

Again, Galiano is the longest island in the Southern Gulf Islands, with Porlier Pass serving as the primary route from one end to the other. It takes about 30 minutes to navigate from top to bottom. Use Google Maps or a Galiano Island Map available at the ferry terminals, visitor center, and on the ferries themselves to navigate the Island.

The price of a ferry ticket to Galiano Island will all depend on where you are coming from, when you are travelling, and how you intend to get here. But with that said, here’s roughly what you can expect to pay to get to Galiano:

• Walk-Ons and Bikes: From Vancouver, a walk-on ticket is $20, and from Victoria, it’s around $26. Cyclists count as walk-ons, and there are no additional charges for the bike.
• Vehicles: The price for two people and a standard vehicle from Vancouver is approximately $115 one way. From Victoria, the trip costs approximately $70.

How much does it cost to leave Galiano? Like most BC Ferries Gulf Islands routes, it’s free or much cheaper (route-dependent) to head off-island than it is to travel to the Island.

The short and sweet answer to this question is that it all depends on where you are traveling from and what specific sailing you end up on. From both Victoria and Vancouver, the most direct routes take approximately an hour, while the longer, multi-stop routes often take well over two hours. 

If you want to see specific times, always check the BC Ferries Schedule for the most up-to-date information.

How much does it cost to leave Galiano? Like most BC Ferries Gulf Islands routes, it’s free or much cheaper (route-dependent) to head off-island than it is to travel to the Island.

It’s the age-old question: “How late is too late to book your reservation to Galiano?” During the summer season and for weekend trips, book as soon as your dates are confirmed, at least a few weeks in advance. Without a reservation, you may face a one or more sailing wait until there is available space.

Yes, many of the ferries serving Galiano Island offer food and beverage options, though the selection definitely varies depending on the route. At the very least, you’ll have options from the vending machines. But longer and mainline routes often have cafés and lounges with a range of food and drink options.