With Galiano Island being the first stop on the BC Ferries route to the islands,  the trip is only 50 minutes. In the quiet season, there are just two ferries a day from Tsawwassen, and in the busier summer months, there may be up to 4 sailings a day.

Current schedules are available online, at BC Ferries or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779). If you traveling with a car, reservations are recommended and there is no additional charge for reserving on the Gulf Islands Route. During the peak summer months it may be advisable to reserve as a foot passenger as well. Reservations are only available for the Tsawwassen to Galiano Route, not from Victoria (Swartz Bay).

Parking is available If you want to leave your car behind and travel as a foot passenger. The island is very long and narrow, so keep in mind that with a car, you can explore, and stay, at places further from the ferry terminal.

You can also travel via Victoria on Vancouver Island. Most sailings include a bit of "island-hopping", usually stopping at either Mayne or Pender Island. Again, all sailings to and from Victoria to Galiano Island are not reservable: just be sure to be there in advance, especially on popular sailing days and always in the summer (15 to 20 minutes is slow season but up to 2 hours on peak traveling days).

SCHEDULES

Galiano to Tsawwassen (Vancouver)

Tsawwassen (Vancouver) to Galiano

Galiano to Victoria

Victoria to Galiano

VESSEL FINDER

The vessel finder below will show you where your ferry is.  Please keep in mind that your ferry may appear to be on schedule but can be delayed if a transferring ferry is not.

Private charter boats are also available at the discretion and timing of the passengers, which affords guests the convenience of their own time table as well as privacy. These are reservable and can fit parties of almost any size, though they are more expensive than taking BC ferries.

Visitors and residents arriving by boat can certainly find lots of moorage space. Montague Harbour has moorage, a gas dock and some facilities. Government docks allow transient boaters for a minimal charge (government dock rates), on a first come, first served basis.

Retreat Cove Charter
250-539-9900
kiyo@okuda.ca

In the summer months only (July and August), the school boat becomes an inter-island shuttle: the Gulf Islands "Water Taxi". People (and their bicycles, if they wish) can travel on Saturdays (only) from Galiano to Saltspring, returning in the afternoon. It allows visitors the chance to 'island hop' from Sturdies Bay Village (the Government dock next to the ferry dock) directly into Ganges Village for shopping and the Saturday market, or to connect to other islands.

WATER TAXI

GULF ISLANDS WATER TAXI

Gulf Islands Water Taxi will be operating scheduled runs connecting all of the Southern Gulf Islands as part of the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership’s (SGITP) AquaLink pilot project.

AQUALINK SCHEDULE

PORLIER PASS PROVISIONS

Serving Porlier Pass, Valdes, Reid, North & South Secretary & Thetis Islands
Day Tours/Sightseeing
This summer we are offering sightseeing and day tours

Call 604.230.8115
danwhitevaldes@gmail.com 

BC Ferries
The other alternative for inter-island travel everyday is BC Ferries. Galiano Island can form an easy gateway to the other Gulf Islands, a place to stay for several days, while taking day trips via ferry or water taxi to visit the other Gulf Islands.