Ferries from the United States
Travellers from the United States have several options. Coach
and ferry inclusive arrangements are offered by Gray Lines of
Seattle, who operate a once-daily service in each direction between
Seattle and Victoria (currently leaves 5.30am; $39 one-way, $70
return; tel 250/344-5248, 206/626-5208 or 1-800/544-0739).
Washington State Ferries, 2499 Ocean Ave, Sidney (in Victoria tel
250/381-1551 or 250/656-1531 in Sidney, in Seattle tel 206/464-6400
or 1-888/808-7977 in Washington only) runs ferries from Anacortes,
ninety minutes north of Seattle, to Sidney, thirty minutes (and
30km) north of Victoria (summer 2 daily in each direction, winter 1
daily; 3hr-3hr 30min), with one of the two summer departures
travelling via Orcas and Friday Harbor on the San Juan Islands.
Passenger fares are around US$7 (US$2 from the San Juan Islands), a
car and driver US$37 (US$15 from the San Juan Islands). Car
reservations are required from Orcas and Friday Harbor and can be
made by calling at least a day in advance (tel 360/378-4777 in
Friday Harbor).
Black Ball Transport, 430 Belleville St, Victoria (in BC tel
250/386-2202, in Washington tel 360/457-4491 or 1-800/633-1589)
operates a ferry across the Juan de Fuca Strait between Port
Angeles on Washington's Olympic Peninsula right to Victoria's Inner
Harbour (1-4 daily; 95min). Passenger fares are around US$7 and
US$29 for cars. Reservations are not accepted. Car drivers should
call ahead in summer to have some idea of how long they'll have to
wait.
For foot passengers, and day-trippers in particular, a speedier
option is Victoria Express's service from Port Angeles (2 daily
late May to late June & Sept to mid-Oct; late June to Aug 3
daily; 55min) to Victoria's Inner Harbour. The fare is US$12.50
one-way, US$25 return. Ferries run only from mid-May to mid-Oct.
For information and reservations, call 250/361-9144 (Canada), tel
360/452-8088 (Port Angeles) or tel 1-800/633-1589 (Washington).
Alternatively, the 300-passenger-only Victoria Clipper
catamaran travels between Pier 69 in downtown Seattle and
Victoria's Inner Harbour in three hours or two hours if you take
the more "Turbojet" departures (250 Bellevue St, Victoria; tel
250/382-8100 in Victoria, tel 206/448-5000 in Seattle or
1-800/888-2535 outside Seattle and BC). There is one sailing daily
in each direction from January to March and mid-September to
December; two sailings daily in the first half of May and second
half of September; and four sailings daily from mid-May to
mid-September. Tickets prices vary according to season - US$55
single, US$91 return off-season, US$60/99 for three-hour crossings
and US$69/115 for the Turbojet in summer.
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