There are several ways to get to Salt Spring Island. Most of them are slightly to moderately inefficient, but part of the island charm is the journey itself!
BC Ferries
If you're coming from Vancouver, your ferry options to Salt Spring Island begin from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, which is approximately 40 minutes outside of Vancouver. We strongly suggest reserving your spot on the ferry, as summer months can be incredibly busy and lead to long wait times without.
Salt Spring has three different ports of entry for BC Ferries: Fulford Harbour, Long Harbour and Vesuvius. Yours will depend on the sailings you book, but you'll most likely arrive/depart from Fulford Harbour or Long Harbour.
*View schedules and reserve here
Option 1. Direct ferry from Tsawwassen to Salt Spring Island (1.5 hrs if you snag a direct, 3 hours if you catch the “milk run”)
This ferry requires reservations for all vehicles, cyclists, and walk-ons
This ferry operates on a limited schedule and requires 0 transfers between Tsawwassen and Salt Spring Island. Easy!
Option 2. Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (Victoria) -> Swartz Bay to Salt Spring Island (3ish hours total)*
The most common way to get to Salt Spring from the Lower Mainland is to take the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay in Victoria. After arriving in Swartz Bay, you'll exit the ferry terminal and follow signs for the U-Turn Route (well-marked) to go back inside the Swartz Bay Terminal and line up for the Salt Spring Ferry.
*This would also be a great option for anyone out-of-towners looking to explore Victoria/Vancouver Island for a day/overnight trip. Swartz Bay is less than an hour from downtown Victoria.
Harbour Air (Downtown Vancouver or Richmond YVR departure to Ganges Harbour) (>1 hour)
If you have a way to get around on Salt Spring/are planning to carpool on-island with other guests, a Harbour Air flight is a short and easy way to travel.
*Note: It can be challenging to get around on Salt Spring without a car—BC Transit operates limited buses, and some roads do not have sidewalks for pedestrian walking. If you're from out of town, we suggest renting a car in Vancouver or Victoria to have on-island for the weekend. If you choose to rent a car on the island, you can find a limited inventory online here. Turo is also a good option.