VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 188

665-0212, www.harbour-air.com ) has scheduled floatplane flights to Victoria's Inner Har-
bour. Expect to pay around $120 per person each way for any of these flights.
Ferry
BC Ferries (250/386-3431 or 888/223-3779, www.bcferries.com ) links Vancouver and
Victoria with a fleet of ferries that operate year-round. Ferries depart Vancouver from
Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver International Airport (allow one hour by road from down-
town Vancouver) and Horseshoe Bay, on Vancouver's North Shore. They terminate on
Vancouver Island at Swartz Bay, 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of Victoria. On weekends
and holidays, the one-way fare on either route is adult $15.50, child 5-11 $7.75, vehicle
$51.25. Limited vehicle reservations ($15 per booking) are accepted at 604/444-2890 or
888/724-5223, or online at www.bcferries.com .
Bus
The main bus depot (710 Douglas St.) is behind the Fairmont Empress. Pacific Coach
Lines (604/662-7575 or 800/661-1725, www.pacificcoach.com ) operates bus service
between Vancouver's Pacific Central Station and downtown Victoria, via the Tsawwassen-
Swartz Bay ferry. In summer the coaches run hourly, 6am-9pm; rates are $44 one-way,
which includes the ferry fare. The trip takes 3.5 hours. This same company also runs buses
to the Victoria depot from downtown Vancouver hotels ($48 one-way, $90 round-trip) and
from Vancouver International Airport ($48 one-way, $90 round-trip).
GETTING AROUND
Bus
Most of the inner-city attractions can be reached on foot. However, the Victoria Regional
Transit System (250/385-2551, www.transitbc.com ) is excellent, and it's easy to jump on
and off and get everywhere you want to go. Pick up an Explore Victoria brochure at the
information center for details of all the major sights, parks, beaches, and shopping areas
and the buses needed to reach them. Bus fare for travel within the entire city is adult $2.50,
senior or student $1.60. Transfers are good for travel in one direction within 90 minutes of
purchase. A DayPass, valid for one day's unlimited bus travel, costs $5 per person.
Bike
Victoria doesn't have the great network of bicycle paths that Vancouver boasts, but bike-
rental shops are nevertheless plentiful. Try Sports Rent (1950 Government St., 250/
385-7368) or Oak Bay Bicycles (1990 Oak Bay Ave., 250/598-4111). Expect to pay from