Travel and Accomodation
DRIVING
Two options (which is best will depend on where you are coming from).
1. Drive to Vancouver and ferry from the Tsawwassen Terminal to Long Harbor on Salt Spring Island (3 hours - because the ferry stops at 3 other islands before Salt Spring Island or the direct ferry - 1.5 hours but has limited sailings). Reservations are recommended.
2. If you are on Vancouver Island you have 2 options. If you are close to Victoria or Sidney, then you should take the ferry from Swartz Bay Terminal (by Sidney) to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island (35-minute ferry sailing). The second option is if you are from further up Vancouver Island, like in Nanaimo, Parksville or Courtney-Comox area then taking the ferry from Crofton on Vancouver Island to Vesuvius Ferry Terminal on Salt Spring Island is the best option. It’s only a 25-minute sailing and Stone Bridge Island Farm (the wedding venue) is only 2-3 minutes away from the Vesuvius Ferry Terminal.
3. If you’re in Washington State or Oregon and wish to drive. Drive to Port Angeles, WA, and ferry to Victoria (90-minutes). Then, drive to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (30 minutes) and ferry to Salt Spring Island (35 minutes). Alternatively you can drive to Tswassen and ferry from there.
Link for ferry reservations: https://www.bcferries.com/ (Schedules also found on website)
FLYING (INTO VICTORIA)
• From Victoria airport - you can either drive, taxi, or shuttle to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (15 minutes). • Take the ferry to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island (35 minutes).
FLYING (INTO VANCOUVER)
Rental cars are available at YVR airport: https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/transportation/car-rentals
• From Vancouver airport, you can either drive, taxi, Uber or shuttle to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (30 minutes).
• Take the ferry to Long Harbour ferry terminal on Salt Spring Island (3 hours or 1.5 hours (if you can get the direct ferry). Reservations are strongly recommended if you have a vehicle via BC ferries website).
OR
• From the Vancouver airport south terminal, take a seaplane directly to Ganges, Salt Spring Island (30 minutes). This is technically more expensive (although the cost of the cab from the airport to the ferry terminal can make that a wash), but it is super easy and saves a bunch of time.
Link to Seaplane: https://harbourair.com
• BC Transit also has decent service around Salt Spring Island. In particular, Route 2 takes you directly from the Fulford Ferry into Ganges, and Route 7 from the Long Harbour Ferry to Ganges.
• Salt Spring Taxi Please note – taxis on island only take cash (USD is ok) or Interac-E-transfer (useful for Canadians only).
• Taxi/Shuttle from Victoria Airport to Ferry Terminal.
• Ferry Schedule from Victoria (Swartz Bay) to Salt Spring (Fulford Harbor) • Ferry Schedule from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Salt Spring (Long Harbour) • Ferry Schedule from Vancouver Island (Crofton) to Salt Spring (Vesuvius Harbour)
Ferry reservations for Tsawwassen - Long Harbour and for Tsawwassen - Swartz Bay - Fulford Harbour and for Port Angeles-Victoria are strongly recommended in the summer months (particularly if you have a vehicle).
Please note: Reservations are not available for the Swartz Bay – Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island ferry sailings. But they sail regularly (every 1 – 2 hours depending on the time of day) during the busy summer months
It is strongly recommended that you book your accomodation and ferries far in advance as they do book up quickly. :)
2 bedroom cottages about 10 minutes away from the wedding property
Hotel in Village of Ganges. Saturday morning market in the town, walkable to restaurants. 10 minute drive to the wedding venue. (shuttle available)
Hotel near the town of Ganges. Shuttle available to wedding venue (approximately 10 minutes away).
2-3 bedroom condos located in the village of Ganges. Shuttle available to wedding venue. Saturday morning market in town.
Cottages on St. Marys lake (10 minutes away from wedding venue)
Cottages on St. Marys lake (7 minutes from wedding venue)
Cottages on St.Marys lake. (10 minutes from wedding venue)
Located in Ganges village. Walkable to restaurants and the Saturday morning market. 10 minutes away from wedding venue