Travel to Friday Harbor from British Columbia, Canada – Victoria & Vancouver
San Juan Sea Kayaking
Kayaking Tours in the San Juan Islands near Victoria & Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia, Canada and the cities of Victoria and Vancouver are major tourist destinations. Vancouver is Canada’s largest west coast city and is located on the mainland. West of this great city lies Vancouver Island with the expanse of Georgia Strait separating them. Victoria, the lovely capitol of British Columbia, is located on Vancouver Island.
See another map of the region on this page: Travel to San Juan Island. If you haven’t read the general travel advice for kayaking in the San Juan Islands yet, please take a moment to review the main San Juan Island travel page first!
Many of our kayak tour guests fly in to the Vancouver airport from other Canadian cities instead of Seattle and need some advice on how to get to the San Juan Islands from there. Likewise for those traveling to Victoria or other favorite travel destinations on Vancouver Island.
Remember that travel from Victoria and Vancouver typically require a passport, or at a minimum, an identification card approved by US Immigration. Please refer to them for the border crossing rules that apply to your nationality.
Here’s our travel recommendations for getting to our kayaking tour rendezvous in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island from both Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Travel Advice from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on Vancouver Island
- Washington State Ferries provide sailings from nearby Sidney, B.C., for walk-on and drive-on passengers, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries or 206-464-6400 or 888-808-7977. Visit their website for schedules, fares and parking information. The international sailings will accept reservations and we strongly advise making these as soon as possible.
- San Juan Airlines provides charter service, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 800-874-4434.
- Island Air provides charter service, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 888-378-2376.
- Northwest “Sky Ferry” air charter service will fly you to San Juan Island, Seattle, or other Canadian cities with scenic detours. 360-676-9999.
- North Shore Charters can transport people on their boat between the San Juan Islands and Victoria, www.sanjuancruises.net or 360-376-4855.
Travel Tips from Vancouver, British Columbia, on mainland Canada
- The easiest route is to drive on the freeway from Vancouver to Anacortes, Washington and take the Washington State Ferry to join your San Juan Islands kayak tour. Go to our main San Juan Islands travel page for driving directions, ferry contact info, and important ferry travel tips.
- Catch-A-Train/Amtrak provides daily service from Pacific Central Train Station via Amtrak and Washington State Ferries, https://www.amtrak.com/home or 800-457-3549.
- B.C. Ferries provide daily service from Tsawwassen, B.C. (near Vancouver) to Swartz Bay, B.C. (north of Victoria), www.bcferries.com 888-223-3779 or 250-386-3431. In nearby Sidney, board a Washington State Ferry to Friday Harbor the day before you meet us. This is only recommended for those who want to vacation on Vancouver Island and/or Victoria before their San Juan Islands kayaking tour.
- San Juan Airlines provides charter service, www.sanjuanairlines.com or 800-874-4434.
- Island Air provides charter service, www.sanjuan-islandair.com or 888-378-2376.
- Northwest “Sky Ferry” air charter service will fly you to San Juan Island, Seattle, or Canadian cities with scenic detours. 360-676-9999.
Back to our main page on Travel to San Juan Island.
