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Join us in our 14th year! Kayaking Vancouver Island


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Vancouver Island kayaking

Getting Here

Spirit of the West is located on Quadra Island, B.C. Canada. To get to Quadra Island, and all of our tour starting points, you will need to get to Vancouver Island first.

For our Johnstone Strait, Desolation Sound, Discovery Islands, and day tours you will need to get to Quadra Island or Campbell River. For the Nuchatlitz West Coast tour you need to get to Quadra Island / Campbell River or Gold River.

For all driving directions and estimated driving times we reccomend using Mapquest.com or by calling us in the office.

Getting To Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is accessed from mainland British Columbia and Washington State in the U.S. by ferry service or flights. If you are driving from Seattle, allow the full day to get to our area. Vancouver and it's two ferry terminals are approximately 3 hours drive from Seattle.

From Vancouver, ferries go to Victoria or Nanaimo. If you are traveling from south of Vancouver take the Tsawwassen - Nanaimo route. If you are coming through Vancouver take the Horshoe Bay - Nanaimo route. Travelers from the USA can also take ferries from Anacortes, Port Angeles and the Seattle area to Victoria on the south end of the island. Campbell River is 166 miles (265km) North of Victoria on Hwy 19. Campbell River is approximately a 4 hour drive from Victoria, and 2 hrs from Nanaimo.

Getting To Campbell River

Campbell River is centrally located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, 95 miles (153 km) north of Nanaimo on Highway 19 and 166 miles (265 km) north of Victoria on Highway 19. Campbell River Regional Airport (YBL) is approximately 40 minutes from Vancouver by air and 1.5 hours from Lake Union (Seattle).

Getting To Quadra Island

Quadra Island is a 10 minute ferry ride from Campbell River. Ferry Schedule

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Getting To Port McNeil (Mothership tour only)

Port McNeil is located 124 miles (198km) north of Campbell River. To get to Port McNeil you can drive or fly from Seattle or Vancouver. You have the option of flying right from Seattle to downtown Port McNeil by Kenmore Air floatplane. This is the most costly but most direct. The other option is to fly with Pacific Coastal Airlines from Vancouver to Port Hardy (a town near Port McNeil), and from here a 25 minute airport shuttle will take you to our meeting point in Port McNeil. You can have us arrange the transport shuttle or you can contact Port McNeil Airport Shuttle at 1 250 956-8294.

Getting To Gold River

The Nuchatlitz tour starting point is from the town of Gold River on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, approximately a 2 hour drive from Campbell River. If you are traveling without a vehicle you just need to get to Campbell River on Vancouver Island, or Quadra Island our home base, and we can arrange transport for you to Gold River on the morning of the tour. If you are meeting us in Gold River, we meet at the end of the government/public dock. This dock is located apx 5 mins past town- follow the signs for the dock.

Ferry Service To And from Vancouver Island

Click Here for the BC ferry Schedule

Between the City of Vancouver, and Vancouver Island

BC Ferries provides year round vehicle and walk-on ferry service. There are 3 options for ferry routes to the island. BC Ferries info can be found on their Website, or contacted by calling 1-888-223-3779 within the province, and outside of BC at 250 386-3431. For information on reservations call 1 888 724-5223, or out of province call 1 604 444-2890.

Horseshoe Bay (North of Vancouver) to Departure Bay (North of Naniamo) *Sailing time approx. 1 hr and 35min.

Tsawassen (South of Vancouver) to Duke Point (South of Naniamo) *Sailing time approx. 2 hrs

Tsawassen (South of Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (near Victoria) *Sailing time approx. 1 hr and 35min.

From the USA

Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, B.C. (The MV Coho): car and walk-on ferry runs year round except for a brief mid-winter maintenance www.cohoferry.com

Anacortes , WA to Victoria B.C.: Year round vehicle and passenger ferry. Sailing time approx. 3 hrs. Departs Anacortes at 8am and Sidney at 12noon. 1-206-464-4600 or 1 888 808-7977 www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

Seattle , WA to Victoria, B.C. (Victoria Clipper): Passengers only, offers year-round walk-on service. 1 800 888-2535 www.victoriaclipper.com

http://www.victoriaclipper.com/

Air travel To Vancouver Island

From Vancouver:

Pacific Coastal Air flies from Vancouver to Campbell River or Port Hardy. 1 800 663-2872 or 604 273-8666 http://www.pacific-coastal.com

Air Canada offer flights from Vancouver or Seattle to Campbell River, Naniamo, and Victoria. 1-800-247-2262(in Can) or 1 800 776-3000(in US)

Central Mountain Air flies from Vancouver to Campbell River or Comox. 1-888-865-8585 or www.cmair.bc.ca They have the latest flight departing Campbell River for Vancouver if you must make it back to Vancouver the day your trip returns.

Air Canada offer flights from Vancouver or Seattle to Campbell River, Nanaimo, and Victoria. 1-800-247-2262 (in Can) or 1 800 776-3000 (in US) ir

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From Calgary:

Westjet flies between Calgary, Alberta and Comox (a town 45 minutes south of Campbell River). If flying into Comox we have an additional information page on options for traveling north, please contact our office for this page 1 888 937-8538 www.westjet.com If you are going to fly West Jet- book your flight on-line at www.offsetters.com (a website that will then redirect you to the West Jet booking page). If you book through this website, West Jet will pay to offset the carbon emitted by your flight at no charge to you.

From Seattle:

Helijet 1 800 665 4354 http://www.helijet.com

Kenmore Air offers flights floatplane from Seattle to Campbell River or Heriot Bay (on Quadra Island), and Port Hardy (for those joining our Mothership tours). 1 800 543-9595 http://www.kenmoreair.com

Bus Service To Vancouver Island

From Vancouver to Campbell River/Port McNeil:

Vancouver Airport Shuttle Transport between downtown bus terminal and Airport. Leaves every hour. $13 one way. 1 800 668 3141 or 1-694-946-8866 www.yvrairporter.com

Greyhound (Vancouver to the Island) Buses depart downtown Vancouver 5:45am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 2:00pm (Sat. only), 6:00pm. $46 Cdn one way. 1 800 661-8747 www.greyhound.ca

Islandlink Bus Services Provides shuttle bus service between a number of Lower Mainland destinations and Vancouver Island/Campbell River, including Abbotsford, the Vancouver Airport, Whistler and the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. Visit their website for up-to-date schedules and booking information. 1-250-954-8257 or 1-604-970-4990. www.islandlinkbus.com

From Seattle to Victoria or Vancouver:

Quick Shuttle Service Provides regular transportation between Seattle and Vancouver, from airports to city centres. $43 Cdn. one way. from Seattle airport to down town Vancouver. 1-800-665-2122.

Grayline of Seattle From Seattle Airport to downtown Seattle (to meet ferry to Victoria). 1 206 624-5077

US Greyhound Service between downtown Seattle and downtown Vancouver 1 800 231-2222

Bellingham Airporter Service between Seattle Airport and Anacortes Ferry (to Victoria) 1 800 423 4219

Bus Service On Vancouver Island

From Victoria to Campbell River/Port McNeil:

Island Coach Lines Services the whole island. Four to five buses per day to Campbell River ( 5:30am, 9:15am, 1:45pm and 7:20am). One bus per day to Port McNeil. Bus to Port McNeil leaves Victoria at 5:30am, and Campbell River at 12:15pm. 1-888-318-0818 or 1-250-385-4411 www.greyhound.ca

Islandlink Bus Services Provides shuttle bus service between a number of Vancouver Island destinations and Campbell River, including Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino and Courtenay/Comox. Visit their website for up-to-date schedules and booking information. 1-250-954-8257 or 1-604-970-4990. www.islandlinkbus.com

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From Port Hardy Airport to Port McNeil:

Port McNeil Airport Shuttle Transport between Port Hardy airport to Port McNeil (Mothership tours) 1 250 956-8294.

Car Rental Service

Budget 1 800 299 3199 www.budgetvictoria.com

National Tilden 1 800 227 7368 www.nationalcar.ca

Rent a Wreck – (From Campbell River only) 1 800 668 8591 www.rentawreck.ca


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