Ferry access to the Pender Islands is to North Pender Island only, with a bridge joining North and South Pender Islands. The islands were once joined by a wide neck of land known as the Indian Portage. A narrow canal was dredged in 1903 to benefit steamship travel through the Gulf Islands, and the islands remained separated until a one-lane bridge was built in 1955.
Pender Island to Vancouver
Route Services
- BC Ferries operates a scheduled ferry service from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in Vancouver to Otter Bay on Pender Island.
- Vehicles and Passengers
- Sailing Time: 1 hour 20 minutes between Pender Island and Tsawwassen non stop, and about 2 hours 15 minutes with stops and/or transfers at Galiano and Mayne Islands.
- Sailings: Up to 3 daily round-trip sailings between Pender Island and Tsawwassen
- Ticket sales and loading end 5 minutes before the scheduled sailing time for both vehicles and walk-on passengers.
- Reservations are recommended for travel between the Southern Gulf Islands and Tsawwassen.
Pender Island to Victoria
Route Services
- BC Ferries operates a scheduled ferry service from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal in Victoria to Otter Bay on Pender Island.
- Vehicles and Passengers
- Sailing Time: 40 minutes non-stop between Swartz Bay and Pender Island, and longer when there are stops and/or transfers at Galiano, Mayne or Saturna Islands.
- Sailings: Up to 8 daily round-trip sailings between Pender Island and Swartz Bay
- Ticket sales will end 5 minutes before the scheduled sailing time for vehicles and 10 minutes before for walk-on passengers.
Pender Island to Gulf Islands
Route Services
- BC Ferries operates inter-island ferry services from Otter Bay on Pender Island to the following Southern Gulf Islands:
Galiano Island (Sturdies Bay)
Mayne Island (Village Bay)
Saltspring Island (Long Harbour)
Saturna Island (Lyall Harbour) - Vehicles and Passengers
- Distance and Sailing Times vary
- Ticket sales and loading end 3 minutes before the scheduled sailing time for vehicles and 5 minutes before the scheduled sailing time for walk-on passengers.
Community Information
- Pender Islands
- Galiano Island
- Mayne Island
- Saltspring Island
- Saturna Island
- Southern Gulf Islands
- Tsawwassen
- Vancouver
- Swartz Bay
- Victoria
Click on the map to view a large scale map of the BC Gulf Islands Ferry Routes, or view BC Ferries’ map of Ferry Routes in BC (PDF format). Make vehicle reservations and check current ferry schedules, ferry fares, capacity conditions at major ferry terminals, and the departure and arrival status of current sailings directly on the BC Ferries website.
BC Ferries Schedules for these Routes
While most people simply refer to Pender Island in the singular, there are two islands, with a combined area of about 34 square kilometres.
Island Hopping
Travelling between the Southern Gulf Islands and Northern Gulf Islands can be accomplished in small hops. Each of these islands is a world unto itself, each with its own history, culture and colourful characters – each island deserves at least a day or two for exploring.