Victoria (Swartz Bay) ↔ Village Bay (Mayne Island)

Arrive early when deck space or a timed island pickup matters. This route is first-come and non-bookable. Swartz Bay stops checking in foot passengers ten minutes before departure and vehicles five minutes before; Village Bay closes check-in five minutes before for both.

Pay at the terminal. Check the current fare guide and effective date instead of saving a price indefinitely. BC Ferries publishes Victoria–Southern Gulf Islands as a return fare, so the fare covers the round trip. Cash, debit, major credit cards and BC Ferries Experience Cards are accepted at terminals.

Swartz Bay has 716 paid spaces, 172 short-term and 544 long-term. Leave a car at Swartz Bay for a longer stay; on Mayne, don't count on a tiny lot being available or overstay its posted limit. Village Bay lists only 12 free spaces outside the terminal, with a 48-hour limit.

Yes, bring the bike. Bikes are free with the passenger fare. Pack lights, water and a repair kit; the terminal has a bike rack, but the island ride is yours to plan. Arrive 30 to 60 minutes early, identify the bicycle at check-in, walk it aboard when directed and secure it on the vehicle deck.

No reservation is available. Swartz Bay–Village Bay is non-bookable, so vehicles load by arrival order, not by reservation. A booking on another BC Ferries route doesn't hold a place here. Check current conditions, enter the correct island lane and keep a later sailing viable on busy days.

It can. You normally remain aboard unless the itinerary explicitly instructs a transfer. Southern Gulf Islands departures use different stop patterns, so two Swartz Bay–Village Bay sailings may take different amounts of time. Check the exact departure's listed stops in the current schedule.

BC Ferries lists Mayne Island Transportation at Village Bay. A bicycle or pre-arranged ride gives a car-free visit far more shape than hoping transport appears at the ramp. Confirm its current service and any pickup arrangement before travel; the terminal page doesn't promise a frequent public bus.

Village Bay lists an accessible washroom, wheelchairs and boarding assistance. It's still the small end of the route, so use Swartz Bay for a wider choice of food, shopping and cash services. Its amenities include a washroom, waiting room, Wi-Fi, bike rack, pet area and picnic space.