Getting Here

Ferries

If driving from British Columbia’s mainland, you’ll need to sail with BC Ferries from one of two points near Vancouver to Vancouver Island. Ferry reservations are highly recommended when coming to Vancouver Island- especially during weekends, holidays, and in the summer high-season. From Nanaimo, it’s about a 2½ – 3 hour drive to Ucluelet depending on road conditions and stops.

1. Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay: The Horseshoe Bay terminal is north of Vancouver and this ferry route takes just under 2 hours, arriving at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay.
2. Tsawwassen to Duke Point: The Tsawwassen terminal is south of the city, closer to the USA border. This ferry route takes approximately 2½ hours, arriving at the Duke Point terminal, about 15 minutes south of Nanaimo.
3. Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay: The Tsawwassen terminal is south of the city, closer to the USA border. This ferry route takes approximately 2 hours, arriving at the Swartz Bay terminal, about 30 minutes north of Victoria.

Click to Visit the BC Ferries Website for Reservations, Schedules and Routes

Air

Fly non-stop to Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ) from Vancouver on daily scheduled flights with Pacific Coastal Airlines. From the airport, you can rent a car or arrange a pick-up with a friend to bring you into town.  Car rentals should be booked in advance to ensure availability. The airport is located about 30 minutes out of Ucluelet.

You can also fly Harbour Air into Tofino Harbour from Victoria or Vancouver. The float plane service is exceptional if you’re looking for a door-to-door Tofino experience. From Tofino, you’ll need to arrange transportation to Ucluelet if a Ucluelet-based tour is on your itinerary.

Visit Pacific Coastal Airlines Website

Visit Harbour Air Website

Visit Budget Car Rental (Tofino)

Car

The most popular way to arrive in Ucluelet is by car, as it offers you the most flexibility of driving around once you get here. Keep up to date with road conditions on DriveBC, as there’s frequently road work that may affect your travel. From Nanaimo, it’s about a 2½ – 3 hour drive to Ucluelet depending on road conditions and stops.

If driving from British Columbia’s mainland, you’ll need to sail with BC Ferries from one of two points near Vancouver to Vancouver Island.

Bus

Fortunately, frequent year-round bus service to Tofino and Ucluelet is available from Vancouver, Victoria, and from most Vancouver Island communities. Tofino Bus is an excellent local option that services Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino, and Ucluelet. An alternative option includes the Vancouver Island Connector, serving multiple communities on Vancouver Island from Victoria to Port Hardy.

Visit the Tofino Bus Website

Visit the Vancouver Island Connector Website

Visit the Island Link Bus Website

Ride Sharing Options

Ride sharing is a popular way to get around Vancouver Island and British Columbia where public transit options may not quite fit with your schedule.

Visit the Province of British Colombia’s Carpooling and Car Sharing Webpage

Visit the Poparide Website

Visit the Share Your Ride Website