There are several ways of getting to and around Salt Spring Island. If travelling by car, explore the island on a driving route.
Vesuvius, a village on Salt Spring's west coast and roughly parallel with Ganges, hosts hourly service to and from Crofton on Vancouver Island. Typically less congested than the Fulford route, the gentle 20-minute sailing is ideal when travelling here via Nanaimo's Departure Bay and Duke Point terminals.
Long Harbour, just west of Ganges, offers infrequent daily sailings to Vancouver. Non-stop routes are limited to weekends and take just under 90 minutes. Most Long Harbour departures, however, stop at Pender, Mayne and Galiano islands. This enjoyable if extended “milk run” (as its known by Salt Springers) takes three hours. Binoculars and a good book help pass the time nicely.
Public Transit
Ganges Faerie Minishuttle (yes, the name is a classic case of Salt Spring whimsy) operates two regularly scheduled buses that whisk foot passengers from the ferry terminals to the Visitor Centre in Ganges. The buses run daily from early morning through 7pm six days a week. No service on Sundays or statutory holidays.
Air Travel
Seaplanes provide regular service year-round into Ganges Harbour. Saltspring Air offers daily flights to downtown Vancouver (near Canada Place) and the Vancouver International Airport (YVR); the company also offers a variety of beautiful and scenic flightseeing joyrides over the island. Seair Seaplanes and Harbour Air also fly to and from Vancouver International. Kenmore Air flights from Seattle's Lake Union arrive in Ganges four times per week.
Boating
Sailors tie up at public boat moorages in Ganges Harbour. Salt Spring Marina is within steps of Moby's Pub, which offers showers and laundry facilities. The luxury Hastings House Inn and the affordable Harbour House Hotel and Salt Spring Inn are nearby for those seeking a comfortable bed for the night. The Salt Spring Harbour Authority operates three government docks in Ganges Harbour for short-term visitors. Also popular with boaters is the marina in Fulford Harbour.
Gulf Island Water Taxi transports children from Galiano, Mayne, Pender and Saturna islands to class on Salt Spring. Cyclists and other island explorers are invited along for the ride during the school year. Same-day return trips from Salt Spring to Galiano and Mayne islands (Saturdays in July and August) are tailor-made for cycling tours.
Maps
The Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce produces a free map of the island complete with a street finder. It's available at the Visitor Centre in Ganges or online via the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce.
Two specialty maps are available in Ganges bookstores: Salt Spring Out-Of-Doors ($3.95) provides details on where to find a wealth of beaches, boat launches and hiking trails; and the Heritage of Salt Spring Island ($8.95) features a colour map and is particularly useful for cyclists and history buffs.
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