How to Ferry to Vancouver Island from Washington with dogs
Taking a ferry is routine in certain places of the world but for most of us, it’s an entirely new and unique experience. That “most of us” includes Evan, Penelope (our dog) and I. So we were super eager knowing we’d have to take a ferry to get to Vancouver Island with our van and dog. But even after sailing on several ferries to/around Alaska last summer, we still felt like newbies to the process, and we had a lot of questions. Which ferry should I take? Can you access your car while at sea? Where and when are pets allowed on the decks? What are the amenities on board the ferry to Vancouver Island? If you’re like us and have these questions as well, this blog post is for you!
Table of Contents
Ways To Get To Vancouver Island
Taking The Coho Ferry From Port Angeles
Required Documents For Humans
Required Documents For Pets
How To Get To Vancouver Island
There are two modes of transportation to Vancouver Island - Ferry/Boat and Plane:
Planes: Gives you the freedom to depart from almost anywhere in the world and arrive in any major city on Vancouver Island. The downside is you have to think about transportation once you’re on the island.
Ferry: Gives you the option to travel with your vehicle and pets but limits your initial destinations. If you leave from Canada, you can arrive in Nanaimo or Swartz Bay (close to Victoria). From Washington, you can only arrive in Victoria. This is only an issue if you’re short on time and need to get elsewhere on the island.
We live full-time in our van and travel with our dog Penelope so the choice was obvious, but the departure port wasn’t. We assumed it would be cheaper and shorter to drive into Vancouver (from Washington) and take the BC ferry to Swartz Bay but the price and travel time are virtually the same as leaving from Port Angeles, Washington. Plus one major factor helped with our decision - the Coho Ferry (departing from Port Angeles) allows dogs on the decks, midship lounge, and solarium. BC ferries requires pets to remain in your vehicle or in pet designated areas (a small room made primarily for walk-on passengers with pets).
Taking The Coho Ferry From Port Angeles, WA
Booking: You can book your tickets the day of on Cohoferry.com. Note that advanced booking is recommended in the summer months to ensure you get a spot. We had no issue reserving the day before departing in early June. For two adults and an oversized vehicle (over 18 feet), our tickets totaled $118. Pets travel free!
Pets: Speaking of pets, the main reason we chose to take the Coho Ferry was because of their pet-friendly seating options. It was a beautiful morning when we ferried to Vancouver Island with our dog so we spent most of our 90-minute trip in the open-air solarium. Had it been rainy or cold, we could also hang out in the midship lounge. One thing to note is there is no pet relief area on board so make sure to give them plenty of time to potty before boarding. Every crew member that passed by was happy to see Penelope and that makes all the difference on a good vs great experience!
The Route: The Coho Ferry departs from Port Angeles, otherwise known as the gateway to Olympic National Park and sails across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to get to Vicotria. The strait is known for frequent whale and other sea life sightings. If you aren’t lucky, as we weren’t, there are also beautiful snow-capped mountains jutting out from the Olympic Peninsula to keep things thrilling as you make your way to Vancouver Island.
Amenities on Board: We didn’t take advantage of a single amenity (not even a stop by the cafe) but you can read more about them here. I hear there is free wifi! A luxury we definitely didn’t have on our 36+ ferry trip to Ketchikan, Alaska last summer. Catch up on our Alaska YouTube series here.
Other things to note: You cannot access your vehicle or the car deck while the ship is at sea. Even in the summer, it can be chilly out on the water once the boat starts moving so bring a jacket. Penelope wanted to wear hers too. If you bring a hat, make sure it’s secure. It gets very windy on the decks. And finally, bring a camera!
Required Documents For Humans
You’ll need a valid Passport and Covid Vaccine card or negative Covid test to enter Canada. You also need to complete a few questions on ArriveCan (Canada’s immigration platform) within 72 hours of departure. They’ll ask that you show proof of completion before receiving your boarding pass. You’ll pass through customs after de-boarding with your vehicle in Canada.
Required Documents For Dogs
To enter Canada with you pet(s), you only need their up-to-date Rabbies vaccination documentation. You’re also limited to 40lbs of dog food. We’ve never been asked about either of these things when entering Canada (though land and sea) but it’s important to be aware and prepared.
