GETTING TO TOQUART BAY
Our expedition embarks from the small campsite/boat launch at Toquart Bay, located off Highway#4 on the way to Tofino on west coast of Vancouver Island. By car, it is roughly a good 3 and 1/2 hours drive from Nanaimo, and about 5 hours drive from Victoria. The closest town to our embarkation point of Toquart Bay is Ucluelet, which is roughly a half hours drive from Toquart Bay. Ucluelet is serviced daily by Island Coach Lines from Nanaimo. Some participants opt to stay the night prior to the expedition at a local B&B or motel/hotel in Ucleulet (Upon booking on one of our expeditions, a complete accommodation listing for this area will be provided in your "Expedition Information Kit", complete with directions, "what to bring along", medical form & waiver.) and then either drive or taxi to the embarkation point in the early morning. Many others camp the night before at the campsite at Toquart Bay (Please note that the campsite has no services other whatsoever (other than pit toilets) so if you plan to camp the night before, ensure that you've brought along your own food/water for that night)
To get to Vancouver Island , one can either fly from Vancouver to Nanaimo, take the Ferry and drive, or take the bus.
Getting there by air:
The airport in Nanaimo is located roughly 16 km. (10 miles) south of the city. It is served from Vancouver by both Air Canada/Air BC and Canadian Airlines.
Another option may be to fly from Vancouver to Tofino (if you were planning to visit this picturesque fishing village on your trip) and then make your way to Toquart Bay. Bus service (Island Coach Lines) is available daily to Ucluelet from Tofino (half an hour away).
North Vancouver Air -- Phone: 1-800-228-6608
($215 Cdn. return if booked 14 days in advance)
Ferry Information:
Horseshoe Bay (just north of Vancouver) to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island
Tswwassen (just south of Vancouver) to Duke Point (minutes south of Nanaimo) on Vancouver Island
Tswwassen (just south of Vancouver) to Victoria on Vancouver Island
Port Angeles (on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, USA) to Victoria
Getting There by Bus:
Island Coach Lines (From Victoria or Nanaimo) -- Phone: 1-800-318-0818 -or- (604)-753-4371
Quick Shuttle Service provides regular transportation from Sea Tac airport in Seattle to the Sandman Inn in downtown Vancouver. A one way fare is $38.00 CDN, return fare is $68.00. For more information please call 1-800-665-2122.
Car pooling:
If you are driving to our embarkation point and would like to share the trip up with someone else who is participating on the expedition, let us know. It's a great way of economizing and makes the trip up that much more fun. Also, if you are considering renting a car, you may find that there are others on the same trip who are in a similar situation...