Issued on: Friday, April 18, 2025
Easter Long Weekend
April 18 – April 21, 2025
Easter long weekend is a popular time for travel on the coast. Busy travel days are expected from Friday, April 18 through Monday, April 21 on the following routes:
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay)
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Southern Gulf Islands
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point)
• Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
• Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale)
• Vancouver Island - Gulf Islands
Historically, the most popular day to travel from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast is Friday, from our Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals. Monday is typically the most popular day for travel back to the Lower Mainland.
Customers planning to travel with a vehicle without a reservation should be prepared for sailing waits during popular times to travel. If reservations are sold out, the best option to avoid sailing waits is to travel during less busy times, typically mid-week days and early morning or late evening sailings, or walk on board.
Click here to view Travel Tips and here for Service Notices.
We look forward to welcoming you on board this Easter Long Weekend.
For schedule information and bookings, visit bcferries.com. For up-to-date travel information, check Current Conditions and follow @BCFerries on Twitter.
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)
Horseshoe Bay terminal is located in West Vancouver, at the west end of the Trans-Canada Highway. The terminal is a 25 minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Sailings departing from Horseshoe Bay provide service to Langdale (Sunshine Coast), Snug Cove (Bowen Island) and Departure Bay (Nanaimo).
Loading vehicles during extreme tide conditions
At this terminal, vehicles with very low ground clearance or extended overhangs on the rear axle (e.g., buses, RVs, low-bed vehicles) may be asked to wait for a later sailing when the tide is extremely high or low to avoid damage to the vehicle, vessel and environment.
Check tidal conditions before you travel.
Check-in times
For travel to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) with a reservation – Arrive at the terminal 30 to 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Your booking will not be honoured and travel will be based on your order of arrival at the terminal if you arrive before booking check-in has opened, or after booking check-in has closed.
- Booking check-in for foot passenger groups and vehicles opens 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.
- Booking check-in for foot passenger groups and vehicles closes 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.
For travel without a reservation or on a non-bookable route – Travel is based on your order of arrival at the terminal.
- Ticket sales and check-in close 10 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing departure for foot passengers and vehicles
Assured Loading for travel between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) and Nanaimo (Departure Bay) – If you have an Assured Loading Card and plan to use it, arrive at the terminal 20 to 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure and provide your card to the ticket agent.
Note: Assured Loading is not available for travel between Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) and Sunshine Coast (Langdale).
Transportation from the terminal – Make sure to plan accordingly when arriving on a later sailing as public transit may not be available.
Check here for more information if travelling between Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Texada Island.
If you lost an item while travelling with us, you can:
- Report your lost item to the customer service desk at the terminal
- Call 604-921-7414 Ext. 4
Washroom
Waiting room
Baggage service
Restaurant nearby
Shopping nearby
Parking at Horseshoe Bay terminal is independently operated and managed by Impark.
Capacity: 598 spaces
Short term: 138
Long term: 460
Payment options: Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
- Meters - Pay by License Plate Number in Long Term and Pay by License Plate Number in Short Term
- PayByPhone App- Pay by License Plate Number in Long Term and Pay by License Plate Number in Short Term
- hangTag App- Pay by License Plate Number in Long Term and Short Term
Parking info and rates: Meters require exact change or credit card payment.
Short term lot – Licence Plate Number is required to purchase parking. No need to display ticket on dash.
Lot codes/names and parking operations:
Meter - 1621 (Pay by Licence Plate)
PayByPhone - 1621 (Pay by Licence Plate)
hangTag - HSB Long & Short Term offers Scan to Pay & Text to Pay (Pay by Licence Plate)
Rates:
- $1.00 for 15 minutes, maximum 2 hours
- $4.00 for 1 hour
- $30.00 for each 24 hour period
- Multiple day parking allowed
Long term lot – License Plate Number is required to purchase parking. No need to display ticket on dash.
Lot codes/names and parking operations:
Meter - 1621 (Pay by License Plate Number)
PayByPhone - 1748 (Pay by License Plate Number)
hangTag - HSB Long Term (Pay by License Plate)
Rates:
- $14.00 for 6 hours
- $25.00 for each 24 hours
- $12.50 each additional 12 hour period after the first 24 hours
- Monthly passes available. Contact Impark for availability and rates.
Note:
- If paying by credit card on meter, enter your mobile phone number to receive a text notifying you that your parking is about to expire. You can then follow the text instructions (reply within 5 mins of receiving the text) to extend your parking up to 24 hours.
- You can also pay or extend (start new parking session) your parking without signing up for the PayByPhone app. Visit PayByPhone.com, continue as a guest and follow the instructions (a new parking session will start). Your stall number will be required for long term parking and licence plate number for short term parking.
- Cash acceptance
Meters accept coins only - no change given.
One meter accepts bills/coins and is located in long term lot. For long term parking only.
Parking is not permitted in the aisles. Vehicles will be ticketed and/or towed.
Parking host:
Parking host is available occasionally (7 days/week from 7am - 9pm) for assistance at 778-838-9272.
Towing:
Mitchell's Towing
604-982-0115