Tofino to Pender Island with a bike

My bike and I are in and we’d like to be in .

We show what transit connections accept bikes. Check with the operator for prices, schedules, and reservations.

Same place twice. You’re already there, so enjoy the ride.

Good news: buses, ferries, trains and flights can carry you and your bike from Tofino to Pender Island.

For scale

As the crow flies192 km

Biking whole way330 km · 18 h 07 m

By car281 km · 4 h 39 m

We found seven ways to get you there, ferries doing the heavy lifting.

🎒 Riding a coach? Most BC coach operators want your bike bagged or boxed. Our field note walks through packing it, including an inexpensive packable bike bag we like: How to bike-and-bus in BC ›

Note: Most carriers carry only a handful of bikes, and summer weekends fill up fast. Reserve where you can. Where you can't, go early or have a backup plan.

Option one · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A shared ride helps bridge the gap.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚗PoparideHwy 4 rideshare (Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Ucluelet - Tofino)Tofino (1st Street) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange143 kmOnly some rides take bikes — look for the bicycle icon on the listingSchedule is variable — check Poparide for driver-listed dates and times

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, A.C. Taxi, Yellow Cab Nanaimo might help.

⛴️HulloHullo (Nanaimo – Vancouver)Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way) →CXH (Vancouver)61 kmBook online ahead — 6 bike spots per sailing, 1 per guest$19.99 one way — $25 in personNo e-bikes — no trailers, 80 in / 50 lb max

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Black Top Cabs, Maclure'S Cabs might help.

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkVancouver Canada Place →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryBridgeport (Richmond) →Tsawwassen (Delta)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)27 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option two · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A carpool, three city buses, and a ferry.

CarrierRideYour bike

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit70 NCX Nanaimo - Cowichan ExpressBay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch →Duncan46 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria ExpressDuncan →Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria)54 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Legislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) to Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria), about 1.3 km. If pedalling it doesn't appeal, Bluebird Cabs, Sidney Taxi might help.

🚎BC Transit70 Swartz Bay / Downtownor the 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (via Saanichton)Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria) →Swartz Bay (North Saanich)29 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option three · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

The same idea as Option two, on different routes.

CarrierRideYour bike

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit75 Saanichton / Royal Oak / DowntownLegislature Exch (Belleville St) Bay G (Victoria) →Brentwood Bay20 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

🚲Travel the short hop from Brentwood Bay to Swartz Bay (North Saanich), about 13 km.

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option four · seven legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

A little bit of everything.

CarrierRideYour bike

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚎BC Transit20/20A Hammond Bay / Doveror the 25 Ferry ShuttleDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Departure Bay (Nanaimo)3.3 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

⛴️BC FerriesHorseshoe Bay – Departure BayDeparture Bay (Nanaimo) →Horseshoe Bay53 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚎TransLink257 Horseshoe Bay ExpressHorseshoe Bay →Stadium-Chinatown (Vancouver)17 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

🚝SkyTrainTransLinkStadium-Chinatown (Vancouver) →Bridgeport (Richmond)Roll on, free — 2 bikes per carAvoid rush hourE-bikes OK

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryBridgeport (Richmond) →Tsawwassen (Delta)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)27 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Show six moreShow fewer

Option five · five legs📅 seasonal📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Same as Option one, but a coach bus instead of the SkyTrain.

CarrierRideYour bike

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Hullo Nanaimo Terminal (Port Way), about 1 km.

🚲Travel the short hop from CXH (Vancouver) to Vancouver Canada Place, about 0.8 km.

🚌Quick Shuttle (Quick Coach Lines / TRAXX)Vancouver – Seattle (SeaTac)Vancouver Canada Place →Bridgeport (Richmond)10 kmBikes accepted — book as an add-on$42 USD each — about $57 CAD

Runs year-round; winter service drops to Friday–Monday only.

🚎TransLink620 Bridgeport Station / Tsawwassen FerryBridgeport (Richmond) →Tsawwassen (Delta)22 kmRack on the bus, free2 bikes — first come, first servedE-bikes OK

The 620 is year-round, roughly hourly, timed to sailings, with two bike-rack spots. On busy summer ferry days the seasonal 900 Bike Bus can carry an extra 10 bikes.

⛴️BC FerriesTsawwassen – Southern Gulf IslandsTsawwassen (Delta) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)27 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Sailing times vary a lot by routing: some trips are about 50 minutes, others run 2 to 3 hours via Swartz Bay. Check the specific sailing before you book.

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option six · five legs📱 schedule erratic — check the Poparide app

Same as Option two, but a ferry instead of the city bus.

CarrierRideYour bike

Only book rides that say they permit bicycles (bike icon on the listing).

🚲Travel the short hop from Downtown Nanaimo Exchange to Bay D at Downtown Nanaimo Exch, about 0.5 km.

🚎BC Transit66 CVX Cowichan - Victoria Expressor the 8 Mill Bay via Telegraph Rd/Duncan via Shawnigan Lk or the 9 Mill Bay via Shawnigan Lk/Duncan via Telegraph RdDuncan →Deloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay)17 kmFront rack, no fee — 2 bikes, first come; space not guaranteedE-bikes under 25 kg only — lithium battery off the bike and carried on board

⛴️BC FerriesBrentwood Bay – Mill BayDeloume Park & Ride (Mill Bay) →Brentwood Bay12 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

Daily, with fewer sailings on Sundays.

🚲Travel the short hop from Brentwood Bay to Swartz Bay (North Saanich), about 13 km.

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Option seven · three legs✈ the splurge📅 seasonal

Treat yourself: wings over the water.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚲First, get from Central Tofino to YAZ (Tofino), about 12 km. Ride it, or take a local bus or taxi.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver (YVR South) – Tofino-Long Beach (wheeled, seasonal)YAZ (Tofino) →YVR South Terminal (Vancouver)191 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking

Wheeled aircraft from YVR South terminal; seasonal.

🛩️Harbour AirVancouver (YVR South) – Victoria (wheeled)YVR South Terminal (Vancouver) →YYJ (Victoria)62 kmFront wheel must come off$20 handling fee — bike weight counts toward your baggage allowanceNot on the Twin Otter — other floatplanes are fine; confirm when booking

Wheeled aircraft from YVR South terminal, not the downtown harbour.

🚲Travel the short hop from YYJ (Victoria) to Swartz Bay (North Saanich), about 4.7 km.

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Not an option · four legs🚫 not possible with a bike

Two coach buses, a city bus, and a ferry.

🚫 This chain exists, but Island Link does not carry bikes, so it cannot work with yours. We show it so you can see where the connection breaks.

CarrierRideYour bike

🚌Island LinkTofino Express BusTofino (1st Street) →Downtown Nanaimo Exchange162 kmDoes not carry bikes

🚌Island LinkVictoria Express BusDowntown Nanaimo Exchange →Douglas St at Pandora Ave (Victoria)92 kmDoes not carry bikes

⛴️BC FerriesSwartz Bay – Southern Gulf IslandsSwartz Bay (North Saanich) →Otter Bay (Pender Island)14 kmRoll on, free — no reservation neededE-bikes OK — no charging on board

🚲You arrive at Otter Bay (Pender Island).

Not an option · five legs🚫 not possible with a bike

A coach bus, two ferries, a SkyTrain, and a city bus.