DIRECTIONS

Getting to The Buccaneer Inn is simple and easy. We are located across from Newcastle Channel in Central Nanaimo and 3 blocks from the British Columbia Ferry Terminal at Departure Bay. Keeping the water in sight and the ferry terminal at the top of your mind will help ease your way to your awaiting suite. Departure Bay Ferry Terminal is very well signposted throughout the community.

We have designed this section so that you can print these detailed directions and take them with you. You can copy and paste each set into a Word document, or print all of the information if you are unsure which port of entry you'll be taking. Having a set of directions in the car always seems to make getting there just a little bit less stressful, doesn't it! 

Need a larger or smaller scale map to our property? Have a look at our map on Google.com. You'll be able to print directions from your home to ours and even have a satellite view of our property and our neighbourhood.

If you have GPS in your vehicle, we are located at 49°11'09.41"N and 123°56'52.81"W. Our address is 1577 Stewart Avenue, Nanaimo, BC, V9S 4E3.

We have provided directions from all the major ports of entry throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island to The Buccaneer Inn. If you require additional assistance or clarification, please contact us at sleepwell@buccaneerinn.com or call 250-753-1246 or toll-free at 1-877-282-6337.

The map on the right gives you a general idea of where Nanaimo is in relation to the rest of the Lower Mainland and indicates the main ferry routes and airports.

B.C. Ferries information and reservations are available at 1-888-BCFERRY or http://www.bcferries.com.

Crossing the Canada - U.S. Border by car? Check the current border wait times here!

Considering other ways to get to Nanaimo? Here's a list of transportation providers on Vancouver Island.

FROM NANAIMO AIRPORT AT CASSIDY (YCD) TO THE BUCCANEER INN, NANAIMO

Pick up your rental car, take the Airporter (about $20 per person one way) or grab a taxi (about $45 one way). There is no public transit from the airport into Nanaimo.

Turn right on to Highway 19 at the traffic signal. Continue through the downtown core of Nanaimo, past Port Place Shopping Centre and the Great Canadian Casino. Within a minute you will see Budget Rent-a-Car on your left-hand side. Go through the next traffic signal. Get into the right hand lane, cross the small bridge with views of Nanaimo Harbour on your right and take the Vancouver Ferry exit on your right. Continue along Stewart Avenue for 2 kilometres. We are located on your left hand side across from The Anchorage Marina and Olympic Boat Centre.

From the Airport to The Buccaneer Inn should take you about 25 minutes.

FROM VANCOUVER VIA B.C. FERRIES TO DEPARTURE BAY, NANAIMO

Take the Trans-Canada Highway 1 to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in northern Vancouver. Crossing time is variable from 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 35 minutes. Expect delays during high volume times. Schedule information is available at 1-888-BCFERRY or at http://www.bcferries.com

You may wish to reserve a non-refundable space on a specific B.C. Ferry crossing. Reservations are advisable if you plan to take a ferry between Vancouver Island and Vancouver on any Friday afternoon or Sunday after 10:30 am during the summer months. Canadian and American long weekends during the summer are also high volume periods for B.C. Ferries. Call B.C. Ferries Reservations @ 1-888-724-5223, toll-free in B.C., or @ 604-444-5288 outside of B.C. This automated touch-tone phone based system requires a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card to guarantee your reservation. An additional $17.50 fee will be charged to your credit card. Make sure you have a pen and paper handy to write down your reservation number!

When you arrive in Departure Bay in Nanaimo, exit the ferry. There are 4 lanes of traffic. Please get into one of the two left lanes. The overhead signs will indicate you are going towards Nanaimo and Victoria. Continue straight through the traffic signal. The Buccaneer Inn in located 3 blocks away on your right hand side.

From Departure Bay Ferry Terminal to the Buccaneer Inn will take less than 1 minute.

FROM VANCOUVER AIRPORT TO HORSESHOE BAY, VANCOUVER

Pick up your rental car and then head away from the Airport on Grant McConachie Way. Follow signs indicating route to Highway 99, northbound to Vancouver. Cross over the Arthur Laing Bridge and continue along Highway 99, also known as Granville Street. Continue northbound for about 70 blocks to the Granville Street Bridge. Cross over the bridge and take the Seymour Street exit. Continue 7 blocks to Georgia Street. Turn left and drive for about 14 blocks to the entrance of Stanley Park. Go through Stanley Park and over the Lions Gate Bridge. Expect delays at Lions Gate Bridge from the early afternoon to after dinnertime. At the north end of the bridge take the exit for West Vancouver, Horseshoe Bay and or Whistler. Crossover a small bridge and get into your right-hand lane. Turn right at the next set of lights at Taylor Way. Continue up this steep hill. At the top of the hill, get into your left lane and turn left for Highway 1. Merge onto the highway and drive along Highway 99 to Horseshoe Bay Terminal.

When you arrive in Departure Bay in Nanaimo, exit the ferry. There are 4 lanes of traffic. Please get into one of the two left lanes. The overhead signs will indicate you are going towards Nanaimo and Victoria. Continue straight through the traffic signal. The Buccaneer Inn in located 3 blocks away on your right hand side.

From Vancouver International Airport to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal should take about 1 hour, not withstanding traffic delays.

Public transit from YVR to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal is very inexpensive and quite convenient. After you exit the Arrivals area walk directly to the main doors of the airport. Cross the large crosswalk and turn right when you reach the opposite side. You will walk by the Hotel Courtesy Shuttle Bus area. Walk to the end of the concourse to the BC Transit bus stop.

Take Bus # 424 'Airport Station' to Airport Station bus stop, about a 6 minute ride. Transfer to the 98 B-Line bus towards Burrard Station, about 24 minutes. Get off at the corner of Granville Street and West Georgia. Walk across the street to the Hudson Bay Company 'the Bay' store. Take the 257 Horseshoe Bay Express to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal, about a 38 minute journey. Total trip is about 1.5 hours. The fare is about $3 and you need exact change. Ask for a transfer at the Airport and your transfer will work on all bus changes. You can plan your trip by going to Translink's website.

When you arrive in Departure Bay in Nanaimo, exit the ferry and walk towards the Foot Passenger Terminal. Continue on towards the only traffic light in sight. Walk straight along Stewart Avenue. The Buccaneer Inn in located 3 blocks away on your right hand side. The walk will take about 15 minutes.

From Vancouver International Airport to The Buccaneer Inn via bus and ferry should take you about 3.5 hours.

FROM VANCOUVER AIRPORT TO NEWCASTLE CHANNEL BY SEA PLANE

Seair offers a convenient service from the YVR Seaplane terminal to Brechin Point on Newcastle Channel, just in front of The Buccaneer Inn.

Exit YVR Airport and take a taxi to the YVR Seaplane Terminal, about a $12 ride. Seair is located in a kiosk on the Fraser River. The flight takes about 20 minutes and is an excellent sightseeing journey. The planes operate only during daylight hours and inclement weather will cause delays or cancellations. Visit Seair for more information.

From Vancouver International Airport to The Buccaneer Inn via sea plane should take you about 1 hour.

FROM VANCOUVER AIRPORT TO TSAWWASSEN FERRY, VANCOUVER

Pick up your rental car and then head away from the Airport on Grant McConachie Way. Follow signs indicating route to Highway 99, southbound. Turn right, southbound, on Highway 99. Continue past Richmond Nature Park and Fantasy Gardens, both on your right-hand side. Drive under the Fraser River through George Massey Tunnel. Expect delays at the tunnel during evening rush hour. Just past the tunnel exit to your right to Highway 17 towards Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.

From the Airport to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal should take 45 minutes not including traffic delays.

FROM VANCOUVER VIA B.C. FERRIES TO DUKE POINT, NANAIMO

Take Highway 17 southbound to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. You will be sailing on the Mid-Island route to Duke Point Ferry Terminal. The crossing time is 2 hours. Expect delays during high volume times and rough weather. See above for schedule and reservation information.

Exit the ferry at Duke Point and continue along Highway 19 for approximately 10 kilometres. Exit northbound to Nanaimo and Highway 1. Continue through the downtown core of Nanaimo, past Port Place Shopping Centre and the Great Canadian Casino. Within a minute you will see Budget Rent-a-Car on your left-hand side. Go through the next traffic signal. Get into the right hand lane, cross the small bridge with views of Nanaimo Harbour on your right and take the Vancouver Ferry exit on your right. Continue along Stewart Avenue for 2 kilometres. We are located on your left hand side across from The Anchorage Marina and Olympic Boat Centre.

From Duke Point Ferry Terminal to The Buccaneer Inn should take you about 23 minutes.

FROM VANCOUVER VIA B.C. FERRIES TO SWARTZ BAY, VICTORIA

Take Highway 17 southbound to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. You will be traveling to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal in Sidney, just outside of Victoria. The crossing time is 1 hour and 35 minutes. Expect delays during high volume times and rough weather. See above schedule and reservation information.

Continue along Highway 17 into Victoria. Spend the day seeing some of the sights we have suggested in our Day Tours South of Nanaimo Section.

Take Douglas Street northbound (Highway 1) over the Malahat to Duncan, Ladysmith and Nanaimo. Continue through the downtown core of Nanaimo, past Port Place Shopping Centre and the Great Canadian Casino. Within a minute you will see Budget Rent-a-Car on your left-hand side. Go through the next traffic signal. Get into the right-hand lane, cross the small bridge with views of Nanaimo Harbour on your right and take the Vancouver Ferry exit on your right. Continue along Stewart Avenue for 2 kilometres. We are located on your left hand side across from The Anchorage Marina and Olympic Boat Centre.

From Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal in Victoria to The Buccaneer Inn should take less than 2 hours.

FROM DOWNTOWN VICTORIA TO THE BUCCANEER INN, NANAIMO

Take Douglas Street northbound (Highway 1) over the Malahat to Duncan, Ladysmith and Nanaimo. Continue through the downtown core of Nanaimo, past Port Place Shopping Centre and the Great Canadian Casino. Within a minute you will see Budget Rent-a-Car on your left-hand side. Go through the next traffic signal. Get into the right-hand lane, cross the small bridge with views of Nanaimo Harbour on your right and take the Vancouver Ferry exit on your right. Continue along Stewart Avenue for 2 kilometres. We are located on your left hand side across from The Anchorage Marina and Olympic Boat Centre.

From downtown Victoria to The Buccaneer Inn should take about 1.75 hours.

FROM PORT HARDY TO THE BUCCANEER INN, NANAIMO

Drive south bound along Highway 19 past Port McNeill, Campbell River and Courtenay. Highway 19 is also known, from Courtenay to Nanaimo, as the Inland Island Highway. It is quicker than Highway 19A, but less scenic. Both routes merge south of Parksville. Continue along Highway 19 towards Nanaimo and follows signs indicating Departure Bay Ferry Terminal. On Highway 19A, drive past Woodgrove Shopping Center on your right, past Long Lake next to the Highway on your left. Follow the highway past Brooks Landing Shopping Center where a Home Hardware and Staples Business Depot are located. Turn left at the second traffic signal after Brooks Landing. Go down Brechin Road to the bottom of the hill and get into the far right lane. The majority of traffic will be turning left towards Departure Bay Ferry. Turn right and The Buccaneer Inn is 3 blocks away on the right.

Alternatively, as you are coming into Nanaimo you can continue along Highway 19 and turn left at Exit 21 onto Northfield Road. Follow Northfield Road through the first traffic signal and turn right onto Highway 19A at the second signal in front of Brooks Landing shopping center. Follow the highway past Brooks Landing Shopping Center where a Home Hardware and Staples Business Depot are located. Turn left at the second traffic signal after Brooks Landing. Go down Brechin Road to the bottom of the hill and get into the far right lane. The majority of traffic will be turning left towards Departure Bay Ferry. Turn right and The Buccaneer Inn is 3 blocks away on the right.

From Port Hardy to The Buccaneer Inn should take about 5 hours.

FROM TOFINO AND UCLUELET TO THE BUCCANEER INN, NANAIMO

From Tofino on Highway 4, turn left at the T-intersection (from Ucluelet, turn right) and continue past Kennedy Lake and Sproat Lake through to Port Alberni. At the intersection of River Road and Johnston Road, follow the signs to Nanaimo and turn left. Continue along Highway 4 and merge, near Parksville onto Highway 19.

Continue along Highway 19 towards Nanaimo and follows signs indicating Departure Bay Ferry Terminal. On Highway 19A, drive past Woodgrove Shopping Center on your right, past Long Lake next to the Highway on your left. Follows the highway past Brooks Landing shopping center where Home Hardware is located. Turn left at the second traffic signal after Brooks Landing. Go down Brechin Road to the bottom of the hill and get into the far right lane. The majority of traffic will be turning left towards Departure Bay Ferry. Turn right and The Buccaneer Inn is 3 blocks away on the right.

Alternatively, as you are coming into Nanaimo you can continue along Highway 19 and turn left at Exit 21 onto Northfield Road. Follow Northfield Road through the first traffic signal and turn right onto Highway 19A at the second signal in front of Brooks Landing shopping center. Follow the highway past Brooks Landing Shopping Center where a Home Hardware and Staples Business Depot are located. Turn left at the second traffic signal after Brooks Landing. Go down Brechin Road to the bottom of the hill and get into the far right lane. The majority of traffic will be turning left towards Departure Bay Ferry. Turn right and The Buccaneer Inn is 3 blocks away on the right.

From Tofino to The Buccaneer Inn should take about 3 hours.

The Buccaneer Inn - Nanaimo BC's highest rated motel since 1998!
1577 Stewart Avenue Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada V9S 4E3
Tel: (250) 753-1246 Fax: (250) 753-0507
Toll Free Reservations (Canada & U.S.A.) 1-877-282-6337 Contact us by email: sleepwell@buccaneerinn.com

Copyright Buccaneer Inn, 1998-2008.
All contents remain the property of The Buccaneer Inn. All rights reserved and vigorously protected.