Travelling to Sointula
The isolated village of Sointula (Finnish for “Place of Harmony”) was founded in 1901 by a group of Finnish settlers on Malcolm Island in BC.
Sointula lies between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland, northeast of Port McNeill and not far from Alert Bay.
Sointula is a 25 minute ferry ride from Port McNeill.
Travel directions outlined are mainly Vancouver Island based - from Victoria or Nanaimo to Port McNeill.
Travel by Car
Vancouver Island’s Highway 19 runs from Victoria to Port Hardy. The stretch of Highway 19 that extends from Campbell River to Port McNeill is a well maintained, paved, double lane highway with frequent wildlife sightings.
Approximate driving distances times are: Victoria to Port McNeill, 460 km, 5 ½-6 hours Nanaimo to Port McNeill, 340 km, 4 hours
Road Conditions: www.drivebc.com or 1-800-550-4997
SointulaTravel.docx Page 1 of 2 Travel by Air
Pacific Coastal Airlines operate daily scheduled flights between the Port Hardy Airport (YZT) and Vancouver Airport’s South Terminal (YVR) with approximately one hour flying time. These flights leave from a smaller, adjacent airport in Vancouver called the South Terminal. A shuttle bus service runs frequently between Vancouver Main Terminal and the South Terminal.
Pacific Coastal Airlines: www.pacific-coastal.com or 1-800-663-2872 or 604-273-8666.
WestJet has flights to Vancouver (YVR), Victoria (YYJ), Nanaimo (YCD) and Comox (YQQ).
WestJet: www.westjet.com or 1-888-937-8538 (1-888-WESTJET)
Air Canada has flights to Vancouver (YVR), Victoria (YYJ), Nanaimo (YCD) and Comox (YQQ).
Air Canada: www.aircanada.com or 1-888-247-2262
Travel by Ferry
Port McNeill / Alert Bay / Sointula
One ferry shares its services between the Port McNeill to Alert Bay (45 minute crossing) and the Port McNeill to Sointula (25 minute crossing) routes with multiple trips scheduled each day.
Vancouver Island / Vancouver
BC Ferries provides regular vehicle and passenger ferry service between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Major routes are Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver to Departure Bay in Nanaimo; Tsawwassen, south of Richmond (Vancouver), to Duke Point, south of Nanaimo; and, Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay in Saanich (north of Victoria).
BC Ferries: www.bcferries.com or 1-888-223-3779 (1-888-BC FERRY)
Travel by Bus
Daily scheduled service is provided by Greyhound between the Vancouver Island North region and the rest of Vancouver Island, with stops available in most communities. There is a terminal located in Port McNeill.
Approximate times are: Vancouver to Port McNeill – 9 ½ hours Victoria to Port McNeill – 9 hours Nanaimo to Port McNeill – 6 hours
Greyhound: www.greyhound.ca or 1-800-661-8747 (1-800-661-TRIP)
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