Southern Gulf Islands Guides
What the Southern Gulf Islands are, what Active Pass is, how they differ from the San Juans, Salt Spring in particular, and how to reach the islands.
Active Pass
A 5.5 km strait between Galiano and Mayne, the preferred BC Ferries route, and one of the best places in the region to see orcas and eagles from a scheduled sailing.
Read guide →Getting to the Southern Gulf Islands
Which terminals serve which islands, why a direct sailing may not exist on your date, and the difference between passing through the islands and stopping at one.
Read guide →Gulf Islands vs San Juan Islands
Two archipelagos in the same sea, split by an international border. Which is which, why they look identical on a map, and which one you actually want.
Read guide →Salt Spring Island
The largest and busiest Southern Gulf Island, with a real village at Ganges and the Saturday market. How to get there and whether a day trip works.
Read guide →What Are the Southern Gulf Islands?
Salt Spring, Galiano, Mayne, North and South Pender, and Saturna — what each island is actually for, and which the ferry passes.
Read guide →Ready to be on that water: see crossings through Active Pass →