Should You Take a Seaplane to Victoria from Vancouver? (Harbour Air Review)

I’ve taken the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria quite a few times in my life but this year, I wanted to try something different, something more convenient and something with incredible views. So my family and I boarded a seaplane to Victoria from Vancouver, BC!

We live in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood of Vancouver and walk our dog on Vancouver’s Seawall every day. So we see Harbour Air seaplanes taking off from Vancouver Harbour all the time.

After watching the seaplanes up close (and from the windows of our apartment), we decided to try one out for ourselves on our family trip to Victoria.

My husband, toddler and I took the seaplane to Victoria from Vancouver and back again in June 2026. It was the first time flying in a seaplane for my daughter and me and the second time for my husband, Colin, though it’s been many years since his first flight.

I’ve only ever taken the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria on past trips, as most people do. It’s seen as the default route. I honestly hadn’t even considered taking a seaplane to Victoria until we moved next door to the harbour terminal.

Taking a Harbour Air seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria promises a fast, convenient and beautiful journey. But could it really live up to the hype? And was it worth the cost?

Having flown to Victoria and back, it’s a toss up for me! I loved the convenience and views but the price and motion sickness weren’t ideal. I’m honestly not sure if I’d take a seaplane again.

Below I’ll answer some FAQs about Harbour Air flights, give my full and honest Harbour Air review, point out the pros and cons of seaplane travel, and let you know whether to book your seat on the seaplane or the ferry!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

How long is the seaplane flight to Victoria from Vancouver?

From Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour is 35 minutes by seaplane with Harbour Air. Both of these harbours are located in the downtown cores of each city.

You can also fly from Vancouver Airport YVR South, which is located in Richmond, just outside of Vancouver. From YVR South, it’s a 30 minute seaplane ride to Victoria Harbour.

I wouldn’t go all the way to YVR just to save five minutes on your seaplane ride, unless you’re already living or staying closer to the airport. I’d also argue that the downtown take off going over Stanley Park and Lions Gate Bridge is more scenic.

Book your seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria here!

How much does it cost to take a seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria?

Like all flights, prices vary based on demand. As of August 2026, Harbour Air is advertising flights from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria starting at $99 CAD ($70 USD) one-way.

We paid $97 CAD per person on the way there and $99 CAD per person on the way back for our June 2026 flights. Baby C, who was classed as an infant (0-23 months) and sat on our laps, flew free!

I was actually impressed that we managed to find flights for that low, as I thought they’d be more limited. If you are flexible with your departure day or time, that will help a lot in securing the cheapest price.

It’s important to note that Harbour Air has different fare categories with different pricing: light, value, comfort and flex.

We chose the lowest fare option (light) which meant our flight was non-refundable, non-changeable, and we only had a 10 lb per person luggage allowance.

If you need more flexibility or luggage space, you may want to upgrade to a higher fare class.

However, keep in mind that excess luggage is charged at $3/lb, so depending on ticket prices and how much extra luggage you want to bring, it may make more sense to just pay the excess fee rather than upgrading to a higher fare class.

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Where do the seaplanes depart and arrive?

One of the best parts about the seaplane experience is that the planes take off from downtown Vancouver and land in downtown Victoria.

This is in huge contrast to the ferry, which departs from Tsawwassen (1 hour drive from downtown Vancouver) and arrives in Swartz Bay (45 min drive from downtown Victoria).

We live a 10 minute walk from the Vancouver Harbour – I can actually see seaplanes taking off from my window as I type this – so being able to walk over to our plane was incredibly convenient.

I loved arriving right in Victoria’s Inner Harbour too. Not only was it a beautiful place to arrive with the Fairmont Empress, BC Parliament Buildings and bustling patios to greet us, but it was also only a 10 minute walk to our hotel.

As mentioned above, you can also take a seaplane from Vancouver’s YVR Airport in Richmond to Downtown Victoria.

Travelling elsewhere? Harbour Air flies to 15+ other locations on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast and the mainland including Whistler, Tofino and Seattle!

Do seaplanes fly year-round?

Yes, Harbour Air seaplanes do fly year-round. Some routes and tours are seasonal, but the Vancouver-Victoria route flies all year.

However, like all planes, flights are weather-dependent and can be delayed or cancelled if the weather makes flying unsafe.

Harbour Air has a flight status page where you can check on your flight and will reach out via text or email if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Rain usually isn’t a problem but a friend of mine who flies with Harbour Air often says that fog can be a big issue, as it makes take-offs and landings on the water difficult.

It would also suck to miss out on the views if the weather is really bad, so cross your fingers for clear skies!

Review: Our Harbour Air seaplane experience

We flew with Harbour Air from Vancouver to Victoria and back again in June 2026. We paid for these flight tickets ourselves and Harbour Air doesn’t know I’m writing this review, so as always, my thoughts below are honest and unbiased.

Here’s how it went:

Check in & luggage

For our Vancouver to Victoria flight, we were told we could check in 40 minutes before departure (and must be fully checked in 20 minutes before departure). By some miracle we were running ahead of schedule, so actually arrived 70 minutes before our 4:20pm flight.

The check-in process was extremely fast and simple. There was no one in line when we arrived – and I don’t remember the line every being more than 1-2 parties the entire time we were there.

Colin and I showed ID to confirm our booking and then our bags were weighed. As we booked Light fares, we were only allotted 10 lbs of luggage per person.

It’s important to note that this luggage limit includes everything you want to bring on board, not just your checked bag.

Colin and I had a backpack each, which were weighed. We also had a diaper bag and tote bag full of snacks and toys for Baby C, all of which were weighed. The only thing they didn’t weigh was the small cross-body purse I was wearing.

The weight limit was cumulative – i.e. because there were three of us, we could bring up to 30 lbs of luggage total, not strictly 10 lbs each. This was great as it meant we didn’t have to repack bags if one person’s was heavier than another’s.

We were 5 lbs over during our luggage weigh in (that tote bag full of snacks and toys was heavy!) but the employee checking us in waived the overage and didn’t charge us any extra. If she had, it would’ve been $15 (5 lbs x $3/lb).

We were also asked about any electronics in our luggage and our bags were tagged accordingly. From there, we sent off the bags we wouldn’t need access to during the flight and just kept our diaper bag and snack bag that we’d want at our seats.

After check-in and bag drop were complete, we were told we could hang out in the waiting room until boarding time. We were even offered free tea and coffee!

The waiting area was quite large with a gift shop, cafe, lots of tables and chairs, and an outdoor area with more seating. There were a few other seaplane tour companies using the same waiting space.

On the way back, we arrived 50 minutes ahead of our flight and again had no issues with check-in at Victoria Harbour. We were slightly overweight with our bags but again, the employee just waived the fee since it was only a few pounds.

The waiting room in Victoria is smaller than the one in Vancouver, with a much smaller gift shop and cafe. But it doesn’t seem like as many seaplane companies use it, so you’re not sharing the space with as many people.

We still had no problem finding a seat to relax before boarding!

Boarding

At 4:10pm we were called to go to our departure door for our 4:20pm flight from Vancouver to Victoria. Our boarding passes (a small receipt you receive at check-in) were checked and then we walked down the dock to our plane.

This is a lot less formal than at a regular airport. We basically waived our boarding pass at someone and then were free to wander onto the dock. I actually didn’t know which plane we were heading towards!

If you didn’t send your bags ahead during check-in, you can hand them over at the plane door. You’ll only be able to bring a small personal bag with you onto the flight. We brought my crossbody purse, Baby C’s diaper bag, and the tote bag of snacks and toys.

I’ve never been on a seaplane before, so was surprised by how tight it was and how many seats they fit inside. We had to crouch, bending almost in half, to get in (which was a little tricky while holding a baby).

We were told we could sit wherever we wanted; there are no assigned seats but higher fare classes do get to board first so get first choice. Though I did see the pilot ask some people to move in order to balance out the weight of the plane.

Pro tip: Sit on the lefthand side when taking off from Vancouver Harbour for the best views on your way to Victoria! That’s where Colin sat, though my views on the righthand side weren’t bad either.

Our plane could seat 20 but luckily only had four other passengers on it (so seven total, including us). The seats were quite small with almost no leg room, so it would’ve been very squishy if all 20 seats were filled.

On the way back from Victoria, there were 14 of us on board, and it definitely felt more full. Luckily, Colin and I chose the two single seats at the back (the other rows had three seats), so got a bit more room.

For the flight, you wear two seatbelts around your hips – one connecting to a flotation device and one connecting to the seat. The idea being if you had to land in an emergency, you’d already have your flotation device on you.

PS: They do have seatbelt extenders! Another passenger on our flight asked for one and it wasn’t a problem at all for the pilot to get one for her.

Before we took off, we watched a safety video. Hilariously, because seaplanes are so small, the video was on an iPad that the co-pilot just popped into a holder at the front of the plane.

From there, we were ready for take off!

Book your seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria here!

The flight

Unlike a regular plane, you won’t spend ages taxiing and going down the runway. Once the safety video was over, we were up in the air very quickly and take off was smooth.

One thing you’ll notice about seaplanes: they are loud! There are actually ear plugs provided in the seat backs for everyone because of the intense volume.

Once we were up in the air, I found the flight a bit bumpy, like we were rocking over air bubbles, but not too bad. It also felt strange being in such a tiny plane so high up, knowing I could literally touch the pilots without getting out of my seat.

Overall, I focused on watching the beautiful scenery below and controlling my breathing whenever I got a little panicked. Baby C and Colin were enjoying themselves, so that helped distract me.

It wasn’t until our flight back that things got rough. Unlike our smooth flight to Victoria, the one back to Vancouver got very bumpy.

I am easily susceptible to motion sickness so once we hit that early turbulence, I was down for the count. I handed Baby C back to Colin and spent the rest of the flight willing myself not to throw up.

Baby C was also not a fan of the bumpy flight home. Colin was such a trooper trying to take care of both of us. Luckily the flight was only 35 minutes!

Landing & deplaning

Just like take-off, I found landing to be very smooth. It was cool to land on the water and bop along the waves into the harbour.

Like the boarding process, the deplaning process was also extremely quick. We crouch-shuffled off the plane and waited around on the dock for a few minutes until our bags and stroller had been taken out of the cargo hold.

By that point, the other few passengers had already grabbed their bags and left. We took some photos (gotta memorialize the family’s first seaplane ride!) and then headed off the dock and into Victoria Harbour.

The process flying back into Vancouver was very similar – smooth landing, fast deplaning, then grab your bags and walk off the dock back onto the Vancouver Seawall.

Though, because I was feeling so nauseous on our flight back, I did have to sit at the terminal for a few minutes before I was ready to walk home.

Flying on Harbour Air with a baby/toddler

We flew Harbour Air with our 17 month old. Here’s what you need to know about flying with an infant:

• Passengers under 24 months can fly free as lap-held infants (older children under 16 years old receive discounted fare)
• Each child, regardless of age, is permitted one collapsible stroller and one car seat at no extra charge. These items go in the hold and must meet the aircraft’s size and weight restrictions.

On Harbour Air’s website they say, “Infants under the age of 2, who do not occupy a seat, are not eligible for an additional luggage allowance,” meaning Baby C shouldn’t have received a 10 lb luggage allowance. However, that wasn’t our experience.

On both our flights, we were given a luggage allowance for Baby C, giving us 30 lbs total for our bags (10 lbs x 3 people). Considering we were already overweight with that limit, I’m glad we got that extra 10 lbs for Baby C!

Hopefully you get lucky like we did, but I wouldn’t count on it. Either upgrade to a fare with a larger baggage limit, pack less or prepare to pay for extra baggage ($3/lb).

We did bring Baby C’s stroller which, as per the rules above, was allowed on board at no extra charge. They did weigh the stroller but only so they could balance out the cargo; it didn’t count towards our luggage allowance.

The staff loading our stroller onto the seaplane were very impressed when we rolled up and easily collapsed it with a one-hand fold. Joolz Aer travel stroller for the win!

We were not asked to show ID for Baby C in order for her to board the flight, though Colin and I showed ID for ourselves. This was a domestic flight, but I still thought they might ask for some proof of identity.

When we boarded, one of the pilots came on to explain how the lap infant situation worked. We were told to belt ourselves in and then put Baby C on our laps without a seatbelt. This is different than some standards planes that provide an infant seatbelt.

The pilot gave us an infant life jacket and ear protectors. So don’t worry about buying or bringing your own. However, Baby C straight up refused to wear the ear protection so hopefully the loud seaplane didn’t damage her hearing.

In terms of her experience, Baby C did great on the flight there. She screamed a bit during take-off, but mostly because she really didn’t want to wear the ear protection.

After we gave up on that, she was happy to play with her toys, look out the window, be passed between Mom and Dad, and wave at the other passengers.

In fact, she did so well on our first flight that the other passengers gave her a round of applause once we landed. Baby C, who loves to clap, happily joined in.

Unfortunately, C takes after her mom and was not very happy on our bumpy flight back to Vancouver. She screamed for most of the 35 minutes only calming down when we landed back at the harbour.

Poor Colin had to try and keep her calm the whole time while I fought my own nausea. We apologized to the other passengers when we landed but they all told us not to worry. Hopefully the loud plane noises drowned out her cries!

Pros of taking the seaplane to Victoria from Vancouver

1. It’s fast

Perhaps the biggest pro of taking Harbour Air from Vancouver to Victoria is how much time it saves you. You can fly from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria in just 35 minutes!

Even if you factor in arriving 40 minutes early for check in, that’s still only 75 minutes of travel time. And even then you could probably arrive 20 minutes before to check in, making the whole experience less than an hour!

By contrast, taking the ferry would take one hour to drive from Vancouver to Tsawwassen, 95 minutes on the ferry and 45 minutes from the ferry dock in Swartz Bay to Victoria. You also need to check in at the ferry terminal 30-60 mins ahead of departure.

And that’s with a car! If you’re relying on public transport, you’ll need to add another 30-60 minutes to account for buses, skytrains and waiting times.

So to compare:

• 75 minute seaplane journey (40 min early to check-in, 35 minute flight)
• 4 hr 5 min ferry journey (1 hr from Vancouver, 45 min early to check in, 95 min ferry, 45 min to Victoria) or closer to 5 hrs if you’re taking public transit

Book your seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria here!

2. You fly from downtown to downtown

It’s so convenient to be able to travel from Downtown Vancouver directly to Downtown Victoria, assuming those are your start and end destinations.

Because we were able to travel from downtown core to downtown core, we didn’t need to take any public transit or rent a car. We could simply walk from our apartment to Vancouver Harbour and then walk from Victoria Harbour to our hotel!

Not only is this a huge time saver, but it just makes life so much easier. It was amazing to step off the plane and be in Victoria’s Inner Harbour with the beautiful views and so much going on. No need to commute in from the other side of the island!

3. The views are incredible

If there’s one thing everyone loves about the seaplane, it’s the views. They really are stunning!

In fact, the views are so great that you can go on a scenic tour in a seaplane just to take in the views, without even travelling anywhere. You just take off from Vancouver (or Victoria), go up to see the views, and fly right back.

Book your Vancouver seaplane tour here!

It was so cool to watch the water underneath us as we took off, soar over Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge, look out over islands, mountains and coastline, and land in beautiful Victoria.

Cons of taking the seaplane to Victoria from Vancouver

1. It can be expensive

The main reason most people take the ferry instead of the seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria is cost.

Currently, Harbour Air is advertising flights from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria from $99 CAD ($70 USD) one-way. If you fly from YVR South, that goes down to $79 CAD ($56) one-way.

The standard adult fare for BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay is $21 CAD ($15 USD) one-way. So clearly, much cheaper!

You do have to factor in what it would cost to get to Tsawwassen from Vancouver and to Victoria from Swartz Bay. If you’re taking public transportation, that should only run you a couple of dollars per person, but a rental car will obviously be much more.

If you’re taking your car onto the ferry, the cost is $89 CAD ($63 USD) one-way. You still have to pay the passenger price for each person in the car. And you’ll need to factor in gas, parking and rental car costs, if applicable.

So if you’re only one person with a car, it could be cheaper to fly ($99) than take the ferry ($89 + $21). But if you have a few people in your group or you’re not bringing on a car, the ferry will work out cheaper.

And depending on your trip, having a car in Victoria could be helpful or could be a hindrance. If you’re staying in the downtown core, a car isn’t needed and you’ll just be paying to park it.

But if you’re doing more exploring on Vancouver Island, such as heading out to Tigh Na Mara for a spa day, it may be handy to have a car.

2. Luggage space is limited

Luggage space is much more limited on a small seaplane than a large ferry. And any luggage you do want to bring will cost you!

The cheapest fares on Harbour Air (in the Light fare class) include just 10 lbs of luggage per person; excess luggage is charged at $3/lb. You can pay for a higher fare class with a larger luggage limit, up to 50 lbs/person with the Flex fare.

BC Ferries, on the other hand, is much more generous with their luggage limits. If you’re driving onto the ferry, you can pack your car full with as much luggage as you want and no on will mind!

If you’re walking on, you’re also free to bring pretty much whatever you can carry. They even offer a free checked baggage service for bags up to 50 lbs. Anything heavier than that you’ll have to carry on yourself, but you don’t have to pay for it.

So if you’re an over-packer, that’s going to be an expensive problem on the seaplane.

3. You may get motion sick (or scared!)

For me, the biggest downside to taking a seaplane between Victoria and Vancouver is motion sickness.

As I shared in my review above, we had a pretty bumpy return flight to Vancouver and Baby C and I were not happy about it. I felt miserable and close to puking for most of our 35 minutes in the air. Thank goodness it wasn’t longer!

I am also prone to seasickness, but find that I don’t usually get sick with BC Ferries. The sailing from Vancouver to Victoria is usually very smooth, as you don’t spend much time out in the open ocean with rough waves.

A lot of people are also scared to fly in a seaplane, whether due to motion sickness or just being stuck in a very tiny metal tube as it bobs up and down in the air. To be honest, it freaked me out too!

Wrapping up: Should you take a Harbour Air seaplane to Victoria from Vancouver?

So after all that, should you take a seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria? Well, it depends on your trip and the type of traveller you are!

• If you are short on time, not packing much, not scared or prone to motion sickness, and want the epic views, then yes, take the seaplane!
• If you have a lot of stuff, want to bring your car over, are on a budget, feel nervous about seaplanes and don’t mind a longer travel day, then stick with the ferry.

Overall, I’m glad we tried the seaplane. The views were stunning and it really was such a convenient and fast way to travel from Vancouver to Victoria. It was nice not having to dedicate a full day to getting there.

But I think one seaplane experience might be enough for me. After the bumpy return journey, I’d have a hard time getting back on a seaplane anytime soon.

Plus, I really do love the ferry experience! The views aren’t as unique as from the seaplane, but they’re just as beautiful. I love getting my Triple O’s chicken fingers and caesar salad and sitting out on the deck, watching the islands pass by and searching for whales.

If you want to experience both options, book this Vancouver ↔ Victoria Seaplane Adventure & Return via Bus & Ferry. That way, you can try both the seaplane and the ferry and enjoy the best of both worlds!

I’d love to know: Would you book a Harbour Air seaplane from Vancouver to Victoria? If so, you can book your flight right here.

If the seaplane isn’t for you, stick around for my post on other ways to get to Victoria. And once you’re there, make sure you visit the Parliament Buildings and try afternoon tea.