Getting to Galiano
Galiano Island is accessible by boat. You can take BC Ferries from the mainland, Vancouver Island, Pender, Mayne, Saturna and Salt Spring Island. These routes are extremely busy in the summer. Make sure to get to the terminal with plenty of time to line up. The only reservable route is Tsawassen to Galiano and it fills up well in advance. Book your ferry from Tsawassen now! If you’re traveling from Salt Spring Island, be sure to plan well in advance as there are very few sailings between these two islands.
If you’re super-lucky and have your own boat, you can anchor or moor in Montague Harbour, either at the marina or at the provincial park. There’s also a government dock in Sturdies Bay, with limited space available, if you’re just coming in for the day.
We've also setup a tool for carpooling, which brings down costs, helps folks who can't drive and is better for the environment.
Accommodation
The best way to stay on Galiano is to find a friend with a place here and camp there. Consider asking if your other friends can camp with you too.
Campsites are available to book at Montague Provincial Park, but it fills up well in advance. There are some first-come, first-served sites and overflow available. It's helpful to come very early to have a chance at these limited spots. Some folks choose to come a day or two early to beat the Friday rush. There is also a group site at the park that is reservable if you’re coming with a bunch of friends.
You can also find some rental accommodations, but again... they fill up SO fast.
Accessibility
In general
- Subsidized or free tickets to anyone who needs them
- All live performances are streamed free of charge via our twitch for folks who can’t travel or be in live concert settings
- Earplugs are available for free or by donation at music venues
- Venue accessibility is listed below, but we want to make sure you get all the info you need. Please feel free to email us with questions.
- Do you need to know more about what to expect to feel comfortable at any of our events? We will walk you through them to help neurodivergent folks or folks with anxiety or disabilities feel comfortable – including what the venues look like, what kind of shade is available, how loud things are and how many people come, what the stage is like – whatever you need to know! Just email us and we’ll call you to chat you through it.
- If we’ve missed anything we want to know so we can do better. Please get in touch via email and we’ll get right on it.
Venues
Yellowhouse Art Centre: The venue has built in new wheelchair paths throughout the site, but the grounds are still “natural”, so be prepared if you have mobility concerns around gravel/rocky terrain. The bathroom is indoors. To access indoors, there's a step up onto a short wooden deck and a lip to the door. Let us know if there are ways we can help with any barriers this presents! There are all types of places to sit and stand, shaded and not.
Rave the Roof DJ Stage: The grass lawn and dance stage are reached via some fairly potholed driveways, but is wheelchair accessible. We have spaces for folks to sit in the shade and spaces to dance (on feet) in the shade and refreshments available.
Golf Course: This space is not accessible. Be prepared for mosquitos and wear good footwear.
Maker Space at LEÑA Artist Research Centre and Residency: This space is located at the end of a short but rough driveway. The room itself is accessible. Modified tables for wheelchair height can be made available on request.
Do you need to know more about what to expect to feel comfortable at any of our events? We'll walk you through them to help neurodivergent folks or folks with anxiety or disabilities feel comfortable, including what the venues look like, what kind of shade is available, how loud things are, how many people come, what the stage is like, etc., whatever you need to know! Please feel free to email us with questions!
Once you’re here
Things to do
There’s a great festival we can recommend, but also:
- Hiking: trail info and maps
- Swim, paddleboard, kayak at any of our favourite beaches: Montague Provincial Park (accessible), Twiss Beach (path and rocks to scramble over), Morning Beach (path), Pebble Beach (20 min forest walk)
- Rent a boat or scooter: Galiano Adventures
- Rent a paddleboard, canoe, kayak or bike: Gulf Island Kayaking
- Tour the artisan and artist studios: directory
- Farmers Market: Galiano Saturday Market
- Golf: Galiano Golf Course
- Libray: Galiano Island Community Library
- Playgrounds: South Community Hall, Galiano Community School, Lion’s Club
Places to eat
Galiano boasts many amazing restaurants:
Crane and Robin at the Montague Marina
La Leña Pizza Patio at the Galiano Inn
Lola and Pinky’s at Bodega Ridge
Safety
Biking: Galiano is full of winding, hilly roads. If you’re biking on the island, please bring appropriate lights and consider a high-vis vest. Please don’t ride anyway other than single file, and don’t wave cars on past you as visibility doesn’t allow passing in most situations.
Driving: Galiano is full of winding, hilly roads. Please drive the speed limit and go slowly if bikes or pedestrians are on the road. Consider carpooling.
Walking: Galiano is full of winding, hilly roads. Please walk towards oncoming traffic, not with it, unless at a blind corner. Please don’t walk side by side, and use paths like the Sturdies Bay Trail whenever they’re available. Consider high-vis vests if walking at night and definitely carry a flashlight to be seen.
Fires: Fires are Galiano’s BIGGEST fear in summertime. Even more than the winding, hilly roads. PLEASE follow these important rules:
- NO FIRES (campfires or otherwise) unless the Volunteer Fire Departments (North and South) have specifically permitted them
- Smoke and butt out carefully; choose a designated place and use an ashtray; pocket ashtrays are available at the hardware store
- Don’t park in tall grass, the hot car can set the dry grass on fire
- Don’t put glass bottles/bowls etc. on grass as the magnification starts fires.
- NO FIRES
Medical
We have an ambulance station and a rural-sized clinic on Galiano. Our health system is, like everywhere else in BC, overburdened. Please make sure to bring your medications with you (we don’t have a pharmacy). Dial 911 for a medical emergency.