A small island 22 miles south of Los Angeles, Santa Catalina is part of the eight Channel Islands archipelago. The main and only official town in Catalina is Avalon, with the unincorporated Village of Two Harbors being the other center of population. Primarily a tourist spot, Catalina offers tons to do. Take a glass bottom boat tour of the reefs and shipwrecks in the area or take a zip line eco-tour across Descanso Canyon. The best way to get to the island is by boat; many ports in Southern California will get you there.
In business for almost 30 years, the Catalina Express offers up to 30 departures a day from two ports in Long Beach and one each in San Pedro and Dana Point. With drop-offs at both Avalon and Two Harbors, the Catalina Express offers you flexibility with departures starting at 8:00 a.m. and running until 9:45, depending on the port. Although reservations are not required, they are recommended, as departure times often sell out, especially during the peak season. Travel time to the island depends on where you depart from, but you can expect the trip to Avalon to last around an hour and the trip to Two Harbors to be an additional 45 minutes. The Queen Mary port in Long Beach does not accommodate regularly scheduled service but rather services the Catalina Classics Camps and charters.
Catalina Express
800-481-3470
[email protected]
catalinaexpress.com
Born out of an increasing need for a port location in the Los Angeles Area, the Catalina-Marina Del Rey Flyer offers services from Fisherman's Village to Avalon or Two Harbors. The 149-passenger catamaran caters to those living in Santa Monica, Malibu, the West Side, the South Bay, and all the cities in between. The Catalina-Marina Del Rey Flyer offers only one departure time, at 9:15 a.m. and one return time, 4 p.m. for Two Harbors and 5 p.m. for Avalon. It does not offer ferry services on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and the ride from Marina Del Rey takes approximately two hours, depending on the weather.
Catalina-Marina Del Rey Flyer
13737 Fiji Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
310-305-7250
[email protected]
catalinaferries.com
Departing from the Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach and serving the residents of Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego county, the Catalina Flyer is the largest catamaran to Catalina Island. Offering only services to Avalon, the ferry provides just one departure and one return time, leaving Balboa at 9 a.m. and departing Avalon at 4:30 p.m. The ride lasts about 75 minutes and offers sweeping sun decks and a full-service cocktail lounge. Reservations, which are highly recommended, can be made either online or by phone.
Catalina Flyer
400 Main St.
Newport Beach, CA
800-830-7744
catalinainfo.com
