Beautifully remote, Catalina Island sits adjacent to the coast of California. It offers a multitude of wonderful beaches, plenty of activities, and some of the most exciting underwater adventures in the entire nation. Enjoying Catalina Island is the easy part, getting there may prove a little more difficult.
You can arrive at Catalina Island from either Avalon (most popular) or Two Harbors, and the Island is only accessible by ferry or, "The Airport in the Sky", Catalina’s very own airport. The Island is located roughly twenty miles south of San Pedro, and there are many local ferries leaving from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Marina Del Rey that will take you to your awaited destination.
Catalina Express
95 Berth
San Pedro, CA 90731
877-868-2424
Catalina Express offers daily trips to Avalon, year round. There are departures from both San Pedro as well as Long Beach. The journey is roughly one hour long, and it is best to make reservations ahead of time. You should arrive for bordering at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure as well. The Catalina Express has eight boats in their fleet and they serve both refreshments and beverages.
Catalina - Marina Del Rey Flyer
13737 Fiji Way, Suite C2
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
310-305-7250
Departing from Fisherman’s Village in Marina Del Rey, you can reach Catalina Island in roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Marina Del Rey Flyer seats 149 passengers.
If you’re prone to getting sea sick or prefer traveling by air, you may choose to travel by helicopter. This is the fastest way to arrive at Catalina Island, as it takes roughly fifteen minutes. The Island Express Helicopter Service is located in Long Beach, California.
Island Express Helicopter Service
1175 Queens Hwy S
Long Beach, CA 90802
310-510-2525
Island Express offers departures from both Long Beach and San Pedro. You can schedule helicopter service daily from 8:00am until sunset. Cost is $66.50 plus tax one way, and $124.00 plus tax round trip. The helicopter has seating for six passengers in addition to the pilot. Not only is helicopter the quickest way to arrive at the Island, it provides for an incredible view.
The Airport in the Sky
You can also reach Catalina Island by private aircraft. The Airport in the sky is located in the middle of the Island, and the Catalina Conservancy operates it. You can contact the Airport in the Sky here:
Phone (Airport & Terminal): 310-510-0143
The airport’s landing hours are between 8:00am and 7:00pm between April 15th and October 15th. During the rest of the year, landing times are from 8:00am until 5:00pm. There is a $20.00 landing fee for all planes and an additional $5.00 fee for overnight tie-down. They do not sell fuel on the island.
Additional Images (click to enlarge)
