Catalina Visitor Info

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Getting There

The most common way to get to and from the island is on the Catalina Express ferryboat (tel. 800/481-3470; www.catalinaexpress.com), which operates up to 30 daily departures year-round from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point. High-speed catamarans make the trip in about an hour. Captain's and Commodore Lunge upgrades are available. Round-trip fares are $59 for adults, $53 for seniors 55 and over, $46 for children ages 2 to 11, and $4 for infants. Fares for Dana Point are $2 more, except for infants. In San Pedro, the Catalina Express departs from the Sea/Air Terminal, Berth 95; take the Harbor Freeway (I-110) south to the Harbor Boulevard exit, and then follow signs to the terminal. In Long Beach, boats leave from the Catalina Landing; take the 710 Freeway south into Long Beach. Stay to the left, follow signs to downtown, and exit Golden Shore. Turn right at the stop sign and follow around to the terminal on the right. Parking is in the parking structure on the left. In Dana Point, boats depart from Dana Wharf Sportfishing. From San Diego, take I-5 North and exit at Beach Cities Hwy 1, left at Dana Point Harbor Drive, then left at Golden Lantern. Call ahead for reservations. Note: Check-in at the ticket window is required and begins 1 hour prior to each departure. Passengers must be checked in, holding tickets, and ready to board 15 minutes prior to departure, or the reservation will be canceled and the credit card will be charged for the full amount of the round-trip fare. Luggage is limited to 70 pounds per person; reservations are necessary for bicycles, surfboards, and dive tanks; and there are restrictions on transporting pets. You can leave your car at designated lots at each departure terminal; the parking fee is around $10 per 24-hour period.

The Catalina Flyer, 400 Main St., Balboa (tel. 949/673-5245; www.catalinainfo.com), the largest passenger-carrying catamaran on the West Coast, departs daily from Newport Beach's historic Balboa Pavilion. The boat leaves once a day at 9am and returns to Newport at 4:30pm daily. Travel time is about 75 minutes each way. Round-trip fares are $61 for adults, $46 for children 3 to 12, $56 for seniors, and $4 for infants. Pets are not allowed.

Island Express Helicopter Service, 900 Queens Way Dr., Long Beach (tel. 800/2-AVALON or 310/510-2525; www.islandexpress.com), flies from Long Beach or San Pedro to Avalon in about 15 minutes. The expense is definitely worth the thrill and convenience, particularly if you're prone to seasickness. It flies on demand between 8am and sunset year-round, charging $82 plus tax each way, or $156 round trip. The weight limit for luggage, however, is a mere 25 pounds. It also offers brief air tours over the island; prices vary. In Long Beach, the heliport is located a few hundred yards southwest of the Queen Mary and in San Pedro it's adjacent to the Catalina Express terminal.

Catalina Marina del Rey Flyer, 13737 Fiji Way, Suite C, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 (tel. 310-305-7250; www.catalinaferries.com), departs from Fisherman's Village at Marina del Rey. Schedule varies. Travel time to Avalon is 1[b/f]3/4 hours. Round-trip fare is $62 for adults, $53 for children 2 to 11 years old, $64 for seniors, $6 for infants.

Visitor Information

The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704 (tel. 310/510-1520; fax 310/510-7606; www.CatalinaChamber.com), located on the Green Pleasure Pier, distributes brochures and information on island activities, hotels, and transportation. Call for a free 75-page visitors' guide. Its colorful website, www.CatalinaChamber.com, offers hotel availability and local weather, in addition to updated activities, events, and general information.

Orientation

The picturesque town of Avalon is both the port of entry for the island and the island's only city. From the ferry dock, you can wander along Crescent Avenue, the main road along the beachfront, and easily explore adjacent side streets.

Northwest of Avalon is the village of Two Harbors, accessible by boat or shuttle bus. Its twin bays are favored by pleasure yachts from L.A.'s various marinas, so there's more camaraderie and a less touristy ambience overall.

Getting Around

Once in Avalon, take a Catalina Cab Company taxi (tel. 310/510-0025) from the heliport or dock to your hotel, and enjoy the quick and colorful trip through town (don't blink or you'll miss it). Only a limited number of cars is permitted on the island; visitors are not allowed to drive cars on the island, and most residents motor around in golf carts (many of the homes only have golf cart-size driveways). Don't worry, though -- you'll be able to get everywhere you want to go by renting a cart yourself or just hoofing it, which is what most visitors do.

If you want to explore the area around Avalon beyond where your feet can comfortably carry you, rent a mountain bike or tandem from Brown's Bikes, 107 Pebbly Beach Rd. (tel. 310/510-0986). If you'll be exploring, you'll want to rent a gas-powered golf cart from Cartopia Golf Cart Rentals on Crescent Avenue at Pebbly Beach Road (tel. 310/510-2493), or Island Rentals (tel. 310/510-1456), across from the boat terminal. Both companies offer a map of town for a self-guided tour. Rates are about $40 per hour plus a deposit. You must be 25 or older to drive.