No ferry? No Problem!

Island Express Charters

Recently, The Seattle Times published an article highlighting a new alternative to the state-operated ferry service. On a trial basis until June 1st, the Department of Transportation is offering a water taxi to transport foot passengers between San Juan, Orcas, Shaw, Lopez islands, and Anacortes.

For those of us living on non-ferry-served islands, water taxis have been a reliable solution for years. Of the approximately 176 islands in the San Juan Archipelago, only four are served by the state ferry system. Many people don’t realize that water taxis are a far more efficient option for island travel. For example, I can get from the dock in Anacortes to my kitchen on Decatur Island in just 25 minutes. I arrive 15 minutes before departure, avoid long lines, and even receive help loading and unloading my items.

Water taxis are dependable, offering multiple daily runs to the islands. If you own waterfront property, they can often drop you off right at your doorstep. Additionally, they provide exceptional convenience for delivering essentials like groceries, fuel, building materials, and prescriptions, or even picking up items from the hardware or auto parts store—all for a small freight fee.

Having moved from a ferry-served island (Orcas) to a non-ferry-served island 40 years ago, I’ve never looked back. My time is simply too valuable to spend waiting in lines. The water taxi service has been a game-changer—efficient, practical, and always there when you need it!

Paraclete Charters unloading on Decatur Island.