Ferry Routes in the Americas

Greenland

Like in Norway, a "coastal express" service, open to passengers, operated by the company Artic Umiaq Line serves the various villages along the (west) Greenlandic coast.

USA and Canada

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

The SPM Express connects the two islands of the archipelago as well as the Canadian province of Newfoundland.

Alaska

In Alaska, numerous ferries (notably those of AK Ferries) allow you to connect different points along the coast, some of which are otherwise inaccessible. This network, which began in the Aleutian Islands, extends beyond the state and also connects to British Columbia (Canada) and the Seattle region (USA).

Pacific Coast

Continuing along the Pacific coast, British Columbia has a domestic network with the company BC Ferries. The same goes for the Seattle region with the Washington State Ferries. And between the two, services are provided by the company Coho Ferries.

Also worth noting in California are the connections between Los Angeles and Catalina Island with the company Catalina Express.

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River

Around the Great Lakes, you’ll find ferries mainly operating between Michigan and Wisconsin.

On the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, several ferry companies offer crossings. There are also connections between the Magdalen Islands and Prince Edward Island with the Groupe CTMA.

Atlantic Coast

A few ferries operate here and there along the US Atlantic coast, such as in North Carolina, along with some other routes in the Canadian Maritime provinces, including Newfoundland.

Other US Routes

Other local ferry services exist in both the United States and Canada with various companies.

Bahamas

A ferry line operates between Florida and the Bahamas with the company Discovery. There are also inter-island connections with several companies, including Bahamas Ferries.

Mexico

A few ferries connect mainland Mexico to Baja California. Similarly, in the south, in the Yucatán, Cozumel Island is accessible from Playa del Carmen for a few euros round trip.

Panama

There are some small regular boats (or water taxis) between the northeast coast and the Bocas del Toro archipelago.

Dominican Republic - Puerto Rico

A ferry line (Ferries del Caribe) connects the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico for about twelve hours at sea (and a minimum of $160 round trip).

There are also internal connections in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Caribbean

Caribbean (Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia)

Nearly daily services with "L'Express des Îles" connect all these islands (stopovers possible). For example: Guadeloupe/Les Saintes or Marie-Galante (45 min, 15 € one way); Guadeloupe/Dominica (1h45, 50 € minimum one way); Guadeloupe/Martinique (3 hours, 50 € minimum one way); Martinique/St. Lucia or Dominica (1h30, 50 € minimum one way). Check locally or at many travel agencies in mainland France.

Caribbean (various routes)

The Link Ferries connects Anguilla to St. Martin. Internally, Osprey Lines operates routes between Grenada and its dependencies.

There are also several companies for the US Virgin Islands, as well as various boats connecting St. Kitts to Nevis, Trinidad to Tobago, and St. Vincent to the rest of its archipelago.

South America

Argentina - Uruguay

The ferries of Buquebus connect the two countries from Buenos Aires (or Tigre in its suburbs).

Brazil

Regular ferries (or similar) operate along the Amazon (notably between Belém and Manaus) or connect the mainland to various islands in the south of the country.

The company Enasa also operates routes to Marajó Island.

Chile

Both a cruise ship and a ferry, the vessel of Navimag travels from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt in Chilean Patagonia. There are also several other local services in southern Chile.

Venezuela

There is a regular service between Puerto La Cruz or Caracas and the Venezuelan island of Margarita in the Caribbean. There is also, in principle, a ferry between Venezuela and Trinidad.