| Balboa Island is a small residential community, with a tourist-oriented commercial district, between the peninsula and the mainland. You can reach it from the mainland via the bridge at Jamboree Street, but we chose to ferry over from the peninsula. The Balboa Ferry departs every few minutes from the end of Palm Street north of Balboa Boulevard. You can drive your car onto the Ferry if you’re willing to wait in line (sometimes for an hour or more); pedestrians are usually able to board within a few minutes. The four-minute ride costs 50 cents. Depending on the tide, there may be a step at the end of the boarding ramp, but the boat crew is ready to assist.
From the ferry landing you can travel straight ahead to Balboa Island’s downtown, where you will find galleries, stores, and restaurants; or you can turn left and explore the docks. The walkway is accessible most of the way around the island. Our half-hour trip from the ferry to the far side of the island was a quiet sunset stroll past docks and tiny beaches on the water side and homes and gardens on the other. A low wall separates the walkway from bits of sandy shore.
Restrooms
The public restrooms near the ferry landing on the island side are completely inaccessible. There are new accessible restrooms at the fire station at Marine Avenue and Park Avenue. Enter the restrooms from the street on the left side of the building.
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