There's only one way to get to Alcatraz, and that's by ferry boat. We have the complete schedule here, and the ticket prices are listed here.
Always ask, "Does this tour allow me to disembark and walk around on Alcatraz?" Some ferry companies will offer you an "Alcatraz Tour" but will only sail around the edge of the island because they do not have permission to dock there. If that's what you want, no problem -- but make sure you know the kind of tour you'll be getting.
Some Tour Operators "scalp" ferry tickets to Alcatraz and increase prices. There is actually only one service that ia allowed to offer transportation to the island, Alcatraz Cruises, which is an official concession partner with the National Park Service. All the other tour companies who include trips to Alcatraz have to go through Alcatraz Cruises.
Unless you are buying a larger guided tour with several destinations for one price, you should only buy your ticket to Alcatraz directly from Alcatraz Cruises to avoid being overcharged. Ask the tour operator what the cost is for the trip to Alcatraz -- under the law they're not supposed to charge you more for that segment than what Alcatraz Cruises charges.
(Note: As of this writing Alcatraz Cruises is not a sponsor of this site. We mention their service because they have an exclusive license on travel to Alcatraz from the National Park Service, not because we're promoting their tours over someone else's.
Alcatraz Cruises also offers combined tours that go both to Angel Island and to Alcatraz. Other tour companies offer a wide array of different San Francisco regional tours, some several days long, that also include Alcatraz.
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