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The CIEx Difference

Celebrating 32 years – since 1991.

Our founders were some of the first to bring kayakers into sea caves in the 90s, we were the first to lead snorkeling tours in kelp forests, and the first AND ONLY to operate an all islands boat trip within Channel Islands National Park.

PROFESSIONAL CREW MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Channel Islands Expeditions is a guide-owned and operated company – we have been leading trips at the islands since the mid-90s’.

CUSTOM DIVE AND EXPEDITION FLEET

Our fleet of dive and expedition vessels offer guests a safe and comfortable way to experience Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary

CIEx TRIPS ARE THE PERFECT BLEND OF ADVENTURE AND SIGHTSEEING

Offshore islands present both unique opportunities for thrill seeking AND wildlife viewing. We appreciate both and we hope you will too! Each day at the Channel Islands is different and we take full advantage of the season, weather, and wildlife throughout the year.

SEE MORE, DO MORE, PLAN LESS…

If you are planning your trip to the Channel Islands National Park and overwhelmed with logistics and planning… ferries, campsites, tours, etc. you’ve come to the right place. All CIEx trips start and stop from the same land based location and we’ll take care of everything else you need!

Departure Landings

Santa barbara landing, santa barbara, ca, trips from santa barbara harbor.

Marine Emporium Landing, Oxnard, CA

Trips from channel islands harbor, oxnard.

We are a Family Owned and Operated Local Company

Explore channel islands.

(805) 899-4925

Departure Location Information

Be sure to check your confirmation email before leaving for your trip, these harbors are 45 minutes from each other!

Detailed Directions for Trips:

Departing Santa Barbara Harbor

Departing Marine Emporium Landing Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard Shores

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• EPIC Sea Cave Combo Day Trip Downwind Kayaking – Kelp Forest Snorkeling Departs from Oxnard Harbor on the 54′ SUNFISH
• Painted Cave Combo Day Trip Downwind Kayaking – Modified Snorkeling Departs from Santa Barbara on the 64′ TRUTH
• 5 Day Expedition National Park Adult Summer Camp The only all island National Park cruise that checks all of the boxes!
• Call Us: 805-899-4925
• Santa Barbara Departures
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• SCUBA Dive Charters

We are a local, family-owned company that employs professional crew with decades of experience. As owner/operators we are engaged in our daily operations. It takes a lot of human power, planning, and training to operate a safe and sound fleet and team, and we take pride in the expeditions we run.

Traveling to the Channel Islands from the mainland is a distance ranging from 11 to 45 miles (one way) depending on where we depart from and where we go. This journey consumes both time and fuel. Crew and fuel costs account for 50% of the cost of our operations. We operate in US Waters and our vessels are inspected semi-annually by the United States Coast Guard. 

In 2022 we underwent 3 USCG full-vessel inspections (top and bottom side) with ZERO MAJOR* deficiencies and one vessel with ZERO overall deficiencies (TRUTH). Our commitment to running the safest small boat expedition fleet in the world requires resources, and our safety record indicates our resources are going to the correct places. 

Here’s a simple breakdown of the costs per ticket:

The number of passengers on the vessel does affect this breakdown, and so if you’re choosing an expedition or a summer camp with a 24 passenger load, this is why your ticket cost is higher than a full capacity expedition.

Thank you for understanding and supporting these amazing California Expeditions!

CIEx Family

*Minor deficiencies must be corrected within 30 days, major deficiencies must be corrected before carrying passengers again. We correct minor deficiencies as soon as possible.

Expedition Blue Season Pass – 2023 Season

• 2 redemptions for any “Boat Trip Only” ticket per month
• 1 redemption for any “Kayak Expedition” ticket per month
• 1 redemption for any “Snorkeling Expedition” ticket per month
• 4 redemptions for “Santa Barbara Sunset Boat Cruise” per month
• 10% discount on the “Ultimate 5 Day”
• 10% discount on the “Ocean Explorers Liveaboard Camp”

Value – over $3,000 for the season!

Cost – only $399/person/year.

Only Sold Through May 1, 2023

Cortes Bank

Cortes Bank is a chain of underwater pinnacles and plateaus located 137 nautical miles (nm) South by Southeast from Santa Barbara and about 40 nm Southwest of San Clemente Island. Bishop Rock is one of the peaks in the underwater mountain chain that rises to within 6 feet of the surface and is marked by a nearby warning buoy. It was named for the clipper ship Stillwell S. Bishop that struck the rock in 1855 and with a patched hull limped its way back to San Francisco. Nine Fathom spot is about 4.5 miles Northwest of Bishop Rock and rises to about 60 feet below the surface. Both are noted scuba diving locations featuring clear water and abundant sea life.

Scuba diving Cortes Bank with Channel Islands Expeditions is a truly unique experience. It is an open water seamount where currents sweep clean ocean water over the spot and invertebrates cling to the rocks. Sea palms ( Postelsia palmaeformis ) fixed to the rocks provides shelter for smaller fish and invertebrates that hide amongst its fronds. Large clusters of purple hydrocorals can be seen throughout the area as well as tuna, yellowtail, large schools of baitfish, sea lions, and occasional sharks. Large black and white sea bass are common sights as well California sheep head. Lobster divers continue to make this spot a top priority to visit during season and free divers frequent the area in the spring and summer for yellowtail, white sea bass, and tuna. Wreck diving can also be done at this location on the  Abalonia .

Diving at Cortes Bank can be spectacular but anyone who ventures out there needs to be mentally and physically prepared. On any open ocean dive location, one needs to understand that ocean swells and currents are normally present. A flat calm day is rare. When you get good conditions at “The Bank” it will be a dive you will not forget. Sometimes it can be frustrating to get to the bank, but when you do, it can be well worth the effort.

In 1969 a group of promoters bought the World War II surplus troop ship SS  Jalisco , renamed her USS  Abalonia , and sailed her to the bank intending to sink her in shallow water to form a tax-free island nation and shellfish processing plant. But during the sinking, rough seas broke a mooring line and pushed her into deeper water. Another company planned to build a platform on the bank and form a nation called ‘Taluga,’ but the US government declared that the bank was part of the continental shelf and was US territory. The wreck of the  Abalonia  today lies in three pieces in about 30 to 40 feet of water. Now, only scuba divers and the vibrant marine life are citizens of this almost-nation.

On November 2, 1985, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS  Enterprise  struck Cortes Bank about one mile east of Bishop Rock during exercises, putting a 40-foot gash in her outer hull and damaging a propeller. She continued operations then went into dry dock at Hunter’s Point Shipyard in San Francisco for repairs.

Tanner Bank

Tanner Bank is a chain of underwater pinnacles and plateaus located 120 nautical miles (nm) south by southeast of Santa Barbara, California, and 35 miles West by Southwest of San Clemente Island This bank rises within 80 feet of the surface and is considered one of the best advanced open water dive locations on the California coast. Like Cortes Banks, this seamount is open ocean with exposure to wind, current, and swell. Timing is everything when it comes to a successful day of diving this spot.

Scuba diving with Channel Islands Expeditions at Tanner Bank offers no protection from the weather so anchoring overnight is truly rare. Diving the bank is generally done on a multiple day liveaboard trip when you can take advantage of a weather window and dash out for a day. This dive location is so far offshore and exposed to the elements, so a diver can get a true feeling of open ocean diving that you cannot get next to land.

Under most circumstances this is considered advanced diving. It is deep and there can be current and surge, but the payoff can be huge. Like any other open ocean dive spot, you must be willing to roll the dice and see what Mother Nature will dish out.

This is an open water seamount, so currents sweep clean ocean water over the spot. You’ll find that everything that lives here clings tightly to the rocks. Palm kelp fixed to the rocks provides shelter for smaller fish and sea life that hide amongst its fronds. Large clusters of purple hydrocorals can be seen throughout the area as well as tuna, yellowtail, large schools of baitfish, sea lions, and occasional sharks. Lobster divers have scored well in this location at times and many a sea story have been written once aboard the Truth and Vision.

Santa Catalina Island

After Alcatraz, Santa Catalina Island is probably the best known of any of California’s islands. This island’s proximity to Los Angeles transformed it into a popular tourist destination, evidenced by its one million visitors each year. The island is 22 miles long and eight miles across at its greatest width. The highest point on the island is Mt. Orizaba 2,126 feet. The island was widely developed as a resort by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. Now, ninety percent of the island is owned by the Catalina Island Conservancy, with the remainder of the island under the ownership of private entities.

The island is a rugged terrain of ridges and canyons with a few valleys inland and on its coastal fringes. The island is a semi-arid with only 12 inches of rainfall each year, though the marine climate does moderate temperatures during the summer and winter. The majority of the terrain here is characterized by chapparal vegetation with pine forest interspersed in canyons and at higher elevations.

Catalina Island is well known for its calm, clear, and warm waters. Even though Catalina is the most populated dive site of any other Channel Island, it is still sought out by scuba divers around the globe. Any trip with Channel Islands Expeditions is sure to encounter verdant kelp forest full of garibaldi, yellowtail, kelp bass, white seabass, giant black sea bass, and leopard sharks, as well as many other intriguing species. Photography and sightseeing are especially good in these clear waters, though free divers enjoy the possibility of spearing yellowtail and white seabass. Channel Islands Expeditions makes this destination part of its itinerary on the southern islands multi-day dive excursions, mostly during the summer months.

Scenic coastlines and warm waters make for the perfect opportunity to paddle, swim, and snorkel away an afternoon in beautiful surroundings. Your expedition leader will choose amongst the variety of sheltered coastal paddling opportunities that may present themselves on an adventure to Catalina Island with Channel Islands Expeditions.

There are many hiking trails along Catalina Island. Beach walking is allowed for anyone, but a permit is required for any back country travel. Permits can be acquired through the Catalina Island Conservancy. A point of pride for the island is the Trans-Catalina Trail, a recently finished 37.2-mile track that spans from Avalon on the east end of the island, past the isthmus, and ending at Starlight Beach on the west end.

Human History

Archaeological evidence shows Catalina was occupied by ancient cultures at least as far back as 6,800 years ago. The most recent native peoples to occupy the island were of the Tongva culture, whose languages and traditions were distinct from the Chumash of the northern Channel Islands. The Tongva referred to the island as “ pimu ” and to those that lived there as “ pimuvit .” Large settlements dotted the coastline of  pimu , and the pimuvit were renowned for the quarrying and trading of soapstone, which they excelled in carving.

The island would be discovered on Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s foundational voyage of exploration in 1542. The colonization of California by the Spanish brought about the swift disintegration of the Tongva people, including those that resided on Santa Catalina Island. Over the years, the island would change hands and small ranchos were established, but it was not until the turn of the 20th century that anyone would have designs on turning Catalina Island into a tourist destination. A real estate developer from Michigan named George Shatto created the settlement that would become Avalon and built its first hotel and pier.

William Wrigley Jr. acquired the majority of the Catalina Island Company in 1919, when he bought the island as an investment, but was so enamored by it he decided to keep it and develop the island so as to make it accessible to anyone that might like to visit. Wrigley subsequently, invested millions of dollars in the island, building and modernizing utilities and buildings in and around the now famous city of Avalon. He made it the spring training location for the Chicago Cubs built the iconic Catalina Casino building in 1929. The Wrigleys later donated 42,000 acres of land to the Catalina Island Conservancy for preservation.

Natural History

Santa Catalina Island’s diversity in flora and fauna is second to only Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands chain. Its proximity to the outflows of the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa Ana river basins opens the island up to a higher probability of species “rafting” over to the beaches of Catalina. This naturally leads to isolation and speciation, and as a result, Catalina is home to five native land mammals: the Santa Catalina Island Fox ( Urocyon littoralis catalinae ) being the most well-known among them. It is home to a diverse array of endemic birds, reptiles, insects, and plants. Interestingly, it is the only Channel Island to have a native rattlesnake population.

DDT, a pesticide that was outlawed in 1972 wreaked havoc on California’s marine ecosystem and was especially consequential for the island’s native population of Bald eagles. DDT was absorbed by the birds’ major prey, fish, and then ingested by the eagles. It caused the eagles to lay eggs with weakened shells that cracked under the adults’ weight during incubation. DDT poisoning eventually extirpated the Bald eagle from California’s Channel Islands. The Catalina Island Conservancy and the Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) have been working in a long-standing relationship to restore Bald eagles to the island for decades. To assist the eagles, IWS biologists began retrieving the fragile eggs, hatching them off-site in incubators and returning healthy chicks to the nests, where the parents accepted them back and raised them. In 2007, DDT levels had finally decreased enough to allow bald eagles to successfully hatch eggs in the wild, when five eagle chicks hatched naturally – the first time an eagle had successfully hatched in over 50 years! By 2009, all nests on Catalina were left to natural hatching and incubation, and in 2014 and 2020 four more Bald eagle chicks hatched and fledged in nests around the island.

A herd of American Bison were supposedly first imported in 1924 for the silent film version of Catalina Island resident Zane Grey’s western novella, “The Vanishing American,” still roam the island. Over the decades, the bison herd grew to as many as 600 individuals, though the Catalina Island Conservancy concluded that a population of 150-200 individuals would reduce the impact of these non-native animals on the native flora and fauna to a sufficient degree. The herd was managed to the point where only 100 animals remained in 2020. To bolster the herd’s genetics, the Catalina Island Conservancy introduced two pregnant females in 2020.

SANTA BARBARA ISLAND

Santa Barbara Island (639 acres) is 1.67 miles across at its longest point and lies 73 nautical miles (nm) Southeast of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Island is the smallest of all of California’s Channel Islands and the southern-most member of the Channel Islands National Park. Like most of the Channel Islands, it can be seen from the mainland on exceptionally clear days usually in winter, though the island’s profile is markedly lower than those of its bigger counterparts. The highest peak on the Santa Barbara Island is Signal Hill, at 634 feet. Despite its volcanic composure of Miocene basalts, Santa Barbara Island is not a volcano. The steep wave-cut cliffs of its shoreline indicate that erosion is still in its formative processes; this is one of the younger Channel Islands. Signs of a rising and falling ocean are marked into the basalt cliffs. Six wave-cut marine terraces can be found, an indication of both changes in sea level as well as tectonic uplift and subsidence (called porpoising). A 130 ft. arch dominates the aptly named Arch Point on the northeast corner of the island. Extensive colonies of birds reside on the volcanic cliffs of Santa Barbara Island as well as the two nearby offshore rocks: Shag Rock off the northerly shore (1 acre), and Sutil Island off the southwest end (12 acres). The steep cliffs and isolation from mainland predators provide safe breeding sites for thousands of sea birds. Santa Barbara Island, although small by any standard, boasts an impressive diversity in its habitats, with a few narrow rocky beaches, six canyons, and a badlands area.

Santa Barbara Island is known for its large rookery where you can spend hours diving with sea lions. Photographers get more opportunities to photograph these animals up close here than any Channel Island. The playful, curious pups will pose and frolic in front of a diver’s lens as long as one can stay in the water.

Diving Santa Barbara Island with Channel Islands Expeditions will take you to a host of incredible sites around the island, including the famous undersea “Arch.” The top of the reef just breaks the surface at low tide and the bottom of the arch lies in 40 feet of water. One of the more unique underwater arches in the world it makes the perfect backdrop for photographers. In addition to the “Arch,” there are many offshore pinnacles that are home to shear walls along with some of the largest clusters of purple hydrocoral found anywhere.

Santa Barbara has long been a prime destination for spearfishing. Warm southern currents coupled with lush kelp beds make this island attract a wealth of game fish. Calico bass, white sea bass, yellowtail, and an occasional tuna are among the species that can be found in the waters surrounding this island. As with all Channel Islands, a healthy spiny lobster population makes this a favorite destination during season.

Santa Barbara Island can offer some of the best scuba diving found in Southern California but if conditions are rough there are not many places to go.

Similar in many ways to Anacapa Island, kayaking Santa Barbara Island offers the perfect setting for this water sport. Weather permitting, your expedition leader may decide to attempt a complete circumnavigation of Santa Barbara Island. Wind and swell can be a factor, so attempting this trip is best done on one of Channel Islands Expeditions multi-day adventures. Kayaking long distances with a support vessel offers an added layer of safety for an unforgettable journey around this hidden gem of the Pacific.

Hiking on Santa Barbara Island will provide you with one of the most remote island hiking experiences of any of the Channel Islands. Don’t be fooled, the steep incline of this island can offer a challenge to just about anyone, but just beyond that you will find five miles of hiking trails with gentle rolling hills and breathtaking panoramic ocean views.

Though is thought to have never been permanently inhabited, Santa Barbara Island may have played a crucial role in the lives of the island peoples who occupied the surrounding Channel Islands for well over 10,000 years. Archeological evidence suggests that Santa Barbara Island may have been a convenient stopover on inter-island trade routes, a testament to its central location in the Channel Islands chain. The rich marine life found here may have drawn people to seasonally harvest the shores of this island for shellfish, seals, and fish. Recent studies indicate this may have begun about 4,000 years ago.

The first European visitor to the Channel Islands in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer, made no mention of this island. Sixty years later, the island was named by Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino, who visited the island on December 4, 1602, the feast day dedicated to Santa Barbara. The island was infrequently visited in subsequent years, owning largely to its sparse vegetation and lack of a reliable water source. Santa Barbara Island did play host to an assemblage of seal hunters, squatters, fishermen, and the occasional whaling ship off its shores.

A few notable individuals eked out a living here, chief among them the family of Alvin Hyder. After a winning bid of $250 in 1916, Hyder and his family assumed ownership of the island and were the first to establish a residence of any permanence there. Hard work and a constant struggle to maintain a supply of fresh water were trademark features of a tough existence on this island. Santa Barbara Island would become a part of the Channel Islands National Monument in 1938 and was utilized as Coastal Lookout Station during WWII. Santa Barbara Island became part of the Channel Islands National Park upon its establishment in 1980.

Santa Barbara Island is home to a large sea lion rookery and seabird nesting colonies, including three species of storm-petrel, three species of cormorant, and the once-endangered California brown pelican. It is also home to the largest breeding colony for the Scripps’s Murrelet, a threatened seabird species. Scripps’s murrelet is listed as vulnerable, and is mainly threatened by oil spills, as the population exists in such a small area and is adjacent to the heavily trafficked shipping lanes that connect to the Port of Los Angeles. Spring rains bring out the flowering plants, such as the Giant coreopsis, the endemic Santa Barbara Island live-forever (Dudleya traskiae), shrubby buckwheat, sea blite, and an annual poppy. There is a visitor contact station and museum on the island with exhibits, dioramas, and murals of the natural and cultural resources.

San Nicholas Island

San Nicolas Island is the most remote of California’s Channel Islands lying 78 nautical miles (nm) south by southeast from Santa Barbara and 53 miles from the nearest coastline. Rising out of the rolling Pacific swells, the 14,500 acre (23 square miles) island is defined by wave cut terraces and windswept, grassy hills. It is currently controlled and operated as a weapons testing and training facility by the United States Navy. The island has a small airport and the several buildings supporting the naval operation are affectionately referred to as ‘Nictown.’ Landing on the island is strictly prohibited and one of the offshore water areas is restricted from transiting or anchoring.

Channel Islands Expeditions travels out to San Nicolas Island during the summer and early fall to dive the iconic Begg Rock and some of the island’s nearshore reefs. Begg Rock is a small rock lying almost 8 miles to the west from the island and it is one of California’s most pristine dive locations. This is open ocean diving so wind, swell, and currents can make this a difficult area to scuba dive. When the conditions are right, this dive will not be forgotten. Shear walls covered in corynactis anemones paint this dive in a rainbow of colors. In the fall, the island itself is a popular lobster diving area when they are in season. Its remote location means that a trip to San Nicolas implies a chance of encountering unstable weather. A day of unfavorable conditions can result in tough diving in this open ocean environment. However, or those up for the adventure, a good day of weather will result in one of the most unique and unforgettable dive experiences you can have at the Channel Islands.

No kayaking is available due to a mandatory 300-yard distance from shore regulation.

No island hiking available as landing is prohibited.

San Nicolas Island shows signs of habitation that date back over 10,000 years. The native peoples that most recently occupied the island are referred to as “Nicholeños,” who had their own distinctive language and culture, though they were probably related to the Tongva people who lived on Santa Catalina Island. The name the Tongva have for San Nicholas is ‘Haraashngna.’ We do not know much of the language or history of the Nicholeños, as the large majority of their population was evacuated and assimilated into the California mission system. Their language became extinct soon after.

The person who would become the most famous resident of San Nicholas Island was left behind by the Franciscan padres who took the rest of the Nicholeños to the California missions. Juana Maria, as she would be known (though her real name was never found out), was the last surviving member of the Nicholeños. She lived alone on the island for 18 years, subsisting on shellfish and seal fat from the Northern elephant seals. Captain George Nidever found Juana Maria on the island in 1853, living in a crude whalebone hut. She was brought back to Santa Barbara, and was the object of much curiosity, becoming well-known for the beautiful songs she would sing. This would be short-lived though, as she died only seven weeks after her arrival to the mainland. Her story was the basis for Scott O’Dell’s Newbery Medal-winning 1961 novel Island of the Blue Dolphins. Academic curiosity about the “Lone Woman of San Nicholas Island” still persists, and after a 20-year search, archaeologists may have uncovered the cave she lived in in 2012.

The ecological diversity of San Nicholas was heavily impacted by sheep ranching for a period of over 80 years. The sheep removed much of the native ground cover until their removal in 1943. This in turn increased the rates of erosion and promoted non-native plant species to spread. Despite the degradation, three endemic plants are found on the island:  Astragalus traskiae ,  Eriogonum grande tamorum , and  Lomatium insulare .

The isolated beaches of San Nicholas are anything but lonely during the breeding season of one of the world’s largest seals. The Northern elephant seal ( Mirounga angustirostris ) hauls out here to breed each season, with an estimated 23,000 individuals occupying the beachfront to mate and give birth to pups. A bull elephant seal can weigh in at over 8,000 pounds and measure at up to 16 feet from nose to tail. The female is distinctively smaller, “only” weighing in at 2,000 pounds and measuring 12 feet in length. The island is home to about 30 percent of the wide-ranging California population

The dominant plant community on the island is coastal bluff scrubland, with giant coreopsis ( Coreopsis gigantea ) and coyote brush ( Baccharis pilularis ) the most visible components. The few trees present today, including California fan palms ( Washingtonia filifera ) were introduced in modern times. However, early written accounts and the remains of ancient plants in the form of calcareous root casts, known as ‘caliche,’ indicate that, prior to 1860, brush covered a portion of the island.

There are only three species of endemic land vertebrates on the island; the Island night lizard ( Xantusia riversiana ), deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus exterus ), and island fox ( Urocyon littoralis dickey ). Two other reptiles, the common side-blotched lizard ( Uta stansburiana ), and the southern alligator lizard ( Elgaria multicarinatus ) were at one time thought to be endemic, but an analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicates that both species were most likely introduced in recent times.

San Nicolas Island is home to large populations of nesting birds. The two largest nesting populations are the Western gull ( Larus occidentalis ) and Brandt’s cormorant ( Phalacrocorax penicillatus ). These birds, along with the Island night lizard were threatened by a large population of feral cats, but after extensive eradication efforts by the US Navy and other organizations, the island was declared free of cats in 2012. The birds and once endangered Island night lizard populations immediately rebounded, and the night lizard was consequently taken off the endangered species list in 2014.

San Clemente Island

San Clemente Island is the southernmost of all eight of the Channel Islands and is located 113 nautical miles (nm) from Santa Barbara. It is 21 nm long and is 4-1/2 nm across at its widest point, with a total area of 57 square miles. The U.S. Navy acquired the island in 1934 and it has been owned and operated by various naval commands. San Clemente is also home to an auxiliary naval airfield, United States Navy SEALs training facilities, and the southern end of the island is the Navy’s only remaining ship-to-shore live firing range.

San Clemente Island is made of up of volcanic materials dating back to 5 million years ago. The terrain varies between exposed marine terraces and steep canyons dotted sparsely with freshwater springs. The island can be described as being on a ‘tilt;’ the north side rises dramatically out of the ocean (the highest point, Mt. Thirst, is 1,965 ft), while the south side has a much gentler slope to its rocky shores. With a frost-free, semi-arid climate, the island typically gets less than 6 inches of rain in a year.

Diving conditions at San Clemente Island are known for the clearest, warmest waters of all eight Channel Islands. Located in the southernmost region of California this island receives the warmest waters from the tropical currents from the south. Giant kelp beds, schools of fish, coral banks, and shear walls make this a diver’s paradise. Waters in the summer can reach over 70 degrees Fahrenheit and photographers flock to this island for some of the best wide-angle photography available in California.

Most of the prime scuba diving is located at each end of the island. The east end of the island is more protected and offers pinnacles, shear walls, and protected shallow kelp covered coves. San Clemente’s west end is more exposed to the westerly winds and swells but has some of the more prolific areas found off California. Nine Fathom Reef (it rises to 6 ½ fathoms) is a rocky structure with shear walls covered in purple hydrocoral. This is an open ocean diving location and is swept by currents and swells so diving this area can be tricky. Once dove, it is never forgotten.

Because of the military presence at the island, kayaking can be enjoyed near the boat only. As any on any of the Channel Islands, lush kelp beds, volcanic rock formations, and sea lions make kayaking well worth the effort. Generally, kayaking is done during one of Channel Islands Expeditions regularly scheduled liveaboard dive trips.

San Clemente Island is one of the best documented archeological settings in California. Archeologists have found traces of human occupation on the San Clemente Island dating back 10,000 years, a remarkable figure for an island 55 nautical miles out to sea, but consistent with results on other Channel Islands. The native inhabitants here called the island ‘ Kinipar ,’ and bore many cultural similarities to the nearby Nicholenos on San Nicolas Island. Travel between the islands was facilitated by the ‘ ti’at, ’ a plank canoe that enabled the islanders to cross wide channels and open ocean. Inhabitants here left trade materials from the northern islands and from the mainland, including Coso obsidian from the Mohave high desert. It has not been established what tribe the recent inhabitants belonged to, although the Tongva, from Santa Catalina Island and the Los Angeles Basin, are the most likely candidates. The Chumash who occupied the northern Channel Islands may have influenced the inhabitants.

The island was named by the mapping expedition Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino, who spotted it on November 23, 1602; known as Saint Clement’s feast day in the Catholic tradition. The first actual visit happened much later in 1769, when the  San Antonio  of the Portola expedition anchored in Pyramid Cove on the south end of the island. Natives rowed out in ti’ats and exchanged gifts with the expedition, including two otter-fur robes. It was later used by ranchers, fishermen, and smugglers during the 19th century and into the 20th century. In the 1920s and 1930s the factory ships Lansing and California anchored off San Clemente Island, processing blue and fin whales, among other species, caught by their own fleets of steam-driven whale catchers.

In recent years effort has been made by several conservation organizations, including Channel Islands Restoration, to remove invasive species from San Clemente Island and promote the re-emergence of native and endemic flora and fauna. The removal of invasive ice plant has encouraged native plants, like the boxthorn ( Lycium spp .) to flourish. This is especially important as many endemic species of birds and reptiles use this native plant as cover and nesting habitat.

The San Clemente Island Loggerhead Shrike ( Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi ) is an endangered species that the Navy is taking steps to protect. The Island fox ( Urocyon littoralis ) and San Clemente Island brodiaea ( Brodiaea kinkiensis ) are notable examples of endemic species on the island. Feral goats roamed the island for centuries, reaching a population of 11,000 in 1972 when their effect on indigenous species was realized. By 1980 the population had been reduced to 4,000 and a plan for shooting remaining goats was blocked in court by the Fund for Animals, so the goats were removed with nets and helicopters.

Anacapa Island

Anacapa is a small volcanic island located 28 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. The smallest of the northern Channel Islands, Anacapa was discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. Later, in 1793, Captain George Vancouver christened the island Anacapa, a name derived from the Chumash Indian word, “’anyapax,” which means translates to ‘illusion’ or ‘mirage.’ The island’s name, the only one of the Channel Islands chain to maintain its original etymology, suits the place very well. The low rises of the sea cliffs can often be shrouded by marine haze or fog giving the island an air of mystery.

Anacapa is composed of three islets: East Island, Middle Island and West Island. Altogether, the islets make up a narrow island that is 5 miles long and only a ¼ mile wide. Ocean waves have eroded the perimeter of the island, creating steep sea cliffs towering hundreds of feet in height and exposing the volcanic origins of air pockets, lava tubes, and sea caves. At the east end of the island a natural bridge has formed in the ocean. The forty-foot-high Cabrillo Arch is a trademark of Anacapa and the Channel Islands National Park. The highest peak is Summit Peak 2 on West Island at 930 feet.

ATTRACTIONS

Lurking serpent.

• Anacapa is the only island to retain its Chumash nomenclature, “Eenapah” meant “island of illusion”. This was due to the inversion layer of the atmosphere that sits near the horizon some days and makes the island look much larger than it is. To us it looks more like a lurking serpent out on the Channel on clear days. Either way, the island is mysterious and has an interesting history.

Chumash Camp

• Anacapa doesn’t have fresh water and therefor the Chumash didn’t make permanent settlements there. However, there are very large “middens” or trash piles of shells and such that suggest that the Chumash did in fact camp there when making their trade journeys to the mainland.

Navigation Hazard

• The Chumash most likely used Anacapa as a navigational aid and resting point while traveling, however, the mysterious rock has met it’s share of unintended visitors, including the 300+ people aboard the  Winfield Scott in 1853 when it went aground at Middle Anacapa .

USCG Lighthouse

• In 1932 the Anacapa lighthouse was completed on the Eastern island, almost 20 years after it was begun. This light has been keeping sailors from meeting similar fates of the Winfield Scott since that time.

National Park And Marine Sanctuary

• In 1980 congress signed into law the Channel Islands National Park which included Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands. It also established Marine Sanctuaries around both islands. 23 years later, in 2003, 13 marines protected areas were established, including the Anacapa Marine Reserve with more protection and enforcement.This protection has allowed fish species to rebound in diversity and density. Kayaking and snorkeling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is a profound example of how this protection has been effective and is important for overall ocean health.All of the kayaking and snorkeling on our tours take place in MPAs so you’ll get to see for yourself!

Diving at Anacapa Island is known for warmer waters as it is at the southern edge of the Northern chain of Channel Islands that receive tropical currents from the south. Many species that are found at the Southern chain of Channel Islands can be found at Anacapa. Lush kelp beds, Garibaldi’s, brittle stars, giant black sea bass, leopard sharks, and sea lions are common sights while scuba diving.

Photographers enjoy the clear waters and many student divers get their first island dive in its temperate conditions. Anacapa Island generally has calmer conditions as it is further to the east of the prevailing Northwest winds generated off Point Conception. Because of its proximity to the mainland, Anacapa is visited by more divers than any other island in the Northern chain of Channel Islands.

Kayaking at Anacapa is often the exclamation point at the end of a trip with Channel Islands Expeditions. Steep cliff faces, secluded coves, inlets packed with marine life, and beautiful sea caves are among just some of the sights you can explore with our expert guides. Kelp forests and sea grass flourish along this rocky coast, which serve as home and feeding ground for an abundance of wildlife. Though small in stature, Anacapa provides perhaps the most diverse sea cave experience of any of the Channel Islands. The basalt cliffs of the island are easily eroded over time by the sea, leaving spectacular geological formations that you’ll have to see to believe.

Landings are done at a pier in the landing cove at East Island. There is a staircase leading out of the cove up a steep cliff side that brings you to a figure eight-shaped trail system that is about 2 miles long. This trail will lead out to one of the most sought-after sea-scape overlooks in the national park, Inspiration Point. An interpretive trail guide is available on the island to interpret island resources. Middle and West Anacapa are not open to hiking as they are set aside for the island’s recovering sea bird populations.

Sea birds are the most conspicuous wildlife on the island. The largest breeding colony of the once-endangered California brown pelican ( Pelecanus occidentalis californicus ) is located on West Anacapa. Other sea birds include Western gulls ( Larus occidentalis ) and several species of cormorants. Scripps’s murrelets ( Synthliboramphus scrippsi ) and Cassin’s auklets ( Ptychoramphus aleuticus ) nest in sea caves and on isolated rocky shores. Anacapa’s rocky shores provide resting and breeding areas for both California sea lions and Harbor seals, two species you have a high likelihood of encountering while on the water with Channel Islands Expeditions. Springtime brings colorful flowers, including the strange tree sunflower called coreopsis ( Coreopsis gigantea ), a plant found only on the Channel Islands and a few isolated areas on the mainland.

On the night of December 2, 1853, the sidewheel steamer  Winfield Scott  running at full speed crashed into the rocks off Middle Anacapa in dense fog and sank. Invasive ship rats ( Rattus rattus ) are thought to have been introduced to the island from the wrecked ship. They had devastating consequences for the island’s seabirds and other native species, but were successfully eradicated in 2001–2002. With the rats gone, the number of nesting Scripps’s murrelets has increased by more than 80 percent in the last two decades. This is one of many recoveries following invasive species eradications from the Channel Islands.

A U.S. Coast Survey team visited the island in 1854 and concluded that although the island’s position at the eastern entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel was a natural choice for a lighthouse “it is inconceivable for a lighthouse to be constructed on this mass of volcanic rock – perpendicular on every face, with an ascent inaccessible by any natural means.”

As approximately nine-tenths of all vessels trading up and down the Pacific Coast passed inside the islands of the Santa Barbara Channel, the American Association of Masters, Mates and Pilots petitioned for a proper fog signal on the island. Funds for what would be the last major light station to be built on the west coast were finally allocated in the late 1920s.

The construction of the station was carried out in two phases and commenced in the spring of 1930. A landing dock, a hoisting crane and roads were added first, and then work began on the various station buildings. A thirty-nine-foot, cylindrical tower and a fog signal were built near the highest point on the eastern end of the island. Four Spanish-style, white stucco houses with red tile roofs were provided for the keepers and their families. Today, there is a museum on the island which houses the original crystal and brass Fresnel lens from the light beacon.

Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz Island is the largest island off the continental United States. Located 23 nautical miles (nm) off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, the island is 22 miles long, from 2 to 6 miles wide, and is 97 square miles in area. The Chumash that inhabited this island for well over 11,000 years call this island ‘limuw,’ meaning “in the ocean.” The island Chumash consider this island to be the cradle of their civilization; the birthplace of their people. The scenic beauty of Santa Cruz is reflected in its many landforms including its two rugged mountain ranges. The highest peak on the island is Devil’s Peak, at 2450 feet. Deep canyons, year-round springs and streams, plus 77 miles of craggy coastline cliffs, giant sea caves, pristine tide pools, expansive beaches, and a central valley are features of the unique island. The central valley splits the island along the Santa Cruz Island Fault with volcanic rock on the north and older sedimentary rock on the south. Lying directly on the boundary between cold northern and warm southern waters, this island hosts unique plant, animal, and marine communities representing nearly 1000 miles of marine diversity from California’s coastline.

Diving at Santa Cruz Island is probably the most diverse of all eight Channel Islands. Being on the break of the warm southerly and colder northern currents creates marine habitat for many different species. Being the largest of California’s Channel Islands, there is a wide variety of different dive spots to explore around Santa Cruz Island, each with its own unique characteristics.

The northwest section of the island is volcanic with steep faces and hosts some of the world’s largest sea caves. The southeast section is more sedimentary with large plateaus and thick kelp beds. Santa Cruz offers more places to find good diving during rough weather periods than any other island due to its size and many coves. Seals, sea lions, bat rays, and many schools of fish are common sights while scuba diving with Channel Islands Expeditions along this island’s shores.

Given it’s ample 77-mile coastline, Santa Cruz Island has vast number of kayaking destinations that you are able to visit with Channel Islands Expeditions. In fact, traveling with CIX is the only way to see a vast majority of the island’s scenic shoreline, as most of the island itself is closed to conventional tourism.

Santa Cruz Island has huge variety of flora and fauna that live on and around it’s craggy cliff lines and giant sea caves. The west end of Santa Cruz Island is where you’ll find one of the world’s biggest sea caves, Painted Cave – so named for the vibrant lichen growth on the cave walls. Measured at a towering 160 ft at its entrance, Painted Cave stretches back into the basalt cliff for over a quarter-mile before you reach its terminus. Expect to see plenty of playful sea lions and seals as well as a host of bird life here or anywhere else you paddle on Santa Cruz Island.

There are several hiking trails and roads that traverse the eastern portion of Santa Cruz Island that is part of the Channel Islands National Park. While visitors may explore this section, no hiking is allowed beyond the national park boundary onto The Nature Conservancy property to the west without first obtaining a permit. Landings onto Santa Cruz are either by pier or by skiff. Potential landing areas include Prisoners Harbor and Smugglers Cove.

Once on the Santa Cruz, a well-marked trail system will take you to several scenic overlooks of the island’s coastline, as well as to areas of natural and historical significance. Consult your Channel Islands Expeditions trip leaders as to what may be possible on your expedition, as there is such a vast array of options to explore on this island. Wherever you go, be sure to keep a sharp eye out for some of the island’s many endemic species found here and no where else in the world, including the Island scrub jay and the Island fox.

Archaeological investigations indicate that Santa Cruz Island has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years. Chumash of limuw had their largest village, swaxil, located near present day Scorpion Anchorage. The island had over 10 villages and was home to over 1,200 people. They developed a highly complex society dependent on marine harvest and craft specialization. The island Chumash produced shell-beads that they used for currency. This formed the backbone of an intricate inter-island and cross-channel trading system with the counterparts on the mainland. Their trade was made possible by  tomols , plank canoes constructed from driftwood and sealed with tar and pitch. In teams of as many as ten people, the Chumash would paddle across the channel and trade shell-bead money and island goods for food staples and other goods from the mainland.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and his men made first contact with the Chumash of limuw in 1542. The journey would eventually be Cabrillo’s demise, as he is rumored to have died in the winter of 1543 on San Miguel Island, though some postulate we very well could have died on Santa Cruz. The explorers and missionaries that visited after him discovered the complex aboriginal society of the Chumash. Legend has it that on one such visit during a gift exchange, a staff with an iron cross atop of it was forgotten. The next day, the Chumash paddled in a tomol to the expedition’s ship and return it. From that day, the island was called “La Isla de la Santa Cruz,” meaning “the island of the sacred cross.”

By the early 1800’s the Chumash were said to have ‘voluntarily’ moved to the Santa Barbara and Santa Buenaventura missions. Thus ended 10,000 years of habitation by the Chumash on Santa Cruz Island. The Mexican government claimed the island as its own territory in 1821 before California’s independence movement began in 1838. Santa Cruz Island was gifted to Andres Castillero for his role in brokering a shaky peace in California. He would be the first of many private owners who would shape the island into what it is today.

The ranching period on Santa Cruz began with a small sheep ranching operation managed by James Barron Shaw and grew to be one a well-recognized operation by the 1860’s. Ownership of the ranch passed on to the businessman Justinian Caire in 1886, who had a vision to establish both sheep and cattle ranching on Santa Cruz Island as well as one of California’s first commercial vineyards. Caire’s legacy of ranching and land husbandry would remain until the National Park Service bought the east end of Santa Cruz Island from Caire’s descendants in 1980 and the last of the flocks of sheep were taken off the island in 1999. The Nature Conservancy came into full ownership of the west end of the island, including Main Ranch in the central valley in 1987.

Today, Santa Cruz Island is divided between The Nature Conservancy and the National Park Service. The Nature Conservancy owns and manages the western 76% of the island; the eastern 24% is owned and managed by the National Park Service.

Permanent and seasonal water sources, plus a number of microclimates, support over 650 species of plants and trees in ten different plant communities, from marshes and grasslands to chaparral and pine forests. Owing to millions of years of isolation, eight of these plants are “endemic”-they grow nowhere else in the world. Springtime is a patchwork of blooming annuals, sometimes seen from the mainland as bright splashes of color. Over 140 land bird species have been identified here. The Island scrub jay ( Aphelocoma insularis ), a Santa Cruz Island endemic, is a living example of “gigantism,” whereby some island animals evolve to a larger form. This bird is one-third bigger and much bluer than the mainland scrub jay. Other animals, like the Island fox ( Urocyon littoralis ) and Island spotted skunk ( Spilogale gracilis amphialus ), tend toward “dwarfism,” growing smaller over the ages. Eleven other mammal species including nine bats, deer and harvest mouse, three kinds of amphibians including the Channel Islands slender salamander ( Batrachoseps pacificus ), five reptiles including the Side-blotched lizard, Southern alligator lizard, Western fence lizard, Western yellow belly racer, and Gopher snake, might be seen by visitors.

Bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) were once numerous on California’s Channel Islands, but because of eggshell thinning caused by the illegal dumping of the pesticide, “DDT,” and other factors, the last known successful Bald eagle nesting in the northern Channel Islands was in 1949. By the 1960’s, Bald eagles could no longer be found on any of the Channel Islands. Soon after, Golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ) began nesting on the islands, and began hunting Island foxes until native fox populations declined to a threatened status. After successful trapping and relocating of the Golden eagles, the Institute for Wildlife Studies started a program in 2002 to reintroduce Bald eagles to the California’s Channel Islands funded by money from a $25 million fund to deal with the lingering effects of DDT dumped by the Montrose Chemical Corporation into the ocean near Los Angeles.

Between 2002 and 2006, 61 young bald eagles have been released on Santa Cruz Island. On March 17, 2006 wildlife biologists for the Institute announced that for the first time in over 50 years there has been a successful hatching on Santa Cruz Island. In April 2007, the Nature Conservancy announced another successful chick hatching. The chick broke free of its shell on April 13, 2007. The parents were one of the two nesting pairs who had returned to the island after making history the previous year. Both pairs were born in captivity. This second birth represented a turning point in the struggle to return the eagles to their former habitat on the island. Three nests have now been documented on Santa Cruz island as of the 2008 breeding season.

Painted Cave

Santa rosa island.

Santa Rosa Island is the second largest of the Channel Islands and lies about 26 nautical miles (nm) from Santa Barbara. The island is nearly 17 nm long, 10.75 nm wide at the widest point, and 53,000 acres or 83 square miles in total area. The island has a relatively low profile with the exception of a rugged central mountain range.

The highest peak in the range is Vail Peak, at 1589 feet.

It is a diverse island of grass-covered rolling hills, steep canyons, creeks, rocky inter-tidal areas and sandy beaches adorned with sand dunes and driftwood. The Chumash, the native peoples who inhabited the Channel Islands for well over twelve millennia called this island “wima,” the Chumash word for “driftwood.” It is thought that the island is so named for the driftwood (sometimes redwood) logs that would wash ashore here. They would use these logs to craft dugout canoes called “ tomols ” with which they would travel and trade from island to island and to the mainland.

In the 1970’s and 80’s scuba divers flocked to Santa Rosa to take advantage of the many species of game fish available. Talcott Shoals, which lies off the northwest section of the island, is a large plateau that offers various terrains for divers. The western section of Talcott becomes more dramatic in its topography and offers not only hunting opportunities for game-divers, but great underwater photography opportunities as well. The shipwreck of the Aggie , which lays in 25 to 50 feet of water along a ridge, is readily accessible to divers at Talcott. The east end of Santa Rosa has a wonderful assortment of pinnacles that are covered in corynactis (strawberry anemone) and large schools of fish. Santa Rosa Island lies at an intersection of warm-water and cold, nutrient-rich currents. A diverse web of marine life can be found and enjoyed in these pristine waters.

Kayaking at Santa Rosa Island is a fascinating way to experience a wild California seascape. The sandy beaches and cliffs are breeding and resting areas for sea birds and seals and sea lions. Kayaking will often give you views and access to wildlife that you might not get in any other way. However, being a wild place means that we are at the mercy of the wind and waves. There may be times when the conditions are not favorable for kayaking, or when kayaking at particular location may require you and your group to be experienced paddlers.

Hiking with Channel Islands Expeditions on Santa Rosa Island will lead you down some of the several trails and roads traverse the island, providing plenty of opportunities to enjoy the spectacular scenery Santa Rosa provides. These trails and roads range from the relatively flat route to Water Canyon Beach to the rugged, mountainous path to Black Mountain.

A variety of Torrey Pine ( Pinus torreyana var. insularis ) grows on the island. The population of this endangered species is estimated at approximately 1000 trees. This ancient grove is just a remnant of a much larger forest of Torrey pines that once existed in the Pleistocene era, some 12,000 years ago. A trail that leads to this exceedingly rare species of pine tree can be accessed from Becher’s Bay, the island’s main landing.

Keep a sharp eye out for the Island fox, Spotted skunk, and Munchkin dudleya ( Dudleya gnoma ); one of the six endemic plant species on the island. 

Archeological and paleontological sites are abundant on the island. In 1994, the world’s most complete skeleton of a pygmy mammoth ( Mammuthus exilis ) had been excavated; a dwarf species related to the Columbian mammoths. In 1960 archaeologists discovered humans remains dating back 13,000 years at Arlington Springs on Santa Rosa Island. These remains are among the oldest human remains in the Americas and were discovered by Phil C. Orr, curator of anthropology and natural history at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Orr believed the remains were those of a 10,000-year old man and dubbed them the “Arlington Springs Man”.

Santa Rosa Island was originally part of a Spanish land grant. The island was used as a sheep ranch during the mid-1800s by the More family. Then during the cold war the United States Air Force maintained a radar base on the island. In the late 1970s Mobil Oil Corporation was granted exploration rights on the island. Both explosive and vibroseis exploration methods were used. Extensive surveys and geological maps were made at that time. Finally, in 1980, Santa Rosa Island was included within Channel Islands National Park.

San Miguel Island

Wind-battered San Miguel Island is the westernmost of California’s Channel Islands lying 45 nautical miles (nm) from Santa Barbara. San Miguel is the sixth largest of all eight offshore islands at 9,500 acres or 14 square miles, including offshore islands and rocks. The island at its furthest extent is 8 miles long and 3.7 miles wide. The highest peak is San Miguel Hill, at 831 feet. Its maritime location makes San Miguel subject to high winds and lots of fog. The cold, nutrient-rich water surrounding the island supports a diverse array of sea life that is not found on the southern or eastern counterparts.

Channel Islands Expeditions can take you to this windswept tableland of lush grasses and wildflowers, with 27 miles of jagged, rocky coastline dotted with sandy white beaches. An impressive Caliche forest (sand-castings of an ancient forest) near Cuyler’s Harbor reminds us that San Miguel once supported much more varied plant life than it does now. The westernmost beach, Point Bennett, is the only place in the world where up to five different species of pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) can be found. When the weather permits, scuba diving and kayaking with these creatures is a truly unique experience.

San Miguel has some of the most spectacular scuba diving found anywhere off the coast of California. On a given day the water can be 10 to 15 degrees colder at San Miguel so proper equipment (7 mm wetsuit minimum or drysuit) is needed to enjoy this remote dive location. The topography at its offshore pinnacles makes a diver feel small. Mountainous pinnacles can go from 20 feet of water to 200 on some walls. More varieties of seals and sea lions can be viewed here than any other Channel Island. Protected coves, banks, offshore rocks and pinnacles make this a sought-after destination for scuba divers. Weather protects this island from too much human visitation so patience is needed to dive here on a nice day. A nice day at San Miguel is about as good as it gets.

Weather, weather, weather. Anyone who sets out to enjoy a day of kayaking around San Miguel Island needs to understand that the weather at this remote island can change in a minute. Generally, it would be considered a more advanced area to kayak but good weather periods do happen. The remoteness and wildlife at this island make kayaking incredibly unique. Large seal and sea lion colonies are spread out along the shores. Many varieties seabirds call this home and dolphins and whales are commonly sighted near shore. Special arrangements can be made on private charters for island to island kayaking. Advanced kayakers have found the downhill run in a northwest wind to be invigorating. Attempting this should be done by only those who have the skill and endurance along with support vessel assistance supplied by Channel Islands Expeditions on its multi-day liveaboard excursions.

There are several trails that traverse San Miguel Island providing a variety of hikes. Many parts of the island are closed to protect wildlife, fragile plants, and geological features, so hikes outside of the Cuyler Harbor beach, Cabrillo Monument, and Lester Ranch site are done with a qualified naturalist or Park Ranger. Longer hikes are available on Channel Islands Expeditions multi-day liveaboard excursions to San Miguel. A vigorous 16-mile hike to Point Bennett will take you to see one of the most spectacular wildlife events on our planet. Over 30,000 seals and sea lions can be hauled out on the point at certain times of year.

There is no pier on San Miguel Island so all landings are done by inflatable skiff at Cuyler Harbor. Landing on the island can be an exciting experience as the surf can make the landing challenging. Channel Islands Expeditions has developed a “launch line” procedure that has made this operation much safer for our passengers.

Being the most westerly of the Channel Islands, San Miguel Island is more prone to receive the brunt of any weather systems that move through the area. Most of the time a strong northwest wind blows across the island and these winds typically exceed 25 mph and can surpass 50 mph. When strong high pressure is over the mainland, the winds often cease creating a surreal environment. On warmer days the fog will burn off only to have the strong northwest wind blow in additional fog from the open ocean. On foggy days the temperature will rarely exceed 55°F.

The National Park Service maintains two airstrips, a ranger station and a research station on the island. San Miguel is normally staffed by a ranger who enforces park laws, while also sometimes providing interpretive services for public visitors. The island also hosts scientists that study pinnipeds and manage the Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) captive breeding program that is conducted on the island. Volunteer interpretive rangers often fill in for regularly paid rangers due to budget deficits within the park. Park employees and researchers are flown to the island by Channel Islands Aviation. Public visitors are not permitted to fly in.

Archaeological research has uncovered over 600 fragile and relatively undisturbed sites belonging to the native peoples that once lived here. Some have been radio-carbon dated to 11,600 years ago. Because the northern Channel Islands have not been connected to the adjacent mainland in recent geological history, the paleoindians who first settled the island clearly had boats and other maritime technologies. Rough seas and risky landings did not daunt the Chumash who lived there in later times, nor did they deter the first European explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, in 1542, who first claimed the island for the Spanish crown, named it “La Posesion.” San Miguel is also rumored to be Cabrillo’s burial place (there is a monument there in his honor).

Ranchers raised sheep from 1850 to 1948. One of the longest homesteaded ranching families were the Lesters, a family of four that parted their way from the island during Pearl Harbor due to the dangers the war posed on them. The detailed information was written and published in a book called “The Legendary King of San Miguel Island,” by Elizabeth Sherman Lester. Later, the United States Navy used the island for a bombing range.

San Miguel is world famous for its pinniped viewing. In the winter, as many as 30,000 individual seals and sea lions of five different species can be seen at one time on Point Bennett, where they breed and birth their pups. Other wildlife includes the Island fox ( Urocyon littoralis ), a species that is found only on the Channel Islands. Over one third of the bird-life in the Channel Islands National Park lives here on San Miguel Island. Species like the California brown pelican ( Pelecanus occidentalis californicus),  cormorants, and Cassin’s auklets all breed on the island and its surrounding islets. Terrestrial birds include the Western meadowlark ( Sturnella neglecta ), Channel Islands song sparrow ( Melospiza melodia graminea ), and Peregrine falcons ( Falco peregrinus ).

A geologic feature called the caliche forest attracts many people. This ghost forest was formed by caliche sand castings of plant roots and trunks. Today the plants are long gone, leaving behind the eerie stone replicas. Come springtime, San Miguel’s wildflowers are spectacular due to the abundance of fog and moisture. Any one of these natural features is stunning in its own right. Together, they make for a photographer’s paradise.

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THE 10 BEST Channel Islands Nature & Wildlife Tours

Nature & wildlife tours in channel islands.

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Wild California Escape: Channel Islands National Park

• Rates & Dates

Accommodations

• Expert Reviews
• Travel Guides

This 5-day wilderness adventure in the remote and remarkable Channel Islands offers a unique and rejuvenating experience exploring, learning and relaxing throughout this special and close-to-home destination. Board your floating base camp, the 100-guest National Geographic Quest or sister ship 100-guest Venture , in Los Angeles and head to three of the five wildlife-rich islands which make up Channel Islands National Park, as well as Catalina Island. Actively explore unmarred landscapes and revel in pure nature.

Almost every national park in the U.S. is easy to get to, but the Channel Islands are separated from the mainland by miles of ocean. What this cruise offers is unique and effortless access to wild beauty and pristine nature for 5 days/4 nights, using a ship as a base camp.

This Channel Islands cruise offers opportunities to exult in the pristine beauty of the islands and roam free in wide-open spaces. Take leisurely trail walks with a naturalist looking out for the astonishing number of endemic flora & fauna of the islands. Explore fascinating sea caves by kayak or paddleboard. Stroll white-sand beaches or spend time exploring bustling tide pools. Take in panoramic views & spectacular landscapes. At the end of the day, enjoy a sunset cocktail party on deck and welcome the night with stargazing.

Read more for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Baja cruises and Baja trips .

Wild California Escape: Channel Islands Itinerary

This 5-day Channel Islands cruise begins and ends in Los Angeles, California and spends time exploring the islands of Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and Catalina.

Arrive in Los Angeles and head to the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel in San Pedro for a transfer to the ship. Familiarize yourself with the ship, stow your stuff and take in the sights on the ship’s deck. Embark in the early evening, meet the team and settle in for the days ahead.

National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest

Wake to the ship at anchor off the rocky outcropping of East Anacapa Island. Join your wellness specialist on the sundeck for morning yoga, and then enjoy the breakfast buffet. After breakfast, join naturalists aboard the Zodiacs to go ashore on East Anacapa. The goal is the Anacapa Lighthouse, built in 1932, the last major light station to be built on the West Coast. Soak in the views from Inspiration Point or, for a more relaxing option, explore Arch Rock via Zodiac.

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Start your morning with an optional stretch class before breakfast. Weather permitting, go kayaking, hike one of the many trails or simply relax ashore. With luck, catch a glimpse—or photo—of the elusive fox species endemic to the island. Join the naturalists for a more strenuous hike out to the base of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, which contains what is considered one of the world’s rarest pines and one of only two naturally occurring groves in the world. End the day with a sunset cocktail party.

Spend the day discovering the colorful history and natural wonders of Catalina Island. Once a haunt of smugglers and gold-diggers, the island was transformed into a resort destination by chewing gum tycoon William Wrigley, Jr. in the 1920s. Some 50 years later, William’s heirs, Philip K. Wrigley and Dorothy Wrigley Offield, established the Catalina Island Conservancy, protecting nearly 90 percent of the island. Meet a Conservancy member to learn about their work on the island before heading out on the trail for spectacular views of the coastline and the Catalina backcountry. With luck, catch a glimpse of the elusive bison herd who have resided on Catalina Island since 1924. Head for the water to kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Return to the ship for a farewell dinner, and a last evening at sea under the stars.

Awake dockside in the bustling Port of Los Angeles (early risers can catch the action in one of the world’s largest ports). Disembark after breakfast for transfers to the airport.

Accommodations; all meals as indicated, beer, wine & full bar; non-alcoholic beverages; shore excursions, sightseeing, entrance fees and special access permits; round-trip transfers for guests using group flights; use of kayaks, bicycles and stand-up paddleboards; services of the ship’s physician; expedition leader, naturalist staff and expert guides; all port charges and service taxes; gratuities to local guides and drivers; basic WiFi (enhanced and premium packages available for purchase). Gratuities for all departures of National Geographic Explorer, Orion, Endurance, Resolution, Sea Cloud, Jahan and Lord of the Glens.

Immigration fees; air transportation; extensions; meals not indicated; reserve wines & premium spirits; gratuities for all departures of Delfin II, Endeavour II, Islander II, Venture, Quest, Sea Bird and Sea Lion; personal items such as emails, laundry, voyage DVD, etc.; and insurance of any kind.

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 120 days before the departure date. Special payment terms apply for groups of 8 or more; inquire for details. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure: 120 or more days – 100% of deposit** 119 to 90 days – 50% of total trip cost 89 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost **Advance payments will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, valid for 12 months from the date of cancellation, and which may only be applied towards final payment on any future booking.  

( For expeditions booked prior to May 1, 2023 : Please refer to your invoice for your payment and cancellation terms.)  

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations  Terms and Conditions . Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Wild California Escape: Channel Islands National Park cruise begins and ends in Los Angeles, California (LAX). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues.   Plan flights to arrive to Los Angeles by 2:30pm on Day 1 of the itinerary in order to meet at the Port of Los Angeles by 5:30pm. Disembarkation is after breakfast, at 9:00am on Day 5 of the outlined itinerary. Plan flights to depart Los Angeles no earlier than 12:00pm Noon.

Whether you are looking for light activity options or more challenging outdoor pursuits, the ship’s crew can tailor most excursions to suit your skill level. Adventure activities may include hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, inflatable boat/skiff excursions, photography, whale watching, yoga and wildlife observation.

Room Configuration

In addition to listed Solo cabin rates, select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy with a single supplement fee. If you would like to share accommodations with another guest of the same gender, we will be happy to try to accommodate you in select cabin categories. This program allows you to pay the per person double-occupancy rate whether or not a roommate is found. Contact AdventureSmith for further details and availability.

Families & Children

Kids under the age of 18 at time of travel save $500, at double occupancy. Skilled staff members are trained in organizing activities that inspire curiosity in young people of all ages. Programming for kids may include activities like photo workshops, journaling, scavenger hunts, Zodiac-driving lessons, hands-on nature and science programming and kid-friendly menu options.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details.  Learn more about travel insurance  or  get a free quote .

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife,  n ational  p ark regulation or at the captain’s discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.  

Cruise Rates & Dates

Rates are variable per remaining availability and are subject to change.

Learn About The Small Ships On Your Itinerary

Purpose built to cruise coastal waters, shallow coves and fast-moving channels, the 100-guest National Geographic Quest is a luxurious and state-of-the-art expedition vessel designed for supreme comfort and enhanced wildlife viewing.

The 100-guest National Geographic Venture is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built expedition vessel made for exploring coastal waters, shallow coves and fast-moving channels while sailing with the luxury of supreme comfort.

Current Deals on This Trip

Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more on a variety of 2024 or 2025 National Geographic expeditions worldwide.

Save $500 per kid under 18 when you book your 2024 or 2025 departure from a variety of National Geographic expeditions worldwide.

Ship Reviews from our Experts so You Know What to Expect

Learn from two AdventureSmith experts about identical sister ships Nat Geo Venture and Quest. Tips on choosing your cabin, what the food is like and why choose to sail aboard.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

Planning Your Trip to Baja

When is the best time to visit Baja? Consult this month-by-month guide for travel planning tips on the many Baja seasons for gray whales, whale sharks, mobula rays, enjoyable Baja weather and more.

Small ship cruises to Baja California and the Sea of Cortez offer nature, adventure and wildlife right in our own backyard. We have created this Baja cruising guide to help you select the trip and ship that are best for your interests, ability and budget.

Our experts recommend their favorite Baja Californa books on this comprehensive reading list. Prepare for travel with recommended books, field guides, travel guides, maps, & resources.

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Experience several days in the company of California gray whales on this Baja whale watching cruise while also exploring mangrove forests, desert landscapes and pristine beaches aboard the 62-guest National Geographic Sea Bird or Sea Lion.

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On this 8-day Baja expedition on 100-guest Nat Geo Venture, watch whales and dolphins by kayak, stand-up paddleboard, Zodiac cruise and snorkel. Take advantage of consistently calm waters and the colorful cactus blossoms.

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Wild California Escape: Channel Islands National Park Cruise

Embark on an unprecedented five-day expedition into wildness and wellness in the remote and remarkable Channel Islands as you learn about NPCA’s important role in the park’s history. Known as North America’s Galápagos, the Channel Islands and their surrounding waters provide habitat for more than 2,000 species of plants and animals, including 150 native species found nowhere else in the world. You’ll explore unmarred landscapes and revel in pure nature.

Download Detailed Trip Brochure (1 MB pdf) ›

Departure Date:

November 1-5, 2022

5 days/4 nights

NPCA Host Participation Minimum: 10 NPCA guests; Lindblad Expeditions cruise ship maximum: 100 guests

Why Travel with NPCA?

Our goal is to offer premium educational travel itineraries in the places we know best: America’s national parks.

Schedule Highlights

• Experience islands so stunning they were first protected as a national monument in 1938
• Hike to one of only two naturally occurring Torrey pine groves in the world
• Catch a glimpse of the elusive fox species only found in the Channel Islands
• Kayak, stand-up paddleboard, hike or relax ashore and enjoy the wild and remote island landscapes
• Hike to the last major light station to be built on the west coast on the striking Anacapa Island
• Spot some of the 150 native plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world
• Learn how NPCA has worked to protect Channel Islands National Park from external threats

DAY 1: November 1 - Los Angeles / Embark : Arrive in Los Angeles or toss your bag in your car if you live there, and transfer to the Port of Los Angeles in the afternoon to be welcomed aboard. Familiarize yourself with the ship, stow your stuff and take in the sights on the ship’s deck. We’ll embark in the early evening—where you’ll meet the team and settle in for the days ahead! (D)

DAY 2: November 2 - Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands, Channel Islands National Park : Wake to the ship at anchor off the rocky outcropping of East Anacapa Island . Join your fitness instructor on the sundeck for morning yoga before heeding the call of the breakfast buffet. After breakfast, join naturalists aboard our Zodiacs (rigid inflatable boats) to go ashore on East Anacapa. The goal is the Anacapa Island Lighthouse , built in 1932, the last major light station to be built on the West Coast. Soak in the views from Inspiration Point or, for a more relaxing option, explore Arch Rock via Zodiac. (B,L,D)

Anacapa island lighthouse with nesting seagulls and sunset sky at Channel Islands National Park in Ventura County California.

DAY 3: November 3 - Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park : Kick-start your morning with a stretch class before breakfast. Weather permitting, go kayaking, hike one of the many trails or simply relax ashore. With luck, we may catch a glimpse—or photo—of the elusive fox species endemic to the island . Join the naturalists for a more strenuous hike out to the base of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve , which contains what is considered one of the world’s rarest pines and is one of only two naturally occurring groves in the world. End the day with a sunset cocktail party. (B,L,D)

DAY 4: November 4 - Santa Catalina Island : Spend the day discovering the colorful history and natural wonders of Catalina Island . Once a haunt of smugglers and gold-diggers, the island was transformed into a resort destination by chewing gum tycoon William Wrigley, Jr. in the 1920s. Some 50 years later, William’s heirs, Philip K. Wrigley and Dorothy Wrigley Offield, established the Catalina Island Conservancy , protecting nearly ninety percent of the island. After a morning workout on deck followed by breakfast, meet a conservancy member to learn about their work on the island before heading out on the trail for spectacular views of the coastline and the Catalina backcountry . With luck, catch a glimpse of the elusive bison herd that has resided on Catalina Island since 1924. Head for the water to kayak or stand-up paddleboard. After lunch, the ship arrives in Avalon Harbor , for a free‐ranging afternoon on your own. Explore downtown Avalon, the island’s only incorporated city, population a little under 5,000. Take the 30‐minute (mostly uphill) stroll up Avalon Canyon to visit the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens . Or visit an architectural gem: the famous Catalina Casino , built by William Wrigley, Jr. in 1929. Scuba‐certified? Our team will arrange diving and gear rental for you with a top local operator. Return to the ship for a farewell dinner and a last evening at sea under the stars. (B,L,D)

DAY 5: November 5 - Los Angeles/Disembark : Awake dockside in the bustling Port of Los Angeles (early risers can catch the action in one of the world’s largest ports). Enjoy a final breakfast on board before disembarking and either transferring to the airport or heading to your car or Uber—refreshed by your getaway (B)

NPCA TRAVEL ELIGIBILITY : NPCA is the only independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of the National Park System. We are 100% privately funded and we rely on donations from individuals like you. One traveler per group must be an active NPCA member to participate in an NPCA trip. An annual membership starts at $15 per person. Please make dues payable to NPCA by check or credit card at npca.org.

TRAVEL SAFE WITH NPCA Your safety is our top priority. NPCA has worked diligently with each of our travel partners to develop important safety measures for all our trips. As guidelines and protocols evolve, we are committed to creating flexible options for those interested in rescheduling or booking new travel. For more information, check out our COVID-19 Travel Update .

MORE INFORMATION For full details on this trip, including inclusions, exclusions, activity level, accommodations, cancellation terms and safety protocols, please download the detailed trip brochure.

MAKING RESERVATIONS To secure your space on this NPCA trip, please contact Jared Dial, NPCA’s Associate Director of the Educational Travel Program, at 1.800.628.7275 or email the Travel Program at [email protected] .

TRAVEL PROTECTION We strongly recommend purchasing important optional travel insurance that will cover you for a variety of travel-related contingencies, such as trip cancellation, interruption, and/or delay; baggage loss, theft, damage or delay; accident and/or sickness medical expenses; accidental death; as well as evacuation/repatriation coverage. Please note that a Pre-Existing Condition waiver is available if you purchase the policy within 21 days of making your initial trip payment. Also consider the optional “Cancel for any Reason” protection. All questions regarding the plan’s coverage should be directed to Travel Insurance Select through USI Affinity at 1-800-937-1387 or by visiting their website .

Check out NPCA’s full tour lineup at www.npca.org/trips

• Cost: From $3,260 per person; single supplement applies
• Park: Channel Islands National Park
• NPCA Region: Pacific

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How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Channel Islands National Park

This national park is called ‘North America’s Galapagos’ — and it has 145 species found nowhere else.

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

You don’t have to make the trek to the Galapagos Islands to see plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. Right off the coast of California, in Channel Islands National Park , are five rugged islands that were isolated for thousands of years. Over time, the flora and fauna evolved, unhampered by outside forces — and today, over 2,000 species of plants and animals make their home on the islands and surrounding waters, including 145 endemic species.

Mark Newman/Getty Images

In addition to unique flora and fauna, Channel Islands National Park provides visitors with a remote and rugged experience . The islands are void of restaurants, hotels, and even cars, and travelers have to bring their own food and water. The ferry journey from Ventura Harbor only adds to the experience.  

Here’s everything you need to know about Channel Islands National Park before you go.

Jessica Katt/Getty Images

When to Visit Channel Islands National Park

In all reality, you could visit Channel Islands National Park any time of year and be treated to a clear, warm, sunny day. The islands boast a moderate Mediterranean climate with average highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s. That said, in the summer months, the water warms, air temperatures rise, and calm seas improve underwater visibility. This weather tends to continue until October when the Santa Ana winds arrive. Winter and spring, while still temperate, often have rain, wind, and fog.

How to Get There

All five Channel Islands are accessible via ferries that run from Ventura Harbor. The park’s designated ferry company, Island Packers Cruises , travels to Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands on a regular, year-round schedule. The journey takes around one hour . Ferries also run from Ventura Harbor to the outer islands of Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara, and San Miguel between April and November, although the schedule is weather dependent. The journey to Santa Rosa and Santa Barbara takes around three hours while the trip to San Miguel Island tends to be around four hours. You can also travel to the islands by private boat .

All five islands are car free, so be prepared to walk once you arrive at your destination. There is no entrance fee for Channel Islands National Park.

Antonio Busiello/Getty Images

Where to Stay

The Channel Islands are a truly remote destination and the accommodations follow suit. Each island has a simple, primitive campground with picnic tables and pit toilets. Campers will need to bring their own water (except at Water Canyon on Santa Rosa and Scorpion Canyon on Santa Cruz) and food, and pack out their trash. There is also limited backcountry camping on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. Campfires are not allowed in the park.

Advanced reservations are required for all Channel Islands campgrounds at the nightly rate of $15 per campsite. You can make campground reservations up to six months in advance at  Recreation.gov — just make sure you have secured your ferry trip before you book a campsite as the ferries tend to fill up quicker than the campgrounds.

If you prefer more traditional lodging, you’ll want to book a room in Ventura, Oxnard, or Santa Barbara and plan on a one-day journey to the Channel Islands.

Travelers to Channel Islands National Park must pack in their own food and water. There is a very limited amount of food and drink for purchase on the ferry to and from the islands.

Douglas Klug/Getty Images

Things to Do at Channel Islands National Park

The island of Anacapa has great bird watching and plenty of hiking trails — including one that leads to a 1932 lighthouse. Wildflower season (typically late winter and spring) can be stunning, and there’s plenty of swimming, diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. Santa Cruz Island is the easiest island to get to and is home to the scrub jay, an endemic bird found nowhere else in the world. Santa Cruz also has some of the park’s best water access, with great beaches, clear waters, and several surf spots. There are plenty of snorkeling and diving opportunities, including a sea cave-studded shoreline. 

Meanwhile, San Miguel Island shines in the wildlife department. One of the best ways to see wildlife is to hike the 16-mile round-trip route to Point Bennett, where thousands of seals gather. The waters surrounding Santa Barbara Island tend to be clear and full of wildlife, and a kayak journey toward Arch Point or the Sea Lion Rookery offers views of sea caves, wildlife, and rock arches. Meanwhile, at Santa Rosa Island , travelers will be treated to several good tidepooling spots and views of the rare Torrey pines.

The Channel Islands’ ferry company, Island Packers Cruises , offers whale-watching tours in the Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, which are often home to gray, humpback, and blue whales. The ferry company also offers a water-bound wildlife tour with sightings of sea lions, seals, and rare island birds.

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Channel Islands Whale Watching Tours

Southern California Whale Watching at its finest. Welcome to Channel Islands Whale Watching website, the gateway to the beautiful world famous Channel Islands, located in Oxnard, California. We offer year round fishing trips, whale watching excursions, and seafari island tours!

Tours run from December 26 - April 30 each year.

Whale Watching Tours

Channel Islands Whale Watching offers breathtaking excursions through the waters surrounding Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Southern California. The Channel Islands region is a premier global destination for whale watching and marine wildlife sightings. Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, Orca (Killer Whales) Whales, Finback Whales and Gray Whales, are commonly observed in the pristine waters surrounding the park and sanctuary.

School Field Trips

Driven twice to the brink of extinction, the Pacific Gray Whale has made a remarkable recovery, earning the right to be known as one of the most resilient species on the planet. You will have the opportunity to understand how the migration is part of the species survival strategy and how this predictable journey nearly led to their extinction. During your 3 to 4 hour expedition, our naturalists will engage students in a program that covers their remarkable 12,000 mile voyage from Alaska to Baja and back.

Take the adventure of a lifetime with Channel Islands Whale Watching!

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Channel Islands - Guernsey, Herm & Sark

A peaceful 10-day holiday encompassing the very best of the British Channel Islands of Sark, Guernsey and Herm.

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The British Channel Islands have been little-explored by mainland-based naturalists. This pioneering 10-day holiday explores three of the archipelago's islands, led by a Channel Island resident expert naturalist. Our stay begins on  the beautiful island of Sark, which lies 9 miles to the south-east of Guernsey and is described by the Daily Telegraph as one of the 20 most tranquil and most "desirable great escapes on the planet”. Sark is also one of the sunniest places in the British Isles and hosts a wonderful selection of wildlife which we shall seek on serene excursions.

After a most enjoyable 6-day exploration of Sark’s flora and fauna, we’ll take a 50-minute ferry crossing back to Guernsey where we will be based for our next four nights. The picturesque island of Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands and is packed with award-winning beaches, picture-postcard towns, and world-class cuisine. Guernsey hosts an interesting fauna and flora including such specialities as Glanville Fritillary, Loose-flowered Orchid and Short-toed Treecreeper.  On one of the days based on Guernsey we shall make a day trip to our third Channel Island of the holiday, Herm, which is just a 15-minute ferry crossing from Guernsey's St Peter Port Harbour. Herm is one of the smallest of the inhabited Channel Islands and with a population of just over 60 is beautifully unspoilt and with no cars, incredibly peaceful.

We'll return from our holiday having had a most restful yet fascinating insight into our most southerly islands.

For detailed information, please download the itinerary document above. Please note that the second departure in each year is usually operated in the reverse direction i.e. starting in Guernsey and ending in Sark.

• Explore three British Channel Islands on one holiday!
• See wonderful species rarely, or not, found on the British Isles mainland including Glanville Fritillary, Loose-flowered Orchid and Short-toed Treecreeper
• Led by a Channel Island resident expert naturalist
• Bird-ringing and moth-trapping demonstrations undertaken
• Visit beautiful habitats such as the Ramsar sites of L’Eree Shingle Bank, Gouliot Headland and Lihou Island
• Ferry option available for those who wish to make this a flight-free holiday

Outline Itinerary

What's Included?

We’ll stay in one of Sark’s traditional farmhouses, set in extensive, beautiful, sheltered gardens with an indoor swimming pool, dining in the luxurious Georgian hotel next-door each evening. On Guernsey we'll stay in an elegant 4-star hotel in a beautiful secluded valley where upgraded Gold Balcony rooms are used as standard for our tour. All rooms en suite.

The tour price includes a wonderful 3-course meal on each of our nine evenings. Lunches are not included in the tour price and will be taken at cafés featuring local produce, and where light lunches such as soups and sandwiches are available, as well as more substantive plates of food.

The islands are wonderful. Sark was a revelation. The two tour leaders made this trip memorable. Their personalities and sense of humour made this trip extra special. Over and above the normal range, we enjoyed moth traps, star gazing and bat observing. K.P, Cambridgeshire, May '23

Dates & Prices

Tour Leader: John Horton

John Horton is the warden of the British Isles' newest bird observatory on Alderney, and he featured on BBC Countryfile in this role in the spring of 2016. Whilst birdwatching is John's forte, since moving to Alderney he has become a proficient all rounder with regards to the fauna and flora and has discovered species of birds, insects, flowers and mammals never before recorded on the island. Prior to his current role, he was a wildlife crime investigator for the Metropolitan police for 15yrs before discovering Alderney and making it his home. He recently represented the British bird observatories delivering a presentation at the 2019 International bird observatories council AGM in Eilat, Israel. He is sponsored by Zeiss optics and features as the Channel Islands representative on the Zeiss website nature blog. He is ​the Alderney Bird Recorder, a member of the Bailiwick Islands rare birds panel and ​in 2021 became the chairman of the Channel Islands bird ringing scheme. John's most memorable wildlife moments are sitting amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas in the African Congo and the ringing of a Spoon-billed Sandpiper in South West India on Valentines Day in 1989. John loves leading our ​tours on Alderney ​and ​its neighbouring islands and derives great pleasure from playing his part in bringing attention to this wonderful wildlife haven. 

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

• The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
• Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
• Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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• Reservations

Authorized Concessionaire in Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands Kayak Tours

Some of the most beautiful views in the world can be found in Channel Islands National Park. Let our experienced guides outfit you for a fun day of cave exploration. Rated Top 5 "Best Kayaking Tour" in the nation by USA Today!

View all Kayak Tours

Channel Islands Snorkeling

Want to get a little closer to the marine life? Santa Cruz Island is surrounded by the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary, creating a protected environment offering some of the best snorkeling in America. Reserve your snorkel gear online and explore the waters.

View all Snorkel Options

Travel Tips

Preparing for your trip, island wildlife, don’t feed the birds (or foxes), happy adventurers.

You have fun. We’ll handle the rest.

An Awesome Time!

Thanks for an incredible sea kayaking adventure on Santa Cruz in Channel Islands National Park! Well worth the money, especially with the wetsuits and extra outfitting that made paddling super comfy. "

One of the Best Family Days!

"Six of us went Kayaking in the Sea Caves and loved every minute. Our guide was fun and knowledgeable and was incredibly enthusiastic about the adventure. On the way home, we saw two whales and two pods of dolphins. Cannot imagine a better day!"

A Bucket List Adventure!

"An awesome adventure! While the Painted Cave is the highlight of the tour all of the caves are incredible. The wildlife is amazing along with the plants and everything else. The guides were super friendly and very informative."

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Visit the Channel Islands

Channel islands national park & national marine sanctuary.

Just 11 miles from the Channel Islands Harbor, yet worlds apart, Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel and Santa Rosa) and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archaeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

The park, often referred to as the Galapagos of North America, is surrounded by the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, a destination to project species, sensitive habitats, shipwrecks and maritime heritage artifacts.

Between the National Park and the Sanctuary, this stretch of the Pacific off the Ventura County coast offers plenty of adventures for the outdoor enthusiast – camping, hiking, kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, diving, sportfishing, whale watching, and more. If you are seeking to discover this uncrowded natural paradise, look no further than starting your adventure at the Channel Islands Harbor.

Get to the Channel Islands National Park and Explore

Island Packers Cruises is the official concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park and offers trips to each island, depending on the season. Once you reach the islands, take a scenic hike, with pristine views and opportunities to see native plants , wildlife , birds , and natural features and ecosystems. There’s also ample opportunities to learn about the National Park by participating in interpretive programs . If you can’t see it all and one day, and chances are you can’t, there’s plenty of camping opportunities.

Kayak the Channel Islands

Enjoy a kayaking adventure at Anacapa Island with C hannel Islands Expeditions aboard the Sunfish, a custom built supported kayak vessel. With the Sunfish, your tour starts at one end of the island then you are picked up at the other end. You will not have to fight the wind, current or repeat the same sights on the way back.

Sail the Channel Islands

Sail Channel Islands offers luxury or economy charters for up to six people. Your best bet to see the Channel Islands in all its glory via sail boat is to charter a full day trip. The full day trip includes the opportunity to kayak, snorkel, and you can even try your hand at navigating the boat!

Whale Watching

If you’re going whale watching, you don’t have to look any further than the Channel Islands Harbor. Whale watching excursions out of the Harbor will bring you closer to the whales and the beautiful Channel Islands National Park.

Islands Packers Whale Watching tours depart for a 3 to 3 ½ hour cruise along the Santa Barbara Channel. If you increase your trip from a half day to a full day, you can enjoy a landing on the Channel Islands at Anacapa Island or Santa Cruz Island.

Channel Islands Whale Watching offers breathtaking excursions through the waters surrounding Channel Islands National Park and the National Marine Sanctuary. Hop aboard Ranger 85 with Captain Frank, who began his career at sea in 1976 and has been offering eco tours since 1990. Captain Frank offers AM and PM cruises.

Channel Islands Expeditions also offers whale watching excursions for a group of guests (up to 16).

Sportfishing

Fishing in and around the Channel Islands is second to none. Fortunately, there are two well established sportfishing companies in the Harbor that can meet any angler’s needs. Depending on the season, expect to catch calico bass, white sea bass, halibut, sand bass, barracuda, yellowtail, rockfish, and lingcod while enjoying breathtaking views of the Channel Islands.

Channel Islands Sportfishing offers a variety of trips available including local half-day trips, ¾ day island trips and overnight outer island trips.

Hook’s Landing ’s sportfishing fleet will take you around the outer Channel Islands to Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Cruz Islands or to local reefs with bass, rockfish, and halibut abound. They offer a variety of trips to meet your needs, including half-day trips, ¾ day trips, and overnight trips.

Posted: Wednesday, Sep 1st, 2021

By James Hills

Island Packers Whales And Wildlife Cruise

Island Packers is one of the most respected coastal cruise operators in Southern California. They have been offering education, recreation, and research cruises exploring California’s Channel Islands since 1968. In fact, they are the official boat concessionaire for the Channel Islands National Park . This includes year-round transportation to the “local islands” of Santa Cruz and Anacapa for backpackers, hikers , campers , and day-trippers too. They also offer seasonal transportation to Santa Rosa Island and San Miguel Island too. Our trip was less about visiting the islands though and more about experiencing the rich marine habitat that surrounds them.

Island Packers offers a variety of cruises to explore the marine sanctuary, including Island Wildlife Cruises, Summer Whale Watches, and Winter Whale Watches as well as Birding Excursions. They depart from Ventura Harbor where there is plenty of parking as well as an EV charging station right next to the ticket office.

Our visit was in April, pretty much right at the end of the winter season by before the summer season. Despite this timing, we had an incredible time and saw some animals and marine activity that I had never seen before.

I bring this up because we sometimes get questions from folks asking “when is a good time for a whale-watching cruise” and the answer is, “it depends”. The waters off the coast of Southern California almost always have “something” going on and there is almost nowhere else on earth quite as rich in marine life than the Channels Islands.

With that said, quite literally every cruise is unique. Whales, porpoises, fish, birds, and other animals don’t perform on command. This isn’t Sea World. This is true from week to week but also from day to day and even between the morning and afternoon cruises. For instance, on the day of our trip – April 12, 2021 – they spotted 14,000 common dolphins, two gray whales, and five humpback whales. Nine days earlier they came across 16 gray whales and five fin whales but “only” 1,000 common dolphins. More recently though, on July 15th, they saw two humpback whales, a blue whale, two minke, 1,900 common dolphins, and 54 bottlenose dolphins. Last October they had one amazing day where they spotted 23 blue whales!

Each cruise is different and I absolutely love that they record the marine mammal sightings and share the data on their website.

On our Channel Islands whale watching cruise, there were three experiences that really stood out. At this point, I’ve been on almost a dozen different whale watching trips but each one is unique.

Raft of Sea Lions

As we headed towards a spot where the captain thought we might see some whales, we encountered a raft of sea lions. This “raft” featured hundreds of sea lions huddled together. I’d never seen behavior like this but essentially these sea lions will huddle together rather than heading back to shore. What was remarkable was that the entire group was also able to move in a singular motion like a flock of birds. At one point we were watching the group on one side of the boat, then they disappeared only to surface again on the other side of the boat.

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Mother and Calf Learning To Fish

Seeing a mom and calf diving together and surfacing was a beautiful sight. For some folks who have never been on a whale-watching cruise, seeing only spouts and tails might be disappointing but I’ve been on day-long cruises where that’s all you see as the whales are essentially asleep and simply traveling from one place to the next. Here though, the animals were active and engaged.

Thousands of Common Dolphins

The only other place where I’d seen thousands of dolphins were in Baja on the Sea of Cortez but I’d never seen anything of the magnitude that we saw on this day. Not only did we see one mega pod of dolphins as we headed out but we saw a second one on the way back. At one point the dolphins jumping out of the water spanned all the way to the horizon.

The naturalist onboard The Islander estimates that we saw as many as 14,000 common dolphins that day!

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Is A Special Place

There are few places on earth as rich in marine life as the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Scientists have identified 28 different species of whales and dolphins in the waters here, as well as other animals such as sea otters, sea lions, and birds. Fin, humpback, and blue whales are especially attracted to the area between June and September as the currents create an upwelling of plankton food for the whales to feed on.

However, there almost isn’t a bad time of year to visit for a whale watching tour. Your choice will simply depend on what animals you are most interested in hopefully experiencing and your tolerance for the weather. Clearly, summer weather will be warmer than winter but if you are hoping to see the famous Pacific Gray Whales then winter is when you’ll see them swimming through California’s Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

James Hills operates mantripping.com ; from travel to food and cooking to gadgets and tech, helping busy men lead a better life…

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Restoring Rare Plants on California's Channel Islands

Take a visual journey through the history of plant conservation on the Channel Islands.

California’s Channel Islands make up an archipelago of eight islands off the coast of Southern California. Often referred to as "The Galapagos of North America," their isolation coupled with unique climate, soils, and topography support a diverse range of flora and fauna, including many rare and endemic plant species found nowhere else on Earth.

Take a visual journey through the history of plant conservation on these majestic islands in this interactive ArcGIS Story Map created by Daniel Cisneros, 2021 Kendra Chan Directorate Fellow. Check out the  storymap. 

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Explore Worldwide names Great Smoky Mountains as 2024’s top trending park; Here's why

Adventure travel agency Explore Worldwide placed the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the top of their list of trending national parks in 2024.

The study used Google search data from the last two years to determine which national parks have seen the largest growth in online searches for park tours. Explore promises visitor experiences with a wide breadth of unique, breathtaking sights across their list, "from wildflower meadows and natural hot springs to crystal white sand dunes."

Here's what the list said about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , plus some extra info on the North Carolina/Tennessee fan favorite.

More: Synchronous fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains: 2024 viewing lottery, dates announced

What is special about Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

There are endless answers to the question of what makes the park so beloved. For starters, the Explore Worldwide study found that searches for park tours increased 97% year-on-year during the timeframe researchers studied.

The list also mentions popular attractions, including scenic drives along Cades Cove Loop Road, hiking through the mists that gave the park its name, and admiring the thunderous Laurel Falls.

The National Park Service also cites the diversity of plant and animal life and the quality of the park's historical remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture as reasons why Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently America's most visited national park.

What is the most popular destination in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Several sources, including pigeonforge.com, state that Cades Cove is the most popular destination in this wildly popular park.

Cades Cove is known for its many attractions, which have something for everyone. Some of the many options include:

• Cades Cove Loop - An 11-mile paved road accessible daily by automobile except for vehicle-free Wednesdays in May and September, reserved for hikers and bikers. Multiple historical buildings, mainly built by pioneers, are still in excellent condition due to preservation efforts, and many are accessible to visitors.
• Campgrounds—The primary campground in the area is Cades Cove Campground, which offers tent and RV access for $25 per night. Cades Cove also offers some backcountry camping by permit.
• Wildlife viewing - Like much of the national park, Cades Cove is known for opportunities to view diverse wildlife such as black bears, raccoons, turkeys, woodchucks and white-tailed deer.
• Hiking trails - There are many hiking trails in and around Cades Cove, including the popular Abrams Falls Trail, Cades Cove Nature Trail, Rich Mountain Loop, and more.
• Cades Cove Riding Stables—The stables offer guided horseback tours of the park's scenic trails from mid-March until November. Rides last from a shorter 45-minute trail ride to several hours. Hayrides around the Loop are also offered. 

More: Word from the Smokies: Spring's grand performance is prime time for birdwatchers

Explore Worldwide's full list

Here's Explore Worldwide's full list of the 15 most trending national parks for 2024, their locations, and the percent increase of interest based on yearly Google searches:

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, North Carolina - 97%
• Mount Rainier National Park, Washington - 95%
• Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota - 89%
• North Cascades National Park, Washington 73%
• Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado - 64%
• Redwood National Park, California - 58%
• Channel Islands National Park, California - 55%
• Saguaro National Park, Arizona - 53%
• Sequoia National Park, California - 34%
• White Sands National Park, New Mexico - 28%
• Olympic National Park, Washington - 20%
• Biscayne National Park, Florida - 20%
• Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho - 19%
• Badlands National Park, South Dakota - 19%
• Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - 18%

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].

WHALE, WILDLIFE, & SPECIALTY CRUISES

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VENTURA WINTER WHALE WATCH

Join us for a winter whale watching excursion looking for Gray Whales! Cruise and search for Gray Whales and other local marine life on this winter whale watching cruise.

• Adult (13-54): $45
• Senior (55 and up): $41
• Military (Active): $41
• Child (3-12): $32
• Infant (under 3): $0.00
• Users All Ages
• Clock 3.5 Hours
• Info Non-Landing Trip

1/2 DAY ISLAND WILDLIFE CRUISE

Wildlife Cruises are 3 ½ hour non-landing trips that include a narrated crossing of the Santa Barbara Channel, a shoreline cruise of Anacapa Island including Arch Rock, seal and sea lion rookeries, and any wildlife encountered along the way. These trips frequently make brief stops at Anacapa Island to drop-of and pick-up visitors of Anacapa.

OUTER ISLAND WILDLIFE CRUISE

These trips focus on finding wildlife in the Marine Sanctuary and along the shorelines of the outer islands of the Park. Visitors stop to view secluded beaches often filled with pinnipeds (seal/sea lions) and travel over waters typically teeming with wildlife, including whales, dolphins and dozens of pelagic and migratory bird species. These trips also visit Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island.

As part of their route, vessels stop at Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands to drop off / pick up passengers visiting the National Park.

• $100 per person
• Users Ages 13+
• Clock 10 Hours

VENTURA PELAGIC BIRD TRIP

Look for a variety of seasonal pelagic species including the newly named species Townsend’s Storm-Petrel. Heading south of Channel Islands, we will search deep waters and warm currents for this range restricted Storm-Petrel. Other possibilities are tube-noses: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Leach’s Storm-Petrel; Pink-footed, Flesh-footed (rare), Sooty, & Buller’s Shearwater.

• $175 per person

SCI SCRUB-JAY & PELAGIC BIRDS

View Scrub-Jays on Santa Cruz Island and cruise the Santa Barbara channel for pelagic birds! Although primarily a non-landing trip, this trip allows approx. 1 hour on Santa Cruz Island to observe the endemic Island Scrub-Jay and other terrestrial birds. After reboarding, there will be ample time to explore the SB channel for more wildlife and birds, then allowing us to motor along the coast of Anacapa Island and look at the groups of seabirds congregating for the nesting season.

• $125 per person
• Clock 9 Hours

VENTURA SUMMER WHALE WATCH

Join us for a summer whale watching excursion looking for Humpbacks and Blue Whales! Cruise and search for Whales and other local marine life on this summer whale watching cruise. Summer Whale Watches are longer in duration than Winter Whale watches due to greater distances traveled.

• Adult (13-54): $79
• Senior (55 and up): $74
• Military (Active): $74
• Child (3-12): $64
• Clock 6 Hours

HARBOR HOLIDAY LIGHTS CRUISE

Take in harbor views of festive Ventura Harbor decked in lights! Cruise Ventura Harbor in marinas and part of the Ventura Keys. Seating available inside the lower cabin and upstairs. Dress Warm and Please NO HIGH HEELS. Beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks are available to purchase with credit card or cash. No outside alcohol permitted on board. Please notify us if you have special boarding needs. Dine and shop downtown or the harbor before or after your cruise.

• Adult (13-54): $20
• Senior (55 and up): $18
• Child (3-12): $14
• Clock 1 Hour