channel islands private boat tour

Channel Islands Private Charter Boat Excursions

Book your adventure today:  (805) 450-7757.

Discover the Channel Islands with us!

The waters from Ventura County to the Channel Islands have a lot to offer us.  The discoveries and adventures at the islands are remarkable too. Our Channel Island adventure boat charters gets you up close with all the Channels Islands have to offer.

Whether you’re interested in fishing, whale watching, ocean picnics in secluded coves, viewing pods of dolphins or seeing the largest and deepest sea cave in the world – we get you connected with a customized trip just for your party.

Connect with us

Contact info.

Channel Islands Tours  Marine Emporium Landing 3600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard , CA 93035   Questions and Info  (805) 450-7757   info@gotourchannelislands.com

Our Hours Open 7 Days A Week

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Map & Directions to the Boat

Channel Islands Tours  Marine Emporium Landing 3600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard , CA 93035   Questions and Info  (805) 450-7757

  info@gotourchannelislands.com

• Map to Boat

© Copyright 2024 Channel Islands Tours All Rights Reserved.

Channel Islands Charter

Where your adventure begins.

Channel Islands Charter is now a Certified Green Company!!!!!

2024 Charter Season is upon us,  call us to book your adventure!

Phone: 424 781-7245

Just off the coast of Southern California are a chain of magical islands, the Channel Islands.  These unspoiled islands offer unique species of animal and plant life found nowhere else in the world.  Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and join Channel Islands Charter on an excursion that will leave you refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Whether you are looking for a quick four hour getaway or a week-long adventure, we can make your dream vacation come true.  For those wishing a truly private experience aboard a luxury sailing yacht, Channel Islands Charter is the only way to go. We have a variety of boats and yachts to provide you with an experience tailored to your needs and expectations. Our crewed boat rentals are perfect for parties of up to 6 passengers.  In addition to Channel Islands Harbor (located in Oxnard, California), we have yachts available in Marina Del Rey which are available for excursions to Catalina as well as cruising Santa Monica Bay and Malibu.

Activities including fishing, surfing, kayaking, water skiing, hiking, sailing and more.  Visit the Activities link for more detail on things to do.

For more information and help planning your sailing adventure please contact us at

Join our Sailing Club to experience the wonders of sailing and tour the Channel Islands!

Short term memberships available

Affordable sailboat rental with captain.

Email:  [email protected]

Covid19 Update (click here)

Click the link below to view Channel Islands Charter’s Debut on TWC’s From The Edge With Peter Lik.

Specializing in sailing to the Channel Islands, sailing to Catalina,  all inclusive power boat and sailboat rental experience, kayaking.

Once you have spoken with a representative you can click this link to make a deposit and hold your reservation:   Click here

Your choice for Channel Islands Harbor boat rentals –  Not a Channel Islands Ferry company.  Private charters.

Unique Visitors: 77,103

Private Channel Islands Boat Charters & Tours

The west coast's most iconic natural marvel.

The Santa Barbara Sailing Center welcomes you to explore Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary with a USCG Captain aboard one of our fantastic cruising yachts. For your convenience, we offer pre-planned trips that can be customized to fit your needs.

The Santa Barbara Sailing Center welcomes you to explore the majestic Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary with a USCG Captain aboard one of our fantastic cruising yachts. For your convenience, we offer pre-planned trips that can be customized to fit your needs. The experience can be paired with activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, beach lounging, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, free diving, sea cave exploration, day sailing, or just hanging out and enjoying the beautiful anchorage.  We are extremely excited to have you join us for a voyage that you will never forget.

Each excursion is unique and will have varying degrees of lounging, water activities, and exploration. Choose between a Catalina 42′ equipped with 4 cabins and 2 heads or a Catalina 50′ equipped with 5 cabins and 5 heads. Groups max out at 6 passengers on board.

• Catalina 42' - Calafia
• Catalina 50' - Jenny Lane

Catalina 27' - Calafia

• 2 Day $2380
• 3 Day $3545
• 5 Day $5880
• 7 Day $8200

Catalina 28' - Jenny Lane

• 2 Day $3180
• 3 Day $4720
• 5 Day $7850
• 7 Day $10950

CHARTER ADD ONS

Extra Crew (Catalina 50′ only): $300 per day Kayak (Single): $30 per day Kayak (Tandem): $60 per day Stand Up Paddle Board: $60 per day Early Board (5pm): $151.20 Late Board (9am): $151.20

Pricing does not include customary gratuity, fuel, state tax, port tax, or 5% Channel Island National Park tax. We accept major credit cards only. We do not accept cash.

Plot your Course

2 day island excursion.

Short and sweet, this 2 day island getaway will give you a preview of the most popular Channel Island. Setting sail from Santa Barbara early on day one will allow for maximum time at Santa Cruz island. You’ll anchor overnight on the north side of the island with ample time to snorkel, hike, and explore before returning to Santa Barbara the following day.

3 DAY ISLAND EXCURSION

This 3 day island excursion will let you dip your toes into the majesty of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. With one full day at the islands, you can explore additional anchorages. This is the perfect option for a short and relaxing getaway.

5 DAY ISLAND EXCURSION

A 5 day trip to the Channel Islands National Park will enable a visit to Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. These two islands in the middle of the archipelago offer stunning views of scenery reminiscent of Zion National Park, Cabo San Lucas, and the Galapagos! Explore archaeological sites of the native Chumash Indians. This tranquil yachting experience will create a lifetime of memories.

7 DAY ISLAND EXCURSION

Enjoy a full week at the stunning Santa Barbara Channel Islands Archipelago. Explore San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz Islands. This option gives you full flexibility; you can customize your voyage to include other islands in the chain, or spend an extended amount of time at a select few. This package is excellent for divers, surfers, and adventurers alike, giving you adequate time to fully immerse yourself in exploration.

General Guidelines

We strongly recommend including the following in your personal provisions:

• Extra paper towels, toilet paper, facial tissue, and sponges
• Rags/towels (to keep interior floors and cockpit clean of sand and salt.)
• Trash bags (for trash and dirty laundry)
• Dish towels
• Plastic wrap and/or   ziplock baggies (for leftovers)
• Tupperware containers (for leftovers)
• Clothes pins (to dry towels and clothing on lifelines)
• Basic condiments
• Coleman camping propane and aluminum foil for the BBQ
• Bedding and pillows (SBSC can supply for a fee—reservations must be made 7 days prior to charter start date)
• Towels (SBSC can supply for a fee—reservations must be made 7 days prior to charter start date).
• Motion sickness remedies
• Plenty of drinking water

Landing Permits If you wish to go ashore on Santa Cruz Island, you must have a landing permit.  Apply for a landing permit here .

Do not use metal coolers or metal storage containers. Plastic is much kinder to the wood and fiberglass boat materials.

If you plan to scuba dive , we require each diver to sign a waiver prior to departure.

Parking Information If your charter is 3 days or more, SBSC will provide you with an extended parking permit to be placed on the dashboard of your car. Parking fees will apply at a rate of $15.00 per day.

Channel Islands Food Provisioning

Lazy Acres Market 302 Meigs Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 Trader Joe’s 222 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 Vons 2010 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 Whole Foods Market 3761 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Gelson’s Market 3305 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Bristol Farms 3855 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Do you offer day trips to the Channel Islands? We only offer multi-day trips to the Islands.

What types of activities can I do on the Islands? Popular activities include kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, beach lounging, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, free diving, sea cave exploration, day sailing, and just hanging out and enjoying the beautiful anchorage.

How many people can I bring? You may have up to four guests on the 42’ and up to six guests on the 50’.

Can I board a night early or stay a night extra? You have the option of staying an extra night before or after your charter. 

Can I bring my dog/cat/pet? We do not allow any pets on our yachts.

How do meals work? Your captain will reach out to you 2-3 weeks prior to your charter to talk about meal planning. The vessels are equipped with a refrigerator, propane oven/range/barbeque and a full galley set up (silverware, plates, pots, pans,  etc.).

Do you offer kayaks, SUPS, or snorkeling gear? We offer kayak and SUPs for an additional cost and can refer you to  companies for snorkeling gear.

Payment and Reservation Policy 100% non-refundable payment is due at the time of booking. We accept all major debit/credit cards. We do not accept cash.

Cancellation and House Credit Policies To receive house credit, advance notice must be given  by 4pm the day prior  to your booking for the following:

• Private Double Dolphin Cruises
• Private Skippered Charters
• Non-ASA Certification Lessons and Guided SUP/Kayak Tours.

To receive house credit, a 7-day advance  notice is required for the following:

• Corporate Regattas
• Dining at Sea Private Charters
• Multi-Day Skippered Charters

Membership Cancellation Policy All memberships auto-bill on the first of each month. If you would like to cancel your membership at any point, you must submit written notice before the first of the month. We cannot offer any refunds or credits for dues already charged.

Liability Waiver Forms Before participating in water activities, all participants must sign a release of liability form.

Inclement Weather Policy Full refunds  are available when the captain and/or manager make the call for cancellation  one hour prior to your departure . Inclement weather is defined as “sea and wind conditions that are deemed potentially unsafe.” Trips operating under unfavorable conditions that do not pose any risk to boat safety (rain, fog, temperature, etc.) will still operate as scheduled. Cancellations made due to “unfavorable conditions” by 4pm the day prior to departure will result in a house credit with no expiration date.

Cannabis Policy Although California state law currently allows prescription and recreational cannabis to be legal, it is  not  legal while boating since the ocean is considered  Federal Water . All illegal drugs, as well as all forms of cannabis, are  not permitted on any boat for any reason in any amount . The Charterer/Renter will be held liable for the  full value  of the vessel should anything happen to the boat, as well as  loss of income .

Alcohol Policy Hard alcohol is  not  permitted aboard the Double Dolphin under any circumstances. No outside alcohol may be brought on the Double Dolphin for public cruises.. Wine can be brought aboard the Double Dolphin for  private charters only . Each bottle is subject to a $25 corkage fee and no bottle over 750 ml will be permitted. No other outside alcohol is allowed. Hard alcohol, wine, and beer are all permitted aboard Private Skippered Charters free of charge.

Capacity Policy Private charters aboard our Catalinas may have a maximum of 6 guests (not including captain) on board at all times. The Double Dolphin may have a maximum of 49 passengers (not including captain and crew) on board at all times. Infants count as a full passenger according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Kayak/SUP Policy Everyone participating in kayak or paddle activities must be a strong swimmer. Please see our website for equipment weight capacity. It is the renter’s responsibility to make sure the equipment is not overloaded. All minors 18 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times while paddling or kayaking.

Catering Order Policy All catering orders are 100% non-refundable and must be placed at least 96 hours prior to your scheduled departure date. If your charter is canceled for any reason, your catering order will be made available for pick up at our office.

Channel Islands National Park

Located just 26 miles from Santa Barbara lies the world famous Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary. This pristine piece of wilderness, also known as the Galapagos of the Pacific, is bursting with marine life including whales, dolphins, sea lions, and other life forms not found anywhere else on earth. The National Park encompasses five diverse islands in all (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and is a place where visitors can experience coastal Southern California as it once was.

Close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart, these islands possess not only biological diversity but incredible geologic wonders such as Painted Cave, one of the largest and deepest sea caves in the world. Our upper division ASA sailing courses offer overnight trips to the Channel Islands National Park for expert training.

For the experience of a lifetime, come and enjoy one of North America’s truly magnificent treasures. The Santa Barbara Channel makes for a challenging and beautiful area to sail and cruise. With the broad spectrum of conditions accessible within the Santa Barbara area, we are able to accommodate sailors of all levels.

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

Double Dolphin Private Cruise – 1 Hour

Blue Ocean Charters Channel Islands, California

Explore. discover. live. enjoy the best private yacht charter of a lifetime.

When you are looking forward to a half day, full day, sunset cruise or a multi-day excursion around the Channel Islands, Blue Ocean Charters will provide a safe, comfortable, and luxurious way to see the beautiful sights of the Santa Barbara Channel on our Nordhavn motor yacht.

Along with an enjoyable cruise, the safety of our passengers and crew is the primary focus of Blue Ocean Charters. BLUE has recently been upgraded with state of the art electronic, navigational and safety equipment. In addition, BLUE is inspected annually by the US Coast Guard to insure compliance with all federal regulations related to passenger carrying vessels.

A safe, comfortable and luxurious way to see the beautiful sights of the Santa Barbara Channel, Ventura Coastline and Channel Islands

HALF DAY CHARTERS

Come join the crew of blue on your private yacht for a relaxing half day cruise along the beautiful ventura coastline..

FULL DAY CHARTERS

If you want to spend more time on the water, we'll take you and your guests on a full day cruise across the santa barbara channel to anacapa island..

MULTI-DAY EXCURSIONS

Whether you choose to go to catalina island or cruise around the remote wilderness of santa barbara, santa cruz, santa rosa or san miguel islands, blue and her crew will safely and comfortably take you there..

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Blue ocean charters is available to provide customized trips for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, family outings, burials and corporate team building events..

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

Learn confidence building on your private vessel, both power and sail. lessons include docking, anchoring sessons and instruction in navigation..

MARITIME SERVICES

We offer boat deliveries, captain services for your private vessel, both power and sail..

“WE ARE OPEN! Come experience the ultimate in social distancing by spending the day on your own private yacht cruising the beautiful Santa Barbara Channel! We are now offering discounts on our half and full day charters.” Captain Randy Chapman

CHARTER RATES

BOOKING AND RESERVATIONS

DOWNLOAD FORMS

OLD PLANK ADVENTURES

Old Plank is a boutique luxury sailing charter & aquatic expedition company with gourmet 5 star cuisine. Founded by Captain and Chef Matthew Mancini and supported by a crew of lifelong watermen, we live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun.

We share a deep passion for quality food and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the profound peace that comes from an alignment with the rhythms of the ocean. We’ve been fortunate enough to have been immersed in the ocean and gourmet foods and derive great joy from sharing these experiences.

What Do We Do?

We take our guests out into a safe sailing environment on the Santa Monica Bay or beyond, where they have the opportunity to experience first-hand the joy of sailing, the rhythm of the ocean and unique pairings of gourmet foods and wines in the sweet briny sea air.

We catch sunrises, bake in the mid-day sunshine and relax as the sunsets and the moon rises under starry skies. We play with seals, dolphins, and whales and when appropriate catch fresh seafood to enjoy al-fresco. We are living the Mediterranean dream in Southern California and sharing the experience with valued guests who leave the experience as family.

Our Mission

Our mission is to bring the Mediterranean lifestyle to Southern California’s ideal year round climate. We aspire to help our guest to truly relax and experience the self-healing that can occur when we slow down enough to catch up with our own selves.

Old Plank Sailing Adventures is dedicated to the pursuit of genuine happiness. Curating a safe, healing environment where guests feel comfortable, appreciated and connected with nature. The oceans can help to facilitate a deep state of relaxation for the healing of emotional wounds, so you can rejuvenate while enjoying creative foods in a soothing sailing environment.

Our Offering From luxurious 45 foot catamarans for groups trips to Catalina, to intimate sunset and moonlight sails for you and a parter aboard vintage mono hull sailing yachts, we offer an array of luxury sailing charter experiences. All of our sail are private, professionally crewed and come paired with gourmet hors d’oeuvres or five-course fine dining options prepared right in front of you by Cuoco Mancini.

1552 sunsets sails completed 3761 happy customers 827 moonlight sails completed

Private Sailing Charters

We never consolidate groups. Book a truly private sail aboard our luxury monohull sailing yacht, especially for you and your loved ones. From an array of experiences from the therapeutic morning to the romantic sunset sail, for couples up to 12 passengers aboard a luxury yacht, we cater to discerning clientele who appreciate the exclusivity and intimacy afforded by a private, captained, sailing yacht.

The Captain's Table

Experience dinning alfresco with white table cloth in the helm of the yacht slipped in front of beautifully lit up Burton Chase Park or moored off the shoreline of Santa Catalina Island. Cuoco Mancini will take you through creative fusions from his Italian childhood, and professional career working in many fine dinning restaurants. Influenced by his grandmother who spent days hand-rolling pasta and homemade Italian pastries. You can opt to include a 5 star dinning experience prepared by Cuoco Mancini to any sail.

Island Adventures

A genuine California Adventure awaits just off shore in the still undeveloped and pristine environment of the local Channel Islands including Santa Catalina, just 37 nautical miles from our port in Marina del Rey. Fishing, snorkeling, lobstering, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking await your adventurous spirit with memories to last a lifetime. Book a 3 or 4 day adventure to the crystal clear waters of Catalina with a professionally Captained private sailing yacht, private chef and island tour guide.

Seadoo PWC Excursions

Fly across the open ocean with your friends on a brand new 2017 SEADOO personal water craft. With the fastest and most luxurious personal water craft on the market, you can fly across Santa Monica bay and back in under two hours. Join Captain Mancini as part of a guided tour in the Santa Monica Bay to Malibu, Palos Verdes, Catalina or beyond. Where ever we cruise our Seadoos will get you there fast! This excursion has unclose and personal encounters with the California Sea lions, dolphins and grey whales!

The Lobster Adventure on the Captain's Dinghy

Cruise on the Captain’s Dinghy from Marina del Rey to his secret lobster spots in the Santa Monica Bay. Leave right after sunset and make our way under the stars and the moonlight as you learn how to bait, and drop traps to catch the noctural Pacific Lobsters, Dungeness and Soft Shell crabs. Whatever we catch is yours to take home!

Hoist the Movie Skipper

Get comfortable on the bow or helm, as we swing the boom and hoist the main to project your favorite movie, or television show on the ship’s main sail.

Yacht Delivery

USCG Licensed and experienced Captain and crew are available at your disposal if you need help delivering your yacht to any location. Old Plank is here to assist you and fulfill any delivery needs you may have.

Corporate Housing

Looking for more space than a hotel room? We have you covered with our Luxury Corporate Housing. Starting at $175.00 per night, we can host you in one of our private corporate luxury condos or houses. For more information, scroll down to the Works section below and click on the Corporate Housing Tile.

Guided Seadoo Adventures

Sailing Adventures

Yacht Deliveries

Captain's Table

Captain's Lobster Adventure

Old Plank Sailing Fleet

Image location & Film Production

Santuario Coffee

Captain Mancini Designs

Fly across the ocean on 2018-2021 Seadoo's. We offer a variety of guided personal water craft (PWC) adventures onboard the most luxurious jetskis on the market. Weather your are a beginner, experienced, or expert rider we have the expedition that will calm your adventurous soul! For you beginner and intermediate riders whom are wildlife enthusiast, join us for the two or three hour Wildlife Seascape excursions, where you can get up close and personal with some of the most incredible animals of the Pacific Ocean. Including Pelicans, Sea Lions, Dolphins and Whales! For you intermediate and expert riders looking for an adventure to last a lifetime, join me on the Paradise Please or Island Seascape packages for a half day adventure up to Paradise Cove in Malibu, or a full day to Avalon or Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island! Fly across the ocean at high speeds, get up and personal with incredible wild life, and get the ultimate thrill of anchoring and swimming into the beach with daypacks, to enjoy a relaxing lunch in the prestine sands of Malibu or Catalina Island. Captain Mancini will be fully equipped with underwater GoPros and ariel drones to give you some epic footage for your own social media!

All of our sails include gourmet hors d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Mancini, paired with a bottle of wine.

*if you have food aversions or dietary restrictions please let the chef know a head of time., ideally our summer hours for 3 hours sails goes out daily at:, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm morning , 1:30 pm -4:30 pm afternoon  , 5:30 pm -8:30 pm   sunset  , 9:00 pm -12:00 am moonlight .

In addition, Captain Mancini is available for hire to deliver any type of Vessel up to 100 Tonnage. With over 5,000 delivery hours logged, Captain Mancini has delivered many yachts up and down the Pacific, Atlantic, and European Mediterranean coastlines.

Sailing (this is a multiple day trip - 2 day min) (5-6 hour sail each way)

Pwc seadoo island escape adventure *can return same day (1.5-2 hour each way).

Add to any Sunset Sail for $125 per plate

Five Course Dinning Option

Up to 4 guests, *does not include ca state tax, gratuity, or alcohol..

The perfect combination of excitement and relaxation. This Adventure starts after sunset as we motor through the Marina to the Captain's secret lobster spots. There, Captain will teach you how to bait, drop, and set the lobster cages for Pacific Spiny Lobsters, Dungeness and Soft Shell Crabs! Hey, he may even share a few tricks up his sleeve. Enjoy the gentle movements of the moonlighted sea as we kick our feet up and relax in the captain's dinghy as we wait for our dinner!

COMING SOON!

We are purest at heart. Classic monohull sailing aboard a vintage sailing yacht is an incomparable experience. Sail aboard a luxurious modified Islander 36 redesigned and refitted by Captain Mancini. We're also big fans of the adage, "use the right tool for the job", and when it come to speed at sea, nothing beats our 2018-20021 SEADOOs. So whatever your pleasure, we're got the toys to accommodate your interest. Our Primary Sailing yacht is PRIMA STELLA. A modernized vintage luxury sailing monohull, manufactured by Island Yachts in Costa Mesa in 1976. The Hull was designed by sailing legend Alan Gurney and redesigned in 2021 by Captain Mancini with exterior synthetic teak imported from Norway, an updated galley with glass teak bright works, modernized helm, state of the art underwater and exterior smart lighting displays, and modernized rigging designs. Prima Stella is a classic Islander 36 cruising / racing vessel at heart, capable for Bluewater sailing and built and rigged to circumnavigate around the world. With the displacement at 1500 gross tonnage, Prima Stella delivers stability in the sea with its fin keel and skeg rudder, while traveling up to a respectable 8 knots for its heavy displacement. The Islander 36 was an award winning design for its class and continues to be a choice of many avid cruising sailors. When you sail aboard Prima Stella you will surely enjoy and understand the luxury and classy feeling while under sail.

Producing a project? We have the perfect location for you! From a variety of locations including docks to shoot on, or a vessel to capture the ultimate sailing shot, Captain Mancini has the toys and locations to help bring your project to fruition! We regularly work with local and international production companies seeking sailboats and seadoos for film, television and photoshoots. Captain Mancini is accredited on IMDB with credits including FYI network’s show “Arranged”, and many commercials and music videos produced by Born Ready Films, and American Aircraft Productions. He has also wrote and produced and award winning short film Mercy-Less. Captain Mancini attended Columbia Film school, where he studied screenwriting and producing. He has also appeared on NCIS, and the films, He's just not that in to you, and Yes Man. Captain Mancini continues his acting training of "The Method" at, Friends and Artists Studios, in Toluca Lake, CA.  

Coming Soon!

https://airbnb.h/seasidebytheships  

A mid-westerner at heart, Matthew grew up on the lakes of Ohio, but always dreamed of the Open Sea. At the age of 20 he moved to Los Angeles to study film before making his first professional short film and appearing in a few Television series. The dream to sail the Pacific Ocean is still very much a driving motivation for Matthew who intends to venture around the world via sail power. Recently, Matthew has sailed from Napoli, Italy down the Amalfi Coast to Salerno, enjoying the incredible rustic and Mediterranean towns of Praiano, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Amalfi, and the Island of Capri! Matthew is a professional sailor and a licensed USCG Captain carrying a USCG Merchant Mariner 100 ton masters credential and is endorsed for coastwise sailing charter. He also spent 10 years working in some of Los Angeles's finest and most exquisite fine dinning restaurants, and loves to share the cuisines of his experiences from his Italian heritage, and from notable chefs he has learned from along the way.        

Andi is a devoted Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier that loves the open seas, sneaking a few hors d'oeuvres and offering an occasional complementary on the ship pedicure. No matter how quiet she is, she can be found in the first mate chambers of the quarter-birth. Andi has lived aboard for 13+ years and has logged hundreds of hours sailing, jet skiing, paddle boarding and afloat in the captains life boat. She is a certified service animal with the United States Service Dog Registry and loves to spend her off duty hours at the Hollywood Reservoir Park and the City of Hope Hospital. She is also Go-Pro Equipped! The past year Andi has been diagnosed with glaucoma but that won’t slow her down! Check out this senior adventurer on instagram!  

Think you are a water loving seaman or sealady? Join our team by clicking on the "employment" page and send us your resume. Your mug shot could be here soon!  

Marina del Rey & Santa Monica Bay Drone footage from CAPTAIN MANCINI on Vimeo . (COMING SOON!)

Take a short video tour of Marina del Rey.

Producer: Matthew Mancini Director of Photography, Editor: Captain Mancini Executive Producer: Captain Mancini Still Photography: GO PRO INC.

Created by Old Plank Adventures, LLC

(http://www.oldplankproductions.com)

Choose one of the packages

Therapy sail.

• PRIVATE SAILING ADVENTURES
• Private gourmet sailing adventures available from sunrise to late night moon light.
• HOURLY RATES - 2 HOUR MINIMUM TO SANTA MONICA AND MALIBU
• 2 HOUR RATES
• $350 1-2 Persons
• $400 3-6 Persons
• 3 HOUR RATES
• $450 1-2 Persons
• $600 3-6 Persons
• 4 HOUR 1/2 DAY RATES
• $600 1-2 Persons
• $800 3-6 Persons
• FOR LARGE PARTY ACCOMMODATIONS UP TO 12 PLEASE REACH OUT TO US VIA OUR CONTACT PAGE
• Slot times depends on time of year to best fit all sails into a full day.
• End of March-November (3-4 slots daily).
• End of November-Beginning of March (2 slots daily)

SEAFOOD MARKET EXPEDITION

• PRIVATE SAILING ADVENTURE (FULL DAY 8 hours)
• Private sailing adventures from Marina del Rey to Kings Harbor Marina
• 10am -6pm early day
• 12:30-8:30 pm late day
• time slot can change due to daylight savings hour.
• 2-2.5 hour lunch at Quality Seafood Market (price excludes what you spend at the market)
• 8 HOUR Duration 
• $1200 1-2 Persons
• $1600 3-6 Persons
• $2,160 7-10 Persons
• Slot times depends on time of year, and dock availability

price excludes ca state tax 9.5% and los Angeles county group docking fee. 

Captain's dinghy.

• GUIDED LOBSTER CATCHING ADVENTURE  
• Straight to the source, wild caught Santa Monica Bay Pacific Lobster, Dungeness and Soft Shell Crab.
• Incudes all traps, bait, live tank, and fuel.
• $350 1-4 PERSONS

HOIST THE MOVIE SKIPPER

• EPIC IMAX MOIVE NIGHT
• After our sunset sail we will dock and hoist the main to project any movie, documentary, or TV show.
• Beautiful scenic main channel view w/ full spectrum underwater lighting to add to our incredible ambience!
• Can be added on to any full price sailing adventure
• $250 venue fee
• 2.5 hour duration
• Up to 12 Guests
• excludes 9.5% tax and la county dock fee 

YACHT DELIVERIES

• CONTRACTED YACHT DELIVERIES
• Need a captain to deliver your yacht for you?
• DAILY RATES
• $380 Per Day
• Does not include fuel, crew and any provisions needed

WILDLIFE SEASCAPE

• GUIDED SEADOO (PWC) ADVENTURES FROM MARINA DEL REY TO SANTA MONICA OR MALIBU. 
• 2 HOUR (SANTA MONICA)
• $450 1-2 PERSONS
• 3 HOUR (MALIBU)
• $617 1-2 PERSONS
• prices do not include 9.5% ca state tax and small fuel cost

PARADISE PLEASE

• GUIDED SEADOO (PWC) ADVENTURES FROM MARINA DEL REY TO PARADISE COVE IN MALIBU AND BACK
• THE MOST FUN YOU CAN LEGALLY HAVE ON THE WATER!!!!!!
• 1/2 DAY EXPEDITION 
• $700 1-2 PERSONS

ISLAND SEASCAPE

• GUIDED SEADOO (PWC) ADVENTURES FROM MARINA DEL REY TO SANTA AVALON OR TWO HARBORS ON SANTA CATALINA ISLANDS 
• THE MOST EPIC FUN YOU WILL EVER HAVE IN YOUR LIFE!
• FULL DAY SUNRISE TO SUNSET
• $950 1-2 PERSONS

I'd like to converse with the Captain

Looking for a creative date night or family night with the kids? I have the perfect idea for you! Completely private, intimate, and Gourmet! [NEW] CAPTAIN’S MOVIE NIGHT!!

Enjoy your favorite old or new release movie or tv show projected on the ships sails. Click below to converse with the Captain!

Professional Skills

Private Relaxation Gourmet Intimate Hospitable Family

Destination Santa Barbara

Wildlife and island cruises.

The Santa Barbara Landing is your destination portal to all kinds of ocean boat tours. Our crew are knowledgeable about the area and share interesting bits of local info that make our tours informative and fun. Great for the entire family.

California Gray Whale Watching Tours

Catch a glimpse of the California Gray Whale as it makes its way north to Alaska on the longest mammal migration on earth.

Whale Guarantee – if we don’t see whales you get 100% credit for future expedition in the same calendar year.

$99/adult $79/Senior (65+) $49/child

4th of July Fireworks Sunset Cruise

Experience the world class fireworks over the Santa Barbara Harbor on the TRUTH as we get the closest and best view of the show!

$100/adult $75/child (12 and under)

Channel Islands National Park Tours

Visit one of the most beautiful and least visited National Parks in the U.S. on one of our custom built adventure vessels. We offer island kayaking, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, and wildlife viewing.

 Starts at $99/person

 Day and Multi-Day

Live Music at Sea

Summer 2023 Music at Sea

Prices Vary

Special Events

Private charters.

Charter one of our boats out of Santa Barbara.

VISION can hold 100 passengers

TRUTH can hold 49 passengers

Have an unforgettable wedding or reception on a boat off the coast of Santa Barbara.

Our vessels are a perfect location to host a private event for any special occassion.

Whale and Dolphin Tours

Sunset cruise, channel island tours.

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Doug's Channel Islands Tours

Doug's Channel Islands Tours offers fun charter boat adventures in the waters around and on the Channel Islands National Park. Our charter boat service accommodates up to 6 passengers and their gear. We offer the ability to tailor your trip to fit your needs and desires. From fishing and spearfishing, to whale watching, cave kayaking, surfing, paddle boarding, and on the islands hiking trips -- Doug's offers it all for you. Our trips are on the weekend and major holidays, weather permitting. Call and find out more today!

• 3600 Harbor Blvd.
• Channel Islands Harbor, California 93035
• Phone: (805) 450-7757

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ISLAND PACKERS

Boat transportation to channel islands national park, anacapa island, anacapa island day trips, camper transportation & island wildlife cruises, santa cruz island, santa cruz island day trips & camping transportation, santa rosa island, santa rosa island day trips & camper transportation, san miguel island, san miguel island day trips & camper transportation.

We’re Using a New Reservation System For 2024! Learn More Here ➜

Boat Transportation to Channel Islands National Park Island Trips, Wildlife Cruises, Camping & More

Island trips, camping information, whale & wildlife trips, kayaking information, general information, group charters.

ABOUT ISLAND PACKERS

Cruising the california channel islands for education, recreation and research since 1968..

Island Packers Cruises is the Official Boat Concessionaire for the Channel Islands National Park. We offer year round transportation to the “local islands” Santa Cruz and Anacapa. We offer trips to the “outer islands”, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara (NPS Closure) from March through November on a limited schedule.

Island Packers Cruises also offer trips that get close to the Channel Islands without going ashore. These trip are designed for you to view the abundant wildlife found in the waters of the Channel Islands National Park and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Seasonally, in summer and winter we offer Whale Watching trips.

Other special trips for birding and trips to special areas of Santa Cruz Island that are property of The Nature Conservancy are available as scheduled.

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Island day trip preparation.

• Please arrive at your harbor of departure 45 minutes before your scheduled departure.
• Pack food and drink for your time on the island. A small cooler or a backpack can protect your food from small animals and birds.
• There are no shops or restaurants on the island…

Protect Channel Islands National Park

Non-native, invasive species threaten endangered animals and plants on the Channel Islands and are costly to control. Please watch the following video on bio security regulations & guidelines to help prevent the introduction and spread of nonnative species before they become a problem.

Get the National Park Mobile App!

One app, every park at your fingertips. The NPS App is the new official app for the National Park Service (NPS) with tools to explore more than 400 national parks nationwide. Help plan your trip and enrich your visit to Channel Islands National Park with this official, free app.

Get the Latest Weather in Our Area

Weather is important. It can cause cancellations, a rough boat ride, or a truly beautiful day. Have the latest information to help plan your trip. Click the button below to view the latest Marine Weather Forecast from the National Weather Service.

Islapedia Celebrates 8 Years

ISLAPEDIA is a comprehensive California Islands encyclopedia covering hundreds of topics and thousands of entries on all eight California Channel Islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, and San Clemente Islands.

• Chevron down Quick Links to a Few Great Topics
• Islapedia Homepage
• Non-Fiction Books & Articles
• Santa Cruz Island
• Anacapa Island
• Santa Rosa Island
• San Miguel Island

Camper Transport

• Please arrive at your harbor of departure a full hour before your departure time. Late arriving gear may not be loaded onto the boat.
• An Island Packers boat reservation.
• A campsite reservation. Please be prepared to give your campsite number at check-in as required by the National Park Service…

Santa Barbara Channel becomes the 9th Whale Heritage Area

The Whale Heritage Area (WHA) recognizes & accredits destinations that support / demonstrate responsible and sustainable whale & dolphin watching tourism. Island Packers is proud to be one of over 30 local organizations to promote sustainable practices to ensure the conservation of the Santa Barbara Channel.

Accessing Sea Caves

Many people like to experience sea caves from the water in a kayak. Visitors to the islands can kayak the caves three ways:

• Purchase a guided tour with Channel Islands Adventure Company.
• Bring your own kayak.
• Rent a kayak

Media Articles & Videos

The Channel Islands National Park and Island Packers Cruises have had many articles and interviews published over time. These articles are independently written, by professions journalists as well as bloggers, hikers, kayakers, divers, travel writers and happy visitors to the park. Click the button to view these articles and videos.

TOP-RATED FERRY TRIPS TO CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Island Packers is the only boat concessionaire approved to run trips to and from the islands within Channel Islands National Park. But it’s still a family owned company- with two children of the founder still operating the company! And even though you’re a captive audience, they still strive to provide an excellent experience - I’ve loved every trip I’ve taken with them!

Everything was smooth…Online tickets, picking up boarding passes, embarking…even the water. Found a table by the window and just enjoyed the view. Saw some sea lions on the way out chilling on a buoy. We landed at Scorpion Cove, and it was quite a day’s adventure. On the way back, I sat on the top deck. We saw so many dolphins, you just couldn’t count!

We cannot say enough great things about our experience with Island Packers! From the moment we checked in at the office, the staff was welcoming and friendly. The dock crew politely and efficiently instructed us how to load our camping gear and board the boat. The captain made special efforts to point out and share fun facts about the local marine life!

What a wonderful day! We went to Prisoners on Santa Cruz Island. Adam, the naturalist who was on the boat, led us on a hike toward Pelican Bay. He was so knowledgeable and thoughtful. We saw island scrub jays and even a couple of island foxes. Even the porta potties were clean. We saw dolphins on the ride out and a humpback whale on the return trip!

It's Whale Watching Season!

• Kayaking Sea Caves
• Multi-Day National Park Expedition
• Whale and Dolphin Safari
• Whale Watching
• View All Trips
• Channel Islands Harbor - Oxnard
• Santa Barbara Harbor

Painted Cave Combo

EPIC Sea Caves of Anacapa Combo

3.5 Whale Watching Cruise

Expedition National Park

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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

Quick Links

• Summer Camps
• Join the Team
• Gift Certificates
• Homepage Image by Glenda Sandberg

© 2024 Channel Islands Expeditions.

• 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
• Oxnard Departures
• 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 Essential Guide to Channel Islands National Park

Located off the coast of Southern California, the Channel Islands are known as the "Galápagos of North America."

In 1980, five of the eight islands in the archipelago were declared Channel Islands National Park : Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. Development on them is minimal, with a few campsites, national park offices, and research stations. This makes them an Edenic retreat for hikers, bird-watchers, kayakers, divers, wildlife enthusiasts, and wildflower lovers.

The archipelago, and the extensive marine sanctuary surrounding it, is home to more than 2,000 species of flora and fauna. Visitors may catch a glimpse of some of the 145 endemic species of foxes, skunks, or birds that call the archipelago home. Tens of thousands of sea lions and elephant seals dot the shorelines, while dolphins and sperm whales swim through the waters, which are also home to kelp forests and deep-sea coral gardens.

The land and the surrounding waters hold immense cultural significance to the Chumash people, one of the archipelago's original inhabitants. They believe the Earth Mother, Hutash, created their ancestors on Limuw , now known as Santa Cruz Island.

Here's everything you need to know about visiting Channel Islands National Park:

How to get there

Channel Islands National Park can only be reached by ferry, private boat, or aerial helicopter tour. Island Packers Cruises is the park's official boat concessionaire, with ports located about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles in Oxnard and Ventura. The trips to Santa Cruz and Anacapa take about an hour each, while journeys to the farther islands take between two and four hours. In harsh weather, the crossing may get rough and, in some cases, the ferry might be unable to dock.

Once on the archipelago, the only transportation options are kayak, foot, or a visitor's own private boat. This makes it one of the least accessible national parks for visitors with mobility issues.

The islands have dozens of marked trails that range in difficulty: Inspiration Point is an hour-long stroll (Anacapa Island), while a visit to Point Bennett is part of a strenuous 16-mile loop where hikers can also observe colonies of seals (San Miguel Island). One of photographer Justin Fantl's favorites is a nine-mile round-trip hike to the striated Lobo Canyon , where the sandstone has been carved by wind, water, and time (Santa Rosa Island).

On ferries to the park, visitors may get lucky and see dolphins or whales. Ocean-life enthusiasts may also consider one of Island Packers Cruises ' whale-watching trips; from June to September, take a boat to the marine sanctuary to find humpback and blue whales, and from January to April, look for the gray whale. The company also runs boat tours to spot seals, sea lions, and birds.

Kayakers and snorkelers can rent gear from Channel Islands Adventure Company or Santa Barbara Adventure Company . Many kayak tours include visits to some of the islands' cathedral-like sea caves, such as those near Scorpion Anchorage , a harbor on Santa Cruz Island. Back on the mainland, visitors can deepen their knowledge of the area's Indigenous history with a visit to the Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks or the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History .

Most of the park's 300,000 annual visitors enjoy the Channel Islands in the summer, but it's never a bad time to travel to the park. Here are the best things about visiting the Channel Islands during each season.

• Spring: Wildflower blooms.
• Summer: Warm weather and calm water make it an ideal time to hike and kayak.
• Fall: Water visibility (up to 100 feet) is at its maximum
• Winter: Best time for whale spotting and for catching spectacular sunsets. (Note that there is limited transportation to the outer islands-Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara-during the winter months.)

Where to stay

There are primitive campsites located on each of the islands. Reservations are required. Each campsite offers pit toilets and picnic tables; all food must be carried in, and trash must be carried out. Campfires are not allowed. The most popular campgrounds are Scorpion Ranch on Santa Cruz Island and Water Canyon on Santa Rosa Island, both of which offer potable water (at the other campgrounds, water must be carried in). For travelers looking to level up their adventure even more, there are back country camping options on Santa Cruz or Santa Rosa islands.

But for those looking for less of a time commitment, it's easy to day trip to the Channel Islands. Los Angeles , Ventura, and Santa Barbara are destinations in and of themselves and are located off the Pacific-all serve as natural entry ways to the park.

Tips for visiting

Given how remote and relatively inaccessible the islands are, and how little is available once you arrive, you'll need to do some advance planning-as well as meticulous packing. "You have to be pretty self-sufficient, especially on islands like Santa Rosa or San Miguel," says Fantl. "You get off the boat and that's it, you're alone. I've spent a whole day hiking and not seen anybody else."

• Crossing the channel can get a bit rocky, depending on weather. Packing motion sickness medicine is recommended.
• Consider packing items like sunscreen, hiking boots, a lightweight jacket, a swimsuit, and a picnic blanket.
• The only fires permitted in the park must be started by enclosed gas stoves.
• Remember to follow " Leave No Trace " principles.
• The Channel Islands National Park's website offers regulations and guidelines for visitors to limit their impact and reduce the spread of invasive species.

THE 5 BEST Channel Islands Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in channel islands.

• Kayaking & Canoeing
• Speed Boats Tours
• Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
• Dolphin & Whale Watching
• Water Sports
• Boat Rentals
• Fishing Charters & Tours
• Stand-Up Paddleboarding
• Scuba & Snorkeling
• Waterskiing & Jetskiing
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Guernsey Coastal Cruises
• Moyenne Island
• Ocean Blue Travel Seychelles
• Ste Anne Marine National Park
• St Aubin's Harbour
• Elizabeth Castle
• Corbiere Lighthouse (La Corbiere)
• St. Brelade's Bay Beach
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Reef Safari - Snorkeling, Fish Feeding & Lunch (Shared Day Trip)

2. The Spectacular Coastline Boat Tour

3. Unrivalled Coastal Tour to Saint's Bay Harbour

4. 1.5 Hour Coastal Tour of Herm & Jethou

5. Unrivalled Coastal Tour of Bordeaux, Beaucette and L'Ancresse

What travelers are saying.

• The Spectacular Coastline Boat Tour
• Jet Ski in Jersey with Tuition and On-water Supervision
• Escorted Coastal Tour by Jet Skis from St. Aubin
• Absolute Adventures
• Nauti Buoy Ribs
• Jersey Seafaris
• Island RIB Voyages
• The Jersey Duchess
• Jersey Kayak Adventures
• Alderney Wildlife Trust - Seabirds Boat Trip
• Jersey Sea Sport Centre

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.