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Mere miles from the shores of Los Angeles lies wildness that surpasses imagination and a gem of the National Park system: the Channel Islands. Exploring it is akin to entering a time machine. To enter a era when the coast of California was lined with the tallest, oldest trees—those that remain are among the rarest on Earth. Its isolation from the mainland has led to the evolution of wildlife found nowhere else. Few dive into the region’s surprising wildness and biodiversity as Lindblad Expeditions is able to by hiking inland over rivers of pinecones and kayaking along rugged coastlines.
Baja California
California Coast
Special Offers
Length
12 days
From
$7,930
Prices are per person
Baja California
California Coast
Special Offers
California Coast
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Length
5 days
From
$3,260
Prices are per person
California Coast
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
One of the most biodiverse places on Earth, California’s seldom-visited Channel Islands National Park is home to vast wildlife breeding colonies, underwater realms bursting with life, and astonishing sea caves.
The coast of California is proof that a far-reaching adventure is much closer than you think. Go aboard an expedition ship, equipped with tools for in-depth exploration, to sail to protected islands, hike over rivers of pinecones to stands of gnarly, windswept trees, and discover wildlife found nowhere else. Watch as the coast grows wilder and see where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and the Jesuit missionaries who followed in his wake explored, mapped, and catalogued new flora and fauna. Go deep—whether kayaking the rugged shores or hiking to one of the last remaining stands of Torrey pines in the world.
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We love to travel with Lindblad. The naturalists and photographers really make the experience exceptional.
Maureen B.
Dining aboard is delectable. Get nutritionally savvy snacks, juices, menu options, and more, as well as Lindblad Expeditions’ longstanding commitment to locally and sustainably caught seafood, locally sourced produce—and food that rewards.
11/9/2021
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National Geographic Venture
Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waiting for me! With strong swell this morning, we decided to anchor in the isthmus cove of Two Harbors. Protected from the wind and waves we set out early to kayak and hike our way around the island. Those who took to land explored not only Two Harbors but also Cat Harbor, a quick half-mile walk away from our landing. The dirt path was covered in tracks from the endemic native fox as well as the non-native bison of the island. It was amazing to watch the once endangered brown pelican fishing in the deep waters and see the vibrant garibaldi bopping around the nearshore kelp forests!
11/8/2021
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National Geographic Venture
Our day begins as we approach the fog-covered islands that make up Anacapa. This is the only Channel Island with a name derived from its native Chumash name, Anyapakh, meaning “mirage” or “ever-changing.” As the surge moved the water and fog sirens from the east end lighthouse rang, we could not agree with this description more. We explore the island along the cliffs and coastline by Zodiac. It’s heartwarming to see the number of brown pelicans in the area, knowing they faced extinction from the use of DDT just a few decades ago. We are in awe as they glide above us on their way to forage for fish below. Our Zodiac turns the corner to find rafts of curious juvenile California Sea Lions, many that approach us to get a closer look. At the same time our dive team, Katie Mills-Orcutt and Jim Coyer, explore the kelp forests right below us. They find teams of kelp forest fish, hearty lobster, and their own playful pinnipeds. One sea lion mimics Jim’s bubbles as they stare at each other on the sea floor. On our way to Santa Cruz Island, our guest speakers from the National Park Conservancy Agency, Sarah Gaines and Ryan Valdez, remind us of the diligent work and passion it took to protect and restore these islands. From the eradication of rats and grazing animals, to the marine reserves that make up over 20 percent of the coastline, these islands hold a unique window into the history and biodiversity of our national parks. We finish our afternoon at Santa Cruz Island’s, Prisoner’s cove. Many of us hike through the woodlands while others explore the restored marshland along the rocky beach. Both groups marveled over the endemic island scrub jays as they foraged through the trees in the late afternoon light. Yet another day well spent exploring the unique wildlife and ecosystems these Channel Islands have to offer.
11/7/2021
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National Geographic Venture
Santa Rosa Island was the backdrop of a morning that can only be described as explosive biodiversity. It was 6:15 on the bow as the ship slowly approached a long stretch of rippling surface water. As we floated closer, we could see the water churning with leaping California sea lions. Cormorants, gulls, and shearwaters circled above them. Then there was a surprise blow and fluke of multiple humpback whales. Finally, from the direction of the island, a pod of common dolphins made a beeline to the feeding waters. Anchovies are the suspected boil of fish and the cause for commotion. We, the observers, were there to see it at its peak...all before breakfast. Our morning excursion to the island led us up the pier to the old barn and cattle ranching equipment of years gone by. Santa Rosa being nicknamed “The Cowboy Island,” and the site of “the most admired cattle ranch” of the twentieth century. Just outside the paddock, we came upon two endemic Channel Island foxes exploring the grasses for their own breakfast. Guests had wonderful views of the endemic mammals and continued with their hikes. Some passengers opted for small boat tours viewing the massive sandstone cliffs that are unique to this island. After the day of exploring, all were ready for cocktail hour and a relaxing evening.
11/5/2021
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National Geographic Venture
In the 1950s and ‘60s, the popular song lyric “Twenty six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a’waiting for me,” capitalized on the popularity of Santa Catalina as a tourist destination. Since the 1920s, hundreds of thousands of the famous (and not-so-famous) sailed to Avalon on the SS Catalina (The Great White Steamer) for a weekend, week, or summer to experience water sports and night life. There is a rugged extension of Avalon called Two Harbors, or the Isthmus. It is the site of a small settlement including an old hunting lodge (The Banning House), the inevitable bar/restaurant, and a general store for the mostly seasonal visitors. The Wrigley Marine Science Center (University of Southern California) is located nearby in Big Fisherman’s Cove. Over the years, scenes from several films and TV series have been filmed in the Isthmus area, including Gilligan’s Island and MacArthur . We arrived at Two Harbors in misty and grey conditions, which soon developed into a calm and sunny day. Morning activities included leisurely hikes to observe wildlife and stunning vistas. Zodiac cruises were highlighted by “gangs” of young lions burning off excess energy and one large male that held court from his “throne” on a navigation buoy. Cormorants and a few pelicans were densely packed on the appropriately named Bird Rock. After lunch, several guests used kayaks and paddle boards to explore the shoreline. A special experience for those on Zodiac cruises was to get up close to a pod of Risso’s dolphins and watch their lively acrobatics as they pursued a school of bait fish. Interspersed with the dolphins were many sea lions, and of course, the ever-watchful gulls looking for scraps. The day was a photographer’s dream with rays of sun streaming through misty canyons, lending a magical veneer to a magical day.
11/4/2021
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National Geographic Venture
Though at first glance, each island within Channel Islands National Park seems similar in landscape, a closer look quickly reveals that each is home to its own uniquely powerful story of human history and ecological conservation. We continued our exploration of the stories of this archipelago today with visits to the precipitous cliff faces of Anacapa and the caverns and sea caves of Santa Cruz. The morning marine layer gave way to reveal the easternmost in the island chain and our first destination for the day: Anacapa. This the only island whose name is derived from the native Chumash language and loosely means “mirage,” alluding to the dreamlike coastline that we explored on Zodiac cruises and ridgeline hikes. Close encounters with hundreds of California sea lions and thousands of brown pelicans along the cliff faces quickly made it apparent that the story of Anacapa is restoration. Because successful conservation initiatives by the National Parks Service and the implementation of the country’s largest network of Marine Protected Areas, both species have healthy populations here after years of battles with chemical pollution and overfishing. On our way to Santa Cruz Island, our next destination, we were greeted by pods of common dolphins as they rode the pressure wave created by the bow of the ship. Once at the island, we landed and began to explore in search of the stories of the largest of this island chain. Here, endemism was a major theme, with exciting encounters with the Santa Cruz Island fox and scrub jay, both of which can be found nowhere else in the world. The native culture of the Chumash people also recurred as we hike along the ridgelines and marshes, through the dense native vegetation that allowed the people to live and thrive here for over 13,000 years.
This is a great capital of wildness, extravagant beyond description and—incredibly—existing so close to population-dense L.A.
Sven-Olof Lindblad
