Tag: santa cruz island

The Island Fox: An Icon’s Triumph on Santa Cruz Island

Island fox on an agave plant at Santa Cruz Island. Photo by Chuck Graham. There was a time on Santa Cruz Island when one could go days without seeing an island fox. There was a time when you would easily see more feral pigs than the endemic Urocyon littoralis.  That was in 1999 when non-native…

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Island Life: Photos from Santa Cruz Island

Every summer we send out cameras and video recorders on trips and every season our guides do their best to capture the beauty of Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas. This summer our channel islands guides have brought home some incredible images from their days on Santa Cruz Island. When they are not guiding kayak tours and…

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Limited Time – Channel Islands Sea Cave Kayaking

Want to kayak through sea caves in a National Park? Here’s your inside scoop to when guided tours are running this upcoming year!

Channel Islands National Park Animals

An overview of some of the animals you may see in the Channel Islands National Park. The Channel Islands are home to incredible biodiversity. Often referred to as the Galapagos of North America because of the number of different animals found there, the Channel Islands support over 100 endemic species (or species found nowhere else…

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What to do in the Channel Islands National Park

Your go-to guide for both land and sea activities in the Channel Islands National Park! Wildlife Watching Even before you reach the Channel Islands National Park, you’re bound to see ample wildlife on the Island Packers boat ride. The usual sightings include common dolphin and seabirds. Depending on the season, visitors may also see whales…

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Top 5 Experience Gift Ideas in Santa Barbara

Holiday shopping – always an adventure, isn’t it? We want to make sure we’re giving memorable and unique gifts that our friends and family are going to love. Gift cards to stores and cash seem impersonal and there’s usually at least one person who just seems to have everything and is impossible to shop for.…

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5 Endemic Species Found Only on the Channel Islands

The Channel Islands National Park is a fantastic area to connect with nature and spot wildlife. In fact, there are some endemic plants and animals that can only be found on the Islands. Here are some of the most famous plants and animals to look for that are found only on the Channel Islands! Island…

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How to Plan a Kayak Trip to Painted Cave

If you are trying to plan a trip to Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island, unfortunately due to transportation logistics, increased costs and guest interest we will not be scheduling regular tours to Painted Cave at this time. However, you can book kayaking and snorkeling tours on Santa Cruz Island year around by taking the…

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5 Fun Human History Facts about Santa Barbara

Sure, Santa Barbara is beautiful. Between the mountains and ocean, the award-winning wines and sublime downtown, it’s easy to understand why it’s such an alluring place for tourists, students and corporate retreats alike.  Its rich human history complements this setting. Whether from the nearby Channel Islands or Los Padres National Forest, people have made their…

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What is the difference between Scorpion Ranch and Painted Cave Kayaking?

During the summer we offer a lot of trips, but our two most popular trips to Channel Islands National Park are Sea Cave Kayaking at Scorpion Ranch and the Painted Cave Kayak excursion. Both trips explore areas of Santa Cruz Island. Both depart early in the morning and are full day excursions. Both trips offer…

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