Island Packers
Island Trips
Non-Landing Trips
SANTA ROSA ISLAND ALERT!
The National Park Service has Allowed Limited Reopening of Day Visitors to Santa Rosa Island Beginning July 1st. There is currently NO POTABLE water at Santa Rosa Island. (Campground Reservations Cancelled Through Oct 16th). For more information please visit the following link: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/cacnp-santa-rosa-island-fire
New Prisoners Harbor Campground
The new campground at Prisoners Harbor on Santa Cruz Island is now open. Plan your camping trip and reserve your campsite through Recreation.gov.
Services & Activities Designed for You
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Whale & Wildlife Trips
Explore the natural wonders of the Santa Barbara Channel and Channel Islands with... -
Camping Information
Campsite availability books quickly and usually requires advance planning. Just like... -
Special Trips
A trip to Channel Islands National Park is a bucket list experience. In order to enjoy a...
Recent Blog Post
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The Return of Bald Eagles to the Channel Islands: A Conservation Triumph
The bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, from Big Bear have been receiving wonderful national and even international attention. They are some of the most watched bald eagles in the world with over 50,000+ viewers tuning in at any given time, watching the parents tend to their 2 new chicks. And it has been a week full of drama, loss and triumphs after a big storm hit Big Bear last Thurs/Friday causing one of the chicks to perish.
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So Close And Yet, So Far Away…
Visiting a National Park can take lots of time, research and planning. Sometimes, you just want a quick getaway, a spontaneous excursion, or a chance to preview a destination before you commit more time and resources. The Anacapa Shoreline Cruise is a perfect solution for these desires.
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Scatology
It starts with an S and it ends with a T It comes out of you and it comes out of me I know what you’re thinking but don’t call it that Let’s be scientific, and call it SCAT The 4th grader in all of us is giggling right now.
What Our Clients Say
Paris Khan
We loved our day at Santa Cruz Island and our transportation with Island packers. They are organized, informative and went above and beyond to add whale watching to our trip! All crew was helpful and friendly. Will use them again for sure.
Jennifer Nichols
We had an absolutely incredible time on our trip out to Santa Cruz Island. Everything was seamless. Best of all, we were accompanied by hundreds of dolphins on our way out and back! It was awe-inspiring! Our hike around the island was equally fabulous, with incredible panoramic views of the ocean. This trip exceeded any expectations we had. Highly recommend!
Nazmul Huda
Highly recommended, super helpful crews and a smooth sailing… you cant expect better than that. I found crews are also super helpful with loading and unloading hikers packages etc.
Anthony
Fantastic experience. Crew was timely, and very nice through the entire trip. Boat was well kept and comfortable. Even got to see a bunch of dolphins and whales on our way out to the Islands.
Nicole
The cruise out to the Channel Islands is part of the experience. I’ve been using Island Packers Cruises for over 5 years now and I still get excited to get on the boats! The crew is fantastic and the captain will help you see wildlife and accompany the sighting with fun facts. I’ve taken people with sea sickness issues out to Scorpion on Santa Cruz with no issues on calm days, the crew also lets everyone know how to manage sea sickness. Always a pleasure to be on these boats, I make sure to tip the crew in cash at the end!
Diane Petrilla
I never expected the ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island to add so much to our experience of the Channel Islands NP! The captain and crew cared deeply about passengers seeing some of the amazing sea life in the channel, and were extremely knowledgeable about it. They also modeled excellent environmental conciousness , which we very much appreciated.
Karen Van Vliet
From reservations to the actual ferry crossing the folks that work at Island Packers made the whole experience seamless. The rates were reasonable. The ferry captain kept us to a schedule, but also allowed for some sightseeing of dolphins and whales. The crew was extremely helpful. Highly recommend!!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I go between Islands?
Shuttles between locations are only for campers on select dates that can accommodate their schedule. There are no shuttles between Anacapa Island and the other Islands.
Inquire about possible shuttle dates by phone at (805) 642-1393.
Click HERE for more shuttle information!
Can I bring a bicycle to the island?
There is NO transportation available on the islands. All areas must be accessed by foot, private boat, or kayak. Bicycles are NOT allowed on the islands.
Is there any place on the mainland where I can store my bicycle?
Yes. Ventura Harbor has has limited space available for customer bicycles in our storage facility at our main office in Ventura. Our facility in Oxnard has outside bike racks available. Island Packers is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
Can I take a pet or service animal to the island?
Island Packers Policy on Service Animals
Island Packers welcomes service dogs on all trips. Please note that pets are not permitted.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to perform specific tasks directly related to a person’s disability. Service dogs are not considered pets.
Please be aware that emotional support animals and service dogs in training are not recognized as service animals by the U.S. Department of Justice and are not allowed onboard. Service dogs landing on the Channel Islands National Park, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island and San Miguel Island do need PRIOR approval and are required to have health screening prior to coming ashore on Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, and San Miguel Island. The island fox is a unique, endemic species found on the Channel Islands and nowhere else in the world. Island fox subspecies are recovering from near extinction due to disease and predation. The recovery plan requires the park to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Because the islands have never been connected to the mainland, a limited number of mammals have reached the island’s shores. This increases the risks and consequences of disease transmission. Ensuring that service animals have been vaccinated as well as received parasitic screening and prophylactic treatment decreases the risk of disease to and from service animals. Keep in mind that dogs can and do get seasick. Animals are expected to be leashed, monitored and if necessary, cleaned up after.
If you would like to bring your service animal, begin by filling out this FORM.
For service animals landing onshore, it needs submitted to both Island Packers ([email protected]) as well as the Chief Ranger at [email protected].
They are welcome on the mainland visitor center and on Anacapa and Santa Barbara Island. However, during the western gull nesting season (April through mid-August), service animals may have an unpleasant experience due to the birds being aggressive and territorial with their chicks and eggs
For additional information you may contact the National Park at (805) 658-5717 or visit the NPS website.
Please note: many destinations require disembarking via a ladder from the boat onto the pier. The passenger is responsible for making sure the service animal can navigate ladder. Animals can also get seasick just like humans and the owner is responsible for all cleanup.
Is there transportation while on the island?
There is no public transportation on island.
