Channel Islands Santa Cruz Basecamp
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Overview:
Want to get away? Come out to the Channel Islands National Park with us, and enjoy unique wildlife, stellar hiking, sweeping views, deserted coastline, and gourmet food prepared on site for you. Most people come to Santa Cruz only for a day trip, but once the last boat pulls away is when the real magic happens. With a full day on the island you will have the choice of guided hiking, kayaking with the local kayak outfitter, lounging on deserted beaches with picknick lunches or just hanging out with the endemic foxes and scrub jays at camp. Don’t worry with the hassle of booking boat trips, or planning, just show up at the Ventura Harbor and we’ll take care of everything from there. We can customize these excursions to make sure you can accomplish all the things you would like on the island.
*Ask us about making this a company event, party, or retreat. The islands are a wonderful location for team bonding!
Challenge:
Additional Information:
Getting to Ventura Harbor: Island Packers is located at 1691 Spinnaker Dr #105B, Ventura, CA 93001
What’s Included:
A certified and highly experienced Channel Islands Guide.
Camping Equipment.
All meals on the Island.
Boat shuttle to and from Santa Cruz Island.
Permits and reservations for camping on Island.
Interpretation on the history of the island if desired.
What’s not Included:
Kayaking is an extra cost with a separate outfitter.
Gratuities for guide (15-20% recommended)
Travel to and from the Ventura Harbor
Group Size: 10 spots per trip.
Permitting: Channel Islands N.P. issues backcountry permits 6 months in advance. Registering before permits are issued is helpful for securing permits. Please do not make concrete travel arrangements until we have confirmed with you that we have obtained the permit. We have a great success rate with Channel Islands permits. If we cannot obtain a permit all deposits are 100% transferable or refundable.
Itinerary:
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Meet with your guides at the Ventura Harbor, where we will load your bags onto the boat. We will supply camping gear if you wish, or if you have gear you love, feel free to bring that along. We will board the Island Packers Boat and head towards the Islands. Dolphins and whales are common on the crossing, and the boat will position itself in order to get the best views of these animals as we pass. Once we arrive on Island you will have time to check out the scorpion bay beaches with lunch as your guides transport gear to campsites and set up the camp. There will be time for short hikes before your guides prepare you a gourmet dinner to kick off the trip.
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Our First layover day has many options to choose from. We like to utilize the cool morning to hike to smugglers cove, which before the daily boat arrives will remind you of what the California coast was like 200 years ago, practically deserted. The day will include a hearty lunch before the options of a shorter afternoon hike or sunset bluff beverage before another delicious dinner.
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We have one final morning to check off any of the hikes that were not yet enjoyed, or just lounge and take photos on the Cavern Point. Kayaking with a separate outfitter will be available for an additional cost. After another delicious lunch we will pack up camp and your guides will transport the gear to the dock for our boat ride home. Once again we will get opportunities to watch dolphins and whales as we head back to the mainland, where we will dock in Ventura Harbor, and have access to the many local restaurants that line the many slips for our local fishing fleet.
