Galapagos-Like Paradise in SoCal

✎ written by Barbara Burke

Dubbed “The Galapagos of the Pacific,” the Channel Islands are like nowhere else in the world, let alone Southern California. An eight-island archipelago filled with unique wildlife and plants, a trip to the Channel Islands can sometimes feel like a trip to mars. There are no cars and hardly any structures on the islands, providing a restorative and awe-inspiring respite from the modern world, less than two hours away from Ventura Harbor. There are countless activities to enjoy and each island is unique. Five of the islands– Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Miguel and Santa Rosa– comprise the Channel Islands National Park, the surface, where seal pups frolicked and large bright orange Garibaldi swam, feeding on the kelp and krill. a source of amazing camping, hiking and bird watching opportunities. The Islands and their surrounding waters host diverse ecosystems, endemic species and subspecies, and 150 unique plant species.

ENDLESS ACTIVITIES Each of the five islands offers a range of amazing activities, from fantastic hiking to snorkeling, swimming and kayaking. You’ll also be sure to see a range of wildlife, depending on what time of year you visit.

Hiking on the various islands affords not only panoramic views of the Pacific, but also wonderful animal watching.

From top predators like the bald eagle and sharks, to intertidal creatures such as barnacles and sea stars, nature unabashedly shows off here. The deer mouse and island fox are established subspecies on the islands. A total of 23 endemic terrestrial animals have been identified in the park, including 13 land birds.

MALIBU MAGAZINE ventured out on a boat tour with Channel Islands Expeditions, concessionaire for the National Park. As we left the harbor, bossy sea lions barked at us, as if to say, “You’re in for the time of your life!”

The open air refreshed us as we enjoyed sailing. As we approached Anacapa Island, the closest island to the mainland and the second smallest in the national park, a school of playful dolphins obligingly swam along, delighting in our picture-taking.

Anacapa is a cliff island that has no beach in the landing area. We dropped anchor and snorkeled. The water was crystal clear and one could see many feet below

Then, it was time to kayak. Gliding gleefully across the surface of the ocean amidst the island’s various sea caves, travelers enjoy an incredible sight, replete with stalactites gracefully growing from the damp, dark ceilings. Mother Nature’s wind and waves have carved interesting rock formations along the coast, offering beautiful views. We kayaked down the inside coast of the island until we reached the famous Anacapa Arch, its impressive form making for great photographs.

For an even more adventurous kayaking experience, consider taking a trip off of Santa Cruz Island, its Painted Canyon, one of the world’s largest sea caves in the world, measuring 1,227 feet in length. The cave entrance is more than 130 feet high , and the cave’s walls are covered in a dazzling rainbow of colors. During the rainy season, the waterfalls are spectacular.