Experience Anacapa Island part of the Channel Islands National Park with Island Packers!

About Island Packers:

Cruising the California Channel Islands for education, recreation, and research since 1968. Let your island adventure begin with the experienced crew from Island Packers. Providing first rate transportation services for island hiking, camping, kayaking, whale watching, school field trips, sightseeing and harbor cruises.

Island Packers land at East Anacapa Island throughout the year at the Landing Cove and during certain days of the year in winter and early spring when the tides are very low, Frenchy's Cove can be visited for tide pool exploration.

About Anacapa Island:

Anacapa is the closest island to the mainland, just 12 miles from the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. Most of Island Packers departures to East Anacapa Island are from their location in the Channel Islands Harbor.

Anacapa is comprised of three small islets; East, Middle, and West. Exploration is permitted on the east islet, accessed via the Landing Cove, and a small beach on the west islet called Frenchys Cove.

The middle islet and most of the western islet remain a wilderness area set aside for nesting seabirds, like the endangered California Brown Pelican.

Seasonal Highlights:

From February through April, Anacapa is a rainbow of color created by the bloom of native wildflowers. Intensity and duration of the bloom differs a bit each year due to varied rainfall and temperature.

As the spring bloom fades the island comes alive with the cry of Western Gulls guarding their nests of eggs. Chicks usually hatch at about 5 weeks after being laid and fledge the nest at about 6 to 7 weeks of age.

Just as the chicks leave the nest, park rangers begin the "Anacapa Live" video program. Visitors can experience a live virtual tour of the kelp forest when they watch the video program. Images are beamed up to the Landing Cove's video monitors. The program is interactive so visitors can listen to, and talk with the divers via a special underwater communication link.