Island Packers


Island Packers is an American passenger ferry service that operates scheduled trips between Channel Islands National Park and mainland California. The company began service in 1968.
In January 2024, Island Packers entered a new 10-year contract with the National Park Service. Additionally, Island Packers offers a variety of tours, including whale watching cruises, wildlife cruises, and bird watching cruises.

Operations

The company provides transportation to all five islands within Channel Islands National Park: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara Island.
Access to Santa Barbara is suspended during breeding season to protect the California brown pelican.

Ports

Island Packers operates two harbors on mainland California:
Island Packers currently operate four vessels:
NameTypeLength Passenger CapacityTop SpeedBuiltNotes
IslanderCatamaran1492001First catamaran operated by Island Packers
Island AdventureCatamaran1492004
Island ExplorerCatamaran1492013
VanguardMonohull811991