The richly biodiverse Channel Islands National Park is a mere 70 miles off the coast of California—but venture there and you’ll find it feels like a world away.
Endemic to Southern California’s Channel Islands, this diminutive fox is found no other place in the world. Get to know this fast-moving, high-climbing mammal.
Close to California’s coast but a world away, the Channel Islands are home to 145 endemic species that have developed in this isolated sanctuary. Discover some of these unique plants and animals and the conservation efforts that have kept them thriving.
We enjoyed our day on board Jahan on our way to Vietnam. We had one last chance to see the brown waters of the Tonlé Sap meet the blue waters of the Mekong in Phnom Pen, before hitting the road. Linguist and historian Jean-Michel Philippi came on board to explain modern Cambodian history to us, and it was fascinating! After the many questions and theories to take in, the rest of the day was lighter. We were treated to a tour of Jahan and also a fantastic cooking class. The most noticeable difference on this part of our river trip was the change from a countryside landscape punctuated by children greeting us, to a river filled with trading boats and other industries, on which people live. As we descended towards the Mekong Delta, we began to appreciate the importance of this river to the Vietnamese population on a daily basis.
This morning National Geographic Venture anchored at El Cardonal, one of the many little bays along the protected western coast of Espiritu Santo Island. Espiritu Santo is one of our favorite islands in the Gulf of California for its beautiful pink-red-orange calc-alkaline ignimbrites, which are part of the Comondu Volcanic Field. We hiked and explored the land, discovering the combination of three magnificent ecosystems –mangroves, dunes with halophytic plants, and the desert vegetation. Many cardon, galloping, and organ pipe cactuses were seen by our interested guests and staff under sunny and breezy climatic conditions. A number of sea and land birds were also observed, as well as tracks of one of the endemic island mammals: the ring-tailed cat, the smallest member of the raccoon family. After lunch and a very interesting presentation about the origin of the Gulf of California, guests were invited to snorkel along the northern rocky shore of El Cardonal and to explore by Zodiac. This active day was finished and crowned by a multicolored sunset behind the peak of the impressive La Giganta Mountain Range, also built by volcanic ignimbrites.
Today we had a beautiful day at Playa Blanca exploring this amazing tropical forest. In addition to seeing the macaws and monkeys, we had a wonderful, rich experience hosted by the locals. We were able to visit some of the unique, small projects that the families of Playa Blanca are developing, from a sugarcane artisanal mill and hearts of palm farm to an organic cacao farm. Not only did we learn about their businesses, but we had a beautiful time with these people who welcomed us warmly with open arms (and also gave us delicious local snacks!). What a wonderful day we had enjoying the wildlife, the diversity of the tropical rainforest, and the people.
Today we visited the island of San Cristobal. We started our day with a hike at Punta Pitt, where we walked uphill along a beautiful landscape made from tuff. Here we observed the last of the three species of boobies that can be found in the Galapagos, the red-footed booby. In the afternoon, after a delicious lunch, we visited Cerro Brujo, one of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago. This beach was a great place to relax on the last full day of our trip. We were able to spend more time walking among sea lions and a few sea birds that were feeding along the shore. We ended our day navigating around Kicker Rock, a tuff cone in the middle of the ocean a few miles off the coast of San Cristobal. It was a great way to say farewell.
A day trip in Phnom Penh, Cambodia takes us on a journey through the country's rich history and vibrant culture. We started our day at the Royal Palace, a stunning complex with shimmering golden spires and well-manicured gardens. We explored the Silver Pagoda, marveling at its floor made of silver tiles and the impressive collection of Buddha statues. Next, we visited the National Museum where we discovered a treasure trove of Khmer art and sculptures. The museum immerses us in Cambodia’s ancient history, showcasing artifacts from the Angkor period. After lunch, we took a somber turn with a visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, once a high school, now transformed into the infamous S-21 prison. Here, we confront the harrowing tales of those who suffered, through haunting photographs and personal accounts. Next, we continued to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. This site, marked by mass graves and a commemorative stupa filled with skulls, reminds us of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. We finished our day with a traditional Cambodian dance performance. This day gave us a profound understanding of Cambodia's beauty and its poignant past.
