Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery expedition changed the course of American history. Follow in their footsteps, exploring the route they took along the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
From killer whales in the waters around the San Juan Islands to bighorn sheep on the sheer rock faces of Hells Canyon, the wildlife and scenery of the Pacific Northwest are vastly varied.
The cooler West Coast cousin of the blue jay, this bold crested bird robs nests and can mimic a range of sounds. Get to know more about the Steller's jay.
The name “Salish Sea” is a relatively new term coined to describe the Pacific Northwest's most unique ecosystem. Read on to learn more, and then join us this fall to experience it for yourself.
The Pacific Northwest harbors a diversity of habitats ideal for birdlife like the rhinoceros auklet, Steller’s jay, and red-breasted sapsucker. These are just a few of the species to spot on expeditions in the region.
Through a special partnership with the Center for Whale Research, guests on Exploring British Columbia and the San Juan Islands have the rare chance to spot Southern Resident killer whales while in the company of top researchers.
In this episode of In Good Company, Food & Wine Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle shares more about how great wine is a “way to travel the world in a glass.”
In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, wine expert Eric Degerman gives travelers a taste of what’s in store on our immersive culinary journey along the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Today was an absolutely beautiful day here in Southeast Alaska onboard National Geographic Quest . We had the privilege of sailing in the pristine waters of Glacier Bay National Park. We picked up the park ranger early and then began with our first wildlife hotspot at South Marble Island. Here we were treated to views of humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and tufted puffins. We then continued into the bay and the natural history staff was able to find nine brown bears. The skies cleared as we reached the northern part of the park just in time to see Johns Hopkins Glacier. It was truly an incredible day here in one of Alaska’s most incredible parks.
We spent our morning traveling from Corpach to Oban, watching the rain hit the windows while we were cozy inside the beautiful lounge of Lord of the Glens . Naturalist and Historian John gave a presentation on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution before lunch. Just as we were finishing our meal, the rain stopped, so we were able to enjoy Oban and stay dry. This charming town has many interesting shops and delicious dining establishments, so we passed the afternoon exploring those. Some of us walked up to McCaig’s Tower atop the hill, and others took a stroll through the woodland. After dinner we had a whiskey tasting from Oban Distillery, and tomorrow we go to Iona!
Our day started with a very relaxing hike in the morning at South Plaza. It was a pronounced climb all the way from the shore to the summit of a cliff where we were able to spot, not only a nice bunch of iguanas, but also a large number of sea birds eating. Later, we travelled to Santa Fe where we had the chance to snorkel to refresh ourselves. In the afternoon, we wrapped up our beautiful day on board with a visit to a sea lion colony where we were able to watch these entertaining creatures as well as relax for a while on the beach.
We are about to finish our expedition on National Geographic Endeavour II and today took us to the two iconic islands called Bartholomew and Chinese Hat, offering a blend of unique geological formations, diverse wildlife, and a glimpse into the Galapagos' geological history. In the morning, we started with a walk up to the summit of Bartolomé and later in the morning we enjoyed an amazing snorkeling excursion with penguins. Later in the day we moved locations to Chinese Hat, named for its distinct shape resembling a traditional Chinese hat. The unique lava formations captivated us. The small, cone-shaped island showcased a variety of volcanic features, including lava tubes and fissures. Brown pelicans, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs welcomed us as we explored the coastline.
Today we had the great opportunity to start exploring the riverbank of the Ucayali River. We loaded the skiffs right after sunrise. As we cruised along the riverbank, different species of birds were seen. A highlight of that early exploration was the sighting of a tayra, a small omnivorous creature in the weasel family, that didn’t stay long in our view. After breakfast, we walked through Yanallpa flooded forest. Here our naturalist explained to us the importance of the floods for the Amazon forest. They also pointed out the effect of climate change over the area and how it has changed the use of the soils after the floods. It was a morning of learning about how the forest has manage to adapt to the seasonal floods and how fish and other animals depends on those events. Our late afternoon activities were held on Dorado River. Our naturalists brought out spotlights after sunset. Black caimans and spectacled caimans were the major attraction for our guests. Other night dwellers were also spotted by our naturalists, such as fishing bats, boat-billed night herons, night jars, and many other animals were seen by our guests. It was another awesome day exploring the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.