Santa Cruz Island Day Trip: Prisoner’s Harbor

Details:

Join us for a special trip to the Prisoner’s Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, which is on the border of the Nature Conservancy property. Christina Varnava will lead our guests on a scenic walk on the trails near the harbor to see and learn about the unique island flora on the north side of the island. After departing from Ventura Harbor a short boat trip will take our guests to this harbor. Our travelers have a short climb up a ladder to the pier that leads to the harbor area and walking trails. Don’t forget to bring your camera or nature journal to capture the images of the scenery and share your memorable trip! 

All ages are welcome, however participants must be in good physical condition. Participants must bring water and food with them for their time on the island. Additional information with directions to the harbor and travel preparation will be sent to registered guests via email. 

Location and time: Our group will meet at the Ventura Harbor at 8:45 am to prepare for the Island Packers boat to depart at 9:30 am. For the return trip the boat will depart from the island at 4:30pm to arrive at Ventura Harbor at approximately 6:00 pm. The boat trip will take approximately 1.5-2 hours each way.

If you have questions about the classes, or need assistance with registration, please contact the Education Department: registrations@sbbotanicgarden.org or 805-682-4726, ext 102

Pricing:

Garden Members: $135

General Public: $160

About Christina Varnava:

Christina Varnava is the Living Collections curator at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, where she manages nearly a century of records for thousands of plants in the Garden’s collection. Her work supports conservation and research by guiding decisions about plant acquisitions, propagation, and planting. Christina holds a master’s degree in botany from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Claremont Graduate University, where she conducted a floristic study in the Sespe Creek watershed. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in botany from Cal Poly Pomona.

Christina has a deep appreciation for California’s diverse flora and a strong connection to natural history collections, having worked at one of the largest herbaria in the country. She’s especially passionate about chaparral ecosystems and the fight against human-caused climate change. Outside of work, Christina enjoys reading, tabletop games, baking, and camping with her dog, Hollyhock.