From Antarctica to New Zealand, our expeditions take you to far-flung destinations where you can see a plethora of penguins up close and alongside expert naturalists eager to illuminate every behavior.
Our Epic Voyages are extended expeditions in our portfolio that afford travelers the rare opportunity to sail places far off the beaten path, where endemic creatures and ancient cultures thrive beyond the reaches of the outside world. Here are five exciting experiences you can have while on one of our Epic Voyages.
Not all paddleboards are created equal! When it came to choosing a paddleboard supplier for Lindblad Expeditions' fleet, Glide SUP definitely stood out above the rest. Find out why this is the most sustainable and innovative board in the industry.
Author, travel writer for National Geographic and other publications, TV host and frequent Global Perspectives Guest Speaker aboard the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet, Andrew Evans is an authority on “epic.” He is the perfect person to ponder the outsize merits of longer journeys—and the breathtaking surprises that can only be found in the deep unknown.
Did you know that the majority of life on Earth is aquatic? It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given that our oceans cover more than 70 percent of the planet’s surface. But, for many of us, life underwater is mysterious and unchartered territory. From long-living species to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, ocean inhabitants are often responsible for maintaining keeping our planet running. Below are some fun facts to celebrate life under the sea.
Due to the pandemic, there were a quarter of a million cruise line crew stranded—at or on ships that had suspended operations. Travel restriction and new regulation has made repatriation challenging. Find out how we moved mountains (and ships, and buses, and planes!) to safely repatriate 103 crew members who were still aboard two of our ships in Norwegian & Danish waters.
For more than 50 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been committed to sustainability. Find out about Lindblad’s commitment to protecting the planet – being 100% carbon neutral, eliminating single-use plastic, serving sustainable seafood – and more.
Early this morning, our ship anchored off the tranquil shores of Otoque Island. Guests eagerly boarded our Zodiacs to explore the island’s lush coastline and abundant bird life. The gentle waves lapped against the boats as they navigated through hidden coves, offering glimpses of the hundreds of frigatebirds, brown boobies, and pelicans that thrive in this secluded paradise. As evening approached, the ship set its course toward the Panama Canal, entering through the Pacific coast. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the water. Passengers gathered on deck to witness this engineering marvel that connects two oceans. The ship glided through the Miraflores Locks, rising steadily as it transitioned into Gatun Lake. There our ship anchored for the night, surrounded by the serene beauty of this vast artificial lake. Guests enjoyed dinner, reflecting on their day’s adventures. The sounds of nature enveloped them as they prepared for another day of exploration through one of the world’s most iconic waterways.
The morning was beautiful, enhanced by the falling rain and misty clouds. Bernal Glacier and Parque Nacional Kawesqar offered stunning lighting for photographers, with glacial till illuminating the water in a mint-green hue and Magellanic fuchsia blooming in the bushes like ripe berries. Peale’s dolphins briefly cruised the shoreline as our staff brought guests ashore for an easy stroll along a botanical garden-like trail to view the glacier front. The Bernal Glacier is retreating, exposing the canyon walls until new vegetation begins to colonize. In the afternoon, we observed our captain and Bridge crew as they skillfully navigated the Kirke Narrows, a passage only sixty meters wide! Timing the tide was essential; we had to traverse the Narrows at slack tide when the currents were slow, allowing the ship to avoid obstacles and hazards. Once safely through the Narrows, we continued to Puerto Natales for the evening.
Today we were blessed with perfect weather and beautiful sunshine for all our activities. In the morning, we explored El Barril, a vast expanse of mangrove forest, via Zodiac, paddleboard, and kayak. During lunch we traveled north through Hull Canal to Adolfo Lopez Mateos. We spent the repositioning watching birds and bottlenose dolphins from the bow. In the afternoon we set out in local pangas to go looking for gray whales. There were many whales at Boca de Soledad, and even a brand-new baby! Among other highlights were an abundance of birdlife and some coyotes on the sand dunes. We enjoyed a Mexican fiesta dinner which included performances from local musicians, Los Coyotes de Magdalena, and local dancers, Las Flores del Desierto. It was a gorgeous day, and we can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Our morning began with a stop at Los Islotes, part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, for a sunrise snorkel with playful juvenile California sea lions. As they twisted and turned through the water with ease, it was such a joy for many to experience their curiosity so closely. We also enjoyed closer looks at the island from the bow of National Geographic Venture . The chorus of barking sea lions hauled out on the rocks was a raucous experience; we also observed a variety of birds, including Cocos and blue-footed boobies, and some California brown pelicans seeking refuge from the wind. After a fantastic brunch, we cruised the Canal de San Jose of the Gulf of California in search of wildlife, and it did not disappoint. Our first sighting was a humpback mother with her calf, cruising in the same direction as us. Then not long afterwards, the distinctly angled blows of sperm whales were sighted, while four mobula rays passed along our starboard side. And then the largest animals on our planet surfaced! Can you believe it? Blue whales!!!
Our first day in Panama caught us in the spectacular archipelago of Coiba, a former prison turned into a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage site due to its importance as the second largest reef on the Eastern Pacific. Guests explored Coiba Island Ranger Station, walking through its premises viewing scarlet macaws. Some guests exercised their upper body with paddleboarding, or sea kayaking with stingrays. At Cocos Island we enjoyed snorkeling along a healthy reef inhabited by whitetip reef sharks, hawksbill and green sea turtles, bicolored parrotfish, Cortez rainbow wrasses, a spectacular snowflake moray eel, king angelfish and many more forms of life. We also spotted an underwater tropical garden, where a geological feature formed by refraction currents created a bridge of sediments between it and a pinnacle known as a tombolo. Pantropical spotted dolphins accompanied our sailing. Photographers : Fico Chacón, Naturalist , Dan Baldwin, Undersea Specialist , and Ronald Calvo, Naturalist