Today marks the first day in National Geographic Quest’s exploration of the narrow waterways of Canada. Anchoring outside of Prince Rupert early in the morning, we made our required customs stop before getting back into the wilderness of British Columbia for the rest of the week. Guests spent the morning ashore, wandering around the shops and walking trails that surround Cow Bay Marina. We enjoyed the sunshine, a rare visitor to these temperate rainforest skies. After lunch, National Geographic Quest once again set sail southwards towards Seattle through the Inside Passage.
5/11/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Calvert Island
The Hakai Research Institute is a former fishing lodge that was converted to an ecological observatory in 2009. Nestled in beautiful coastal British Columbia, it is surrounded by pristine old-growth forest, white sand beaches, and tidal inlets. A gem of the Pacific Northwest, the Institute invited Lindblad Expeditions and our guests to visit and explore the remarkable ecology of her mountains and shores. National Geographic Quest made her maiden landing at the Institute today, and it was an incredible day. Guests were able to choose from a variety of casual, moderate, and aerobic hikes, traversing through temperate forest, muskeg, beaches, and tide pools along the way. For those interested in marine exploration, Zodiac cruises probed the glacially-carved edges of the island. All were then invited to explore the grounds of the Institute and talk with the directors, who were happy to share their passions and history with us.