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wildlife · Nightingale Island

Nightingale Island: Great Shearwater Colony Guided Immersion

Step ashore one of the most wildlife-dense islands on Earth and walk among millions of nesting Great Shearwaters — the world's largest colony. This expert-guided experience is as close to a David Attenborough moment as travel gets.

What to expect

You step ashore via Zodiac onto volcanic black-sand terrain carpeted in shearwater burrows, their occupants calling in an extraordinary cacophony. A specialist naturalist guide leads you at a slow, respectful pace through the colony, pausing to explain the birds' extraordinary 14,000 km migration to Newfoundland. The sheer scale — birds launching from every rock and tussock — produces photographs and memories that are genuinely unrepeatable. Landings last approximately 2–3 hours and group sizes are strictly capped.

Book it with
Oceanwide Expeditions (official Nightingale Island landing operator)
Included in Oceanwide Expeditions voyage fare; standalone guided landing approx. USD 180–220 per person when offered as a standalone excursion add-on
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Good to know

Landing is weather- and swell-dependent; confirm with the expedition team the morning of port call. Wear sturdy waterproof ankle boots — terrain is uneven volcanic rock. All-aboard times on Nightingale are strict; keep a 45-minute buffer. Pre-register interest with Oceanwide well in advance as naturalist-guided slots are finite.

Sail there

Luxury cruises that call at Nightingale Island — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.

Seabourn · Seabourn Quest
53 nights · calls at Nightingale Island
from $35,598
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