Travel
A global conservation voyage, Darwin200, sets sail in August, crewed by travellers and researchers.
ByLorna Parkes
Published July 6, 2023
• 4 min read
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Almost 200 years after Charles Darwin boarded HMS Beagle to explore and document the natural world, a ground-breaking expedition is following in his wake. The Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde will set sail from Plymouth, the same port the Beagle launched from, on 14 August.
The two-year voyage will cover 40,000 nautical miles and four continents, dropping anchor in some of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Rio de Janeiro, Tahiti, Sydney and Cape Town. Members of the public can book a berth on any of the 32 legs, with prices ranging from £350 to £6,250 per person, depending on the trip duration. Most require no prior sailing experience.
Led by a team of permanent sailors, paying guests will be tasked with steering, navigating and manning the ropes of the three-masted topsail schooner. They’ll share the boat with environmental researchers who will survey coral health, microplastics, seabirds and marine life en route.
At each port, as guests switch over, the environmentalists will disembark to work with local NGOs and conservation experts to study endemic species, such as armadillos, howler monkeys and ancient dragon trees, including many that Darwin documented during his voyage. Their findings and the expedition progress can be followed online via blogs and videos. The crew will also host virtual lectures, create activities and hold a weekly online ‘nature hour’ to inspire global interest in conservation.
Ten years in the making, Darwin200 is the brainchild of British naturalist, geographer and conservationist Stewart McPherson, with support from conservation leaders including botanist Dr Sarah Darwin, the great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin.
Key ports for Darwin200
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
This wildlife-rich archipelago is where Darwin made key discoveries that led to his seminal work on evolution. Guests on the Oosterschelde will have the rare experience of sailing through under their own steam, without the hum of a motor.
Stanley, Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas)
Sailors will wobble off the boat in Stanley after 48 days at sea — the longest leg by far and one of very few where paying guests must have previous sailing experience. The journey starts from Christchurch in New Zealand and sails around the infamous Cape Horn.
Tristan da Cunha, St Helena
About halfway between southern Africa and South America, the most remote inhabited island on Earth is perhaps the most unique stop. Just 234 citizens live here. As its tourism website states, there are “no hotels, no airport, no holiday reps, no night clubs, no restaurants…”
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
This Brazilian archipelago, famed for its beaches, is where sailors will arrive after completing the transatlantic crossing from Europe. The 21 islands lie over 300 miles from the Brazilian mainland and are a protected marine reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Published in the Jul/Aug 2023 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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