Guided Wildlife Kayak Tour on San Juan Island
Paddle San Juan Island’s shoreline with a biologist-naturalist guide
Duration
6 hrs
Includes
Kayaks, gear & transportation
Highlights
Explore San Juan Island’s shoreline by sea kayak with a trained biologist-naturalist guide. Search for marine and bird wildlife while learning skills suited to beginners.
- Explore shoreline habitats that may include protected parks and refuges
- Search for eagles, seals, and other wildlife
- Learn from professionally trained biologist-naturalist guides
- Paddle modern high-performance sea kayaks designed for day tours
Itinerary
Meeting Place: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Look for our van and kayak trailer in the traffic circle adjacent to the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal.
Meeting Time: 11am On some dates there may also be a early afternoon tour, too. Our online reservation system will indicate this if you enter a specific date. Ask about earlier or later departures if the starting times shown don’t work for you!
Itinerary: Our courtesy van takes you for a 5 to 25 minute drive to our chosen launch beach. The instructional period requires a full hour to ensure that everyone is fully prepared for our kayak adventure. After launching, we explore the shoreline for 3 to 4 hours, depending on currents and winds. To stay refreshed we go ashore for a ½ hour break at the mid-point and take numerous floating rests throughout the paddle at interesting locations or when wildlife appears. Guests are often surprised to learn that they’ve paddled 5 to 7 miles during the kayak trip. After returning to the launch beach we rack the kayaks and board the van for the return trip.
Finish Time & Place: 5pm at the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal.
Total Time: Approximately 6 hours from pick up to drop off. Be aware that whales, winds or currents can occasionally delay us! But there will always be plenty of time to catch one of several departing ferries if you are planning to leave the island.
What's Included
- Sea kayak
- Paddling and safety equipment
- Kayaking instruction
- Expert guides
Important details
- Complete a liability waiver and questionnaire before the tour
- Wear footgear that protects against rocks and barnacles; bare feet and flip-flops aren't permitted
- Bring lunch, water, sun protection, and clothing for wet, cool, or windy conditions
- Expect to wade up to your knees when launching and landing
- Participants under 100 lbs or with paddling-related physical limitations are assigned triple kayaks
- Participants over 265 lbs or taller than 6 ft 6 in require advance kayak seating arrangements
- A credit card authorization is required
- Participants may be asked to help lift and move kayaks between the parking area and water
Cancellation Policy
Full refund for written cancellations received more than 30 days before departure. No refund for cancellations received 30 days or fewer before departure.
FAQs
Yes. Each person in your group must complete a liability waiver and questionnaire.
If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, the group will depart without you and you will not receive a refund. If you purchased trip protection, you will receive a trip credit instead.
You may be asked to assist with lifting and moving kayaks from the parking area to the water. If you cannot do this, notify the team before you book so they can try to schedule you with other able-bodied participants or add guides.
Meeting details
Memorial Park roundabout, Friday Harbor
