2-Hour Guided Kayak & Paddleboard Tour in Salem
Paddle Salem’s historic shoreline on a 2-hour guided kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour
Duration
2 Hours
Includes
Guide, kayak or SUP, PFD
Highlights
Explore Salem’s scenic coastline on a 2-hour guided paddle, with stories of the city’s maritime past along the way. Choose a single kayak, tandem kayak, or stand-up paddleboard and follow your guide through sheltered coves.
- Launch from the Coast to Coast Paddle Salem Willows kiosk
- Paddle past the Custom House and Derby Wharf with local history from your guide
- Explore sheltered coves around Salem Willows, Winter Island, and Juniper Cove
- Choose a single kayak, tandem kayak, or stand-up paddleboard
- Learn basic paddle and safety skills with support for beginners
- Watch for seabirds and other wildlife along the shoreline
What's Included
- Single kayak, tandem kayak, or stand-up paddleboard
- Coast Guard-approved life jacket (personal flotation device)
- Paddle
- Guide
Things to know
Recommended for ages 16+. Arrive 30 minutes before launch time to check in. Tours may be shortened or canceled due to weather or water conditions.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at least 24 hours before your reservation time to avoid being charged the full rate. Missed reservations or cancellations within 24 hours are charged the full rate. If the operator cancels due to unsafe weather/wind, you can get a refund.
FAQs
Not at all. This tour is designed for every level, with basic instruction before launching and support throughout.
Recommended ages 16 and up. Younger, physically capable paddlers with interest may also enjoy the tour.
Moderately active yet relaxed, with guides available to help with technique and support as needed.
Meeting details
Coast to Coast Paddle- Salem Willows Kiosk
More about the Custom House
The Custom House rises along Salem's historic waterfront with its gilded eagle perched proudly above the entrance, and from the water it offers one of the most evocative views on the entire Salem Discovery Kayak and SUP Tour. Built in 1819, this red brick landmark once processed cargo from ships arriving from across the globe, and it later inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne, who worked here as a customs surveyor before writing The Scarlet Letter. Paddling past the Custom House gives you a perspective that visitors on land rarely experience, the same vantage point sea captains had as they returned to port with holds full of spices, silks, and tea.
As you glide across Salem Harbor, your guide shares stories of the merchants, sailors, and writers whose lives intersected at the Custom House during Salem's golden age of maritime trade. The water laps gently against your kayak or paddleboard while the building's Federal-style facade reflects in the harbor, and the surrounding Salem Maritime National Historic Site unfolds around you, including Derby Wharf and the tall ship Friendship. The Custom House anchors a stretch of waterfront that feels remarkably preserved, and the contrast between the quiet rhythm of paddling and the bustling commercial port this once was makes the history feel close enough to touch.
This tour is perfect for history lovers, literary fans, and anyone who wants to experience Salem from a fresh angle, whether you are a first-time paddler or comfortable on the water. Families, couples, and solo travelers all find something to love in the easy pace and the rich storytelling. If you have read Hawthorne or simply want to understand why Salem mattered so much to early America, seeing the Custom House from the harbor turns a familiar landmark into an unforgettable memory on the water.