Paddle Casco Bay at sunset with a relaxed, beginner-friendly guided tour
2 Hours
Kayak, Guide, Dry bag
Glide across Casco Bay during the hour before sunset on a relaxed, guided sea kayak tour from Portland’s East End Beach. Enjoy waterfront and island views as you paddle back with a Maine Guide.
Ages 10+ only. You may get slightly damp or wet from splashing and dripping. Public bathrooms near East End Beach close at 5pm; a portable toilet is available beside the office in the evenings.
Cancel more than 48 hours before: full refund. Cancel 2 to 48 hours before: 50% refund. Cancel less than 2 hours before: no refund. If you reduce group size within 48 hours: 50% of each removed person refunded. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather.
Bring a water bottle, sun protection, and a phone and/or camera (you’ll get a dry bag). Wear footwear that can get wet and non-cotton clothing that can get a little wet.
Expect possible splashing and dripping during the paddle—you may get slightly damp or wet.
The public bathrooms by East End Beach close at 5pm. In the evenings, you can use a portable toilet beside the office.
Portland Paddle, 1 Cutter Street, Portland, Maine
This kayaking outfit offers both guided tours and independent rentals along Casco Bay, and the guided experiences clearly shine. Tour leaders like Josh, Dan, Whitney, Joe, and Michael earn consistent praise for being knowledgeable, friendly, and skilled at mixing local history with wildlife spotting. People specifically mention seeing seals, ospreys, and herons, plus getting fascinating historical context about Fort Gorges and the coastline. The sunset and half-day bay tours seem to be crowd favorites, with guides creating that sweet spot between adventure and relaxation that makes for a memorable outing. Here's where it gets tricky: if you're planning to rent equipment independently rather than join a tour, you need to be extremely specific when booking. Several frustrated reviewers drove an hour after calling ahead, only to be turned away because staff didn't have time for the required safety course. There's also a concerning incident where someone felt their life jacket wasn't properly checked before heading out solo, leading to a dangerous situation in the water. The pattern is clear: the guided tours run smoothly with experienced, attentive staff, but the rental side seems to have communication and safety protocol issues. For off-peak visits, definitely book tours in advance since they may cancel without enough participants. If you're considering a rental, call ahead multiple times and confirm exactly what's required, or better yet, just spring for a guided tour where the stellar guides will take care of everything.
Great way to explore Casco Bay! If you are not doing a tour you're limited to exploring a certain zone - you'll only need 1 hour to fully paddle it. Next time we want to do the tour but if you're going during off peak season you should book in advance so they know not to cancel!
Christopher Roman
October 5, 2025
Great way to explore Casco Bay! If you are not doing a tour you're limited to exploring a certain zone - you'll only need 1 hour to fully paddle it. Next time we want to do the tour but if you're going during off peak season you should book in advance so they know not to cancel!
Christopher Roman
October 5, 2025