6 Santa Barbara Kayaking Tours Worth Booking

1.Kayak Tour of Santa Barbara with Experienced Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 431 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55Our pick

Meet your private guide at West Beach, near Santa Barbara Harbor, for a safety briefing and a guided paddle toward Stearns Wharf, the waterfront, and West Beach. Cal Coast Adventures supplies kayaks, life jackets, and wetsuits when needed. Guides such as Katie, Andrei, Josh, and Jack adjust the pace for beginners and point out marine life and local history.

“100% better than just hiring a kayake, would never have paddled anywhere near where we went with the guide, even out of the harbor to see the sealions”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Wildlife Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 172 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

Launch from Santa Barbara Harbor for a gentle two-hour paddle past Stearns Wharf, the beach, boats, and the pier. Your guide handles safety training and shares local ecology and history while you look for seals, sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, sea stars, and more. No kayaking experience is needed.

“Great for guests at various skill levels! I have zero experience and am not super comfortable with water sports but our guide Dario was able to make adjustments to make it work for our family (two adults plus an 8yo). We saw starfish, crabs, sea lions, harbor seals, etc. Super fun!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Sunset Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $89

Set out from Santa Barbara Harbor about two hours before sunset for a guided paddle past Stearns Wharf and the waterfront. You’ll learn basic technique, watch for seals, sea lions, birds, and dolphins, and hear about local marine ecology and astronomy. Guides such as Asa, Luke, and Bret are known for friendly, informative outings.

“Nora was an awesome tour guide! We really enjoyed the entire experience. Tips for others...wear a GoPro camera if you want photos as there really is no opportunity to simply stop rowing to take photos. You will get very wet from the waist down, so be sure to wear swim trunks or a bathing suit. It's quite a hike from the parking lot to wear you launch, so het there early! Have fun!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Wildlife Kayak Tour (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Join Santa Barbara Adventure Company at Sea Landing for a gentle two-hour kayak trip through the harbor and along the coast. You get a wetsuit, paddle, PFD, safety briefing, and English-speaking guide. Expect 1 to 2 miles of paddling, harbor history, marine ecology, and possible sightings of seals, sea lions, pelicans, cormorants, and other birds.

“We really enjoyed our SB kayak tour. We saw seals, sea lions and many different birds. Chonny (our tour guide) was outstanding and super knowledgeable. Very relaxing and informative. Highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Sunset Kayak Tour (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 25 reviews · 2 hours · from $89

Set out from Sea Landing with a guide such as Austen for a gentle two-hour paddle through Santa Barbara Harbor and past Stearns Wharf. You’ll learn basic strokes and safety first, then watch the sun sink toward the sea with the Santa Ynez Mountains behind you. Double kayaks suit most pairs, and the 1 to 2 mile route works well for beginners.

“This susnset kayak tour was so incredible!! Santa Barbara looks so different from the sea, it was cool to see it from a different point of view. Our tour guide was so knowledgable and we learned a lot about the local wildlife. It's such a great way to spend sunset, I will definetely be reccomending this to my friends and family!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.1.5-Hour Harbor Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 10 reviews · 1h 30m · from $65

Launch from West Beach with an English-speaking guide and paddle Santa Barbara Harbor, the Sandspit, and the Channel. You’ll see seals, sailboats, Stearns Wharf, and the Santa Ynez Mountains while guides such as Josh, Paige, and Anneliese share local history, wildlife facts, and places to eat.

“Wir hatten eine tolle Zeit mit Josh bei der Kayak Tour. Er hat uns in die Nähe von Seelöwen gebracht und uns durch den Hafen geführt. Es hat richtig viel Spaß gemacht und wir können es nur jedem empfehlen. Danke Josh!”

Check availability →Read our full review