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Santa Barbara Kayak Tours
See the Harbor, Pier, Sea Life, and more on a Santa Barbara Kayak Tour!
Experience the wonders of the ocean on this private kayak tour. This tour is perfect if you want to kayak with just your friends and/or family. A knowledgeable tour guide will take you through the harbor and give you an insider's look into Santa Barbara as well as some local history. The privacy of this kayaking experience allows the tour guide to paddle at your pace and modify the tour to your group’s preferences. Come explore with us on a Santa Barbara kayak tour and see all that this beach town has to offer!
West Beach Kayak Tour
Tour Type: Private
Tour Length: 1.5 hours
Distance: 2 miles approx.
Difficulty: Easy
Start Time: 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
Pricing: $60 per person (party of 2-4). $50 per person (party of 5 or more
Meet new people and join others on a Group Kayak Tour! This Santa Barbara kayak tour is perfect for solo travelers or those wanting to meet other adventurers. Each local guide will take your group around the harbor and show you different kinds of marine life nearby. This tour is the same as the west beach tour but instead of being just you and your group you will be with a group of different people.
Group Kayak Tour
Tour Type: Group
Tour Length: 1.5 hours
Distance: 2 miles approx.
Difficulty: Easy
Start Time: 1pm
Pricing: $50 per person with no minimum
Join us for an extended kayak tour of Santa Barbara! The American Riviera kayak is the same as our West Beach Tour but is longer allowing people to spend more time on the water and see more of Santa Barbara. This is a private tour and great for groups of friends, families, or couples who want a more personal experience. Each guide is a Santa Barbara local who will share information about the history of Santa Barbara and the marine life that surrounds it.
American Riviera Kayak Tour
Tour Type: Private
Tour Length: 2 hours
Distance: 3-4 miles approx.
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Times: 11am and 1pm
Pricing: $70 /person (party of 2-4). $60 /person (party of 5 or more)
Reviews from millions of Tripadvisor travelers place this in the top 1% of things to do worldwide
Your experienced kayak guide will launch you from the sand of Santa Barbara’s West Beach and lead you along Santa Barbara’s famous surf spot known as Sandspit. This Santa Barbara kayak tour provides breathtaking 360 degree panoramic views of the Waterfront, Santa Ynez Mountains, Channel Islands, Riviera, Mesa, Harbor, Stearns Wharf, and more.
Your guide will bring you within feet of Northern Fur Seals, Pacific Harbor Seals, California Sea Lions, California Brown Pelicans, and Cormorants. Next, you’ll explore Stearns Wharf, and after passing underneath the pier you’ll enter the Santa Barbara Harbor. The harbor will lend your eyes to magnificent vessels and Santa Barbara’s world renowned fishermen fleet who call the harbor home.
During your Santa Barbara kayak tour your guide will provide you insights into the local landscape, topography, wildlife, historical landmarks, and more. Their extensive local knowledge will help answer any questions you may have about Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas. Our guided kayak tour is suitable for all skill levels, including first time Kayakers! Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s) are provided to all participants. The ability to swim is required for all water tours and lessons.
Meet Your Guide
Sean Lappi
Kayak and Surf Guide
Hi, my name is Sean Lappi. I’m a Pacific Northwest native who was born and raised on Bainbridge Island, Washington just outside of Seattle. My father was born and raised in Santa Cruz and introduced me to surfing at a young age, and I’ve been hooked ever since! After growing tired of the rain and the cold water, I made the move to Santa Barbara in June 2008, and have resided here ever since. My surfing and kayaking adventures have taken me throughout Washington, Oregon, California, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. When I’m not in the water surfing or teaching, I enjoy exploring our awesome local hiking trails or various National Parks throughout the U.S. I also occasionally moonlight as a student majoring in Political Science with a minor in Geography who will finally graduate in 2019 after a 10 year academic journey!