There is no better way to experience the wonders of Morro Bay than from the seat of a kayak. Designated a National Estuary, the varied eco-systems of Morro Bay abound in all kinds of wildlife. Harbor seals, sea lions and sea otters all call the bay home, as well as literally hundreds of species of birds, including several rare and endangered species.
The waters of the bay are protected from the open ocean by a scenic four mile long sandspit and the weather is moderate year round, creating an ideal place for beginners, families and experts to kayak. All our guided kayak tours of Morro Bay launch from State Park Marina, the closest access point to the wildlife and natural peacefulness of the back bay and estuary. Our experienced and knowledgeable guides enhance any excursion you'll have on the water with us. Come with us kayaking on Morro Bay and experience one of the best kayak trips in California.
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“Our experience with your company was amazing. From our first
phone call to leaving the dock after the trip, everything was
wonderful. You and our guides were personable, knowledgeable and
accommodating. Our family had a wonderful time, learned a ton, and my
partner and I are hooked on kayaking... Thanks for an incredible
experience!”
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| KAYAKING: Morro Bay Half Day Classic (Family Friendly) |
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Our classic half day kayaking tour of Morro Bay is our most popular guided kayak tour, and with good reason! An easy morning of paddling visits an oyster farm, harbor seals, a heron rookery, the bird haven of Grassy Island, and we have chances to see otters. After taking all this wildlife in, we beach our kayaks on a secluded part of the outer sandspit for a fun dunes walk to a hidden Chumash shell midden. A short walk past the midden, we come to the Pacific Ocean and unparalleled views up and down miles of isolated beach.
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Our Morro Bay Kayaking Tour Voted #1 Watersport Adventure on the Central Coast.
by Outdoor Writers Association of California. See the article. |
Back on the bay side of the dunes, you'll either return to your kayak for the short paddle back to the kayak docks or linger a while longer for a gourmet picnic lunch including complimentary wines from a local winery and locally brewed beers. The picnic lunch is highly recommended and the perfect way to round out one of the best kayak trips in California. This trip is designed with beginners and family groups in mind and includes basic paddle and safety instruction at the start of the tour. The sandspit protects the bay from the ocean and large waves.
| Lunch Option | Total Tour Time | Price | Avg. Paddle Time |
| No Lunch | 3 hrs | $65 per person (Youth Discounts) | 2-2.5 hours |
| Lunch | 4 hrs | $79 per person (Youth Discounts) | 2-2.5 hours |
| KAYAKING: Morro Bay Sunset Paddle |
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Kayaking Morro Bay at dusk is a different world.
Slowly the human activity
of the daylight hours fades away and the rhythms of the natural world
reassert themselves. It's truly a magical time to be on the water. Our
sunset guided kayak tour of Morro Bay begins about two and a half hours
before sunset
and finishes back at the kayak docks a bit after dusk, as the last of
the natural light fades and the lights of the harbor and town start
winking on. Our very casual route meanders through the bay and
includes a stop on the dunes of the sandspit to watch the sun drop
into the Pacific Ocean with a complimentary drink (wine, beer or soda)
in hand. |
| Total Tour Time | Price | Avg. Paddle Time |
| 3 hrs | $69 per person | 2 hours |
| KAYAKING: Morro Bay Full Moon Paddle |
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Come join us for a magical blend of moonlight, peaceful water and sea kayaking on Morro Bay. Leaving a short while before dusk in sea kayaks, we'll ride a rising tide to explore different hidden corners of Morro Bay. After the sun sets, the full moon illuminates our way and we'll tune into the sights and sounds of the bay at night. You won't believe how much bird and wildlife activity there is out there in the evening until you experience it for yourself. A mug of hot chocolate (fortified with schnapps, if desired) and cookies rounds out this truly unique adventure.
This tour can also be done on dates not listed below as a starlight or partial moonlight tour.
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| KAYAKING: Dinner on the Dunes |
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Our Dinner on the Dunes trip is possibly one of the most unique kayak
trips in California. Kayaking Morro Bay in the late afternoon, we'll
visit some of the favorite hangout areas for local wildlife before
heading to the outer sandspit. Beaching on the far side of the bay,
you'll have a chance to frolic in the pristine sand dunes while your
guide prepares a delicious California beach style grilled dinner,
complete with complimentary wines from a local vineyard and locally
brewed beers. As the sun slowly slips behind the dunes, you'll climb
back in your kayak for a magical paddle in the deepening dusk back to
the docks - an experience you will not soon forget! This guided kayak
tour is best done during the months of April through October, but is
possible during the winter months as well. Call us for departure times
at different times of year.
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| Kayak and Hike Full Day Adventure (Family Friendly) |
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If you'd like to extend your adventure with us, adding a hiking eco tour in the afternoon is a great way to do so. Our Morro Bay Kayak and Hike Tour does exactly this - it combines the classic half day Morro Bay kayak tour above with a great two to three hour eco tour hike after lunch. After the Morro Bay kayak tour portion of the day we usually hike a relatively easy and little known trail north of Cayucos that takes in beaches and bluffs. When the wildflowers are in bloom, we may hike a different trail just off the bay that is a little hillier, but which showcases an extravagant display of native wildflowers and affords a view of the Morro Bay that is hard to beat.
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“It was a great trip. Just the right amount of kayaking for
me. We both really enjoyed the nature talks. And I liked getting to
know Morro Bay - it would have been overwhelming to kayak around an
area much larger since I have only been in a kayak one time before. It
is a great trip for beginners. The guides were great - very personable
and helpful.”
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In this basic Morro Bay sea kayak class, you'll learn about the different types of sea kayaks as well as the gear needed for different types of kayaking situations. Kayak paddling and ruddering techniques will be taught and practiced. Tides, weather and navigation are covered and techniques for self rescue are also discussed during our basic sea kayak class on Morro Bay. Our Morro Bay kayak lessons are private sea kayak lessons designed for one or two students with one instructor/guide. If desired, you can cap off a wonderful morning of kayak lessons on Morro Bay with a gourmet picnic lunch prepared by your instructor/guide on the sand dunes.
| Lunch Option | Class Length | Price |
| No Lunch | 3 hrs | $109 per person |
| Lunch | 4 hrs | $129 per person |
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If you've already mastered all or most of the kayaking skills taught in the basic Morro Bay sea kayak class and want to move onto more advanced techniques such as beach launches and landings, rolls and/or capsize rescue, give us a call! An advanced sea kayaking class can be designed around your needs.
| Class Length | Price |
| Varies | $40 per hour per person |
On all our guided kayak tours we provide kayaks, PFDs (life jackets), paddles, waterproof fleece lined lap blankets, dry bags (on request), snacks and water. The guide(s) also provide basic paddle instruction and provide commentary on the ecology, history and wildlife of Morro Bay while you are on the water. On our lunch and dinner tours, a scrumptious meal is also provided.
Although we provide kayaks for our guided kayak tours on Morro Bay, we do not provide kayak rentals direct to the public separate from our guided tours. If you'd like to rent a kayak, we suggest renting kayaks from the rental facility at the Morro Bay Kayak Shack on State Park Road in Morro Bay: 805-772-8796. This is the same facility from which we launch our guided Morro Bay kayak tours.
If you have a student group, a family reunion or some other large event and want to get out kayaking on Morro Bay - give us a call! We've accommodated many groups like this on guided kayak tours and have yet to find our upper limit in terms of total number of people we can put on the water. We are highly flexible and can work with you on guide to client ratio as well as food and duration of tour to fit your time and budget.
If the timing of our regular guided kayak tours on Morro Bay doesn't work for you or you'd like to spend more time on the water, we are happy to oblige. Our rates for small private tours are $35 per person per hour ($100 minimum total charge) and include kayak rental.
Absolutely not! Our kayak tours and kayak trips on Morro Bay are designed to accommodate beginners as well as experienced kayakers. In fact, about half of our participants have never even kayaked before! The best Morro Bay kayaking tour for beginners is our Half Day Classic Tour. Because wind can make kayaking challenging for beginners on the bay, our Half Day Classic Tour starts in the morning, when the wind is usually the lightest.
No. As long as the young ones can sit relatively still in a kayak for the paddling time, they are fine. We've been taking our daughter kayaking since she was two. Really young kids (age 0-2) usually sit in a lap of an adult while somewhat older kids (age 3-8) can sit in the front of a tandem with an adult in the rear. Kids age 10 and up have the option to go in a single, but we always make sure they understand that they will have to paddle the whole way if they want a single. We have appropriate PFDs available for all age levels. Our ability to take kids of all ages kayaking on Morro Bay makes our guided kayak tours among the best kayak trips in California for families.
We use traditional "sit inside" kayaks. These tend to be drier, more comfortable and perform better on the relatively flat water of Morro Bay than "sit on top" kayaks. We offer single or double kayaks, depending on your preference.
There are no large waves, but you should expect to get at least a little bit wet. Morro Bay is a great place for kayak trips in California because it is protected from the large waves of the open ocean by a four mile long sandspit. It is like kayaking on a small to medium sized lake, except there are some tidal currents. Occasionally, if it is breezy, small waves may kick up on the bay and you might get some spray in the boat. However, it is highly unlikely large waves will break over the boat to soak you. Water often drips off the paddles into the boat as well. To protect you against spray and paddle drip (and to keep you warm), we have waterproof fleece lined lap blankets available for your use. See gear section below for our recommendations on clothing.
No. Although you will get a little wet, wetsuits or other special gear are not required. We also have waterproof fleece lined lap blankets to help keep you warm and dry. Our recommendations:
Morro Bay is a great year round kayaking destination. The weather is mild all year. April through October is virtually rain free. In winter, there is a possibility of rain, but the rain tends to be infrequent and storms are often separated by days or weeks of clear weather. Winter is also the best time to see the incredible diversity of migrating birds that call Morro Bay home for that part of the year.
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“This trip was the highlight of my sister's 50th birthday weekend. Yes, 3 middle-aged sisters did it! We can't say enough good things about this 1st wonderful experience in kayaking. Ed was very patient, knowledgeable about the area and wildlife and an excellent cook to boot! We are all planning on doing other trips with you in the future.”
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Absolutely. Morro Bay is a wonderful place for an eco-tour, especially by kayak. Our guides will explain about how the estuary works and will identify birds and other animals for you. But taking a kayak ecotour on Morro Bay doesn't mean you can't have fun! There is plenty of time for romping on the sand dunes and our gourmet picnic lunch will spoil you. Ecotouring and fun on Morro Bay are what we are all about.
Learn more about this unique eco-system by visiting the Morro Bay National Estuary Program or by stopping by their visitor center in Morro Bay at 601 Embarcadero.
