La Jolla Kayak

At La Jolla Kayak, you can ride bikes along the historical San Diego coastline, or begin your once-in-a-lifetime snorkel adventure in the La Jolla Underwater Park. Let their experienced tour guides take you on your next adventure.

Tours

Discover the spectacular Seven Caves by kayak, ride bikes along the historical San Diego coastline, or begin your once-in-a-lifetime snorkel adventure in the La Jolla Underwater Park. Let the experienced tour guides take you on your next adventure.

Kayak & Snorkel Tours

The Kayak and Snorkel Tour is the most impressive tour to fully experience the beautiful marine life of the La Jolla Underwater Park. Cruise along the surface by kayak then dive in to snorkel around the Seven Caves or swim with the leopard sharks gliding just below your feet. Their certified guides will point out hidden wildlife and ensure you are safe during the trip.

Bike Tours

There is no better way to take in the spectacular beauty and extraordinary charm of La Jolla than from the seat of a bicycle. This tour is appropriate for kids age 16 and older.

La Jolla Kayak

4.6

Based on 1085 reviews

Loren Schwartz

16:15 10 Apr 24

Had a really great time kayaking. The water was pretty choppy, but the instructor still was able to get us into the... cave. Our instructor was very nice and personable. I’m drawing a blank on his name, but it started with an M. Learned A lot of cool history about La Jolla as well. Would definitely recommend.read more

Laura Boyd Farmer

20:30 28 Mar 24

We had an awesome sea cave kayaking adventure with Chase on 3/26! He kept us safe and gave clear instructions while... also being a lot of fun. Would highly recommend this company. We had a small group which made it all the more fun.read more

Tiffany Maggret

16:34 23 Mar 24

Chase & Dillon were great guides with lots of knowledge and fun along the way. The tide was too low to enter the cave... but the trip overall was really fun.read more

Janet Perez

01:25 16 Mar 24

Highly recommend! This is a very good company. The guides (Ian and two others that I forgot the names of) were... fantastic. They were fun, informative, and entertaining yet focused on safety. There is nothing I can say negative about it. We had a great kayak tour and even got to see a lot of caves, sea lions and dolphins!read more

Michelle Reeder

00:07 21 Feb 24

My husband and I went on this tour for a date and had the best time! Our guides Brian and Quinn were extremely... knowledgeable, funny, and a joy to be around! It was so beautiful and peaceful out on the water. Unfortunately, it was a high surf day so we couldn't go in the caves, but it was still worth every penny! We will definitely be back!read more

Kartik Pradeepan

19:21 19 Feb 24

Excellent tour and guides! Just wish a bird didn’t decide to go to the bathroom on my shoes (not their fault)... Apparently thats lucky????Excellent knowledge of the surrounding regions from a historical, geographical, and ecological perspective.read more

Alice Koontz

20:50 01 Feb 24

I had an absolute blast! It was a beautiful day, we saw a dolphin, the guide was informative and helpful. I’d love to... come back and maybe the sea caves will be accessible next time. Thanks for a great experience!read more

Ashley Duncan

20:36 29 Jan 24

We kayaked with guide Dylan and while the waves prevented us from going into the caves we had a great time hanging out... on the water and got to see a couple dolphins at the end of the tour!read more

Suzanne E

22:58 27 Dec 23

Bring water if you get seasick. The guides were super helpful and sweet on the trip. Wish we'd been able to go in the... caves! Enjoyed paddling around at our leisure.read more

Meghan Brauch

15:04 03 Nov 23

Absolutely fantastic experience with Magnus as our tour guide yesterday. We learned about the ecosystem while we... explored the coast in our kayak. We got to see multiple caves (so neat). We also got to see sea lions, dolphins, a leopard shark, and so much more. I highly recommend this experience! The dolphins are admittedly a rare find on this tour and they don't let you get close, but either way you will have fun. Thanks Magnus!read more

Mitch North

16:07 12 Oct 23

We went out on a morning tour in early October. We had reserved wet suits, but the desk worker was very helpful and... talked us out of renting them saying he didn't think we'd actually need them. He was right which made the adventure more comfortable and saved us some money. From there our guides did a great job of taking care of everyone and explaining the local history and ecosystem of La Jolla Cove. We saw dolphins and sea lions and had a great time. Going into and through the caves was a really cool experience!read more

Troy Rhoades

05:12 25 Sep 23

Definitely fun and worth doing. Guides Ryan and Quincy were great and nice people. Gave a history lesson or 2 on the... area we was in and that was appreciated. Good guides Thanksread more

Linda

22:04 22 Aug 23

Great guides and beautiful location. Went into a couple of shallow caves in our kayak. It's a little bit of strenuous... paddling from the shore to the caves, not bad if you're in shape.read more

tomas hernandez

22:34 18 Aug 23

A great little kayak tour. Never felt rushed. We saw sea lions and dolphins. We have been kayaking before but I... consider us novices. This experience was not difficult. Getting past the waves on the way out and reentry were the most iffy but very doable parts, even for novices like ourselves.read more

Derek Vigil

19:21 28 Jul 23

Frankie and Olivia were the best tour guides you could ever ask for. It's great to see guides who truly enjoy their... jobs. They were full of knowledge and shared a lot of history and information along the entire tour. A+++read more

t diamond

22:34 22 Jul 23

Kale took us out to water. An engaging young man of good humor. The equipment was in good condition. The only problem I... had was that the googles wouldn’t seal because of my mustache, that is a me problem not their fault.The only issue I have is that they should provide a place to rinse after you snorkel adventures. It could be an outdoor shower like what is provided at the beach. So you don’t have to get dressed over salt water.I did see sharks, stingrays and other assorted fish. It was a pleasant experience.read more

Dave Whittaker

21:19 16 Jul 23

We rented a double kayak and snorkel gear (unguided). Overall we had a great time but I only gave 4 stars because I... don't think the staff was as knowledgeable or helpful as we would have liked, specifically when we were debating what to rent (or go with a guide).If you just plan to snorkel from a kayak, you only need one set of snorkel gear because only one person can go in the water at a time. We are very glad we did not waste the money on wet suits - I don't think I saw anyone wearing one but the staff did recommend them. Fins cost extra and in hindsight, we probably didn't need those either.We took turns snorkeling a bit at the far right side of the caves. Visibility was poor the day we went but we saw a few fish. There were a few sea lions on shore and we were lucky to see some dolphins on the paddle back. We did not see any leopard sharks because the surf was too rough in that area.We found the best snorkeling after we were done snorkeling and drove over to the main La Jolla town. There is a little cove that is more protected from the surf. There were many more fish, cool plants and the sea lions swam amongst you. This area was very crowded on a Saturday afternoon in July but was worth the drive!read more

Courtney Barringer

21:25 14 Jul 23

We had such a Great experience!!! A definite "must" if you are visiting. Our tour guides Grant & John were super... knowledgeable. We were able to see dolphins, sea lions & leapord sharks in addition to the breath taking surroundings.read more

madhusree mondal

19:06 30 May 23

The experience was great. We saw the caves but could not go inside because of the big waves. Other groups with a male... guide went into the caves. But our guide was afraid herself to go in so we did not push her to avoid unwanted accidents. Other than that the experience was unique. The guide was friendly and informative and funny. Loved the adventure.read more

John Slipe

04:28 23 May 23

Had a great time on a 2 hour harbor tour as a part of a 24 person bachelor party. The agents helped to set up a big... group at a discounted price easy, and the tour was a blast. The bartender was great and the tour guide and staff was awesome showing us a ton of cool places and information that you don't always walk away with when visiting a new place, highly recommend taking a quick visit to the pier and going on a quick cruise!read more

Fiona D

18:38 10 May 23

My friend and I did this yesterday and it was fantastic. Our guide, Darby (hopefully I’m spelling it right), was great,... the highlight obviously is seeing the caves, but the excursion as a whole was awesome. I would highly recommend it!read more

Daniela Bailey

20:35 23 Feb 23

It was a literally "cool" experience. Not a great day to go out in a kayak since the wind was pretty rough and no... sunshine but the workout was good.Brody and Tim were our guides and they try to make things funny, not sure you guys should pursue comedy as your careers but your great attitude was appreciated.The caves part wasn't too good. We literally went in one of the caves, we were held there for less than a minute and got out. But it was because of the tide being a little wild. It must suck for three guides but the end we paid for having a guided tour for a reason.We got to see a dolphin which was cool, but coming from Seattle I wasn't excited to see the sea lions.Overall, try it if it's nice weather. Otherwise be prepared to be cold and possibly fall into the ocean on your exit.Thanks for taking our photo Brody!read more

Tyler Whitlow

02:49 01 Feb 23

Alright folks, I've returned from a kayaking excursion with my father-in-law at La Jolla Kayak Rentals and let me tell... you, it was an adventure to remember. I mean, I've done some wild things in my day, but this takes the cake. Or should I say, the paddle?First off, the staff at La Jolla Kayak Rentals are top-notch. They not only got us set up with the best gear, but they also gave us some great tips for navigating the waters. And trust me, you need all the tips you can get when kayaking with your father-in-law.The highlight of the trip was definitely paddling around the sea caves. I mean, have you ever seen a more stunning natural wonder? It was like being in a real-life pirate movie. And let's just say that my father-in-law and I had a blast trying to navigate through the caves without getting wet. Spoiler alert: we failed.But despite the occasional splash, the kayaking trip was a bonding experience like no other. My father-in-law and I had a chance to catch up and bond in a unique and beautiful setting. And let's be honest, there's nothing like a little friendly competition to bring people together.All jokes aside, La Jolla Kayak Rentals offers a fantastic kayaking experience for all levels of adventure seekers. I left feeling exhilarated and closer to my father-in-law. So, if you're looking for a fun and unique adventure, La Jolla Kayak Rentals is the place for you.read more

Shivani Tamkiya

05:29 25 Jan 23

My experience with la Jolla kayak has been amazing. The tour guides Amy and Brodie and the rest of the staff were very... polite. It was my first ever kayaking experience with them and they were very good at giving instructions and also making sure that the tour was safe and fun. Amy and Brodie were really good at bonding with each of the group members members throughout the tour. Their jokes were hilarious. The tour was 1 hour and a half. There are no restrooms on la Jolla kayak shop but there are some on the beach. I recommend booking your tour in advance and reaching there half an hour before the tour.read more

Mellissa

00:36 30 Dec 22

My partner and I had a great experience with La Jolla Kayak and highly recommend them to anyone visiting the area. Our... tour guides were Ryan and Olivia, and they both were very welcoming, encouraging, and helpful. Ryan kept us all thoroughly entertained with his fun and energetic antics and Olivia is incredibly knowledgeable about the ecosystems and biodiversity in the area, and is an all around vibe. We came on a day that wasn't cave friendly because the ocean conditions were too rough, (sometimes it just be like that) but we had a blast regardless. Plus we got to see a whale, which was a pretty rare occurrence from what I understand.read more

Waleed Ammar

23:07 26 Nov 22

Natalie is a knowledgeable tour guide with a great sense of subtle humor! It was not safe to take a closer look at the... cave, which was a bit disappointing but otherwise it was a lovely tour. And i definitely appreciated having a guide who knows how to keep the group safe.read more

Jason Martinez

22:21 02 Sep 22

On our way to the establishment, there was an accident on the highway in the morning which was going to make it... impossible for us to arrive on time. We called to let them know, and the staff were able to move our reservation to a later time slot. Very accommodating. The tour was a lot of fun. We encountered several sea lions, and kayaking into Clam Cave was a cool experience. Catching a wave back to shore was awesome! The guides did a great job. Thanks!read more

Haylee Brown

01:42 26 Aug 22

Loved this trip so much! I selected the 11:30a trip but checked in with the front desk that morning to see if there... were any cancellations and got switched to the 9:30a trip. That time slot was awesome for the sun and animals. Amy and Shawn were amazing tour guides and kept us laughing the whole time. Just me this time and I still loved it and made friends with other guests. Fun facts, secrets of the land, and amazing views. 10/10 would recommend! There were extra waivers there if you weren’t able to print and bring one with you. Lockers were $8 and helped store my dry clothes for after. You will get wet so wear appropriate clothing. The storefront had some last minute items if you needed anything as well. I personally brought a dry bag with me (and secured it to the kayak) and had snacks, water, sunscreen, and my phone.read more

Alexandra Gillette

20:48 21 Aug 22

We loved our kayak tour. We had the pleasure of being guided by Ben and Carrie and they were great. We have been coming... to La Jolla for years but didn’t realize all of the history of the area until we did this tour. It was fun and perfect for families as well. The guides made sure everyone felt included and was taken care of. I would highly recommend doing this at least once. I’ve never seen so many seals and fish from a kayak. We had an excellent time and our tour guides were awesome. Thanks for a great experience!read more

Afrah Al

06:26 18 Aug 22

We had a great experience here. Josh and Jackson did a great job and were very funny. Me and family did the kayak and... snorkeling on August 10th ( saw seals, sharks and caves) very amazing! Also spotted a big turtle.Josh was very nice to take some of us and suggested not to take our phones so that it doesn’t get wet (although we are still waiting for the photos :))Definitely recommend especially Josh and Jackson!! 10/10read more

Steve Loh

20:49 15 Aug 22

Tyler and Josh were super chill. Our family had a great time. They went above and beyond showing us around. We saw sea... lion, sharks… checked out the cave. They gave it a 100% to make sure we had the best experience. 10/10 will recommend this place!read more

ryan hoo

00:12 01 Aug 22

This place was great. Hands-down wonderful guides that took you everywhere you wanna see. The owner was super friendly.... Everyone from the guides to the staff to the check-in expert was friendly and outgoing and personable. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone.read more

Sarala Martin

04:05 02 Jul 22

Went to this place a few days ago on vacation. We had the best experience!! The guides were so kind, they were so... comforting even when i made it difficult for them (being nervous). They told great jokes & genuinely cared about us. 10/10 recommend!read more

Elaine Batty

00:14 28 Jun 22

Okay SO did we have fun? Yes. Was it worth the cost? No.Felt a little mislead by the description online since we did... not get to go into the caves at all. We snorkeled around one spot for about 30 minutes which was cool but we saw nothing other than Garibaldi. Not the fault of the guides there. Guides were generally nice but definitely seemed like they didn’t particularly want to be there. Overall, we had a good time but I wouldn’t recommend spending this much money on the trip.read more

Erik Swider

04:30 11 Jun 22

Super duper awesome experience! Natalie & Jackson were the best tour guides I could have ever asked for! Despite not... being able to go inside the caves due to unsafe conditions, I still felt like I got the full experience. The guides were hilarious, helpful, and made me feel right at home.If you're looking for a kayak experience, definitely do this. Especially over one through a hotel if you're visiting from out of town.I'll be back next time I'm in SD!!!read more

shawn carter

20:07 04 Jun 22

KAT was our Kayaking tour guide and she was outstanding! Talk about going above and beyond for her kayakers. Kat was... able to make the experience fun professional and safe. The whole adventure was made possible because of her kindness and willingness to let us explore and make lasting memories. Kat you are awesome! Thank you for taking Me and my dad through the caves! We had the best time ever! 10/10 recommend!read more

Larry Bone

16:44 02 Jun 22

This is the best ocean kayak experience ever. Before we went out a dolphin swam by through the waves. Water quality... is excellent as the beach and the nearby caves are a protected ocean nature sanctuary. The staff who take you out on the water are thoroughly familiar with everything to do with ocean kayaking and the nearby caves and local knowledge and marine history of the area. Just so nice to be off land bobbling between the waves paddling along with other kayakers. You get expert advice and intrepid people of all ages have an incredible time. If you love the beach and the sea, this is for you. You can also rent polyurethane long boards to go surfing up the beach below the private pier. I look forward to this every year because it is such a good feeling that gets me smiling and feeling great!read more

Jasmine K

13:20 25 May 22

It definitely was an “experience” and makes for a great story. The weather conditions made me question my kayak and... snorkeling skills… Despite being somewhat experienced when it comes to kayaking, the waters were incredibly choppy and we were getting pushed around in every direction. At one point we hit a wave and literally were flying in the air. I can not imagine how difficult it would be to navigate as a beginner and wouldn’t recommend this for them. The tour guides were friendly and all but weren’t of much help for others struggling in our group. The water was freezing cold as well so it was nice to have the wetsuit the company provides for the snorkel tour. They also provided us with helmets, life vests, and all the other necessities which made the price seem somewhat affordable. We sadly weren’t able to go into the caves and I wish that they could have clarified this a bit more on their web page. For the majority of the tour we snorkeled around looking for the leopard sharks and seeing only 1 or 2 because they’re very skittish. We were also constantly being drifted closer to shore and needed to keep focusing on relocating. The craziness of it all was very stressful but also hilariously fun. My suggestions would be: only do this tour if you have experience in a kayak or are certain the water will be calm, leave your phone in a locker as I had to hold it closely the entire time for fear of losing it to the waves, and don’t expect to enter the caves unless again you can be certain the weather is going to be perfect. Overall it wasn’t my favorite kayaking trip nor my best but it certainly will be remembered.read more

Kathryn Zuend

21:58 12 May 22

Really awesome tour! It was a good arm workout, that's for sure. We had Tim and Adam as our guides and they were very... knowledgeable. We fell in a couple times, but the guides got us back up pretty quickly. Overall a great experience and I highly recommend this for a fun time!read more

Michael Elling

20:31 22 Apr 22

Super fun Kayak Tour and Awesome Guides! Jessie and Sabrina were the best! Very Knowledgeable and personable. ... Launching was fun, cave was cool! Just be prepared to get wet, when going out, you will get blasted by some waves and coming in after the tour - high chance of getting flipped by a wave. They have alot of support on the shore and the guides are very helpful in the water as well. I would highly recommend this tour and company!read more

Sarah Rushton

23:56 13 Apr 22

We had an awesome experience! Our guides were Kayla and Ella who were very knowledgeable, funny, and strong guides. The... swell was too high to enter the caves but we checked them out from afar and learned quite a bit about the local area. Would definitely book again!read more

Ally Sewich

06:48 23 Mar 22

Such a great experience!! Our tour guides were Brody and Duke and they did a fabulous job! They were super high energy,... entertaining, and full of knowledge. They made us feel very safe even after flipping out of our kayak near the caves. 10/10 would recommend!!read more

Jason Kim

02:53 20 Mar 22

Me and my daughter enjoyed the cave tour. The waves were too choppy to enter the cave but it was nice going out as a... group with awesome staff guiding the way. More purpose, seems easier to row as a gang. I would definately do the tour if you haven't kayaked here before. Chase and miss Elle were our guides and we really enjoyed our time. We have been flying drones over the cove so naturally we decided to see the caves this way.read more

Lily Jo

22:54 02 Mar 22

Sea kayaking with La Jolla Kayak was so fun! The waves were too big to venture into the caves but the guides had a lot... of interesting history/information. We certainaly didn’t kayak super far though, so if you are looking for a more serious trek with less stopping and looking around, I’d suggest a different tour group. Also prepare to get wet!!!read more

Tony Rappa

21:55 26 Feb 22

What a great time. Keri and Madi were awesome and very friendly and knowledgeable. If you want to get in the caves I... think high tide is the right time, but it’s fun regardless.read more

Kim Kirton

17:43 22 Feb 22

One of our guides was super enthusiastic and had some really great knowledge of the area! The other was pretty minimal... in her energy and kind of came off like she didn't care. The day we went was pretty windy/ the ocean waves were massive, so unfortunately we couldn't go into the cove.We booked on group-on so we got a discount for our booking. We were satisfied with what we received with the discounted rate, however if we paid full price I don't think the experience would be worth it!read more

Steve Peterson

23:43 25 Dec 21

Had a great time exploring La Jolla Cove with Sam, our guide. From the minute we walked in everything about this was... top notch. Great service, super fun experience, and a great value.read more

Jodi Kiser

19:05 17 Jul 21

Danielle and Steven were knowledgeable and helpful tour guides. We had a great experience. Utah girls loved our ocean... experience! Thanks guys!read more

Camila Gomez Wills

03:56 30 Jun 21

Really wonderful experience. Took my mom kayaking and felt very well taken care of by our guides Allie and Sarah. Very... responsible and well managed company.read more

Kelsey Cardace

15:48 18 Mar 21

Awesome kayak tour with friendly, fun guides! We didn’t get to go into the caves because of the huge waves, but the... views were still amazing and I will definitely do the tour again in the future to go in the caves. Great socially distanced activity!read more

Kiley Magerkurth

23:51 31 Jan 21

Fantastic tour. We had Tanner and Rory; their enthusiasm and passion for the history of the area made it an incredible... experience. You can rent a wetsuit if you’re worried about cold, and there are also lockers to rent on site for backpacks, purses, and anything you want to keep safe and dry. We got to explore one of the caves, and the guides went far out of their way to make it the most enjoyable experience possible. Some dolphins even decided to join us at the end! 10/10. I will recommend La Jolla Kayak to anyone traveling in the area.read more

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