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Sea Kayaking - Our 3-hour tour.
For our 5-hour Tour, click here.
Seattle Kayaking on San Juan Island, Washington, just 90 minutes north of Seattle.
It is easy to get here from Seattle.
Driving Directions From Seattle
By car, take Interstate 5 to the Burlington exit (230). Turn west on Highway 20 until you reach Anacortes.
Follow the signs to the ferry landing. Hop on the ferry and get ready for some serious fun! Allow 1.5 - 2 hours driving time to Anacortes from Seattle. Not familiar with using our ferries? Phone us. We can make certain you board the correct ferry at the correct time. It is easy and it is fun. Dont miss this tour. We will make your trip up from Seattle seamless - just call us! We can assist you with lodging too. 800-450-6858
Sea kayaking, ocean kayaking or just plain kayaking. Whatever you call it, even if you say if backwards, kayak means fun.
Seattle is nearby, just 90 minutes by car, 35 minutes by air. Take a scenic flight up. Come up to the islands. You and your family will be glad you did. See our page called Island Activities. There are many things to do and see here and we are just a bit north of Seattle.
San Juan Island has scenic coastlines and abundant wildlife in its waters. San Juan Safaris, because of our launching rights in both Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor, is able to offer you the easiest and fastest approach to these seas.
Departing from Friday Harbor
If you are coming by car from Seattle, you can leave your car parked at the ferry lot and be a walk on passenger. When you arrive in Friday Harbor, our appointment desk is RIGHT across the street in front of the pea green Victorian building.
Departing from Roche Harbor
If you did not bring your car, there is a shuttle bus that runs every hour on the hour. Ask us about it.
(13 years &up. Younger children? Please inquire, or click here, as we do put together family tours)
You do not need any experience or any special gear to go kayaking with us. We supply all the necessary equipment. This includes a dry bag for your snack and camera, a spray skirt, paddle, life vest and of course our state of the art fiberglass kayaks. Your guide gives you a lesson in paddling and safety techniques prior to helping you into your kayak.
We have specially designed kayak finger docks, which allows you to easily slip in and out of you kayak without having to wade into the cold water or carry a kayak. Using these finger docks also means more time on the water, less time hassling with getting the kayaks in the water.
Many of our guests that come out on the 3-hour tour have not been in a kayak before. So if you have never been in a kayak - don't let that stop you from having this great experience. We really do make it safe and easy to learn, enjoy and become a paddler. You will be wishing you had tried sea kayaking sooner.
On the 3-hour tour, approximate 2.75 hours are spent on the water both paddling and stopping to listen to your guide who will be interpreting the natural history, marine mammals, sea birds, geography and surrounding area. This is not a fast paced trek. We like to think of it as a 'friendly' paddle, leisurely gliding along with everyone being able to see what they are interested in and no one left behind. Our tours are limited to 10 guests (or less) per guide. This ratio of guests to guide allows for maximum safety and personalized attention.
Both Friday Harbor (the ferry lands here) and Roche Harbor have beautiful routes, with sea birds, harbor seals, bald eagles, great blue herons, tide pool inhabitants and kelp forests. We are often asked, "Which is a better route or side to the island"? On our 3-hour tours they are really both equal.
The Friday Harbor side is more convenient for most visitors, especially if you are just coming for the day, as Friday Harbor is where the Ferry lands. Depending on the currents, wind, and tide exchange your guide may choose to hug the coastline and go to the north or go out of the harbor directly southeast towards Brown Island hugging the coast to Turn Island State Park. Coastlines have the most abundance of wild life.
Roche Harbor is on the north west side of San Juan Island. Depending on the currents, wind, and tide exchange your guide may choose to pass through the harbor and head north west or pass through the harbor and head due south. The coastline has the most abundance of wild life.
Haro Strait (nick named The Orca Highway) is on our Roche Harbor route. We like to be above board in telling our guests that yes you do stand a better chance of seeing whales in your kayak on the west side of the island- IF the whales are present right where you are paddling. The 3-hour tour is not an orca search, but a wildlife tour by kayak.
Our 5-hour tour is an orca search by kayak. If seeing whales in a kayak is what you are after, please read about that tour by clicking here.
This could be you on our sunset kayak tour near Seattle
Reserve your adventure now by clicking here !
sanjuansafaris.com is the copyrighted intellectual property of
San Juan Safaris, Inc.,
Friday Harbor, WA, USA
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All dressed up in spray skirts and life jacket with snacks and cameras in the drybag. These women were all from a company in Seattle
"OK, this is how you enter your kayak and this is how to attach the spray skirt"
"And here is the correct technique of using your paddle"
A final touch on the skirt and gear
Last minute adjustments at our docks in Friday Harbor
Departing the docks at Roche Harbor. By-the-way, Kenmore Air flys right to our dock in both Friday Harbor & Roche Harbor from Seattle. A great 40 minute sight seeing flight.
Shortly after take off
Through the harbor
Heading out of Friday Harbor
Out on open water
In a bull kelp forest - this stuff is amazing
Yes, we have a triple kayak - great for odd numbers, a child or someone who cannot paddle
 Doug (back passenger) is 6'3", so yes, if you are over 6'2" you may still fit in the cockpit.
Relaxing on the water with friends. Kayaking in the San Juans is a great get way spot for Seattle residents. |
