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Sea Kayaking
3-hour tour
5-hour Orca Search click here
Sea kayaking, ocean kayaking or just plain kayaking. Whatever you call it, even if you say if backwards, kayak means fun.
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.
San Juan Island is near Seattle, Anacortes, Bellingham, Victoria BC, Vancouver Island and Port Townsend. The islands are considered the "jewels" of the pacific north west, located in the Puget Sound.
Only San Juan Island can boast of amazing scenic coastlines, abundant wildlife and magnificent vistas 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 Roche Harbor
(13 years &up. Younger children? Please inquire about our 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 assisting 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
Relaxing on the water with friends
sanjuansafaris.com is the copyrighted intellectual property of
San Juan Safaris, Inc., Friday Harbor, WA, USA updated 03-11-05
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All dressed up in spray skirts and life jacket with snacks and cameras in the drybag
"OK, this is how you enter your kayak and this is how to attach the spray skirt"
"And here is the correct tecnique 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
Shortly after take off
Kayaking out of Friday Harbor
Out on open water in kayaks
In a bull kelp forest - this stuff is amazing
Yes, we have triple kayaks - 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 of a kayak.
San Juan Island coast
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