4 Santa Barbara Kayak Tours to Build a Morning Around

1.Kayak Tour of Santa Barbara with Experienced Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 431 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55Our pick

Meet your private guide at West Beach, near the Harbor View Inn, for a 90-minute kayak outing around Santa Barbara Harbor, Stearns Wharf, and the waterfront. Guides such as Andrei, Katie, Josh, and Jack tailor the pace for beginners, families, and stronger paddlers. Watch for sea lions, seals, pelicans, and other marine life.

“Easy ride around the harbor with experienced guides. Our guides pointed out lots of interesting historical facts about the harbor and the native wildlife.”

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2.Wildlife Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 172 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

Launch from Santa Barbara Harbor with a guide such as Spencer, Caco, or Forest, learn basic paddling, then cruise past Stearns Wharf, the pier, boats, and beach. Expect calm harbor water, possible sea lions and seals, and a beginner-friendly paddle of about one to two miles.

“This was a fun activity to do on a beautiful sunny day. It’s not over adventurous but we saw a sea lion and a bunch of harbor seals. Our guide, Caco, shared a lot of the Native American history of the area, as well as interesting information about the development of Santa Barbara.”

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3.Sunset Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $89

Set out from Santa Barbara Harbor about two hours before sunset for a guided paddle past Stearns Wharf and the waterfront. You’ll receive safety instruction, gear, and a choice of single or tandem kayak based on group setup. Guides such as Asa, Luke, and Bret add local wildlife and astronomy details.

“Our tour guide Luke did so good! He helped us when we needed it and took us a bit out of our comfort zone which made it so worth it! I had so much fun and so did my mom! And the sunset was gorgeous! We were able to get some pictures with help from Luke!”

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4.Santa Barbara Harbor: Wildlife Kayak Tour (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Launch from Sea Landing with guides such as Nora, Spencer, Austin, or Dario, then paddle 1 to 2 miles through Santa Barbara Harbor, under the wharf, and along the beach. Expect easy instruction, marine-life spotting, and stories about local ecology and history.

“Connor was super friendly and knowledgeable about the area and the marine life, we really enjoyed seeing Santa Barbara from a different perspective!”

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