La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour For Two (Tandem Kayak)
4.5
La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour For Two (Tandem Kayak)
By Hike Bike Kayak San Diego
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About
Get a new perspective on the gorgeous La Jolla coastline on a sea caves kayak tour. No gear or experience is needed to paddle along the coast with a guide, exploring sea caves and rock formations while looking for marine life such as sea lions, dolphins, and even orcas.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120, max of 1 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Kayak along the rocky coastline and sea caves of La Jolla
- Explore one of San Diego's most scenic shorelines
- Kayak lesson and all equipment provided and no experience needed
- Good chance of sighting California marine life in the wild
- Kayaks (Tandem(two travellers in one kayak)) and Paddle
- Life jacket
- Professional guide
- Wet suit rentals are offered during fall, winter and spring
- One Traveler is 1 Tandem Kayak
What's not included- Gratuities
- Food and drink
- Lockers and Wetsuits
- Meet your guide in central La Jolla before your scheduled departure. Begin with a lesson on paddling techniques and safety. Tandem or single kayaks can be selected at checkout. Push off from the beach at La Jolla Shores and paddle along the rocky coastline, considered one of the most beautiful in Southern California. Follow your guide to the La Jolla Sea Caves, where you get up-close views of interesting rock formations and even paddle inside the caves (if conditions allow). As you navigate above giant sea kelp forests, keep an eye out for local marine life including seabirds, seals, sea lions, and even dolphins and orca whales. Prepare to get wet during an exciting “surf ride” on the waves to get back to shore at the end of the tour.
- Start:
- 2222 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037, USAyellow awning outside our door
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3654CAVES- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- PLEASE BE IN THE KAYAK SHOP 1 HOUR BEFORE TOUR START TIME, Allow time for parking and gear set up
- Expect to get wet, please wear appropriate clothes such as a bathing suit and shoes that can get wet (tennis shoes, 'river shoes' or flip flops)
- Hats, sun screen and towels are strongly advised
- Please do not bring valuables and things that cannot get wet
- There is a weight limit of 250 pounds per single kayak and 450 pounds per double kayak
- For safety reasons, the tour operator does not guarantee going into the caves on tours. Entrance to caves is based on ocean conditions, safety, and participants ability as determined by guide.
- Minimum age is 6 years for a double kayak and 16 years for a single kayak
- All participants must be able to swim
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 1 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3654CAVES
From
$74.00
per adult
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Itinerary
- 2222 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037, USAyellow awning outside our door
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- suazizek0 contributionsCaring StaffThe water was a little rough that morning but John took extra care with our group. I am 58 and was concerned about making it through the surf but the staff was very helpful and I shouldn’t have worried Only bummer was they didn’t take any photos of usWritten September 19, 2024
- mcbroisin0 contributionsAmazing!Amazing staff, breathtaking location. Our guide was so helpful and ensured everyone was happy. It’s a great tour for all ages and levels of experience!Written September 15, 2024
- Redwinerocks130 contributionsDo it!So fun and informative about the surroundings. Shout out to Zoey and Chandler for explaining everything in detail and making us feel safe. The meeting place is quant and has everything you need.Written September 8, 2024
- I6455WYcoryb0 contributionsCalvin and Chase are the best!This was super fun. I’ve never been kayaking before and Calvin and Chase were incredible in walking everybody through how to do it and they were just super attentive the whole time. Everybody at the company was super nice, including Calvin‘s sister who checked us in. I highly recommend this. You get to see sea lions and fish and learn a lot about the area. Definitely go for a swim when they tell you that you have time to because it’s worth it. Kayak surfing at the end was super fun. Make sure you rent a locker where you check in because you’re not gonna wanna bring a lot on the kayak and you will get wet.Written September 3, 2024
- 11hienn0 contributionsGreat San Diego experienceWe had a great time there, got a chance to go inside a cave and really enjoyed the kayak surfing at the end. Our tour guides Maya and Ethan were knowledgeable and fun to be around.Written August 25, 2024
- Q4575LZemilys0 contributionsGreat La Jolla Caves Kayak AdventureHad a great kayak adventure with Hike Bike Kayak San Diego. Hunter was our guide and he was very knowledgable about the local wildlife. I learned some cool facts about sea lions vs seals and the local birds. Would definitely use this company again.Written August 25, 2024
- Maggie47580 contributionsThis is a lot of fun!!! Cave trips!!The staff in the office were very helpful. They expected us and welcomed us. We were in the 4:30 tour and the two young guides made it fun and very enjoyable!!! They made sure we all understood the instructions and kept everyone safe and having a great time. They told great stories and made us all laugh!!!Highly recommend this cave trip!!!!Written August 19, 2024
- trishg7970 contributionsNice kayak tripThe trip was beautiful. You get really close to seals and you go in 1 cave. For people who have never kayaked make sure you are comfortable with the waves and rocking.Written August 19, 2024
- BlueKevinXVI0 contributionsAMAZING!Had an amazing tour of the sea caves with Jonas and Allie. They were very knowledgeable and friendly. I was feeling seasick near the end and Jonas helped me get back, so they take good care of you too. Allie is a sweetheart! Allie was absolutely incredible had lovely chats with her throughout the tour. I am in San Diego for another week and I am looking to book again if I have time.Written August 15, 2024
- Brent A0 contributionsSee Sea Lions Lyin’I really enjoyed my kayak adventure into the sea caves and learned a lot about the local environment and wildlife. We got up close to sea lions, leopard sharks and stingrays and saw many gerabaldi (Californias State Fish) in the crystal clear aquamarine waters.Written August 15, 2024
- Marta F0 contributionsLa Jolla kayak & snorkel tourOur family of 5 greatly enjoyed the La Jolla kayak & snorkel tour. Check in was smooth, the guides were informative, helpful, and patient with all members of the group. Most of us wore wetsuits which are provided with the snorkel tours.. although it was summer, water is cool especially in the caves. We were close to sea lions, leopard sharks & sting rays. Very cool experience!Written August 4, 2024
- Michele S0 contributionsA great trip with my adult daughter!!!Our guide was excellent!!! It was a beautiful day which helps… But kayaking in the caves were beautiful! Good information about sea life and the cliffs. Fun all the way around!Written July 31, 2024
- L7794KQnathanp0 contributionsGreat La Jolla Caves kayak tour!My wife and I really enjoyed our La Jolla Caves kayak tour this past Saturday. Our guide, Charlotte, was friendly and knowledgeable. We were so pleased that we had a smaller tour group compared to the big groups being led by the other companies at the same time.Written July 29, 2024
- U982EFrobbiem0 contributionsYak in kayak. Great tour until I started feeding the 🐟. All was well.Great staff fun trip awesome time's. Easy booking. I would recommend this outfit to all who is looking for fun and exciting adventure. Lucy was our excitement Manager on the water with history and jokes of the area. Definitely a good timeWritten July 28, 2024
- Bodogchombo0 contributionsCave PaddleEveryone was super nice and helpful. The paddle was pretty easy, and the caves were cool. I would recommend it. There were a few peeps on our tour who got a little seasick, so I would suggest planning ahead if you get seasick.Written July 25, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
671 reviews
Excellent
549
Very good
66
Average
27
Poor
17
Terrible
12
Elsey425
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Couples
They stated the tour about 40 minutes late because they did not have enough life vests. Their tour guides, though friendly, did not show much interest in social distancing procedures and did not wear masks or encourage anyone on the tour to do so either. The beach was flooded with soooo many tour groups that it felt very chaotic and unorganized. The constant flow of tourists made it feel more like bumper boats that a relaxing kayaking tour. The sites were definitely beautiful but the overcrowded waters gave me too much anxiety to truly enjoy the view. The tour guides also told a story about how people would jump off the cliffs and break their legs which was a bit unsettling. We didn’t see too many sea lions... Maybe 4 and some fish. We did see some leopard sharks. That was definitely the highlight of the tour. I would not recommend this tour over just renting a kayak on the water and paddling around at your own pace. I’d also recommend going as early as possible to avoid crowds.
Written August 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert P
1 contribution
May 2022
This tour was mostly disappointing for our group. We were surrounded by other cave kayaking groups that seemed to have more professional tour guides. Ours were very young and they seemed more interested in showing off than creating a memorable experience for the kayakers.
Kayaking through the ocean was nice. It was longer than I expected based on reviews from other kayakers. We did see some sea lions and other interesting birds.
We started about 15 minutes late waiting for a wedding party that showed up well beyond the required arrival date. The group held us up before leaving, and again at the ocean when most of the party needed to use the rest room. By the time we got to the caves, the tour guides seemed rushed to get back and said we could not go in the caves because the conditions were not safe. I couldn't make this up, but as they gave that speech, we saw a child coming out of the caves with another tour group. In fact, there were about two other tour groups all going into the caves so it really felt like they were more in a rush to get back than actually concerned about the conditions.
Overall, the experience of kayaking the ocean is great, but I recommend you find another tour group, unless you just want a very casual, informal, light experience. My group was looking forward to something better managed and more exciting.
Kayaking through the ocean was nice. It was longer than I expected based on reviews from other kayakers. We did see some sea lions and other interesting birds.
We started about 15 minutes late waiting for a wedding party that showed up well beyond the required arrival date. The group held us up before leaving, and again at the ocean when most of the party needed to use the rest room. By the time we got to the caves, the tour guides seemed rushed to get back and said we could not go in the caves because the conditions were not safe. I couldn't make this up, but as they gave that speech, we saw a child coming out of the caves with another tour group. In fact, there were about two other tour groups all going into the caves so it really felt like they were more in a rush to get back than actually concerned about the conditions.
Overall, the experience of kayaking the ocean is great, but I recommend you find another tour group, unless you just want a very casual, informal, light experience. My group was looking forward to something better managed and more exciting.
Written May 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amaitoza
6 contributions
Feb 2021 • Couples
Disclaimer: you don’t see the caves. I’ll start by saying our tour guides were awesome, super friendly, informative and great energy. However, this experience should not be marketed as a “cave tour” bc we didn’t even get close to the caves. Now of course, with anything outdoors you’re subject to weather/conditions etc but apparently it’s near impossible to actually go into the caves during the winter months (Nov-May?) but no one told us this until we were out in the ocean. Also we got soaked going out over the huge waves and tipped over coming in which seemed pretty common for most people that day bc everyone was getting soaked/flipping and a few folks ended up just going back to shore. Wish we would’ve been more prepared for getting fully soaked. I also got super sea sick... which is not super common for me so if you feel like you may be sensitive to this, take the necessary precautions.
We still had a good time but it was nothing near what we expected unfortunately.
We still had a good time but it was nothing near what we expected unfortunately.
Written March 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah D
5 contributions
Aug 2022
This is NOT a tour of the caves. It's a long kayak ride TO the cave where everyone mostly waits while one kayak at a time gets a peek inside. My daughter, a seasoned athlete, was seasick the entire time, and spent the entire time, in her words, "wishing it was over". If we had been forewarned, she could have taken a dramamine.
We got to the check-in near 2:00 for a 2:00 tour and had to rush to the beach with equipment, late to the pre-water lesson. A guide said it "says somewhere on our website" to check in 30 minutes PRIOR to the time you sign up for.
They give you information at check in that you might need to know in advance (like the fact that you can be seasick). You will get wet up to your waist, maybe completely wet. You should not take any valuables.
Finally, then they try to up sell you. If you want to take your phone, you can buy a $25 case for it. If you want to place valuables in a locker, they'll rent you a locker for $5.
I felt taken, and the kids felt disappointed. Better communication could fix a lot
We got to the check-in near 2:00 for a 2:00 tour and had to rush to the beach with equipment, late to the pre-water lesson. A guide said it "says somewhere on our website" to check in 30 minutes PRIOR to the time you sign up for.
They give you information at check in that you might need to know in advance (like the fact that you can be seasick). You will get wet up to your waist, maybe completely wet. You should not take any valuables.
Finally, then they try to up sell you. If you want to take your phone, you can buy a $25 case for it. If you want to place valuables in a locker, they'll rent you a locker for $5.
I felt taken, and the kids felt disappointed. Better communication could fix a lot
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BJAllstate
Georgetown TX19 contributions
Jun 2022
I arrived around 8am per their website instructions, which was pointless. I was left standing around for 40 minutes until they finally directed me to the back to be handed a helmet and life jacket, which took about 2 minutes. Then, we were left standing around as a group for another 20 minutes while the employee guides finished getting themselves ready (instead of being ready in advance).
I had to rent a locker for $7 to put my phone and wallet in, which is somewhere between absurd and ridiculous since their customers are tourists who are all going to need a safe, dry place to put their belongings.
I asked to use a restroom and was told they did not have one and that I would need to walk around to find one.
The instructors were nice, fun, and had a lot of good energy about them and made the rest of the trip fun.
We kayaked out into the ocean and over to the caves. It was a decent distance over there, which was the vast majority of the kayak time in the water. When we got to the caves, or cave I should say, since we were only able to kayak into one of them, and the guide said that the water was low and that we may or may not go in, and that the previous week no one was able to go in. Apparently getting to go into the cave is more rare than advertised. The cave was briefly neat, as they take 1 kayak in at a time, you are in there for a minute, maybe two minutes at the most, and then they swim you back out of the cave.
After this, you kayak back towards the beach and kayak surf to shore (most people get dumped into the water on this part, unless they are really good or really lucky).
I did not feel this trip was worth the time or cost. I felt I would have been better off renting a kayak and paddling around in the ocean for a while. However, they guides were handy to explain now to paddle out from the shore and make it back in with the waves when done. Also, our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, the history, the wildlife, and our surroundings, and that made the trip interesting and worthwhile to some extent.
Knowing what I know now, and I am kind of glad I went once, I don't know that I would do it again if I had it to do over, and I would not do it a second time.
I had to rent a locker for $7 to put my phone and wallet in, which is somewhere between absurd and ridiculous since their customers are tourists who are all going to need a safe, dry place to put their belongings.
I asked to use a restroom and was told they did not have one and that I would need to walk around to find one.
The instructors were nice, fun, and had a lot of good energy about them and made the rest of the trip fun.
We kayaked out into the ocean and over to the caves. It was a decent distance over there, which was the vast majority of the kayak time in the water. When we got to the caves, or cave I should say, since we were only able to kayak into one of them, and the guide said that the water was low and that we may or may not go in, and that the previous week no one was able to go in. Apparently getting to go into the cave is more rare than advertised. The cave was briefly neat, as they take 1 kayak in at a time, you are in there for a minute, maybe two minutes at the most, and then they swim you back out of the cave.
After this, you kayak back towards the beach and kayak surf to shore (most people get dumped into the water on this part, unless they are really good or really lucky).
I did not feel this trip was worth the time or cost. I felt I would have been better off renting a kayak and paddling around in the ocean for a while. However, they guides were handy to explain now to paddle out from the shore and make it back in with the waves when done. Also, our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, the history, the wildlife, and our surroundings, and that made the trip interesting and worthwhile to some extent.
Knowing what I know now, and I am kind of glad I went once, I don't know that I would do it again if I had it to do over, and I would not do it a second time.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole M
Spring Valley Village, TX23 contributions
Not what I hoped for.
Our Tour guide was more interested in impressing the young ladies in our tour more than anything else. There are about 50+ other kayakers all going the same way, doing the same thing from various other companies offering a caves tour.
As soon as we got to the caves the waves suddenly got too big? This was so confusing. others in groups immediately before us went in. I understand safety and all, but such a let down. And I guess we couldn’t wait for 5 min longer to let waves settle bc they are on a schedule.
Got a few La Jolla stories when we stopped but nothing earth shattering. Maybe we just didn’t have the best guide.
Be sure to use restroom beforehand as they don’t have bathrooms at the shop.
Be prepared to walk from shop to ocean barefoot.
Make sure you ask your guide to take a pic or two bc they said no cameras. We got no pics bc our guide didn’t even think to ask or offer - which is sad!
Although we love being in the ocean and kayaking, I’d save your money or do a private tour.
Also did not like that teens had to be 16 to have a kayak of their own. Tandem is hard with a 14 yr old boy!
Our Tour guide was more interested in impressing the young ladies in our tour more than anything else. There are about 50+ other kayakers all going the same way, doing the same thing from various other companies offering a caves tour.
As soon as we got to the caves the waves suddenly got too big? This was so confusing. others in groups immediately before us went in. I understand safety and all, but such a let down. And I guess we couldn’t wait for 5 min longer to let waves settle bc they are on a schedule.
Got a few La Jolla stories when we stopped but nothing earth shattering. Maybe we just didn’t have the best guide.
Be sure to use restroom beforehand as they don’t have bathrooms at the shop.
Be prepared to walk from shop to ocean barefoot.
Make sure you ask your guide to take a pic or two bc they said no cameras. We got no pics bc our guide didn’t even think to ask or offer - which is sad!
Although we love being in the ocean and kayaking, I’d save your money or do a private tour.
Also did not like that teens had to be 16 to have a kayak of their own. Tandem is hard with a 14 yr old boy!
Written June 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea M
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Guide seamed not to cared about the group she was way ahead of us all the time . We had to always rushed to catch up, she never looked back to check on us . We did another tour like this one at Lake Tahoe and it was great , our guides were amazing ( we had 2 guides one in the front and another behind us ) I would recommend the 2 guides for tours like this one. Specifically because most of the people that book are not so experienced on kayak .Also when we checked in they didn’t see we paid for the profesional guide and once we were at the beach they wanted to send us alone wit no helmets,very inconvenient. At the end we were giving the proper equipment. But over all it was not great tour in my opinion.
Written June 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leilani A
23 contributions
Nov 2020
This was an awesome experience. The tour guides were fun and informative. We were lucky and caught excellent weather in the middle of November (gotta love San Diego) and we were actually able to go inside one of the caves. You definitely get your whole bottom half wet immediately, so plan accordingly for that. You catch some water in your kayak heading out past the waves and the water kind of stays in there the whole time. They really recommend leaving all valuables at the shore. I had my phone and keys the entire time, and managed to keep them dry until the very END. It's a bit tricky getting back to the shore at the end of the tour as you have to get over a couple of the small waves, but it's doable. This is where we saw a couple people (including myself) nearly tip over in the kayak. Aside from that, it was something I would definitely recommend to a friend.
Written November 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shea C
Salt Lake City, UT2 contributions
We have a family with a wide range in ages, from 17-6, and this tour was engaging and fun for all! We put our youngest in a tandem with an adult, and it was still totally doable to paddle it alone. The cave came complete with seals, and we enjoyed flying inside briefly. We had a great time and felt the guides were engaging with their stories and information, and skilled in their leadership great job Austin and Tanner!
Written October 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivy U
4 contributions
May 2021
Our tour guides Ryan and Calvin were wonderfully humorous, engaging, and well-informed guides. We were unable to go into the caves because of the weather conditions, which was disappointing, but these two put in extraordinary effort to make sure the experience was still enjoyable by showing us the sights of the area from the vantage point of the water and informing us on the fun facts. They really cared about making the experience as fun as it could be for us.
Written June 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are the waves high and difficult to navigate? Are the cave openings very small to paddle through ? Just wondering about the scary/difficulty level for ladies and teenagers?
Written August 4, 2023
The paddling is in a bay and not difficult. The caves are really not small. It is more of a “pass-through” where you can see through it. Not dark. Really cool with sea lions hanging out inside.
Written August 7, 2023
We will be visiting next week and do not plan on renting a car so will be using Uber. Do they have lockers or anything for you to lock up what you don’t or can’t take kayaking with you?
Written August 14, 2022
What is a price for a child, 10y old? If we are purchasing tickets, only adult are availble, do we get one adult one for child as well? Thank you.
Written May 19, 2022
Im not sure this activity is approved for children of a certain age but I would call and verify.
Written May 23, 2022
I would call them and ask, they are very nice
Written May 10, 2022
Is this something you can do in December? Or is it too cold?
Written October 3, 2021
I went in September and the water was not too cold. I would not recommend going in winter months.
Written October 24, 2022
The price for the tour per person shows $35 but when I try booking for 2 people, but when I go to pay it's about $108. How does that add up? It's like I'm being charged extra fees but I can't see the details.
Written September 18, 2021
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