Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den

Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den

Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
At Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den, we're a family-owned and operated kayaking business that takes great pride in providing personalized tours that cater to the unique interests and skill levels of each guest. Our knowledgeable guides are passionate about sharing their love for this special region, and are committed to ensuring your safety and enjoyment throughout your journey. As a family-owned business, we're deeply invested in the local community and are committed to supporting sustainable tourism that respects the natural environment and the cultural heritage of the region. We believe that tourism can be a powerful force for good, and are proud to play a role in promoting responsible travel and outdoor recreation. Join us and discover the magic of Red Cliff and the Apostle Islands. We can't wait to share this special place with you. Book your tour today at ApostleIslandsrusticmakwaden.com #ApostleIslands #RedCliff #SeaCaves #ApostleIslandsWI #KayakingTours #FamilyOwnedBusiness
Bayfield, Wisconsin

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024

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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

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles197 reviews
Excellent
193
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
3
Terrible
0

MHR
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
We felt so lucky to go on this kayak tour. Due to several days of high winds, we thought we had missed our chance. Fortunately for us, Travis, guide and owner of Rustic Makwa Den, patiently persisted and was able to schedule us for a time when the winds finally calmed down. It was worth the wait!

Travis was an excellent guide; enthusiastic, knowledgeable and adventurous while always respecting our comfort levels. We appreciated learning about the lake, the geology of the cliffs and the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

This was a two hour tour of the spectacular cliffs. My husband and I are in our mid 60s, very comfortable in boats but, being from coastal NC, not use to cold weather. No worries! Travis supplied us with wets suits and we were toasty.
Written September 13, 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.

Jackson_gal
Jackson, WI18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Family
The Meyers beach sea cave tour was the perfect length tour so as to be able to see the caves and beautiful scenery without burning yourselves out paddling ! My husband and I went with adult children - 6 of us in total. Our guide , John was very knowledgeable and friendly . He got us up close and inside the caves , took group photos of us .. all while making sure he was coaching us and ensuring our safety. We would highly recommend this tour , we had so much fun !
Written July 29, 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.

LCGreatorex
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Couples
This kayak tour was the highlight of our summer! Travis was a fantastic guide who was not only skilled with kayaking, he was extremely knowledgeable about the area. I love tours that are set up to be more personable by keeping the size smaller. These guys are the best!
Written July 28, 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.

hjk1962
De Soto, MO499 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
We had booked a Myers Beach Sea Cave tour for 4 people, paid the $300, and got a confirmation email. The communication ended at that point. The day before, after we had traveled 12 hours to get here, we saw that the weather at the time of our tour had storms, rain and wind. I tried calling the 2 numbers on the website, but only response was a message to text. I texted both listed numbers about 4-5 times asking if the tour was still going on, if we could reschedule the tour, or if there were other options. No response. I tried emailing 3 times. No response. About 1.5 hours before the tour was scheduled to depart, we got a response to say it was cancelled. This was surprising and disappointing given all the reviews about professionalism and communication. Be aware that once they have your money, customer service dissappears. As long as weather is good and no issues, should be fine. However.....
Written August 5, 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.
Dear valued customer, We are truly sorry for the negative experience you had with our company. We understand that your time and money are precious, and we strive to provide the best possible service to all of our customers. We want to start by expressing our sincere apologies for the lack of communication leading up to your scheduled tour. Our team understands that prompt and clear communication is crucial, especially when weather conditions can affect tour availability. We fell short in this aspect and we are deeply sorry for the inconvenience it caused. Regarding the cancellation of your tour, we want to assure you that the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. As you mentioned, the weather conditions on the day of your tour were unfavorable and we made the difficult decision to cancel for the safety of all involved. We understand your disappointment, and we are truly sorry for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation. We are taking steps to improve our communication methods and make sure that all of our customers receive prompt and clear updates on tour status, even in challenging circumstances. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to learn from our mistakes and improve our services for future guests. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly if you have any further concerns or questions. Thank you for your understanding and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future. Apostleislandsrusticmakwaden.com
Written April 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Erica h
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Couples
Travis and John took us on a phenomenal adventure! These guys are not your “big box” outfitters...they are local guides who have a GREAT operation. They were SO helpful on the phone beforehand-helping us choose which tour would be best for our group. It was nice knowing these guys are locals that know the area and kayaking VERY well. They made sure to monitor the weather and conditions closely to make sure we would be safe. We had a blast exploring the caves near Meyers Beach. They took the time to explain exactly how to maneuver kayaks through many “nooks and crannies”. I loved our excursion with Rustic Makwa Den, and can’t wait to do it again some day!!
Written June 23, 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.
We do it all for one simple reason, we love to show people our home and share the hidden gems that make our home special. Travis and Jon are two very amazing ppl, they are very hard workers and we all appreciate them and the quality they instill in all our tours. Thank You very much for the chance to show you around and of course booking with us.
Written July 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

David N
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
Our guide Lenard was great. My wife was nervous about going into the small cave openings but with his reassurance she was able to go outside of her comfort level. She can't stop talking about how great the experience was. This location was easy to get to. Had we done this paddle with our own kayaks we wouldn't have not gotten into the caves to explore them inside.
Written July 22, 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.

safety_princess
Elizabethtown, PA320 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Spoke with co-owner Troy about going out on a kayaking tour and he talked me into booking the Night Cave Tour. What a nice experience for our first night in the area. Blaze was our guide and he was very patient and engaging as he took our group of 5 out along the Red Cliff shoreline. We had a tandem and a triple kayak. We went out as the sun was setting and kayak back as it was getting dark. We put the LED lights in the water and we were able to see the shipwreck Fedora clearly. We saw the stars and the shoreline with activity. Beautiful experience!
Written June 21, 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.

jb1233
Saint Louis, MO224 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
Our 2 hour tour left from Meyers Beach. Plan to arrive 20 minutes before your tour time to use the restroom one last time, find parking ($5 National park fee) and get dressed in the spray skirt and life jacket. Our tour guide, Eli was helpful and friendly. Patient with paddlers with less experience. We felt safe and prepared with him as our guide. The sea caves were beautiful and Eli took us back into nooks and crannies.
Eli also had some excellent recommendations for us of a local restaurant in Cornucopia (Siskwat Farmhouse. It was delicious, specifically the whitefish chowder) .
Glad to support this native owned business and would highly recommend Rustic Makwa Den!
Written July 31, 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.

Karen S
Hudson, WI68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
We had a great time going into the sea caves, with the most fun being going through the worm hole where there was only room if you laid back and used your hands to help yourself through.. kind of like spelunking in a kayak. Leonard did a great job of both giving us guidance, engaging us, and keeping us entertained. This group is unique in that they take smaller groups of people than the other outfits, which, I believe, gave us more time to see/experience the caves. In our group there where 2 young couples, and ourselves, who had to reschedule from the day before due to weather. I’d strongly recommend Rustic Makwa Den.
Written July 14, 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.

Kris I
Menomonie, WI7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Before booking my tour, I called to ask a few questions. Troy, the owner was responsive, friendly and answered my questions. That made up my mind and I booked my trip and I'm glad I did! Jeff, our tour guide was new, but you'd never know as he was knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and ensured everyone in the tour group had a good time. Heck, at one point when he got out of his kayak to take pictures of everyone, he found a crawfish, scooped it up, and showed it to us. It's those little details that make it memorable. We only knew he was new to his role because he told us. I opted for the Red Cliffs tour because I wanted to see the sunken ship. I mean, who wouldn't?! The waters were calm and the sun came out just in time to see the Fedora, a steam shop that sank in 1901. Also got to see baby seagulls -- little speckled balls of floof, a kingfisher, and a mama duck and her ducklings. The stone arch was another highlight. If you plan to kayak the Apostle Islands, I recommend Rustic Makwa Den! And don't forget to tip your tour guide. I don't know if they expect it, but they are definitely worth it!
Written July 2, 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.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den! I'm thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on your Red Cliffs tour and that both myself and Jeff were able to provide helpful and friendly service. It's always great to hear that our team's efforts are appreciated and that we were able to create a memorable experience for you. I'm glad you were able to see the sunken ship, baby seagulls, kingfisher, mama duck and her ducklings, and the stone arch. Thank you for choosing Rustic Makwa Den for your Apostle Islands kayaking adventure, and we hope to see you again soon! #Beach #apostleislands Apostleislandsrusticmakwaden.com
Written April 7, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Apostle Islands Rustic Makwa Den - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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