easy
3 hours
Suitable for beginners with basic fitness; no prior kayaking experience required.
Paddle alongside orcas and scenic coastline on San Juan Island with Sea Quest Kayak Tours. This three-hour beginner-friendly trip pairs expert guidance with unforgettable wildlife encounters at sunset.
All Ages! • Available Every Day! • Beginner Friendly • All Group Sizes!
Experience the thrill of kayaking with whales and wildlife on San Juan Island! Join Sea Quest for a beginner-friendly, three-hour adventure led by expert guides. Paddle in high-performance kayaks through prime wildlife zones, enjoying stunning scenery and the chance to see killer whales in their natural habitat.
We offer the lowest priced kayak tours on San Juan Island – near Seattle, Washington.
Our routes are the best places in the US for kayaking with killer whales! Note that the odds of seeing whales are higher on our Afternoon 6 hr Kayak Tours.
Sea Quest has professionally trained biologist/naturalist guides capable of providing an educational and safe experience on your kayaking adventure.
Our company has the longest history of operating kayak day tours on San Juan Island. We have operated since 1989 and sustain our legacy today as a small family owned business. A perfect safety record thanks to expert guides with extensive safety training & professional experience.
Unlike others companies, we provide new high-performance kayaks on our half day tours. Our easy to paddle kayaks are perfectly maintained, comfortable and modern. We undoubtedly have the best sea kayaking equipment in the San Juans!
Sea Quest has the longest history of any company operating kayak tours in the prime wildlife zones. Others companies have copied our wildlife watching success!
Sea kayaks, all related sea kayaking trip gear, safety equipment, transportation to and from Friday Harbor and the launch beach, instruction and expert guides.
Look for our van and kayak trailer in the traffic circle adjacent to the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal.
On some dates there may be a slightly altered trip time. Our online reservation system will indicate this if you enter a specific date. Ask about earlier or later departures if the starting times shown don’t work for you!
Our van shuttles you to the beach. This takes between 5 to 25 minutes. At the beach, we provide a one hour kayak lesson. This lesson familiarizes everyone with the basic skills before we launch the sea kayaks. We then explore for about 1½ hours. We travel 2 to 4 miles during the kayak adventure. Floating rest breaks in scenic locations keep you energized. As do frequent stops to take pictures and enjoy wildlife.
8pm at the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal.
Approximately 3 hours from meeting your guides to finish. Be aware that whales, winds or currents can occasionally delay us! But there will always be plenty of time to catch one of several departing ferries if you are planning to leave the island.
Beach clothing, beach foot wear, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lunch. Bring a hat, warm sweater and rain jacket if cool, cloudy, windy or rainy.
San Juan Island evenings can be cool and damp; wear moisture-wicking layers and bring a rain jacket.
Protect your camera or phone with a waterproof case to capture wildlife without risking water damage.
Be ready on time at Friday Harbor for safety instructions and paddling lessons before launch.
Protect yourself and the marine environment by applying reef-safe sunscreen before setting out.
San Juan Island was the site of the 1859 Pig War, a border dispute between the U.S. and Britain, now commemorated in local museums.
Sea Quest practices Leave No Trace principles and supports ongoing efforts to protect orca habitats and reduce marine pollution.
Keep dry and comfortable during cool spring paddles.
spring specific
Protects you from wind and rain on unpredictable coastal evenings.
all specific
Reduce glare off the water and protect your eyes during bright sunny days.
summer specific
Safely stores personal items and keeps them dry on the water.
all specific