Monterey Bay Kayaks

Jessica E

2024-04

Wonderful place to rent kayaks and go out on an adventure to see the local marine wildlife. The kayak rental provides the kayak, plus life jacket and wet suits or rain gear depending on preference. The gift shop had lots of extras life phones protectors, water shoes, etc plus stuffed for the kiddos. The employees were kind and helpful explaining how to use all the gear and the best routes for travel. They also emphasize keeping wildlife protection. We had the best time, definite highlight of our trip! Saw tons of otters, seals, sea lions and birds. Will definitely be back again!

H P

2023-09

Really cool experience. We had a perfect condition, very calm, and great time of the day to kayak.Our tour started at 9am and had our own tour guide, Carlton, who was super nice and knowledgeable on everything. He took us around to see different sea animals, like birds and also kept our distance from them so we don’t disturb their natural environment. Very respectful and knowledgeable. We had a great time with him. Highly recommended.

Laura Rios

2024-04

Had a Fantastic time kayaking in Elk Slough, and thank you for being such a cool group of people. You guys made us feel special by being so kind with us and Toby pup and offering the free loaner jackets, suits, etc. Out of all the kayaking companies that I have ever experienced, you guys are the best. And, getting to see so many seals and otters so easily was worth going out in the storm lol

Aiayumi

2024-04

We started around 11am, got to Seal Bend in 1h, turned back and was back by 2pm. Tide and wind back was not that bad. You will get wet! Bring sandals and windproof jacket. They provide waterproof pants.Many animals along the way. Mainly sea otters, harbour seals and water birds. Can't get too close due to environmental protection restrictions.Recommend for family and kids. For adults, once is enough.

김지원

2023-09

Fantastic experience!! Sea otters were not afraid of people. You can see plenty of great views so you don't have to hurry from the beginning. 3hrs of round trip was enough, and only pants and feet were little wet but thanks to they lend wet pants, my clothes were all safe from being wet. Just make sure you wear warm upper body, since you may feel cold on the way back on gloomy days.

Kent Krauza

2023-12

Highly recommend renting kayaks from these guys at the Moss Landing/Elkhorn Slough location. Guaranteed to see many sea otters here, as well as pelicans, herons, egrets, harbour seals, cormorants, red tailed hawks, and many other shore birds. If you are lucky, you may see a leopard shark. Our guide Patrick was fantastic - knowledgeable about the local sea life, and safety oriented. The kayaks themselves were in good shape, as were the life vests, spray suits etc. Elkhorn Slough is protected from the wind and incoming rollers so the water is super calm, even on windy days.

Chantel Gale

2023-08

Our guide Sky absolutely needs to be recognized for how amazing a job she did through the whole entire process. We have some very amateur kayakers and she was flawless at the professional level of care she provided for them to ensure their safety through the whole journey!! She was positive, smiling and teaching by her clear passion for the wild life and the ecosystem. We had a few very close encounters with the big otters randomly popping up right next to us and she picked up the tone and made us get scooting away. Every inch of that bay she knew facts and got us close and safe at the same time to learn how important all the critters are. I loved this so much and my family had just a good time with her. Thank you Sky!! You truly were a blessing to go on this journey with. Keep up the amazing work!! Sorry for blurry videos. Had waterproof case on like a smart girl!

Brendan

2023-05

BRING CASH! Great experience, good prices, friendly staff, and such a beautiful area - but parking and logistics could be a little better. I really enjoyed how much wildlife was such a short kayak trip away from the beach. You can see sea otters and seals at very close distances (respecting the wildlife’s space as well per law). I brought a very long lens and got some great shots!For a good price, this business provides you everything including a safety briefing. Plan on getting here early because you need to sign a waiver and wait for briefings in “groups” to head to the beach. Also, parking is 11$ and you MUST bring cash to put into an envelope. Wish I knew beforehand.Otherwise, a really great experience. Make sure you keep 5 kayak lengths away from any sea life to avoid disturbing them or receiving fines. You’ll learn about it all during the briefing!

Brian DiGiorgio Zanger

2023-05

Great kayaking tour for people who are just looking for a not too strenuous activity for the afternoon. Our guide Emma was extremely knowledgeable about the animals and the ecosystem and was very respectful of the wildlife. The rental place had lots of extra equipment available to us for no extra charge, including life jackets, waterproof clothing, and wetsuits. You do have to pay for parking in their lot (and it's kind of expensive) but you'll definitely see a lot of otters and seals in the slough!

Erik Ledman

2023-06

We were pleased with our rental experience at Monterey Bay Kayakers; their prices are slightly cheaper ($85 vs $76 to rent a double kayak for four hours) and they offered a military discount, whereas their competitor next door did not. They provide water-resistant jackets and pants as part of the rental package, their life jackets were pretty adjustable and comfortable, and the kayak itself was in adequate condition (missing one strap for securing gear).The guy who did our orientation, Dave, was friendly and helpful. The orientation process was thorough and took upwards of 30 min (not including actually changing and launching our kayak), so keep that in mind for planning purposes. Recommend filling out their waiver form online, as there can be a queue to use the kiosks in the office.Parking costs ~$12 and, as of May 2023, there is a machine in the parking lot that accepts credit cards.

Lauren Gutgesell

2021-05

Booked the rental about a week ahead of time for 3 kayaks and one paddle board. It was a bit windy when we arrived and they gave me the option to switch the paddle board for a kayak, which was appreciated in case I wasn't feeling up to fighting the wind. Overall the check in process went easily and we were on the water within 30-40 minutes of arrival. They provided wetsuits, splash jackets, and life jackets in case of cool weather. We had a beautiful day and saw lots of wildlife. Remember cash to pay for parking ($10 for 12 hours)

Mike Martinez

2022-05

Love love love this place. Kayaks are about $45 for a single sit on top and as long as you look at the tide info for that day you won't get into any trouble getting out or back. We saw dozens of harbor seals and sea otters... Huge ones! And babies! Pelicans were constantly zipping over our heads and zooming over the water. Had a blast. We were out there for about 2 hours which was perfect. I could've stayed out longer but the ride was starting to come in more so we decided to head in. Was mid October and we headed out around 12:30p.

Sarah Stratton

2024-01

This was a highlight of our trip to Monterey Bay. The guided tour was great, it provided us all the equipment, info and best places to see/how to navigate the slough. Our guide, Carlton, knew a ton about the area and animals and had plenty of patience for anyone. Everyone we spoke with at Monterey Bay kayak was great, we can't recommend more for a memorable way to experience the area!

Angel Hou

2022-05

Very fun place to get close to the nature and observe the sea otters, pelicans, seals and other sea birds!There are two designated place for launching kayak. You may rent the kayaks from the shop or bring your own. You have to purchase the parking permit from the red box outside of the restroom if you would like to launch your own kayak in the parking lot. Leave the cash inside of the envelope, and put the permits in your car.It’s a little bit easy from starting point to the seal bend where we enjoy our time. But it gets more harder of your back trip because of the high tide. Suggest you checking the tide table and not late than 3pm with your back trip. We spent 1 hour to seal bend, while took 3 hours back to the launching place for strong water resistance. Bring your jacket to keep warm even in summer! Keep distance from the wild animals for keeping their habits and peace.

Pradeep Khatri

2023-05

There were lots of otters, Birds and Sea lions.Plan to visit early in the Morning, winds really picks up as day moves toward noon.Staff is very friendly.Last time they didn’t rented me Kayak because winds were high (around 12:30), this time I understood it was for my own good as it was very difficult Kayaking in wind and Kayak was moving in opposite direction.

Margot Neebe

2021-05

Enjoyed a 1.5 hour guided tour. Our tour guide Jeff was helpful and knowledgeable. They provided all the equipment including outer wear. We got to see seals, sea lions, and otters. And we were lucky enough to see some female otters with pups! Great time, would do again.

Barbara Coffman

2019-05

We did a guided tour of the slough with Monterey Bay Kayaks. Very friendly staff, and there is a comfortable area with changing rooms to put on wetsuits. The guides were very knowledgeable and really good about keeping proper distance from the wildlife. So many animals in the slough; it truly is a wildlife haven.

Ellen Yang

2021-05

The sea otters here are just way too cute. Some of them are very curious too. One almost climbed on one of my friend's board! I always enjoyed wildlife watching while paddling here. The weather seems always on the chilly side due to the heavy fog, so bring extra layers for sure.

Eunjee Kang

2022-05

I used their kayak for years and I appreciate their thorough introduction before anyone getting on kayaks since many kayakers are need to be educated regarding distance between their vessels and wild animals for everyone's sake.Kayaks are comfortable and clean.

Marco Lim

2020-05

A very calming place to do kayaks. Its not on the open sea so it not as horrible in the morning. Waves are very small and plenty of wildlife to see. $30/person on double kayaks and $35 on single kayaks for the whole day. Dont forget to bring hat and water. Pay for parking before kayaking.

Tomás Molina

2022-05

As a visitor from Florida, I was not prepared for when my feet got wet upon launching our kayak! Apart from that, rowing gives one a decent arm and shoulder workout while exploring the slough. I came here with some friends this week on the 27th and 28th. There's a chance we'll return this Sunday.

Sarah Hollingsworth

2019-05

The slough is a nice spot to kayak away from the Monterey Bay Hussle and bustle in the summer. These slots fill up fast on weekends, so I recommend going first thing in the morning. Otters, seals, sea lions are a guarantee, along with many shore birds. Our guide was very knowledgeable and lead a relaxed exploration for three adults. Their facility has changing rooms which is nice. Since they share parking lots with others, get there early! I also recommend signing your waiver online ahead of time. Makes check in much smoother. They provide wetsuits, too, which is quite nice.

Arun Prakash

2021-05

Paying extra to park kinda sucks but may encourage car pooling. The folks are really nice and the experience is great. Lots of otters to see. And some seals and many pelicans. These pics are zoomed in.

Douglas Wirnowski

2022-05

Fantastic service, equipment that was in great condition, clear information delivered, and friendly staff. SO wish that they would offer discounts to nonprofit groups like BSA, and SO wish they would open at 8a instead of 9a, as it took us 40minutes to get our group of 28 into gear and into our boats.

Martin Nicolaus

2018-05

They supply wetsuits, splash jackets, life vests, and help you get them on. We had a capable, friendly and knowledgeable guide for our 2-hour tour. Saw seals, sea lions, sea otters, various birds. Only wished we had sunshine.

Sor Pallocca

2022-05

Great kayaking experience, very helpful and knowledgeable staff and outstanding environment. Going out early is definitely helpful and more enjoyable, the slought can get a bit tricky to navigate in high winds and currents.

Liron Old Account

2022-05

Fantastic experience. It's recommended to come in the morning when winds are down. They allow dogs on the kayaks.

Amy Boles

2020-05

Lots of wildlife on the Elkhorn Slough!My husband and I rented paddle boards here on the 4th of July and had a great time! The staff is friendly and the set up is well-designed to get you geared up and out on the water in little time (there is a mini-course that you need to take to learn how to safely interact with the wildlife, etc before you leave - think it was happening every half hour).We went in the morning (about 9:30) to avoid the crowds and the traffic on Highway 1. You need to take a little extra cash (think it was $8) to park in the area just outside the rental office. The rental office has a shop where you can pick up items (like sunglasses of sunscreen) if needed. There are clean restrooms in the office as well. Wetsuits and lifejackets are all available there and there's an area for changing/ leaving a few items in baskets while you go out on the water.We estimate that we saw about 30 otters during our time on the water. Many were sleeping or feeding, including a mother with her pup. Lots of seals and birds as well. You will be sharing the slough with lots of kayaks and some motorized tour boats, but speeds of the craft were slow enough that there was only a gentle wake to manage as other craft passed by.Special thank to Rob who helped us pick out our boards and gave us a refresher on proper form which really helps you be the most efficient on the water. The tide was coming in and this was coupled with winds coming off the bay which made going into the slough very easy and returning more challenging, especially as you pass under the bridge, which forms a bottleneck with stronger currents. Rob helped us plan our trip into the slough and back so that we could minimize our exposure to the wind and currents by hugging the southern shore. We arrived back deliciously tired (but not exhausted) and inspired by all the wildlife we got to see.Thanks a million for a fantastic experience and we will definitely be back!

Georgina Brown

2019-05

Really helpful staff, good kit, and good shop. Guaranteed to see sea otters, they swim in the bay opposite and up and down the river. Also loads of harbour seals and pelicans. If you visit the marsh next door there are plovers, curlew, stilts egrets and godwits.

TaMara Edens

2023-09

We went on the night kayaking trip with three kids (11-19) and had an amazing time. They provided gear to stay dry and warm and the guides were excellent. This experience ranked higher than Six Flags according to the young people and that’s a huge win for our family. We saw amazing wildlife. The only thing I was sad about was not having enough time to also try out their day kayaks treks so we could get a better look at the animals. But the bioluminescence was amazing to see.