Review from a stand up paddle boarder: They have decent boards and it's well-organized. The bummer was the wave runners. Multiple two-man wave runners speeding in constant clockwise circles made for a lot of wake to battle. Once we made it around the point and away from them, it was really pleasant. read more

Staff was great! From cashiers to the guys outside. Brought my son and friend. 2 hrs of kayaking. Will be back asap! read more

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Some positives are easy to rent online and easy to park and access the water sports. Some negatives are the staff was not friendly. People coming to rent equipment on a Tuesday are likely on vacation. Don't be a downer and bring down their happy vibe. Also as other reviewers mentioned, the whole beach is taken up by private rental space. It was all empty so it seems silly to waste all that space during non peak hours. Thanks for the response josh, The Covid think makes sense but not sure why you have to rent the space for money if it's just about social distancing? And it was your whole staff from the front desk people to the people getting the equipment ready. They just all generally didn't seem to want to be bothered with paying customers. Maybe everyone was having a bad day? read more

Today was an absolute amazing day to be on the water. With the exception of two jetskis, my party of four paddleboarders were the only people on the lagoon; Resulting in very few waves to knock us rusty boarders into the water. Fortunately, we stopped first at the wrong location, meeting an awesome local who told us to get a groupon first. It saved all of us $20! Winning!! It was easy to find right off the 5 freeway. read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Lagoon - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We've been visiting the Lagoon over the years to celebrate our sons birthdays. We bring out our family and the kids friends for a great day on the water. The staff is always really friendly and the process is seamless from check-in to being out on the lagoon. I had a chance to interact with Josh, the owner during our last visit and had a chance to thank him for providing a great environment for families to enjoy. We will be back! read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - A day on the water - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Austin was our wakeboard instructor. Wakboarding isn't a cheap sport to practice but it's fun. It was my first time and Austin was pretty go teaching me the basics. It's a workout!! It took a few runs for me to stand but i finally got it. My fiancé is a pro so he had no problems :) I was exhausted by 10 minutes out there it'll definitely give you a work out. It's $155 an hour. Includes equipment, instructor/driver. Guess that's not too bad if you spilt amongst 8 but the fewer the people, the more time you'll get. Free parking, clean restrooms, 2 outdoor showers and friendly staff. Oh the waters a lil cold..high 60s and it's salt water. It got me by surprise since I'm used to Lake tahoe. Anyway super fun experience..they also have a frequent wakboarding program..wake board 5 times and the 6th is free. Don't forget to tip!! ;) read more

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Got a chance to come here during the summer and rent out the large deck for a nice Saturday with myself and a bunch of family members. The rental was $300 and the deck fit about 12 of us with plenty of space. You get two picnic tables, a BBQ (bring your own propane) and 4 chairs. We brought our own easy up for some shade but you can also rent an easy up from here. We made a great day of it with the help from friendly people that worked a the place. We rented kayaks, paddleboards, and a canoe. The canoe was super hard to manage, if you don't have any experience with it maybe skip the canoe. It was a fun day on the water taking my little guy around on the kayak, they provide you with all the safety stuff you will need so no need to bring a life jacket. One thing I will give another heads up on is parking, get in here early as it fills up quick and then you have to park up the hill which is a steep trek. Load up the coolers, load up the bbq if you like, bring some drinks, and bring your water toys. Carlsbad Lagoon is a great place to kill a day. The kids will be exhausted after a day here. CHEERS!!!!!! read more

It's summertime, you're on the 5 freeway heading down to SD and you're sweating like a pig cuz the AC in your car ain't working. Well why not stop by this amazing lagoon literally right off the freeway exit? I came here a couple years ago for my birthday and rented some jet skis for about 2 hours, totally had a blast. Prices are very reasonable. Yamaha Waverunners (jetskis, require a deposit) 1/2 hr $70.00 1 hr $95.00 2 hrs $175.00 3 hrs $230.00 They also have kayaks, wakeboards, canoes and those water bicycles. People also had the barbecues going. Really perfect spot to get some water action and family fun time. read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

how amazing is it that you can get the full benefit of the beach without the beach issues?! No crowds, great vibe, plenty of parking, clean bathrooms, changing rooms, snacks/drinks for purchase, all water equipment available for rent. When we were done, just walk to our spot to lay out and take a break. Will most definitely be back. read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Rented the little speed boat - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Thank you very much to Lucas, Zach, D.J & Raya for patiently teaching me how to paddle board this morning‼‼ I would not have done this (in sweat pants) without your amazing help & encouragement‍ You were all so GREAT I did it In gratitude, Suzie Abels San Marcos, CA read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - @CarlsbadLagoon Suzie, Zach, D.J, Lucas and Raya - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Poor Service Very expensive Small area to Jetski It was an overall bad experience to say the least. read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Wow! Such a great time. All the staff were very kind. We rented an Aquacycle. The staff helped us get to the water in no time. Can't wait to be back! read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Great customer service, friendly people, cozy lagoon, and fun rentals. Pricey, unfortunately, and the tiny beach has been fenced off for "private party" rentals now, so there is no place to hang out after your time expires and parking is free but limited. It's still worth it if you want a quiet place to kayak/water bike/waterski/jet ski for a few hours. read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Hourly kayak rentals - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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My daughter and I rented a water cycle yesterday. Was too much fun! We peddled around the lagoon for awhile enjoying nature and getting a decent lower body workout ( those water cycles are harder than they look). The employees were funny, friendly, laid back , and helpful. Unfortunately , due to lies and social conditioning, they are forced to wear masks outdoors in the hot sun to appease the covid idiots that will snitch all over town. Minus one star because the parking sucks. It's mostly dirt and very hilly. I think next time we go, it will be something motorized read more

We rented both a motorized bayliner boat for an hour and then a peddle swan boat another hour. Overall we had a great experience. The girls working in the office were very nice and courteous! The guys on the dock were also really nice and did a great job cleaning the boat before we got on. They all wore their masks at all times! (COVID lifestyle these days) They took my husband around the lagoon to show him where to go and not go/the rules before we all got on. The wait wasn't bad at all, and it was a pretty busy day. I definitely suggest signing the waiver online and making reservations ahead of time. There were a lot of people on the water; paddle boards, kayaks, peddle boats, pontoons, and bayliners. I think the company does a great job of keeping everything running smoothly even on a busy day. the only thing I would say is the lagoon isn't that big and an hour isn't that long so I just wish the price was a little lower. Overall though we will definitely be going back here for more fun in the water!!! read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Back of the boat - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Such a fun experience! We rented the kayaks and paddle board for 2 hours and had so much fun. The staff were so fun and easy going. They got you all set up and answered any questions you have. Once you get in the water and start to paddle you literally can go wherever you want. We are definitely doing this again!! read more

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I purchased the two hour rental for paddle boards on Groupon. Immediately upon entering the rental office the girls were so sweet and welcoming. Service was quick and instructions were provided before we were sent off to enjoy our day in the lagoon! Would highly recommend this place for a nice active day in the sun. The view is so nice! read more

Josh, Thank you for inviting me to come back and give it a 2nd chance. I really appreciate you going out of your way to try to make it up to us. Our experience this time was much better. The staff was very welcoming and helpful today, even though the place was super busy. Everyone was very nice, and flexible with our requests. We plan on returning again soon. read more

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My family had so much fun here today! We kayaked, aqua cycled, jet skied and had a blast the whole time! Theres's so many reasons to try this place out... 1. great prices 2. easy parking 3. well maintained equipment 4. mostly friendly staff(there's always one or two at every business that suck) 5. beautiful weather 6. great workout while having fun 7. wears the kids out:) We're coming back soon to try paddle boarding! read more

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Super fun! Beautiful lagoon with jumping fish!! We had a blast kayaking. You can also get a water bicycle, stand up paddle board, and much more! read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - My mini me - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We bought a group on and were able to use it same day. My 9 year old son and I took a kayak out for about an hour and had a blast. Unfortunately, the wind was so strong that we weren't able to row towards the end. It was exhausting. The gentleman allowed us to switch to the bike boat (which I believe policy was to use the full 2 hours on the same type of boat.) So that was very nice of them! They also offered to lend us sunscreen instead of having us buy some there, that was a huge gesture since stuff like that is often overpriced in those situations. Great customer service. Clean boats. Clean bathrooms. Sweet employees. We are returning tomorrow and can't wait! Thanks for being awesome! read more

Very cool place to enjoy the water without the insane parking at the beaches. I don't believe there are lifeguards since it's geared more toward water spots than swimming and they provide life vests. They have SUP, aqua cycles, paddle boats, kayaks and jet skis! The setup for large groups/ parties is great and they seemed very accommodating to make sure the event ran smoothly. The guys working the boat launch area were very patient and helpful to make sure everyone understood the rules. I also liked the electronic setup for the waiver forms, and you could have a copy emailed to you too. The day we went was a cloudy, but the water was still pretty warm and we still had a whole lot of fun! I can't wait to go back! read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Boat launch area and wide selection of water "toys"! - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Loved it here! Came on Father's Day after I purchased a Groupon for 2 - 2 hours of paddleboarding. Came in went straight to the rentals they set us up and we just went for it. They gave us a quick little lesson with basic instructions: what areas are safe, which part was reserved for jet skiers, than we were off. The lagoon was nice, not too crowded and if you paddle out there was another part of the lagoon that people went to rest, relax, and layout. I have a deep fear of deep water so we stayed kind of close to shore. When I would stray too far I would have a few moments of, "Hmmm.. can a shark get in here? Could it get to me? Would it go after me as opposed to that kayak?" Lol But it was nice. I would definitely go again. read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Paddleboarding on Father's Day. - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

My trip to Carlsbad Lagoon was an adventure that will surely not be forgotten. My fiancee and I are east coast city slickers and don't get to do many water sports, so this was a real treat for us. We rented paddle boards for two hours - registration was quick and simple, signed waivers through our phones, and rates were super reasonable. Front desk help was welcoming, informative, and super laid back. The lagoon itself isn't huge, but humbly beautiful with stunning views of nearby houses enshrouded by the surrounding nature and flora. We had quite the workout paddling from end to end, stopping by the small beaches along the shore for a relaxing break. It wasn't over crowded at all and the water was warm enough to swim in. We even saw a sea gull feasting on a fish it caught on one of the beaches. There are even some jumping fish! So, what made this trip to the lagoon even more remarkable? About ten minutes before returning our boards back to base, my fiancee tried to stand up on his board and slipped off, landing in the water, and knocking the small black bag that contained our car keys off his board. Into the bottom of the lagoon it disappeared. Defeated, we paddled back to shore, and quickly realized that all of our clothes and valuables are soundly tucked away in a rental car we can't get into. With just our swim suits on, no towels, and the sun now setting, we are freezing, and turning frantic. We head back to the office, inform them of the disastrous event that just took place, and the front desk person kindly let us use her cell phone while we tried to call the car rental place to see what we could do. Mind you, closing hours are upon us for many businesses at this point, and we've no luck reaching anyone so far. A strapping young man, by the name of Kenneth P., was clocking out of his shift when I told him of our disconcerting situation. Without even the slightest moment of hesitation, he quickly went to the back to help us find some towels, and whatever clothes we could shed on our shivering bodies. Then, we decided to try and bust this car wide open with whatever tools we could get our hands on, obviously trying to keep it intact without incurring rental damage fees. Kenneth even volunteered to drive to a local hardware store and pickup the tool that eventually allowed us to unlock the car--the trident of success, which I've kept as a memento of our adventure. What an immense feeling of relief to have our car unlocked at this point, where we could now change into some warmer clothes, and have access to our money and valuables. But, we still can't drive the car. The keys are still at the bottom of the lagoon. Lo! Our adventure did not end here. A couple of other Carlsbad Lagoon employees showed up on scene as we filled them in on our situation. Without any reluctance, Joe D., and Will G., along with some friends and the recruitment of a younger brother, did they enthusiastically volunteer to search for the missing bag with the car keys with their scuba gear. There is no more sunlight at this point, and I'm sure the water is freezing, but down to the shore we all go like a group of detectives, in search of the spot where we dropped the bag (thanks to our GoPro footage!). With the understanding of the tide and of the lagoon, Joe D. guiding the divers was remarkable to see. Committed to the task for nearly two hours, they searched, coming up every now and then, searching in dark murky water, seaweed beds, and god knows what else. Even though we didn't have success on an impossible mission, and the chances of recovering the lost car keys were so slim to none, we did not leave disappointed. I am beyond astounded by the commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm of the crew of Carlsbad Lagoon. I have never encountered such pure, open, gentle kindness from these amazing young humans who simply made the greatest gesture to help two random people from NYC who didn't have the sound mind to leave their car keys with the front desk. To the Carlsbad Lagoon employees, I commend you for going so above and beyond the call of duty. To the owner of Carlsbad Lagoon, put up a picture of Kenneth P., Joe D., And Will G., and make them employees of the year along with a massive raise or promotion. They have a lot of wisdom to impart on new employees, trust me. And, you did a good job by hiring this phenomenal group of individuals who are simply just awesome humans. And, to anyone reading this review, if you're ever in the Carlsbad area, go to this place for a fun filled day of serenity on the water, some exercise, really cool Carlsbad Lagoon merch in the shop, and definitely the most excellent customer service I've ever experienced from any business. Oh, and also, leave your car keys with the front desk. I assure they will be safe. We eventually got a locksmith to make another pair of keys for us the following morning. Cheers to you guys, and thanks for an unforgettable adventure! read more

The 5 stars goes to an outstanding young man named Matthew. He was so helpful and gracious to my wife and I. We had such a great experience thanks to him. He was so lovely and respectful, the equipment was in decent shape but Matthew made up for it with his attitude and amazing customer service. read more

Purchase Groupon for 2 hour water sports and came with my 8 year old and tried water cycling first. It barely moved when we turn and kept making noises. After about 30 minutes, we were both losing patience and paddled back to ask to switch to a kayak. We were told that since we purchase via Groupon, we cannot switch to another water sport. There were no shortage of kayaks at that time and they refused to let us use any. My little one really wanted to try the kayak with me, so I ended up paying again for the kayak. When I questioned why they are being unreasonable. The lady (a blonde) simply said that Groupon is a different company and has nothing to do with them. If Groupon has nothing to do with them, why are they advertising on Groupon then? Groupon would not offer any deals for any business without permission from the business owners! Bad experience! read more

We just hosted my daughter's 10th birthday here and it was probably our best birthday party yet! Erik and his team were super helpful in coming up with a good package that was within our budget and kept everyone entertained. We loved having our own private space to set up and my daughter and her friends had such a blast. I had to force them out of the water to eat pizza and cake and then they were back in for more. I would HIGHLY recommend throwing a birthday party here if you have water lovers!!! read more

It's a nice place for beach outing but it's not a no wake zone (that's with speed limit no more than 5 mph like at the Newport Beach), so when the motorized run by would create so much waves, it makes it hard for those that do the SUP, you don't feel quiet here. read more

We have been here a couple times for their various water sports and annual events. The first time we went we had a Groupon for a water bike. Check in was a breeze and we had fun peddling away out on the calm water. We also attended their Rubber Duck Derby with my niece and nephew. There were plenty of activities/games/crafts to keep the kids busy. This is a great place for families or anyone who just loves any sort of water sport/activity. The staff members are friendly and you can generally find parking up on the hill pretty easy. read more

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Always a blast! Renting is easy, quick and convenient. They are always kind and quick with the transaction and they keep my info on file so I don't have to fill out a new waiver each and every time! read more

Ideal for beginners! Perfect place to learn to kayak or paddle board. They have other things to rent as well including paddle boats that look like swans and tricycles. If you are new to kayaking and paddle board this is ideal: 1) they give you a quick tutorial 2) the water is shallow if you fall in, 3) the only sea life are birds b and fish 4) no waves. They have a shop that has snacks and anything you might have forgotten, bathrooms/ showers, life jackets, and in the afternoon they have tents with food. read more

This is a cool spot for jet skiing, kayaking, and whatever other water sport you like. They of course have a place to rent out all of the kayak and stuff as well as purchase water gear. They also have a basketball goal and volleyball net in the sand. I was there for a party which they totally allow you to do. We were able to have a dj setup with generators and party tables to serve food. The lake is huge with plenty of space for jet skis and the like. It's kind of a drive when you live in Los Angeles but I will definitely go back when I'm around that way! read more

Carlsbad Lagoon - Boating Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Rented here before and had a positive experience but today's was not positive. Had to wait while the person working inside was on a personal phone call. Then the SUP we rented ended up having a bent fin, which made it slow and unstable. My wife thought it was her at first but a mile into our paddle we went ashore and inspected the fin. When I call attention to it upon our return, the worker just said "ok" and when back to taking to his friend. Disappointing customer service and equipment. read more

Really boring but if you're a first timer st Jet Skiing or any other water sport then maybe not a bad place. You will literally be going in small circles wether you have a jet ski or a boat. Pricing is not fair for the amount of space but again for someone wanting to learn it may be worth it. read more

The place is great, but the quality of the rentals in subpar. We rented Kayaks and the seats which are supposed to provide back support we're completely worn out. Mentioned this to the manage/owner Josh and his response was we have boxes of new seats. Great, you have boxes but your are still putting out the crappy worn out ones ones. You guys clearly get enough usage that you can afford to replace the seats. Super disappointed! Wish I wasn't as I was hoping to make this a regular spot. The owners response below is untrue. We kayak often. We tried adjusting the seats in both kayaks multiple times. They were worn out. Instead of apologizing he shifts the blame to the customer. read more

I have been here to SUP before and it was a good spot to try it for my first time. The water isn't rough and unexpected. I recently rented beach space, they also have deck space, for a party of about 50-70 people and it worked out because it felt like we had the place all to ourselves. It was overcast so it might have kept people away that day. The communication and service wasn't stellar and it is a bit expensive but for renting the space it wasn't so bad. They provide you with a bbq grill, tables and chairs. You can also bring alcohol and food. If you bring your own water equipment you have to pay a permit fee. read more

Thank you California Watersports for being A-MAZ-ING! My son Andrew is attending camp there this week, and he is having a blast. The registration, check in and check out have been a breeze. Andrew is loving learning to SUP and had a blast building cardboard boats and swimming. We will definitely be back. The staff has been wonderful! read more

We live in Carlsbad and love to treat friends and family to new adventures when they come visit. The activities at the lagoon have changed, just FYI. No more jet ski rentals or wakeboarding behind the boat. In their place are e-foil boards and some mini motorized catamarans, plus I hear a bouncy water park area is coming very soon. It's an awesome place to experience the calmer water on a SUP or kayak and spot wildlife, too. It's actually our next date! *I found some info on the website to be very contradictory. It states 18 year olds can rent/drive boats and the next line down says the age minimum is 21. *I also found conflicting info about the price for summer camp. On the same page, a week of camp costs $395 per camper and/or $500. *The price of renting larger boats is also misleading. Maybe someone could just update the website? You know what's great? The staff! I read on IG they're called the Goonies... how cute. :) The office girls are so efficient, friendly and helpful. They're patient and smiling even though the phones never stop ringing and wait times can get a bit long. The beach boys are a fun crew with lots of knowledge, skills and helpful tips. The staff really goes above and beyond to make sure families enjoy their time at the lagoon! read more

They changed the fee from $10 to $50 (the price of literally renting one of their boards) to take your own paddle board out. It's literally ridiculous, not sure why but they lost our business. read more

We were in town visiting. After experiencing a horrible hotel stay & dirty restaurant experience, we came here. We had so much fun, this was the highlight of our day. The staff are very nice, friendly, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend Carlsbad Lagoon and give it 10 stars if I could. read more