I feel like a real insider now, because I found the most perfect kayak and sailboat rental place. I've been here twice this year I get nothing but great energy from Jen and Mitch; paddling or sailing with them is like being with my own paddle club back on the Ches. I've gotten awesome service from them - whether it's booking a lesson last minute, or asking for a touring yak pre-seasons. Their little shop is adorable and in a perfectly serene location right on the bay. I can't tell you how much this counts for me - city docks and slips are just un-fun and their shop feels like my favorite put-in back home. They are both experienced paddlers and chatting with them is just like chatting with any of the sea kayakers in my paddle club. The Lil-Ass Bay (I'm sorry, I just can't help it) is also a great paddling spot ! With extremely limited boat traffic, and a refuge to it's north, kayaks can relax a bit and focus on observing the wildlife without having to keep their head on a pivot for speeding boaters and fishermen. These same reasons also make it a great place to take sailing lessons and let the wind carry you a bit. I have to admit that I've never actually paid attention to the prices ahead of time. You can tell when you're dealing with Jen, Mitch, or any of their helpers that they are going to be fair and reasonable. So I've always just gone out, come back when I wanted to, and paid and every single time I've been happily surprised at the price. Even the sailing lesson was more affordable than I expected. Paddling here is like paddling with a friend. Will definitely be back on this trip and many future ones. Quite side note about sailing, yes, they do have some rules about sailing as another review posted - not being able to jibe can be a little bit annoying sometimes when you really just want to run or reach down a bit, but it allows them to keep the sailing accessible and affordable to more people, which is important. Can't wait to get back out there again. read more

As you can see from my prior review in August 2023 I love this place. I love to kayak with my family. I was here again with my same family of five including two elementary school children. This time I rented two double kayaks for 1 hour at $30 each or $60 total. I also rented one single kayak for one hour or $20. Our total cost was $80 for two doubles and one single kayak in total. This time we traveled south in the bay since the current was moving North. That made it easier for us to kayak back to the kayak base. We returned within one hour. I also purchased a Coastal Kayak hoodie for $40. We agreed we will return here again. read more

Nothing but good things to say about Mitch and the team at Coastal Kayak! I called two days ahead of my arrival to find out if I needed a reservation to rent a paddleboard for the weekend and was informed that there was no need. I showed up on the day of my arrival and rented a 10" board with no problems. FYI - the 10" board fit in my compact-size SUV with the headrests removed, front seat down and fin removed. The rental included a paddle and the board also had a leash. I had my own Coast Guard approved lifejacket. I also booked the Burton Island's wildlife guided tour which was a 2-hour tour thru the salt marsh around Burton's Island. Bob (our guide) gave a quick "kayaking 101" before we started and off we went. We had 8 total in our group which was a perfect size for the tour. On the tour we observed ospreys, lots of different types of sea gulls, cormorants who use the bay as a runway before taking off into the blue sky, horseshoe crabs, teeny-tiny fiddler crabs no bigger than a quarter, and little turtles popping up to see what was going on as we were paddling thru the marsh. Bob is a great tour guide with lots of info about the area and wildlife. The meeting point for the tour is the Burton Island's trail head located on the north end of the Indian River Marina inside the Delaware Seashore State Park. For me, it was a short15 minute drive from where I was staying in Fenwick Island. Price wise - the tour and SUP rental were quite reasonable. I will definitely rent from Coastal Kayak the next time I'm in Fenwick Island. read more

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This was the 4th tour we have done. Took our 7 yr old grandson in a tandem this time. Burton Island tour was great, guides were informative and great with our grandson. Fantastic way to experience the beauty of nature that surrounds the beaches. read more

Liz and Justin were awesome. Everything was set up for us, got us in the water quickly and paddled to island with cool wildlife. Talked about birds, terrapins, and crabs in the area. Lots of horseshoe and fiddler crabs on island. Tandem and single kayak options. Would definitely recommend! read more

Coastal Kayak - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

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We rented four single kayaks for an hour and could not have been happier with the friendliness of the staff, the information provided and the entire check in process. The equipment was in great shape- they apparently sanitize the life preservers after every use. This section of the bay was easy to paddle with plenty to look at. Thanks for the great adventure! read more

We did the Bald Cypress Tour with guide Gary. It was amazing and peaceful kayaking through the trees. We saw plenty of wildlife, including snakes, turtles, great blue herons, and even 2 young raccoons. Gary was great to point out where we might see wildlife. I would highly recommend this tour. We hope to do some more kayaking with them while we're here in Delaware! read more

Coastal Kayak - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

Rented a Hobie-cat sailboat here for 2 hours. Had to come back as first time attempted the wind was above their threshold (15kt) for letting boats out. Staff were friendly and helpful and got the boat ready for us, life jackets etc. They had a lot of rules, one of the toughest was you are not allowed to gybe the boats (it's to protect the sails / cleats), but obviously kind of weird if you are going downwind and then had to tack 270 degrees to change direction... They make you fill out a form with various fines for gybing, capsizing, needing help etc - I guess it puts off people who are not confident / competent. Anyhow - was a fun couple of hours, water was warm and we zipped around the bay. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. It was our first time out on kayaks so they gave us a brief tutorial to help us get going! Coming back on the bay was much quicker with the help of light winds and we saw some wildlife during our one hour rental. Definitely would recommend Coastal Kayak and look forward to trying them out again! read more

Coastal Kayak - Out on the bay. - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

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Every year we return to kayak (7? Maybe 8?) and each time we agree that these kayak trips are the highlight of our vacation. Every aspect of this business is just outstanding. The equipment, the focus on safety and fun, the locations...most importantly we love the the guides. These are friendly and incredibly knowledgeable people. This year we saw 21 wild horses including a foal. They can't control the wildlife but they know the area and will get you to the best locations. Shout out to our guides, Madi and John~ our guests really enjoyed the trip! See you next year! read more

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I can't say enough good things about Coastal Kayak. Mitch answered all of my questions with great expertise, patience, and friendliness yesterday when I purchased a kayak there yesterday. The price was right and the customer service was exceptional. read more

My son and I took the Burton's Island nature tour for Fathers Day. Bob, the guide, was great. He knows the birds, water life, and area and was patient in answering our questions. The equipment was in excellent condition. We saw spawning horseshoe crabs, many species of birds and a flying eagle. This is the fourth tour I have taken with Coastal Kayak. All have been excellent. read more

We signed up for a Kayak lesson and had Todd as our instructor. He was patient and very specific on how to operate a kayak and the correct way to operate and row. We learned a lot. We're coming back for a private 2 person kayak lesson. A bit daunting once you're on the water especially if there is wind which we had. We both think we'll enjoy kayaking once we get more time on the water. A great upper body exercise and very challenging. Todd was superb and never made you feel dumb! Make sure that you have the right clothes and shoes! read more

Nothing but amazing things to say. The staff is not only friendly but so easy going while still working quickly to get everyone taken care of. They let you be independent with your rentals if you chose to do so. They gave us a few suggestions on where to kayak to and we were off. I got to take my back pack on the kayak and packed a few snacks and drinks for my family and such and they had no issues with me doing that. The area was beautiful and there was a marsh 15 mins down the bay where you could kayak and explore around where wildlife was common. read more

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We've always to take SUP lessons, and spotted Coastal Kayak while on vacation in Bethany Beach. They have a great setup, right on the bay, the lesson was terrific (we all managed to stay dry to our surprise) and within an hour were confident enough that next time we'll be renting our SUP without supervision. We're also sailors and were interested to notice they have Hobie 14 to rent - we took one immediately after our SUP lesson, and had a blast taking tubs across the bay and showing our daughter how to handle a small cat. Even with light winds the speed is always guaranteed on a Hobie. As the name suggest they also have all sorts of kayaks and do eco tours. Easy parking. You can rinse off any sand at the end. What we appreciated was the sense of hospitality from the ladies inside the hut, our SUP lady instructor Kate, and the dudes on the beach helping your geared up and back to the shore. Pretty chill crew. Great place for Watersports ! read more

Did the Sunset Tour with guide Justin. He was great. Low-key, super-helpful and knowledgeable. We saw cormorants, osprey, and several other birds. It didn't hurt that the weather was perfect and we caught a near-flawless sunset. Highly recommend! read more

Coastal Kayak - The Grand Finale - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

Always a great experience with Coastal Kayak. From the friendly customer service reps who take your reservation to the experienced, knowledgeable, and patient tour guides leading the trips. I wish every organization I conduct business with were run like Coastal Kayak. read more

Cobey and staff were the BEST! This was our first trip to Bethany Beach near Costal Kayak and me, wanted to do everything on my bucket list, just HAD to check out kayaking. Instructions were explicit, but we wound up running ashore most of the time and even flipped the kayak once, getting soaked! But we had fun. They explained it was going to be rough waters anyway b/c of recent hurricane activity. Anyway- done that, did that, and got the T-shirt! read more

Coastal Kayak - First Timers! - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

Best thing we did on vacation was a kayak lesson at Coastal Kayak. My family of 4 had never kayaked but Todd from Coastal had us all zipping around the bay quickly. He is a fun and thorough teacher. The bay only gets about 5 feet deep so have no fear. Ask for Todd and have fun read more

Coastal Kayak - All smiles at the competition of our lesson - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

I went on the Bald Cypress Kayak tour at Trap Pond State park and it was a blast! The tour guides were very knowledgeable and It was a fun and relaxing two hours of paddling. They did a good job of mostly keeping us out of the sun on a very hot and sunny day. Highly recommended! read more

What a great activity to do while at the beach, they had more than enough kayaks for all. We had a great paddle across the bay and found an entire flock of pelicans. Good process for checking in and out, even on a busy day, friendly staff too! Highly recommend if you are in the area and looking for an active outing! read more

What an amazing time for beginner kayakers wanting a great experience. Highly recommended. We had Bob and Cameron, excellent instructors who sanitized equipment, provided all of our gear and gave us excellent instruction. A+++++ read more

Coastal Kayak - Outstanding time on the Assawoman waters in Fenwick DE! - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

Went on a great Saturday morning kayak excursion this morning. Our guide, Bob, was great, well informed and added a grea read more

Coastal Kayak - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

It was a little bit of a dreary day at the beach. Couldn't decide whether it wanted to rain or not. So we thought, "You know what would be fun? Taking mom kayaking since she's never been!" The staff at Coastal Kayak was so friendly! They made everything very easy. I don't remember how long we chose to rent - just a couple hours I think - but it was a nice relaxing paddle up the bay and back. We saw some cool birds and took some nice selfies. The whether even cheered up for a us a bit! If you're looking for something to do that's a bit active and a whole lot of fun, definitely recommend this for the whole family. read more

Coastal Kayak - Sister bonding time. - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

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We took the Burton Island tour with our guide, Jim. He was very knowledgeable and informative about the wildlife, and had us all paddling around the bay in no time. The kayaks were beginner friendly and very comfortable. Highly recommend this eco tour! read more

I went on the Sunset Kayak trip September 5, and can't say enough positive things about it. Cole was our guide and, in addition to kayaking through beautiful, serene waters, he provided us with a wealth of information on the local birds and environment. It was one of the most enjoyable evenings I've spent. I plan to go on many more Kayak trips with Coastal Kayak. This wasn't my first -- and the others were equally memorable, although in different locations -- and I'm sold on Coastal Kayak. read more

The staff at Coastal Kayak were great! Upon entering the parking lot we were greeted by an employee directing us where to park in small by adequate parking lot. We rented kayaks along with another couple, checked in with great friendly service. We signed the usual lawyers release of liability and grabbed life vests and paddles. After a brief orientation and 3-minute lesson in 2-person kayak paddling we were out on the water in about 15 mins. They also told us because the winds were picking up in the afternoon we should start out paddling against the wind. Good advice since it becomes tiresome trying to against the wind after you've paddled for an hour. Plus, it saves them from having to rescue tried kayakers. We spent about an hour paddling, long enough to check kayaking off our Vacation bucket list. read more

Lovely, easy kayaking tour. My 80 year-old mom, 14 year-old niece, and myself (middle age, mediocre shape) took the Bald Cypress kayak tour at Trap Pond State Park. Our guide was fantastic (Cole). There were five of us on the tour. Cole gave us some history of the state park and explained the trees and foliage around the park. The beginning and ending is is the lake so you are in the sun, but the bulk of the time we were paddling on a cypress covered stream. The only thing I'd suggest to the company is to include a map link on the confirmation email. We went to the main entrance of the state park and it also has a rental and launch for kayaks and canoes. The guy working there didn't know what we were talking about and we had left cell phones back at the car. Eventually we went back to the car and Cole had called us and directed us to the correct launch which is the "Boat Ramp" that is outside the main entrance to the state park. Thanks to Cole for a great experience! read more

Coastal Kayak - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

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A very nice trip. If the weather was a bit less windy and had we seen more horses I would give it a 5. The guide was perfect. I will definitely do it again! I highly recommend this tour group. I plan to try out other excursions by them. read more

The past 4 years that we have visited Bethany Beach we have always gone to Coastal Kayak to kayak, the staff is always nice and friendly. We always have a great relaxing time. read more

Our group of six really enjoyed the eco tour of Burton Island. The guides were very knowledgeable about wildlife in the area and helpful with kayaking tips. They made the trip really special special by pointing out birds, turtles, helping us catch crabs, etc. The youngest in our group was 13 and the oldest 74 and they were both able to paddle their own kayaks and enjoy. Highly recommend for families. read more

Probably a 4.5. The day we went out was windy, and I wish Coastal Kayak had been a little clearer in their instruction for the newer paddlers in managing steering and compensating for that. We were chased down by a staff member to redirect both our direction and some of the girls' paddling. It also took us about half as long to go the distance they estimated with that wind, so not the full hour's paddling time we were paying for. That being said, the equipment was in great shape and all the staff were friendly. They came and picked us up at the landing site and shuttled us back to settle up (so that we'd know exactly how long we rented for). The water bottles weren't absurdly overpriced and it was nice that they provided them for sale. They provided a laminated, marked map for us to take with us and gave a quick and clear set of landmarks for our course. I would go back and paddle, and explore some of the neater inlets they spoke about, but I'll do it on a day that's not going to compromise the quality of the experience since the CK people are clearly looking to make sure you enjoy paddling and exploring the bay. read more

Great experience! Would definitely do it again! Great way to see the island and the wildlife! Tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable! read more

Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Highly recommend an Eco tour by Jim. Saw Egrets, eagles, turtle, crabs and more..... read more

Coastal Kayak - One of two bald eagles we saw - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

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We went on a sunset kayak tour. Our guides were great. Super friendly and helpful. Pointed out birds and their nests, talked about the wildlife in the bay. They were very patient and kind and made sure we enjoyed ourselves and felt comfortable. The sunset was great and they offered to take pics for us which we much appreciate. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is because of where we stopped in the middle If the tour. It was a small island with tons...like tons...of large dead horseshoe crabs all over the beach part. It looked like a crab cemetery n smelled like it too. Like U had to keep your eyes down and be very careful about where u put your foot down for every step. It felt like a disgusting obstacle course. Just grossed me out and I couldn't wait to get out of there. Other than that it really was a great experience. read more

Found this company while Googling kayak tours. We took the Wildlife tour with Lily and Sara and they were fantastic! They showed us how to use the kayaks and pointed out all of the wildlife as we passed different animals and nests and such. We stopped at a sandy area where we discovered several more animals before getting back in our kayaks. We did a tandem kayak that worked great for two. They also had single kayaks as well. Great price for a great morning tour! read more

This place had a good price point for their rentals. I do wish they could get you out on the water a bit quicker; not sure if I went there on a busy day or not. read more

This trip was awesome! We had Jeff and Donna for guides today and they were fabulous. We were able to take our time on our tour, didn't feel rushed. They were both extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife and the history of Assateague. I would highly suggest taking the tour. read more

Coastal Kayak - Tours Near Me - Fenwick Island, Delaware

We had a great experience with Coastal on our vacation. My daughter and I joined another family for their most popular tour and it didn't disappoint. Lilly was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable about the wildlife and history of the area. When we got to the island she was able to identify and show several hands on examples of the wildlife. It was awesome. She knew all the birds, turtles and crabs we saw during the tour. Would definitely recommend. read more

Such a terrific guide we had with Maddy, and a wonderful time out in Rehoboth Bay! For a first time kayaker I was able to learn from her great demo and did just fine. Very laid back and relaxed activity. We got out onto a sand bar and searched for wildlife. Had a great time, would go back! read more