A must book when in the Mendocino area! We found Kayak Mendocino on Google and could not have been happier with our experience. We were hosted by Craig who checked in with us often leading up to our excursion, offered adjustments to kayaking time to hit the best weather and tide opportunity. He did a great job explaining safety while kayaking, keeping our group together on the water, vetting out highlight areas before we passed through, pointed out highlights to take note of, and supplied all equipment day of. We had the best time of enjoying 90 minutes of beginner friendly paddling, viewing water wildlife, going through small sea caves, and more! This will certainly be a highlight of our trip that I cannot recommend more! read more

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This was such a cool experience! It was so gorgeous out on the water. We got to go through a couple of sea caves and saw some wildlife. There was a juvenile seal on the beach alone and our guide commented that this was unusual and that he'd be contacting the local wildlife conservationist to check on the pup. This really gave me a sense of community in this seaside village. The people making a living off the ocean are also invested in its conservation. Other information shared during our adventure also supported this. We didn't want the tour to end and I highly recommend this experience to anyone traveling through the area!! read more

Took my group of girlfriends out to kayak for their first time! $80 a person even if you ride a double kayak and you get to explore 2 sea caves (twice). The kayak is really simple to maneuver and work with but cation if you have motion sickness tendencies because there are still small waves out in the coves. We were out there long enough! We had 2 instructors with us and one of their daughters guiding the way for us. There was a lot of yelling and I felt like one of the instructors wasn't in the best moods but as a group we still made really fun memories! I don't know how to swim but felt completely comfortable with the boat. You will get wet, your bottoms, shoes, sleeves, etc. If you want to bring your phone with you I suggest storing it in your top near your biceps or chest area to prevent it from getting wet. Warning, the bathrooms at the beach site for meetups are nasty, change or go bathroom before coming to the meet up spot. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

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Such an amazing morning paddling through the caves. Craig was great with his instructions, equipment was very stable and the weather couldn't have been better. Definitely worth signing up! We also used Craig for his expertise in kayaking on the Noyo River. Kayak Mendocino is the total package ! read more

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It was easy to find the meeting location. Our guide was clear on all instructions and guided us through our adventure. Navigating to three caves was a lifetime memory. read more

Fantastic trip. Guide was responsive and informative during the initial call in / question phase; last minute booking trip while in town; as communicated - no experience or equipment necessary; the kayaks are good for beginners and very stable; though I suggest a minor change of clothes in the car as you will lightly splash yourself while you row; I had a waterproof phone case to take pictures; guide was careful, instructive and informative during the trip; great for kids (I would say 11 or so and up) or adults. Not much strength needed. read more

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73 year old grandmother, 4 adults, and 4 kids ages 5 thru 13 had the time of their life on June 20th. Best adventure of our week vacation...what a blast! Highly recommend for great experience. At no time did anyone feel unsafe with Craig and Stewart. Excursion was the highlight of all our experiences For the week. Error....Mark and Stewart...sorry. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Loving life - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

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We were camping at Van Damme state park and wanted to do some kayaking while in the area. Saw this place on yelp. Booked the reservation over the phone the night before. They said they were slammed but could get us in. From start to finish the vibe was laid back but organized and professional. We lucked out with the weather and tides and had an amazing experience. They knew when to balance the risk vs safety. They even had us turn around at one point to not spooks some young seals on the rocks (probably due to the dogs that some people decided to bring on their kayaks). FYI seals don't like dogs so maybe leave them at the car... can't remember our guides names but they were awesome. Highly recommend! read more

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This place gets 5 stars all the way and big shout out to Craig and Mark. They were super helpful in explaining to us how to use the double kayak for my moms birthday and she had a great time celebrating her birthday on the water. I believe the owner is Craig/Greg, he has this bus where he'll check you in and explain everything to you and have you sign a waiver prior to taking off. I can tell he is very experienced and knows what he's doing. What's really cool about kayak Mendocino is they take you through a cave which I never would've thought about. It was so much fun kayaking on the ocean. We even got to see some harbor seas and plenty of starfish. It was a beautiful day on the water. I would say one tip is to wear sunscreen if you're going to wear shorts and be sure to wear long sleeves. I had on long sleeves but my legs go sunburnt. I would definitely visit again in the fort Bragg area. Thank you for making my moms birthday memorable! read more

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We had a fantastic trip this last weekend and got to visit the sea caves. Craig helped everyone in our little group get properly launched and guided us every step of the way. Then at the very end I lost my sunglasses in the surf as we were coming in. I thought they were gone for sure but Craig went back out and found them. My HERO. read more

The owner took my husband and I out on the river with another couple. He was very organized and had lots of information to share about the wildlife and community. It was a really fun 2 hours. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

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My husband and took the morning kayak nature tour and really enjoyed the experience. Our guide was professional and laid back and the the water inside the Van Damme bay was calm, so very suitable for beginners as advertised. The guide gave very clear explanations for what to do and everyone followed his directions. He pointed out sea stars along the tide line, we went through multiple caves, and we were also able to see some harbor seals. The weather was perfect--sunny, not too windy--as well and it was just a great way to start the day. Tip: when you make your reservation, you'll be advised to bring cash to pay on the day of the reservation. It really is helpful to have cash to pay since the wifi in the parking lot is limited and taking credit card payments is difficult for the guide. read more

Had a great time. Went out July 4, and they were able to fit us in. The guides were helpful and enjoyed the caves. Thanks! read more

Greta tour heading out from Van Damm beach, very unintimidating for first timers. Mark was a lot of fun and knowledgeable about dos and donuts and we had so much fun with him. The tours are not too early and not too late and pricing is very reasonable. read more

We had a great trip through several sea caves and up the coastline. All equipment provided. We saw sea stars, seals, jellyfish, and the beautiful coastline. Guides were attentive and professional. Fun family activity. read more

There really isn't anything else I can add that other reviewers haven't mentioned already. Our guides were Craig (the owner), Stu, and Shai. All were fantastic! One of the kayakers found a large sea star, picked it up off the rock, paddled to his wife and gave it to her to look at. Come on now. Even my 6 year old said to me, "Mama, he shouldn't have done that." I wish Craig would have gotten on him about that when he asked where he got it from. Please respect sea life from a distance. Even my first grader knows that. On this trip we got to see jellies, sea stars, and harbor seals. It was very special for our kids (10 and 6 years old) since this was their first time kayaking. Like others said, wear waterproof shoes, board shorts, water resistant outer wear, etc. because you will get wet. Keep towels in your car for afterwards. I thought the price was reasonable ($70 for adults and $40 for kids). Please remember to tip them - they work hard and do their best to show you a great time while prioritizing safety for all! read more

We had a great time. Had reservations and wasn't sure if we would be able to go out due to weather. Even though it was too rough out there to go in the caves we still enjoyed our experience. Craig and his assistant were very nice. Looking forward to doing it again and seeing the caves. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

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We just booked two double kayaks for my husband and two children for Fathers Day weekend. Adults were $70 and children under 12 were $40. We were provided with an ocean kayak, two oars and life vests. I contacted Craig and he immediately text me to confirm that we would meet at Van Damme State beach at 11 am and to look for the yellow bus. Upon arrival we all wore masks and had to sign the Covid waiver. He launched our kayaks and told us to stay close to the coast and to wait for the group at the meeting point on the right of the beach at the orange buoy. Once we got there he wanted us to feel comfortable with the kayak and then proceeded to educate the group about the wildlife and the landscape. He broke us up into two groups and kept us updated on the terrain and the currents. We took our time, as we had some 1st time kayakers in our group. He was patient, but also precise when it came to safety and would tell us when we could all enter the caves safely and often shielded us from any rocks. I felt safe with Craig, as I had two children both under the age of 12. Make sure you have water shoes, waterproof pants/shorts, bathing suit under your clothes, a hat, a lightweight waterproof jacket as your bottom will surely get wet, but it's all worth it in the end. If you are looking for a unique, fun and beautiful way to experience the Mendocino coast I highly recommend taking the tour with Craig and his team! I hope to return sometime next year. The tour was definitely the highlight of our entire trip to the Mendocino coast. read more

Add this to your Mendocino itinerary. Beautiful setting. Amazing caves. Excellent guides that made sure everyone was safe. The water was fairly calm the entire tour but one area got a bit choppy. Guides made sure to paddle ahead and direct people towards the safest route. My husband is an experienced kayaker and was wanting to get into some waves. While this tour is more mellow, often slowing down and stopping to keep the group together, we both had a great time. This was my second time kayaking, I'm not a strong swimmer so I was nervous initially. Once we got going, the guides were very helpful and made the experience comfortable and enjoyable for all. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

We had a great time exploring sea caves near Van Damn beach. My friend is a beginner and our wonderful guide brought her in his kayak. She felt secure and had a fantastic and memorable day. Our guide was superb. He is a professor in non Covid times and taught us which animal emerged from the sea evolutionarily. No spoilers...you've gotta go paddle to find out the answer. We even saw 6 sea lions resting on nearby rocks. There were moon jellies and selks galore in the water, star fish and fantastic birds everywhere. This was THE BEST escape from Covid and wildfires. read more

Had an incredible time. Raymond was great and we had a blast exploring these caves. It's very easy, so don't worry about experience level or anything. Might get wet and/or sunburnt. Water was a bit rough for us to get out to see seals..but luckily both my wife and I were raised by a family of seals...so we have already seen enough. Totally recommend this guy/place. If you call ahead, please follow through and you won't be sorry. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

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These guys know what they are doing! It had been a long time since my husband had Kayaked but he caught on fast and kept up with no problem. They explained to us what was coming up and told us when to move forward one by one. This was a great couple of hours and I would do it again! Highly recommend!! read more

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Great tour of sea caves that can't be seen from land. Tour lasted about 1.5 hours. My 77 yr old mom and 9 yr old daughter both kayaked and each thought it was fantastic. Mark is a knowledgeable and laid back guide which made the experience lovely and very chill. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Sea tunnel - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

Craig, Stuart & Ramon are great! I drove up here for my birthday and everything is beautiful. I have only done kayaking twice and our guide, Stuart was fantastic, knowledgable and patient with me :-) The tour is super FUN, seeing the wildlife, kayaking into caves and enjoying the environment. To avoid the risk of dropping your cell phone, Ramon takes pics and sends them to you via text for $20. I will definitely do this again if I am in the area! read more

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I had a great time with Kayak Mendocino and look forward to Kayaking again with KM soon!

As Shia LeBouf would say..."Just DO it!!!" Booked a solo kayak trip a week ahead. 60 bucks. Got there an hour early to let the coffee settle in and meditate at Van Damme beach and chat it up with some other travelers. Craig is the lead guy. The Big Boss. He assigns people to their kayaks, hands out the wetsuits (if needed), and life jackets. Upon launch he blasts on over to the first cave standing on his paddle board where he then reminds us all on the importance in taking care of the water because of its vital role in the ecosystem and planet. He's able to coach those along that may need it. I've been on lakes, but never the ocean. It was really a blast to paddle on through various caves and check out the seals. Craig's assistant (for the life of me I can't remember his name!) is a American literature teacher in Spain, helping Craig out for the summer. Super cool dude. Definitely recommend you set aside 2 hours for this and book a trip! read more

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Went is September, great experience, my friends who were in the tandem, had their kayak flipped, no biggie, made for a fun memory. The only thing I would say is that if you suffer from motion sickness, especially right after a windy ride, you might wanna do the kayak the next. Our guide was excellent. Really nice guy. Great experience read more

Craig, Daniel and Mark are absolute legends! My husband and I had the best day on the water with the team. I was a little nervous as I'm not a strong kayaker, but the guides communicated clearly and made us feel so safe on the water. The guys had a great sense of humor and were a lot of fun to be around. I'd wholeheartedly recommend a tour with Kayak Mendocino on your next trip. We'll definitely be coming again. read more

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We had a wonderful time. Such beautiful scenery. We saw lots of seals, so cute! It was very safe and very fun! Knowledgeable guides were always ready to answer questions. We will do this next time we visit the area! read more

Kayak Mendocino - View inside - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

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Great experience and a wonderful adventure along the coast. We saw so many different caves, and I was so pleasantly surprised. We saw hundreds of jelly fish, several sea stars, two sea lions, and many beautiful sights. The guides, Stu, Mark and a third guide were great. Lots of interesting facts and very easy going demeanors. I would highly recommend this tour. Also the equipment seemed clean and didn't smell at all. read more

Since Mendocino's allure is so tied to the rugged coast and wild sea, hopping in a kayak to appreciate it up close is the ultimate experience. Kayak Mendocino offers guided tours at set-times each day (check their website), right from Van Damme state beach. Super easy! We literally showed up 5 mins before tour time, and Craig set us up in a double-kayak, got us water shoes, and encouraged us to leave all our valuables and electronics in the car (sage advice, as we were soaked by the end). Kayaking is super easy and low-impact, so you've got nothing to fear if you're a beginner. Plus Craig will be giving you pointers all along the way in his endearing tough-love, no-nonsense kind of way. This guy knows the ocean like he was born in it. We paddled out along the coast, through rocky caves and along the bluffs. We saw some harbor seals popping their heads up, and one sunning on a rock. Craig pointed out some wildlife facts about birds and jellyfish, and explained the science of the tides. Our 90 minute tour was the perfect amount of time. We didn't cover a lot of "ground" but we saw things we'd never lay eyes on from the shore. It's a bit of a splurge for $60 per person, but for all the equipment and expert leadership, it pays off. Craig even took a photo of us at a perfect, picturesque stop and sent it to us, since we didn't have our phones or cameras with us. Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet (not from falling in, but from the back splash of the paddles), or you can borrow a wet suit from Craig. Such fun Mendocino memories! read more

Kayak Mendocino - Taking the 90 min guided tour - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

The idea of being on open water...on the ocean...in a tiny rocking kayak...really freaked me out. Skimming over the top of the surface, you can look straight down into dark, swirling kelp forests, and imagine all sorts of sea life just waiting to gobble you up. Once I got out a little further from shore, I started to feel more in tune with the currents and started to feel a little more comfortable with the idea that if my kayak flipped over, it wouldn't be the end of the world. The guide leading the group of kayakers was a bit of a stoner...actually, no it was clear he was jonesin' for cheetos while on the water...but very friendly, helpful, and really into eating the "rasta head" kelp that grows in those parts. By the time we went through our first sea cave, I my fears had more or less vanished and were replaced by the awe and wonderment I had for my surroundings. We got to "ride the chute," approach a colony of seals (ok that was sort of accidental), and experience the ocean in a strangely hypnotic way. The trip is short enough to where you're not completely spent, and long enough to where you feel as if you got your money's worth. The wet suits are disgusting, but I guess small price to pay for an overall amazing experience. read more

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Probably one of the best kayaking trips ever! We walked over from right across the street where we were camping at Van Damme State Park and got there super early to check-in. The bathrooms at the beach are SUPER nasty, so if you have a car, change in it. They provide wetsuits, windbreakers, booties, and lifejackets. To be honest, I felt uncomfortable slipping on the difficult/itchy suits but got over it. We went on a Saturday afternoon so our group was very large - I want to say 15-20 people - which was really the only downside. It was a mix of experienced and REALLY inexperienced kayakers, so oftentimes, we had to wait for laggers, or we had to figure out if we could actually take some more tumultuous route. The water was gorgeous and clear, the kelp forest bright and visible underneath us. It was thrilling paddling through the sea caves and canals, watching animals, crabs, and birds. The scenery of the cliffs, ocean waves, and caves were just amazing. The waves and wind that day gave it just the right amount of drama but I never felt unsafe or in danger. read more

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Spectacular ocean kayaking. Enjoyed by 9 year old through 75 year old, each on a double kayak with stronger and slightly experienced kayaker. Expert guide did great job of steering us (e.g. stay to left of under water rock and getting launched and safe return). read more

Mark and Tanay were great guides for our beautiful coastline cruise. Going out early is definitely the way to go. This is an excellent way to see the Northern California coast! read more

Mark was an excellent guide. I have kayaked the world, and this tour was well worth it. He zoned into our abilities and challenged us to allow an exploration of caves and incredible sea life beyond our expectations. I come up to Mendo often, and I can't believe I waited so long to do this. read more

Kayak Mendocino is awesome! I can't recommend it enough. Your kayaking adventure is not a leisurely ride on the ocean and then up a river. There are caves to explore and a few rapids. Our two guides were true pro's, kept safety first, and very calm. A couple of times people ended up in the water. Our guides stepped right in and got everyone in their kayaks and the adventure continued. I recommend wearing light clothings (wet suits if you have them) and water shoes or no shoes. You will get wet. The weather is usually brisk, but you warm up as you go. Don't forget your sunscreen! If you bring your phone, place it in a water proof case or a plastic bag. I wore biking gloves to save my hands. read more

We took our family for an afternoon kayak paddle with Kayak Mendocino Sea Cave Tours. Great experience! My kids are 18 and 21. My husband and I are not particularly athletic but we all had a great time. We met the group in the parking lot at Van Damme Beach near the town of Mendocino. Our tour was about 1 1/2 hours. Our guides were both friendly and I felt safe in the ocean under their direction. It was a beautiful afternoon (our tour started at 2:00), there was not much wind and the water was calm so we were able to visit several caves. Fantastic! We saw enormous jellyfish, and sea stars attached to the rocks in the caves. Our shoes and pants did get wet entering and exiting the kayaks but that was ok as we expected that. read more

Kayak Mendocino - Inside one of the sea caves. - Tours Near Me - Little River, California

I was very disappointed. Total lack of communication and customer service. I emailed Craig at least 3 times. Wanted to do the Sea Caves and see if my slightly handicapped husband would be able to go out. All his responses when I got one, was call me. But he NEVER answered the phone and NEVER called me back. We were camping right there, so we showed up at his rig to try and get the same questions answered. He was a snarly old man who was rude and obnoxious. Finally he did tell me it was too rough for the sea caves. I had no problem with that - wish he would have told me that was likely. I'm a diver so I totally get that. If I had known that I would have let the 7 in our party know so I could set the right expectations - especially for the kids. Not sure what his problem is - maybe he doesn't like handicapped people. Maybe he doesn't like parties of 7. Maybe he didn't want to show up on Sunday. We decided to find something else to do - a direct result of his rudeness and total lack of customer service. What a JERK! read more

Awesome!! Two-hour guided kayaking experience in the ocean and through caves. Easy and safe for families. Easy to call ahead and make a reservation and show up right on the beach. Great time! read more