I am so glad we did this and would do it again as there was probably more to see! My youngest was 4'8" (generally 5' recommended), but passed the pedal test when we let her try. If she did not we were planning to send her kayaking with dad. So glad we tried asking. We were on the water long before any kayakers headed out. We did run into mud and sea grass but as long as you paid attention to how to deal with it, it was within the average person/kids' ability to get out. Also easy to take photos/videos compared to kayaking! Pros-Easy to learn to handle, very stable, fast, kids love it, can explore harbor and slough. Cons-Low tide and sea grass limits where the bikes can go, but we found plenty of places to explore despite this. The only way to reserve is by calling the number. read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Stable enough to go hands free - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

See all

We've always driven by this place but I wasn't familiar hydrobikes were a thing until my fiancé booked for the two of us as a surprise. He booked through Groupon for half-price for 2 hours. Though, Marcus, the owner, later told us we could call in also to get better pricing. The parking is a bit confusing- make sure to park in the lot that is at the edge and doesn't have the restroom. You can take any spot but the ones marked for the club parking. To find the place, look for the hydrobike sign on the right side of the building behind the kayaks. There is a table with waivers beside the building where you can wait. We arrived when no one was there yet and ended up wandering around thinking we were in the wrong place. Before sending us off, Marcus greeted us, had us sign the waiver, and explained where to go and what to avoid. He then gave us lifejackets, had us meet at the dock in the other parking lot, and adjusted the seats to the hydrobikes before we went on our way. Some general things to note: avoid eel grass, stay 5 kayak lengths away from wildlife, and to make sure to not do anything that would warrant a rescue ($100 charge if you need it). I'm someone that isn't very comfortable with water and since the bikes are rather high up, I was paddling anxiously to get to the river while avoiding looking down at the marine life. After a while, I felt more comfortable, knowing I wouldn't accidentally fall into the water, and was able to see egg-yolk jelly fish and plenty of otters. My fiancé and I had a great time going around and enjoyed our experience. We did end up heading back a bit early because the seats got uncomfortable after a period of time. Otherwise, we plan on doing this again but with others in the future too. Tips: Wear comfortable clothing for the weather as it can get cold. Your shoes will get a bit wet so feel free to wear sandals/ flip-flops. I'd recommend binoculars so you can see the wildlife more easily. Bring a phone in case you do need to call for help. The bikes have a small storage compartment and cup holders if you need. read more

See all

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes was such a wonderful experience! I found this through a Groupon deal, which I purchased for myself and my family. We came here yesterday (Sunday Funday) for our family outing. I made an appointment for 1pm, and we got there 30mins prior to get orientated. Marcus was very friendly and helpful with the details about hydrobikes and the surroundings. We definitely got a great workout with paddling on the hydrobikes. We saw many seals and otters. We even saw a baby otter with her mommy otter. Soo freakin cute! I did get some sea grass stuff on my hydrobike so I had to peel that stuff off which got really stuck on there. I would definitely do this again, and Marcus mentioned that they have good deals so next time I'll book with the directly instead. read more

My husband and I were gifted hydrobike tickets for our honeymoon and we were NOT disappointed! Marcus was very friendly and easy to set up our time with, and you can tell he really loves what he does! The entire experience was a blast and we loved seeing the wildlife while getting our exercise in at the same time! We'll definitely be recommending this to anyone we know visiting the area. read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Excellent experience. I took my two children and niece (all under 12) and we had a fabulous time. The hydrobikes are extremely stable and safe and the business owner is helpful with great tips for a wonderful time. We biked and saw jellyfish, otters, harbor seals, and many different birds. Highly recommend this experience even with children as it is similar to riding a bike. read more

See all

Amazing experience! The experience was unforgettable especially seeing so many ocean animals up close! The business owner was incredibly friendly and gave us detailed explanations before we headed out for the experience. The whole experience was fantastic and we will definitely recommend it to more friends! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Sea otter - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

See all

I always wanted to try this place and since there was a Groupon for it, we bought it at $60 for 2 people for 2 hours. Give yourself enough time before arriving for your orientation because parking can be a little confusing. You do have to pay unfortunately. It's an honor system where you put money in an envelope and drop it into a box. Marcus was really nice in explaining everything you need to know, from the wildlife you will see, what areas to go to/avoid, how to get yourself unstuck... which did happen to me so that information was very helpful. 2 hours is ample time to explore and observe. After an hour, your butt does start to get sore and it gets a little uncomfortable. My bottom hurted for about 3 days after biking. Everyone was wearing masks and the bikes were being sanitized so I felt very safe and had no worries. Going at 11am is the best option in my opinion. Don't worry if it's overcast. It's actually the best weather because you won't be sweating and dying under the sun. Overall, this was a great experience! You can go to Moss State Beach afterwards for a picnic also! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

See all

This is my second visit with them and they are always thoughtful and helpful in guiding our biking trail around the area. We saw a lot of seals, beavers and jellyfish in the water. No fish but maybe next time! read more

See all

Came with my family as a group of 6 to celebrate a couple of birthdays. As a Bay Area local, it can be hard to find fun new activities, and I can genuinely say this is the best activity I've done in a long time! Saw a bunch of otters and harbor seals - many more seals than when kayaking in Marin or canoeing in Mendocino. One even came up and swam 6 ft behind my dad's hydrobike for a bit! Marcus was extremely knowledgeable and I'm surprised this activity isn't more well known - truly a gem that I'll be recommending to friends (local and out of town) from here on out. Will definitely be back! Other notes: - The peddling was very relaxed / easy - far easier than being on a kayak, and no risk of getting wet! - 2 hours on the water was the perfect amount of time. - I also appreciated how reasonably priced this was - such a steal compared to other Bay Area activities. - The bikes were also really clean which was great. read more

See all

Super fun! We had some friends that tried this a couple of years ago and said they had lots of fun, so when family came to visit I booked our group of four. The hydrobikes are suprisingly very stable. I have a bum knee and was a bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the pedaling (especially if we were going against the wind or tide). But it was actually very relaxing and I had no problems during the time we were on the water. We saw lots of sea otters, harbor seals, birds, jelly fish, and even a sting ray in the Slough. We swung by the north harbor on the way back to the dock to see all of the sea lions. Be sure to arrive 30 min before your reservation time for parking (aim for the south harbor pay-for-parking lot), check in, and orientation. read more

The hydrobikes are really stable. My wife and can't swim so she was wary about getting on the hydrobikes. 5 minutes in, however, she ways racing ahead of me and I had to keep up. The on-line reservation and check-in process were a breeze, and staff (Marcus and a lady) were really helpful and friendly. We saw a lot of wildlife on Elkhorn Slough. It was a great work out, and we stayed dry. read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

MB Hydrobikes was so much fun! We booked for 2 people at 8am. We basically had the slough to ourselves! If you're going on the weekend, I highly recommend booking the earlier ride. Our ride ended at 10am & there were dozens of kayakers heading out at that time. You definitely get to see a lot more of the wildlife up the slough before the crowd shows up. 2 hours was plenty of time for us to ride up the slough, and back while also taking time to enjoy the otters! The owners were also super super nice & did a great job at explaining the do's & do nots. Glad we found this place! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Elkhorn slough - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

We had the best time riding around on the Hydrobikes. There were four of us and all of us enjoyed this experience immensely. Marcus was so nice and accommodating. He gave us very clear instructions and was very friendly. The bikes are very stable and easy to peddle. We saw seals, sea lions, and lots of birds. I highly recommend this activity, it was a day of building beautiful memories. Thank you Marcus, we will see you again. read more

This was an amazing experience. Marcus was really informative on where to go and what parts to avoid so you don't get trapped in sea grad. Otters and jellyfish would appear right next to you in the water. It was truly a one of a kind experience. Will definitely come back! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Hydrobike - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

My wife had a shoulder injury, so kayaking was out. We tried the hydrobikes and were amazed at how easy it was to pedal and make headway, even coming back against the wind and tides. The bikes were really stable, came with cup holders for water, a storage bin for extra gear, and an oar in case you goofed and ran aground. The person who got us set up gave us a great overview, good info on where to go (and not go, watch out for eel grass!), and the importance of maintaining distance from the wildlife. We never had to pedal like crazy, just a leisurely pace. Saw lots of otters, seals, birds. We will be back, with friends. read more

This is a must experience. It's like an elliptical over water lol. I absolutely love enjoying a day with family enjoying beautiful nature. We arrived at 9am and it was crisp but sunny. Soon we were burning those calories and getting hot. Fortunately the waterbikes have a little storage place to put your hoodie, phone, drinks, or snacks. This experience was very relaxing and a great time to be outdoors, have good conversation and enjoy the seals, jellyfish, birds, and otters. We plan on returning with friends. Yes, we loved it that much. read more

See all

I stumbled upon this in perfect timing. This was perfect for a date and also perfect for bonding with my little cousin. I've gone 2 weeks in a row so far. The best part is seeing the otters!! there are soo many and they are sooo cute! my boyfriend really enjoyed this and so did my cousin. I cannot wait to do this again and again with everyone! Everyone sees this on my Instagram and wants to go. I'm telling everyone about this. Marcus is the host and he is a really nice guy. Looking forward to being a regular customer :) read more

See all

Super fun and safe activity for the whole family! I highly recommend and we will definitely be going back. read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Lemur begin with full disclosure: I am almost 82. This was fabulous. Easy,, entertaining (especially the otters), safe, and dry! So much better than a kayak! read more

This was an incredible experience. My husband surprised me with a Groupon for the hydrobikes. Marc greeted us with a smile, a great overview of the experience, a map and description of the route and what we might see. The bikes were comfortable (nice gel seats) and very stable. There's a little compartment in front of the handlebars that I used for a small backpack with water and my jacket (layers are important!). The ride was so much fun - relaxing and low intensity exercise! The bike was easier to pedal (less resistance) than a regular bike. We peddled into Elkhorn Slough where we were greeted with raptors screeching overhead, seabirds nesting along the shoreline, seals, jellyfish, and lots of adorable otters with their babies. This experience allows you some quiet time in the slough with the wildlife and is an experience we will treasure forever! Returning the bikes was super easy too! The whole experience was relaxing and simple. The bikes could easily be used by people of all fitness levels and ages. We plan to go back in the next few weeks and look forward to what surprises await us! read more

I surprised the boyfriend last Saturday morning to a trip to Moss Landing for his birthday and we had an awesome fun time! We didn't know there was such a thing called hydrobikes. It's basically like riding a bike but on water and it's completely stable and wet-free! We met up with Mark and he instructed us on how to use the hydrobikes and where you can bike around. He was super friendly and helpful for our first time. He also reassured us that we won't get wet unless we intended to and you can't ever tip over as well. But the fearful side of me was still scared that I might tip over so I panicked a little when I first got on the bike. But after awhile you get use to it and I wasn't scared anymore lol. The hydrobikes came with binoculars, a card of different types of birds, space for your stuff in a box in front and two water bottle holders. There's quite a lot of wildlife around the area. We saw a lot of different kinds of birds, sea otters, and sea lions for the 2 hours we were there. Didn't get to see any jelly fish but there was a lot of them days before. We got close enough to see sea otters and sea lions which was so cool! The sea otters were so cute swimming around and floating on top of water! Overall, it's a super fun experience and I highly recommend giving it a try! It's pretty affordable and you can find deals on it on Groupon/Living Social. read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Hydrobike! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

We had an amazing time! We took a Friday off and booked the first time in the morning. We pretty much had the whole slough to ourselves and the wildlife. The water and the wind were both calm, it was perfect. The hydrobikes were very stable and we got a good workout. We didn't get wet at all and the bike seats had extra padding which was nice. We saw lots of birds, about 5-10 otters (they were playing, grooming, and eating breakfast), and lots of seals. We had an amazing time, thank you so much! read more

See all

A friend and I went recently for the first time, and it was awesome!! We chose to do the 2hr hydrobike rental, which was a perfect amount of time for us. The hydrobikes are very stable - it doesn't feel like you're going to tip over at all, even when putting your full weight on one side (when stepping on and off). We were given binoculars and a local wildlife handout, and were able to go as far as we wanted along the Elkhorn Slough (self-guided tour). We saw a lot of different kinds of birds, jellyfish, sea otters, and seals! It was a really great experience, and I will definitely do it again. *You can buy tickets on Groupon also. Just buy the tickets, then be sure to go to the company website and reserve your time slot directly through Monterey Bay Hydrobikes. read more

See all

I've kayaked here before, but since seeing others doing this, I thought the water bikes looked like fun so we got a Travelzoo voucher and did it last Friday. It was so much better then I even expected. I talked to Marcus on the phone beforehand and he assured me that we wouldn't get wet and it really was safe and stable enough to bring my camera. I got some incredible pictures of Mama Otters cuddling their babies on their chests and other wildlife. The bikes were easy to peddle. My butt is a bit sore from the seat (my fault for not standing enough), but otherwise felt very safe and comfortable. I can't wait to come back! read more

See all

My daughter surprised me with this amazing activity for my birthday. I had the time of my life! Marcus made us feel safe and gave us all the information needed to enjoy ourselves and the beautiful wildlife of the water. I could not have imagined a better birthday celebration spent with my kids on our perfect Hydrobikes! Thank you, Marcus, and staff. We'll definitely be back! read more

See all

We booked months in advance, drove 2 hours to get here and waited 15 minutes at the office. No one showed up so we called and they said they canceled for the day due to the weather and no one decided to call us to let us know. This was a birthday present for my husband so we are really disappointed. Btw it was a beautiful clear morning with no wind. read more

Highlight of our 3 day trip! Didn't know there would be so much marine life in Elkhorn Slough! -Easy to learn -Very stable, will not tip over. Can hold up to 200 lbs per side -Allows you to get pretty close to marine life and see them: pelicans, harbor seals, otters, birds -BE SURE TO allow yourself more than 1 hour to turn around and bike back to the dock. Biking against the current and wind is hard work! -Do not get close to the shallow areas! I got stuck and had to use the paddle to push myself out. Took a while and it isn't easy! -Legs may be sore the next day, great exercise. As others say, Mark the owner is wonderful. Full of joy and passion. He explains all you need to know and sets you up before the trip. Please support his business! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

See all

Unfortunately I have to write how ridiculous this experience has been. I had no idea it was such a hassle to give a company money but here we are.. I have attempted to schedule a time/day for the last 2-3 weeks with zero luck. I originally called and spoke with a very nice gentleman that said I was all good and we confirmed a time/date and pricing, I provided my credit card information and was told I would receive a receipt via email as soon as he ran the information. I never heard anything so I started to question what was going on so I called and spoke with I think the same person, and he said something along the lines of we need to wait till the new year and you are confirmed but we will run your credit card later.. okay? So I wait another week and call again and this time they can't find any reservation.. I gave them the information again and I was told this time I was good to go, great! Still haven't been charged yet or received a receipt so I was starting to get worried again. I eventually just sent a message through Yelp to a woman who is labeled as the owner and let them know of my situation and to inform me on whats going on.. She proceeds to tell my that I cannot be found in their system and that she would give me a call back tomorrow, which is today. I have not received a call back or a message in regards to this up to this point. While I understand things slip through the cracks.. this is getting a little absurd at this point. I do hope my credit card information isn't just laying around their office on a piece of paper.. This place looks great and has great reviews.. all I wanted to do was give you money! Why make it so difficult? read more

The owners are super enthusiastic and a pleasure to chat with. Orientation was great and informative. We suggest to go the earliest time slot available to avoid the crowd. We saw all the sea otters, seals, and keep your eyes peeled for the jellies! Would definitely recommend doing this activity. We had the best time! Thank you! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Kenny loved the seals! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

See all

Super fun!! A different experience than the kayaks and way less tiring. The customer service was great too!

Oh, my gosh. My husband and I enjoyed 2 wonderful hours "biking" on the Elkhorn Slough yesterday. We are in our 60's, and my husband is not a water person. The bikes are so stable, there's no worry about tipping, and they're super easy to pedal. There were so many otters, jellyfish, birds and harbor seals. We enjoyed every minute. Can't wait to go again when we have out of town visitors. Thanks for a great adventure! read more

See all

Highly recommend this service for any nature/exercise enthusiasts! The hydrobikes are sanitized before you are able to ride them, and the owners are very friendly (especially Marc!) and knowledgeable about the slough, especially the areas with the sea grass! The hydrobikes themselves are very sturdy as Marc demonstrated by swaying one while standing on one of the sides of the air filled floats which flanked the bike. He also showed us how to remove any sea grass which may get caught in the propeller; something which I did have to do on one occasion! Another amazing point is that the wildlife in the slough is pretty cool, with sea otters, sea lions, and all sorts of fowl darting around your bike at all times. Especially great for anyone who wishes to burn a few calories before lunch! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - View on hydrobike - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

See all

Such a wonderful time renting from Monterey Bay Hydrobikes. It was easy to book online, with clear instructions and directions. We arrived early so we can get some quick instruction (where to go, what to look out for, what to do if you get stuck, etc) and were on our way for 2 hours. Everyone was masked on land, and we watched them sanitize the bikes and life jackets before use. Felt completely safe and comfortable with the whole experience. Marcus and E were so sweet and friendly that it was definitely more of an experience more than just a rental. My legs are a little sore, but you go at your own pace. It took about 5 minutes to around to the bend under the road, and that's where we saw so many otters just swimming along (as well as other wildlife). Next time, we're peddling straight to get to the sea lions. It was such a nice daytrip out from San Jose. Already planning the next trip and looking forward to renting from Marcus again. read more

Who knew you can bike on water?! My girlfriend brought me here to celebrate my birthday. Oh man! It was something I never expected to be. It can get confusing to find the place where you can check in. When you park your car in the lot, look for a truck with a small trailer and table with a clipboard towards the corner of the lot. There, you'll find Marc, the owner. Marc will make you sign a waiver and tell you all about the hydrobikes, the tides, warnings, what to look out for, and all the things you can see and enjoy while riding the bikes. What I like about Marc is that he is professional, friendly, funny, and to top it off, he really knows his stuff. After the 30 minutes of orientation with Marc, he will provide you a life jacket that activates when it hits the water (according to Marc), and he will show the proper way to use the bikes and help you mount on it. After all that, you're off to enjoy your time. The hydrobike was easy to use and really stable. You can mount off the seat and stand on one side without having to topple over. It also has a compartment on the front of the bike that contains a binocular. It is also a nice place to stow your small personal items. During our two hour ride, we were able to see plenty of animals such as sea lions, birds, different kinds of jelly fish, and the cute little sea otters with their adorable pups. This activity was a really nice and unique way, not just to celebrate a special day, but to enjoy any kind of day. If you're looking for a different way to enjoy the water other than kayaking, hydrobike is something relaxing and unique that you should definitely try. read more

See all

I first heard of Monterey Bay Hyrdobikes from a girlfriend who went with her boyfriend. As she posted photos, I knew this was something I wanted to check out, so I signed up for a two hour rental through groupon. Growing up, sea otters were always my favorite exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and I wasn't going to miss a chance to see them up close and personal. To be honest, when I signed up, I thought I was just going to see one of 2, but they were everywhere. you to stay 5 kayaks away from them, but you'll end up seeing them much closer because they just pop up everywhere!! I even got toa chance to see a pup latched on to a mama otter. You'll see lions, birds of all sorts. Just an awesome experience. For those of you that are afraid of falling over, the bikes are extremely stable, they will not topple over and you also have a life vest, which you won't need. When you arrive 30 minutes before your appointment as requested, Mark goes over the how tos of the bike. There are two cup holders for you to bring your water bottle / coffee as well as a place for your belongings. Included in the bike were a set of binoculars and a bird watching guide. There's a restroom in the same lot as where you checkin. I'll definitely be back! read more

See all

This was my 5th time going out on the hydrobikes! Mark runs such an amazing operation that is so fun and gives you an amazing opportunity to experience the wildlife in a very cool way. This activity is great for anyone. Very educational was well as fun. You can tell that Mark loves what he does and he is a well of knowledge and good information. But most of all it is just such fun and great exercise. This makes a great gift too I'm already planning my next outing for June! I love this place!!! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

We had such a great time hydrobiking for our first time at Moss Landing a couple weekends ago. I had called months in advance to make the reservation and also find local places to camp. Marc was great and suggested Mt. Madonna, so my boyfriend and I loaded up his kids in my trailer and we "glamped" at the beautiful state park for the weekend, which was only about 30 minutes from the hydrobike location. The bikes are really simple to use and very stable. No need to even get wet unless you want to. There's a basket at the front for your personal belongings, and binoculars for the people who want to check out birds and other animals further off. Marc gave us instructions on the best places to go to see specific wildlife. A miscommunication error (on my end) meant we only got one hour (instead of two) on the bikes, but we still had a great time and made it pretty far before having to turn around. We saw lots of sea critters, including otters and huge jellyfish! Plus it was just a beautiful day to be on the slough. I would absolutely do this again. So glad I discovered it on TravelZoo (also saw it on Groupon!) There are beaches nearby, so if you don't get enough sun and water (and sand) here, it's only a couple minutes up the road! Really fun and easy outing for families, friends, or couples. I believe he said he currently has 7 bikes so you could have a fairly large group go out together. And it's not very far from home for us (only about 2 hours from Concord, with the camp site even closer than that!) It was a really awesome weekend getaway and I'm so glad we tried something different and new! read more

See all

The Hydrobike experience was so much fun!! I booked a Saturday 1:15pm, two hour ride. There is a table in the Moss Landing Harbor parking lot where you can checkin. They clean and sanitize the bikes after each use. Delighted to see an abundance of wildlife thru the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve. Spotted otters, seals, pelicans, and jellyfish. Two hours was over before I knew it! Make sure to make a reservation in advance because the bikes sells out. read more

Great outdoor and heat-escaping activity for this insane heat labor day weekend. It was fantastic experience being on the bike and checking out all the wildlife. And the wildlife identify card was a great bonus. Sanitization between each use. Marc and the lady are all very friendly and informative to give you the best experience. Looking forward to come back soon! read more

Monterey Bay Hydrobikes - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Moss Landing, California

See all

A great way to see the animals and explore the area. Easy to ride and very sturdy. Staff was very friendly and helpful.