This outfit and Elkhorn Slough did not disappoint! The set otters were plentiful, playful, and so cute. Getting in and out of the slough can be tough due to the current and wind. This was especially true since I was on double kayak and my partner had "issues". All the necessary gear is provided, along with a good amount of training. Getting cleaned up afterwards is a breeze as well. What is also great is that there is a good place to eat (Sea Harvest) in the same area. That restaurant is at the mouth of the slough which gives you the ability to see fellow kayakers coming and going. read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Elkhorn Slough - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Our kayak tour guide Nicholas was incredible! He knew all the fun facts about the slough, and did a great job taking the time to make sure all the kayakers were well taken care of. We saw many, many animals and interesting flora. Well worth the money! read more

We had a super easy rental experience as a walk in midweek in March. My family of four had a great time in two double kayaks. We saw otters, seals, sea lions, and tons of different sea birds in Elkhorn Slough. Minimum age to go out is five. read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

We came here mid-morning on Saturday and it was absolutely packed! We were still able to find parking though. There were so many smiling faces and people excited to be getting their kayaks. There were lots of employees and everyone was very friendly. We actually stopped here because we had rescued a sick/njured bird on the beach and the wildlife rehabilitation specialist we were talking to told us we should bring the bird to this location. The gentleman in the office/shop was very nice and took the bird from me. He said they had special boxes for injured wildlife and he would transport the bird into the box and contact the rehabilitation location and give them further information so they could pick up the bird and help it out. I would definitely come back here again and do a rental because the staff had great service. read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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Guided tours are absolutely the move if you're a first timer to the area. The guides know their stuff in terms of tides, habitats, animals, and random facts about the slough. It was pretty educational and interesting. Parking can be a rough $15 (was not expecting that). They provide a lot of free gear alongside the lifejacket, such as a wetsuit, water resistant pants and jackets, changing stalls, and my favorite, the foot washing machine. However, if you've been here before and are taking others for a visit, in this case me taking my wife, I recommend reserving your own kayak and touring it by yourself. The tour was a bit limiting in terms of where we wanted to go, as some places we didn't get to paddle to due to other tours being in said spot. The slough really isn't that big, and it's much more enjoyable to look around at your own pace than go with a group. read more

MAGNIFICENT EXPERIENCE! We walked in when they opened and were able to rent kayaks readily. The employees were ultra helpful in getting us set up and registered and suited and trained to go out on our own. The tours we heard sounded great for people wanting more info on the area and wildlife, but we explored on our own. The four hours is ample time; we were tuckered out after 2.5 hours. We rented both a single and a double (for our 9 y.o.), and both were well appointed. The location cannot be beat with sooo many otters and harbor seals. Even though you try to keep distance, they are swimming everywhere so you get an exceptional experience. There weren't too many others on the water either, so the whole thing was absolutely magical! read more

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Excellent place to see a lot of marine life - otters, seals, and lots of birds. We rented kayaks (no tour), and paddled through Elkhorn Slough for about 2 hours. It was very quiet and the water was pretty peaceful. Excellent weather and great conditions on the day we went. Plenty of otters popped up super close and we had to backpedal to give them some space (so they are not shy at all). The wind did start to pick up as we were heading back to Moss Landing, so definitely save some stamina for the way back (wind blows into the Slough so you'll be paddling against it on the way back). Definitely recommend coming here! Staff was super friendly and helpful during check-in and return, they provided life vests, splash jackets and pants (and wetsuits if needed), so no need to worry about getting wet in your regular clothes. They have restrooms, changing stalls, and plastic bins to store personal items that you don't want to take with you (and they offer to hold keys or valuables as well). Our staff member also still gave us basic kayak safety and paddling walkthrough on the beach area, even though we had kayaked before, which we appreciated. I would recommend water shoes and shorter pants as you do have to wade into the water a bit to get the kayak into water to get in. They also show you a map of the Slough, but there's only one way in and out, so very easy! Parking is only free if you manage to get a spot along the fence of their area, the rest is all pier parking, so you either pay by cash into a drop box (honor system) or we were told there's an electronic pay station further down, but we didn't see it. We just dropped cash into the box and called the extra change a donation. read more

Awesome employees! Informative and helpful. Perfect day of decompressing in Monterey at Elkhorn Slough with the otters and harbor seals. 5 ***** operation. Highly recommend this location and experience! read more

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Great place to rent kayaks and explore the slough. Lots of otters and deals that look like giant slugs sunbathing on the beach. read more

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Took a guided kayak trip here in August 2025, and it was a fantastic experience. Aleksis took four of us (small group!) over to the Elkhorn Slough, and we spent two hours paddling around. We saw more seals and otters than I can count, closer than I've ever seen them outside of an aquarium! Aleksis kept a comfortable pace and was very familiar with the area and the wildlife, I highly recommend going out with him. Also the man at the counter (didn't catch his name) was very helpful when we first phoned in to make a reservation he looked up the weather forecasts to help us decide when to go. Fantastic place and all the staff were super friendly, this was my favorite kayaking trip ever. Easy recommendation if you want to get out on the water. read more

I cannot recommend this company and the experience enough. I've been kayaking in the Elkhorn Slough twice. Guaranteed otter and likely seal sightings. And so many birds! As long as you are respectful and calm, it is quite magical. Would recommend going earlier in the day. I also used the water resistant pants the first time and did not the second -- I had a better experience without, personally, as the pants were too constricting and warm. Either way, your feet and legs will certainly get wet. read more

this is one of the best kayaking experiences in northern California :') Moss Landing has less boats and people and that means that there's much more wildlife to see as opposed to somewhere like Monterey. We saw over 20 sea otters, 100s of birds, and a couple seals popped up to say hello during our for four hour trip! The route itself is about 1 1/2 miles one way, and we went in September, meaning, the weather was perfect. There wasn't much wind and current, which is perfect for a beginner kayakers and overall it was an amazing trip! I definitely want to come back here and bring all of my friends :) The total cost came out to $48 per person in a single Kayak . read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Memorial Day 2023 Overcast, little windy but calm and peaceful waters in morning. Arrived 10am, signed waiver & paid for doubles open top kayak, changed (life jacket, wetsuit, waterproof pants/jacket are available with rental), had how to orientation on paddling basics, what to do if capsized, rules in sanctuary, and then off we go! Saw a good number of sea otters resting in eelgrass, some individual otters swimming, a lot of seals sleeping on shore, bunch of pelicans roosting, seagulls. No jellyfish like another reviewer mentioned. Spent about 2hr 15 min round trip. Waves got choppier on way back, definitely recommend to go earlier and return before 1-2pm. read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - 2x zoom (seals) - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

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loved the experience! we did the 11 am. "1.5h Elkhorn Slough Guided Tour" and our guide was John. everything went smooth from the first minute to the last! to start off, there were wetsuits, pants, and jackets available for free, which was very nice. at all the other kayaking places I've been, I've only ever been offered the life jacket, and that's all, but Monterey Nay Kayaks went beyond the requirements and also offered something for our comfort. I get cold very easily, and the wetsuits were just perfect. we saw about 30 otters total, 2 seals in the water, and more on the beach, lots of pelicans, and other small birds. our dream to see otters came true! John was also very knowledgeable and attentive. Good luck to him with his future studies!! We will be coming back :) read more

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Marlie is the greatest! She was my basic kayak skills instructor today. First of all, if you have to spend 2 hours with a stranger, you won't find one more fun and easy to be with! Her skills are amazing, and she's very good at explaining first, then demonstrating a skill, before having you try it on. I felt so supported and cared for! I'll return for advanced classes and I will ask for her! If you want to take a tour, you will not find a better guide, and Monterey Bay Kayaks does an incredible job of making sure customers understand how important it is to protect wildlife in the sanctuary. Book a tour or a class - of you get Marlie, that's one big bonus! Five stars. Also, their shops carry excellent gear for your water adventures! read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Trainer and student in kayaks near the wharf in Monterey. - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

What an amazing tour! Our guide, Josh, was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. He answered all of our questions and we saw 10-12 whales! Amazing experience! read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Humpback Whale - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Thank you to Brandon for being the perfect tour guide! My husband and I had never kayaked before and he was an excellent coach and cheerleader. Coincidentally, we were the only ones on our particular tour. He taught us a ton about everything we saw. We had a lot of fun and saw so many otters, harbor seals, and birds. It was a beautiful experienced made better by how well Monterey Bay Kayaks had everything set up. They gave us pants, jackets, and life jackets so we stayed comfortable the entire time. It was an amazing day! read more

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I highly recommend this outdoor activity. It will bring the weekend warrior out of you! I took my boys on a kayaking tour this past weekend, when it was blazing 100 degrees in the Bay Area. The temperature was a 15 degrees cooler and the air is always fresh by the ocean. My boys are the ages of 7 to 14 years old so this was perfect for them to burn off their energy, explore, learn a new skill, and also learn about marine life. There was an abundant amount of sea life to sea! You are required to stay a distance of at least 10 feet from the animals, but that is close enough to smell them. And even hear the sea others crunch through a crab. I'll probably be back with my boys for another trip on a different route. Also, this place takes precautions regarding the COVID-19. All equipment is wiped down and everyone wears a mask at all times. read more

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This is a must do activity if you're in the Monterey Bay - Santa Cruz region. We've gone a couple of times and most recently (early August) had by far the most abundant amount of wildlife. As soon as we were near Sea Harvest (restaurant with pier) we noticed dozens of jellyfish peacefully drifting by. Once we were under and pass the freeway, you're greeted by young otters wrestling in the water. Carefree and enjoying life! Nothing is as exciting as paddling around and having this curious otter pop out from the ocean. Please keep your distance! As you go deeper into the slough, more and more sea life is seen. Dozens of harbor seals. And more otters! Around 2.5 hours on the water. We paddled 4 miles total, and had tons of time just floating and watching the animals. 10/10, highly recommend! read more

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We come here once a month and have an absolute blast. The staff is friendly and extremely knowledgeable and the prices are not inflated like other shops. You can choose to rude tandem with a buddy or single and all the clothing and gear to use like jackets, wet pants or wet suits is complimentary during your visit. Note for newbies: bring water shoes as you will need to go knee deep upon entry into water. Parking lot has fee separate to shops and businesses in the marina. Be mindful of the tides... you will get a real workout if you don't pay attention to low and high tide.. we enjoy going against the current heading in and riding with the current heading back read more

This is a place to rent kayaks if you're heading into the Elkhorn Slough. The staff does an excellent job of preparing you for your kayak trip. They provide everything you need to make it a special adventure. I would recommend buying a waterproof pouch for your cell phone and tie it off on you. They do have waterproof pouches for sale, but if you have one, definitely bring it. Last week, according to one staff member, five cell phones were dropped and lost into the slough of no return. read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Bird Life at Elkorn Slough. - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Had a fantastic time here, went out on my partners Birthday Trip and the views and wild life were fantastic. Our trip guide LB was super knowledgeable and friendly, absolutely made the trip for us and if we come again we will be making sure we go out with LB read more

We just got back from an awesome Elkhorn Slough kayak tour with MBK and could not recommend more. Our guide McKenna was awesome, she paddled around with my 7 year old and kept him engaged, and had answers for every question! First time doing this after several visits and will definitely do again - maybe the Monterey Bay tour or the nighttime bioluminescence tour! read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Went Kayaking in Elkhorn Slough. The workers were friendly and informed us about the conditions and where to go. The price was super reasonable for up to 4 hours. We saw a ton of otters and sea lions during our Kayak. The only down side is the parking lot requires you to pay for a minimum of 12 hours. Overall we had a great time! read more

We recently had friends in town, and wanted to take them kayaking in Elkhorn Slough. We personally owned two kayaks, so we needed to rent two more for our friends. Monterey Bay Kayaks was awesome. We went to the one in Moss Landing and they outfitted our friends with kayaks, paddles, appropriate weather gear, and gave them a safety training. They felt very comfortable on the water and had a really great time. We will definitely use them again for future trips when we need extra kayaks. They offer both single and double kayaks. You will need to bring $12 in cash however, to pay for parking there at the marina. There is a small dispenser with envelopes and tabs just outside the restrooms. read more

This was a great experienc. Our guide Josh was so knowledgeable about the wildlife, other boats and everything we were seeing. He was so helpful getting us through the kayaking experience and made it a fantastick time. I will definitely be back and request him as our guide again. read more

Brandon was amazing and gave us such a precious tour of the slough. He took really good care of my family visiting from France while giving us many facts about the marine biology thanks to his knowledge. I also love that he knew how to navigate the slough while not disturbing the wildlife. 10/10!! read more

We did a guided kayaking tour and the time went by so fast! It's a tandem kayak and the guide would teach you how to kayak prior to the tour, so this is very beginner-friendly. Lots of stopping points to look at whatever you may be interested in. Lots of otters in general! Highly recommended taking their optional wet suit. You may get more wet than you think! read more

This place was so cool. The guys who work there are all so sweet and chill. They're super friendly, will hook you up with some cool gear and not make you feel rushed. We got on the water at 9 am, led by the amazing Nathan. He was SO knowledgeable about the wildlife as well as the history of the area we were kayaking in. His knowledge was fueled with passion and kindness. I couldn't have imagined a better tour guide!! We saw tons of otters, seals (one followed right behind us for part of the tour ), and local birds like the brown pelican. They were stunning. read more

Grab your cap, watershoes, sunscreen, and some snacks, bring your buddy and be prepared to lose yourself in awe of marine magnificence. The Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing is home plentiful populations of diverse species. We debated between MBK's two locations - here at the Elkhorn Slough and Monterey Bay near Cannery row. I cannot emphasize how glad I am that we opted for Moss Landing. I have never seen so many otters in my life!!! Truly a dream come true for me to have this experience and see momma and baby otters cruising along. Just wow! $30/per person for an all day double kayak rental including wetsuit, jacket, and life vest - felt like a steal! Kayaking along the slough was serene. It was surprisingly quiet despite there being plenty of others out on the water. Once you paddle a ways in, the sounds of the world disappear. It's only the sounds of the wind, the water, and its natural inhabitants. I cannot believe I haven't heard more people talk about this. read more

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I had the best time out kayaking in the slough. Luckily, I went on a calm day and there were a lot of otters out. Unfortunately, I had a rocky start. It was my first time kayaking and I definitely needed more help and instruction on paddling. The worker who set me up answered all my questions but once I got in the kayak she was gone! I looked back to ask for more assistance but she had left. I wish they had been more hands on. It might just be this location, bc when I went paddle boarding at the Monterey location the worker there was very helpful and stayed out with my group until we were well into the water. Despite the inattentive instruction..I had a great day and would kayak at this location again! It's too beautiful. read more

Of course I always think carefully when writing a less than stellar review. And the only reason for the three stars is the otters and wildlife, which technically of course deserves a 5 star rating because this spot to kayak is outstanding for its' natural beauty!! The three star rating is due to the lack of customer service. They have it all set up for Covid safety, of course, and I do give them credit for that set up. The problems we encountered with the customer service came after we entered the tent and were given our gear. The cost of the rental includes water pants and a jacket, and a life jacket. We were given our pants and jacket but not the life jacket. A girl told us to go wait, but didn't tell us where, for the other employee to come back and get us going. She informed us that another party was ahead of us and at the shore. So, we waited...and waited...and waited...oh and had to ask for the life jacket. Meanwhile, a tour group was getting ready also and they had a guide. We waited, and waited. The big party ahead of us could be clearly seen and heard (they had kids with them) kayaking away. We waited some more. My sister went into the tent to ask if we were waiting in the right spot. I went in to ask if we were waiting in the right spot. The guide gettting the group ready apologized and thanked us for waiting. An employee walked right by us and didn't say a word to us despite the fact we were clearly standing there WAITING. Next thing we know, two more groups come out and we are finally given directions. Everyone grabs their paddles before us, even though we had been waiting. Did I mention that we had to wait? Next we make to the shore, and the other people renting kayaks, who had NOT been waiting. The girl proceeds to make sure and give all the other people their kayaks FIRST. Like WTF, we had clearly been standing outside waiting. No one was rude, but we should not have had to just stand outside waiting and being ignored. Once again the nice guide apologized to us at the docking area and said,"Sorry you had to wait, sometimes when it is busy people get forgotten." Like, what? A little more organization and communication from their people and I doubt we would have had to wait. The actual kayak trip was awesome, we saw otters, sea lions, harbor seals, pelicans and loads of bait fish jumping around. If you come here be patient and prepared to WAIT. read more

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Probably the best activity that you can do during this global pandemic. The fresh air, the calm, the otters. For a second there, I forgot current world issues. It's quite meditative to just keep paddling, nothing but the sound of the water cleansing the noise in your head. We went in the morning and we didn't have to deal with the heat or sunburn and no strong currents. They provide life jackets and other protective clothing which was very useful because I didn't have a windbreaker. The staff of Monterey Bay Kayaks were also very friendly, we just wish that the parking instructions were more clear. Overall, will definitely return! Tips: If it's not customer parking you have to pay the dock fee of $10 so make sure you pay attention to the signs. Also, fill out the waiver form online in advance if you wanna go super early and avoid any delays. read more

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This place is it. Wonderful! We did a guided kayak tour through the Slough, and our guides Danny and Carlton were the most knowledgeable, competent, patient, and pleasant people. We got to see everything! There were otters everywhere, and even while keeping a safe distance we got such great opportunities for viewing! If you're in Monterey, this is the one thing that will make your time here feel unique and memorable. read more

Monterey Bay Kayaks - Harbor seals hauled out to rest. - Tours Near Me - Moss Landing, California

Rented kayak for Elkhorn Slough. It was great--including wet suits/life jackets rental. It is not super cheap but worth it. We saw many sea otters and sea lions. Ocean part was a bit wavy but Elkhorn Slough part was calm and nice. Recommended. read more

Brandon our guide was awesome. We saw plenty of see otters and marine wildlife. The kayaks are very easy to control and previous experience is not needed. We will definitely return. read more

The scenery was great but one of the tour guides is incredibly rude and condescending and ruined me and my friend's day. We got close to some birds and noticed a few seals nearby and while we were turning around, she yelled aggressively at us from her kayak and was being very condescending. Given that me and my friend both work in marine conservation, we were in no way threatening the animals or intentionally paddling towards them and it just honestly killed the vibe the rest of the time. We were very obviously turning around as soon as we noticed. The rest of the staff was great but then when I walked back into the office to use the bathroom, I overheard her complaining about me to the rest of the staff, and was pointing me out as I walked in. It's just super unprofessional and I don't think I'll be returning to this location. It's supposed to be a peaceful activity and I don't know why she was so rude or if she was in a bad mood or something. read more

Had a great time on the slough with our guide Janice. It was super chill and fun, we learnt so much - will definitely be coming back!

Kayaking with sea otters was probably the highlight of our trip to Monterey! Monterey Bay Kayaks is located right off of Highway 1, and is situated between many beautiful landmarks. The staff on site was extremely friendly and prepped/geared us well for the waters! We were given clear instructions before heading out with our kayak, and were provided with wetsuits to keep us warm. We literally saw so many sea otters and seals as soon as we got into the water. The weather was extremely beautiful, and the experience literally couldn't have been more perfect. The price for renting the kayaks ranges from $30-60, depending on whether or not you want to share a kayak. Personally, I'd recommend sharing one with a friend or family member as kayaking can be quite tiring! Tips - 1. Bring sunscreen since it will not be provided. 2. Bring a change of clothes in case you need it. read more

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Look it's renting a kayak so the dynamic range of possible experiences isn't that wide, but the boats floated and the staff were nice enough. For some reason about 6 teenage boys were working in the main office and screaming with laughter about a YouTube video, and there's a 500 page waiver on a steam powered iPad which freezes every 10 seconds but otherwise unremarkable and you can go see some sea otters which is fun. read more