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    Venture Quest Kayaking

    4.8 (134 reviews)

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    Stacie B.

    We LOVED our experience kayaking with Dave. We did the whale tour and got to follow a whale around the bay for almost the full duration of our tour. At one point it breached just about 10 yards in front of us and then swam right under our kayak. It was a fun intro to ocean kayaking using a rudder that we'd never used before. Dave was a great instructor and allowed us to guide our own trip much more than trips I've taken in the past. Dave also took our photos with the whale and sent them to us as amazing mementos. Overall a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone. We'll worth every penny.

    Theresa R.

    Found Venture Quest on Yelp & decided on a Sunday afternoon to go kayaking in the ocean. I was pretty nervous since I have only ever kayaked in a lake, but I decided to take the plunge and so glad I did. The location was easy to find and there was no wait to rent a kayak. They provide dry bags in case you want to bring a few personal items with you. I was provided instructions on how to paddle and where to go to see otters and other sea creature before being set out into the water. The rental is for 3 hours, I was out in the ocean for about 1.5 hours before I got fatigued. Overall it was a great & I will be back.

    Wharf
    Celine E.

    dave and remy were amazing guides for kayaking! i had the pleasure of going on my first kayak experience with venture quest kayaking. it was offered through my university for an affordable price and it was just what i needed to wrap up my final year. dave was my partner for this day and he instructed me how to properly row and use the ores. he also pointed out the different animals, specimens, and behaviors of the animals. we saw sea lions up close, touched bell shaped jellyfish, and floated over large schools of fish. it was definitely a wonderful experience and i would have happily do it again when i return to santa cruz!! venture quest is awesome and you shouldn't hesitate to book your experience with them (:

    Wallace B.

    This was by far the beat money I have spent!!!! Well worth every penny. Waters were calm when I went out in my solo kayak. Great views of the sea otters and sea lions.

    Great view of the boardwalk.
    Sarah C E.

    Great first time kayak experience! The guy that was working (didn't catch his name) was extremely helpful/friendly especially since my boyfriend & I were new to kayaking & I was very nervous. He offered us waterproof pants & jackets, life vests, a waterproof bag (for valuables we wanted to bring with us on the kayak), shelf space for where we could leave our bags, etc. He gave us very helpful tips, a brief lesson on how to paddle, showed us good areas to go, helped us get onto our kayaks safely, & he kept an eye out for when we would return so he could help us get off safely. He made sure we wouldn't fall which was a huge plus! We got the tandem kayak for $55 for up to 3 hours but you'll get tired way before those 3 hours are up! We were able to kayak among sea lions & spotted lots of dolphins swimming around. Once we got out to sea, it was very relaxing & we had a great view of the Boardwalk. Overall, great experience & I would go again. My only regrets were not being able to take pictures of the dolphins & not going farther out to sea!

    Kayaking with the Boardwalk as a backdrop
    Kenny Y.

    From start to finish, this is a great company. A group of 11 of us went out using the travelzoo/groupon deal for $29 a person... only 5 of the 11 actually had the deal but they were willing to match the rate for the remaining 6. Starting from the reservation process, it was quick, painless, and easy. Spoke to Dave over the phone and through e-mail, he answered all of our questions and sent us an introductory e-mail with what to bring, what to expect, and directions/parking. The day of, we arrived at 9:40 AM even though we were scheduled for 9:00 AM... the 3 people working in the office weren't fazed a bit by our tardiness. Parking is easiest on the wharf, although a bit more expensive. Before 10 AM is free, after 10 AM it's $1 per 20 minutes, with a maximum charge of $24. Some of us parked on the meters, some on the wharf, although more expensive, the convenience of parking right next to the kayaking office and then being able to walk to the restaurants on the wharf and to the boardwalk without worrying about feeding the meters was definitely a bonus. Once the entire group was there, they gave us a quick safety talk and quick guide on what to expect and where would be going, then we got fitted for the dry-suits and kayaks. Three different options for Kayaks... closed top single's or double's, or open top doubles. The open top double is definitely the widest and slowest... more paddling involved... but also is the most stable, least likely to tip over, and offers the most room. I took the open-top double as I had our French Bulldog with us... he had a blast. There was plenty of room for him to maneuver around and try to bully the seals that we saw later on. Note though that they have no life jackets for dogs, you have to bring your own. Another couple had a bigger dog that wouldn't fit in the kayak, the people at the sales office offered to watch her for us. 2-tour guides came along with us, one towards the front and the other towards the back. They were both kind, friendly, courteous, and both of them had a great sense of humor. They really added to our experience, showed us the different wildlife around, and even offered to help pull us along when the wind picked up or when some of us got stuck in the kelp forests. Overall the tour lasted about 2.5 hours for us. We saw lots of sea lions, birds, etc. We lucked out and had an absolute gorgeous day, it was around 70-75 degrees the entire day... most of us were able to kayak in our swim trunks/ swim suits. That being said, you will get wet like others said, even if you manage not to tip over. On a double, you're likely to splash each other, and when you head further out you start to hit some waves that splash up on you as well. I would definitely recommend Dave and his team at venture kayaks if you're in the area. It's best to go in the morning so you have the rest of the day to play. The views from the kayak are absolutely amazing. Give it a try!

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    Review Highlights - Venture Quest Kayaking

    He showed us where sea otters hang out, where they give birth, and about the regulations that protect them.

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    Eskape Sea Kayaking

    Eskape Sea Kayaking

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    I took my first lesson with Eskape Sea Kayaking (ESK) back in 1999. I was hooked and have been…read moreexpanding my kayaking skills ever since, mainly under the tutelage of the instructors of ESK. Roger, the owner, is not only a great teacher, he is an amazing coach. He keeps his class sizes small so that he can give each person individual attention. Both in receiving lessons and watching him teach others, it always impresses me how much Roger tunes into the nuances and needs of each person in the class. The staff ESK brings in to help with the classes always mirrors that style as well. Roger, Tom, Bryan, Gregg and the rest are some of the best paddlers on the West Coast. Whether you want to just learn the basics or go out and take on the big waves, this is the place to go.

    What Yoda is to The Force, Roger Schumann is to kayaking. If your future kayaking plans involve…read moreanything more then calm fair-weather kayaking on a pond, Roger's instruction will be invaluable. Roger will taylor classes to your skill level and comfort. We spent four consecutive days with Roger and left far more competent and safe than when we arrived. The classes are reasonably priced and you could not ask for a more beautiful location. We saw Sea Otters, dolphins and birds beyond count. We could not have been happier!!! http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33048-r317079943-Santa_Cruz_California.html#

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    Kayak Connection

    Kayak Connection

    4.4
    (119 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    We planned to kayak in the Harbor today, and we were planning to go to the Sup Shack, where we had…read morerented kayaks last summer. Sup Shack was unexpectedly closed (hours and webpage said they were open, the number listed didn't connect, and there was no note). The Hostess at Crow's Nest recommended Kayak Connection! It turned out to be a phenomenal experience! Milan (sp?) talked us through everything, made sure we all had well-fitted life vests, and the office recognized my step-daughter's 16th birthday with a free Santa Cruz sticker. It's true that the construction impedes the experience to an extent- Milan had to call the foreman to have us escorted through, but they did so promptly ensuring minimal disruption of our experience. We got assistance boarding, and we were especially impressed with Milan's patience with my step-daughter, who has Down Syndrome and needed some extra help. He was super patient and kind! We really appreciated that, unlike with Sup Shack, we were given "free rein" during our hour outing, except for needing to follow common sense safety rules. As soon as we were done, we called the number on the kayak paddles, and Milan was down in a jiffy to assist us back. We saw a seal, quite a few crab, many birds, and friendly boaters. We felt the price of $65 for an hour per double kayak (including life vests, paddles, the kayak, and assistance) was a very fair value. Highly recommend this exceptional and reliable business for your next outing!

    Kayak Connections in Santa Cruz was amazing. Reece and Anna were incredibly nice, helpful, and…read morewelcoming from start to finish. They explained everything clearly, were very informative about safety and the area, and made the whole rental process super easy and stress free. Their kindness and great attitude made the experience even better. I would definitely come back and highly recommend them!

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    Venture Quest Kayaking - rafting - Updated July 2026

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