Kayaking tour through Seven Sea Caves in La Jolla, San Diego with Everyday California.

A large group of around 15 kayakers in the ocean, in front of the entrance of the Seven Sea Caves in La Jolla.

Two people kayaking in and out of the San Diego Sea Caves in La Jolla San Diego on a Sea Cave Kayak Tour

Five groups of kayakers paddling into one of the Seven Sea Caves in La Jolla with the company Everyday California.

Aerial photograph of a group of 11 kayakers in the ocean in La Jolla Shores, surrounded by Leopard Sharks on a Kayaking Tour with Everyday California.

People on a Sea Cave Kayak Tour in La Jolla with Everyday California. They are sitting on a kayak in the ocean, as three dolphins swim nearby.

Two kayakers on a Sea Cave Kayak Tour with Everyday California, being pushed over the top of a small wave by a tour guide. They are laughing and having fun.

Bird's eye view of a whale in San Diego, California breaching above the water. Can be seen on Everyday California Whale Watching Kayaking Tours

A group of 3 kayakers on a kayak tour with Everyday California in the ocean at La Jolla Ecological Reserve, obersving a piece of kelp

Two kayakers on a Sea Cave Kayak Tour with Everyday California, sitting in a kayak in the ocean in La Jolla right in front of the entrance to one of the Seven Sea Caves.

Two kayakers on a Sea Cave Kayak Tour being led out of a Sea Cave by their tour guide from Everyday California from above.

A group of 4 kayakers laughing and enjoying their Sea Cave Kayak Tour in La Jolla with Everyday California.

The nose of a kayak inside of one of the sea caves in La Jolla. The kayaker is on a tour of the Seven Sea Caves in La Jolla with Everyday California.

A group of 4 kayakers sitting on their kayaks inside of one of the Seven Sea Caves, learning about the history of La Jolla from their Everyday California tour guide who sits nearby in the water.

Two kayakers on a Kayaking Tour with Everyday California, paddling their kayak in front of the entrance of a sea cave in La Jolla.

A group of California Sea Lions sunbathing on a rock off the coast of La Jolla - a common sight you see during a Sea Cave Kayak Tour with Everyday California.

La Jolla Kayaking Tours

Name: La Jolla Kayaking Tours
Brand: Everyday California Adventures
Rating: 4.6 (12607 reviews)

Content:

60000+ Happy Visitors

All Major Credit Cards Accepted

Tripadvisor Rating

1600+ reviews

La Jolla Kayaking Tours

Never been kayaking? No problem!

One of our experienced Everyday California tour guides will take you on an unforgettable tour of La Jolla Ecological Reserve, a Marine Protected Area that’s home to a thriving underwater ecosystem that boasts one of the highest concentrations of sea-life in all of California! Kayak through the underwater park to experience the La Jolla Sea Caves, one of San Diego’s coolest attractions. Seasons change, but we’re always running: throughout the summer months you’ll have a chance to see one of the biggest Leopard Shark gatherings in the world, and in the winter witness Gray Whales on their annual migration from Alaska to Baja California.

Everyday California tours are suitable for almost everyone 5 years and older. No experience is needed to enjoy a La Jolla kayak tour; our guides will have you paddling around in no time. Kayak tours that involve snorkeling require a beginner level of competency in swimming. No matter which way you choose to join us, you’ll create an unforgettable lifetime experience kayaking La Jolla Shores!

Here are some additional details about our La Jolla kayaking tours:

Our tour guides are not only experienced kayakers but also knowledgeable about the local ecosystem. They will provide fun facts and information throughout the tour, making it both fun and educational for adults and children.
We offer both single and tandem kayak options, so you can choose to paddle solo or with a partner.
Safety is our top priority. Our kayaks are regularly inspected and our guides are trained in water safety, first aid, and CPR.
We provide all the necessary gear for your tour, including life jackets, paddles, and wetsuits are available to rent if needed.
Our tours last approximately 1.5 hours, giving you plenty of time to explore the sea caves and spot various marine animals.
Tours and rentals run year-round and are dependent on weather and sea conditions.
Private tours and group rates are available for those looking to customize their kayaking experience or plan a special event.

La Jolla Cove Sea Cave Kayak Tour

Explore the Seven Sea Caves and paddle through the La Jolla Ecological Reserve on a kayaking adventure. You’ll have the chance to see the beauty of La Jolla and the seven sea caves, watch sea lions sunbathing on the rocks, leopard sharks skimming above the sandy surface, and see our California State fish, the bright orange Garibaldi, swimming under your kayak in La Jolla Cove. On the way back you’ll have the opportunity to surf your kayak back to shore.

Throughout the tour, your guides will be making sure you’re safe and having fun. No experience is required, and safety is our primary concern. Entry into the cave depends upon the ocean and weather conditions, but it is just one small part of this amazing tour. Either way, you'll feel safe have the ability to enjoy and learn about the natural beauty of La Jolla Cove!

If conditions are safe we will help guide your kayak into Emerald Cave. If it's not safe to enter Emerald Cave we will still paddle out & explore La Jolla's World Famous Marine Reserve. Note: If conditions are unsafe, we will not enter Emerald Cave for your safety and the safety of our staff.

When: Everyday

Duration: 90 Minutes

Start Times: Throughout the Day

Meeting Place: Everyday California Shop. 2261 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Price: Starting at $64

Group Size: 20 Person Max

Ages: 5+ for a tandem kayak (with an adult), 15+ for a single kayak

Weight Limit: 300lbs for a Single Kayak, 425lbs for a Double Kayak

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La Jolla Cove Kayak & Snorkel Tour

The La Jolla Ecological Reserve is one of California’s premier snorkeling locations, and our Kayak & Snorkel Tour is an awesome way to see the marine life living in La Jolla. This tour is one of our favorites, so expect an experienced guide to give you a chance to swim with La Jolla’s best: sea lions, Garibaldi, bat rays, shovel nose guitar fish, even dolphins and sea turtles if you’re lucky!

You’ll kayak out into the reserve with your guides, who will lead the group to the best snorkeling spot on that day. One of your guides will drop anchor, secure your kayaks, and lead you snorkeling in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, pointing out the marine life as you go. Guests must have a basic swimming ability, but no previous snorkeling experience is required.

This tour does not enter into any of the sea caves on the Kayak and Snorkel Tour. If interested in going into the sea caves, please book our La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tour.

When: Everyday

Duration: 2 Hours

Start Times: Throughout the Day

Meeting Place: Everyday California Shop. 2261 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Price: Starting at $64

Group Size: 20 Person Max

Ages: 5+ for a tandem kayak (with an adult), 15+ for a single kayak

Weight Limit: 300lbs for a Single Kayak, 425lbs for a Double Kayak

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La Jolla Cove Whale Watching Kayak Tour

ONLY AVAILABLE – from December 4th to March 6th.

Experience the grey whale migration from the seat of a kayak! Leaving the waters of the Arctic and heading south to the lagoons of Mexico, gray whales naturally migrate past La Jolla during the winter. This is a non-polluting, non-threatening, and intimate way to experience one of the most majestic mammals on the planet.

Your guides will lead the group about two miles out from shore, where you’ll stop at the best spots to view gray whales. Along the way you’ll learn interesting facts and history about the whales, other marine life, and the La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Keep in mind gray whales are wild animals. We see a large number of them during the season but cannot guarantee a sighting, although we often see dolphins, sea lions, harbor seals, and other marine life as well!

When: December 4th to March 6th depending on sightings

Duration: 2 Hours

Start Times: Throughout the Day

Meeting Place: Everyday California Shop. 2261 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Price: Starting at $64

Group Size: 20 Person Max

Ages: 5+ for a tandem kayak (with an adult), 15+ for a single kayak

Weight Limit: 300lbs for a Single Kayak, 425lbs for a Double Kayak

BOOK NOW

Give The Gift Of Adventure

Want to gift a La Jolla Cove Sea Cave Kayak Tour, La Jolla Cove Kayak & Snorkel Tour, or a La Jolla Cove Whale Watching Kayak Tour during whale watching season? We've got you covered.

Pick one of our e-gift options below, then book at a later date. Each kayak tour guest spot that is booked is valid for two guests in one double kayak (a kayak with seats for two people). Single kayaks are not available for gift vouchers at this time. Adventure gift certificates are valid for water sports only, and are not transferable for apparel items.

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La Jolla Kayaking Tours FAQ

Do we actually kayak inside of the caves?

We’ll determine whether or not it is safe to kayak inside Emerald Cave when we’re in front of it. There are several factors our experienced guides take into consideration, but your safety is our number one priority.

What do I wear?

We recommend wearing beach attire: a swimsuit, t-shirt, maybe a light windbreaker. Also, depending on the temperature of the water and how much wind is present, we might recommend a wetsuit—bring your own if you have one or you can rent one from us.

Where do we keep our stuff?

We have lockers available for rent (they're $6) if you want to leave your stuff behind. If you don’t want to rent a locker we recommend keeping your valuables in your car.

Will I be in a single or double kayak?

Everyone will be in a double kayak unless you specifically purchased a single kayak. If you have vouchers, you'll be in a double kayak.

What if I don’t know how to swim? Will I be able to do this?

We've had tons of people who have never kayaked before and don't know how to swim that had amazing experiences. However, if your activity includes snorkeling, then by state regulations you do need to be comfortable in the water.

Will I get wet?

Yes, you are going to be getting wet! It's part of the fun. All of our operations take place in the majestic La Jolla Ecological Reserve in the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The degree to which you will get wet varies daily, but the nature of ocean kayaking does mean you'll get a little wet out on the water.

What can I bring on the tour?

We recommend bringing as little as possible. Feel free to bring a reusable water bottle (no plastic please) or a waterproof camera. Do not bring anything that should not get wet. We have an expression at the shop, “If you love it, leave it.”

Where should I park?

There is plenty of parking in the residential streets surrounding our shop where you can park all day. Do not park in the lot adjacent to our shop: we don't own it, so if you park there you run the risk of being towed. We also do not recommend parking in a 90 minute commercial zone, as you will be here longer than that and will run the risk of getting ticketed.

What is the age restriction?

The city of San Diego and the San Diego lifeguards have set the age requirement at 5 years and older.

What is the weight limit for kayaking?

The weight limit for each kayak is 425lbs / 193kg. If the combined weight of you and your partner is close to 415lbs, we recommend purchasing two (2) single kayaks instead of a tandem kayak.

Where do Everyday California Kayak Tours go?

After meeting up with your guide at our shop, we’ll head down the street to the beach at La Jolla Shores. After some quick safety instructions, you’ll get in your kayak and head out towards La Jolla Cove. All our kayak tours take you through the La Jolla Ecological Reserve to explore the seven La Jolla Sea Caves just north of the La Jolla Cove. Kayaking is the best way to see the famous La Jolla Caves!

Will I find sea life on the tours?

Most likely! We have the ability to see tons of happy animals in their natural habitat. Among the sea life regularly seen on our tours are Sea Lions, Leopard Sharks, Seals, Cormorants, Pelicans, Sea Gulls, Garibaldi, Dolphins and many other types of fish. Of course, we’re dealing with nature, so the amount of marine life we see varies from day to day.

Do I need to be an experienced kayaker?

No experience is required to come on a tour! We’ve had everyone from children to senior citizens who are first time kayakers come out and have a blast on one of our kayak adventures.

Do you do kayak rentals?

We rent kayaks all year long. If you haven't been out kayaking on the La Jolla Ecological Reserve before, we always recommend doing a tour first. Once you do a tour, we encourage renting a kayak and going out on your own.

Is sea kayaking different than other kayaking?

Sea Kayaking takes place in the beautiful ocean, which has one major difference from freshwater kayaking: Kayak Surfing! When returning to land in a Sea Kayak, you get the opportunity to catch and ride a wave all the way in.

Who will be taking me on the tour?

One of our experienced and highly trained guides will lead you and your group on the tour. Each guide has extensive knowledge of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve and La Jolla Caves and is trained in water safety, First Aid and CPR.

You can do whale watching in kayaks?

Of course! Kayaks are perfect for whale watching since they're small and don't disturb our gentle giants, unlike some of the big commercial tour boats.

What are some of the best times to go on your tours?

The best time to go is whenever you want! Our tours start as early as 9:00am (depending on the day), and the last tours come back at 4:00pm.

How's the snorkeling in La Jolla?

Snorkeling in the La Jolla Cove and Sea Caves has been rated as one of the top snorkeling spots in California. We’re thrilled to help share San Diego’s best snorkeling spot with visitors and locals all year.

Can I rent snorkeling gear from Everyday California?

Absolutely! La Jolla is one of the best snorkeling spots in California. If you go on a tour with us, we’ll even give you a great discount on snorkel gear. Just ask us if you want to try!

What kind of kayaks do you use?

We use tandem sit-on-top kayaks because they are safer and more fun!

When should I arrive for my tour?

Please plan to be in our shop at least 30 minutes prior to your tour. Your tour time is when we go out on the water, and we leave as a group from the shop 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time. If we do not hit the water on time, the lifeguards can cancel the entire tour. If you’re late, you have missed your tour and there will be no refunds so please be on time!

Are there any rules or regulations?

We kayak in a Marine Protected Area, so nothing can be taken but photos. We will paddle and snorkel with sea life, and take direction from The Marine Protection Act of 1972.

Reviews

Lot's of fun, even for someone who has never been in a Kayak before!

We were able to see a dozen or more dolphins, and at least one hundred sea lions as well. Lot's of fun padding out into the ocean as a group, and getting to enter into one of the caves in our Kayaks!

Shane B.

Wonderful sea cave kayak tour

The sea cave kayak tour was amazing, or as my 10yo daughter said, “an experience of a lifetime”! We got to see dolphins and sea lions near us, which we realize is a special treat. We would definitely do it again!

Chad L.

Super fun!

Was a great experience from start to finish! We we're surrounded by a group of dolphins and saw many sea lions. Our guide shared fun facts and assisted us in getting inside one of the sea caves. Highly recommend booking with Everyday California!

Kathleen

A great experience!

My wife was non-stop raving about this experience afterwards. She was nervous when I suggested it but since it was my birthday she went along with it. The guides were great instructing us beginners. It was peaceful on the water and easy to get the hang of paddling. The guides were great to get us into the cave - and getting close to seals - and making sure we had a great time.

akjindal

Great time on the Pacific

Very entertaining, with lots of geology, biology, and history in the talk. The paddling was about perfect. Not too strenuous, but more vigorous than a walk. We saw lots of sea lions (one REALLY up close) and several Garibaldi. The surf was a bit too rough for some of the destinations, so the guides took us to others. We even had some time to swim in the water a bit.

Chris C.

Worth every penny!

This kayak tour goes beyond any expectations I had! We saw sharks, dolphins, seals & went into one of the caves, truly one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever been on. Danielle & Cory were amazing guides & knew so much about all the wildlife & history of La Jolla Coves. 10/10 recommend & will come again!

Alyssa S.

A Must-See when you visit San Diego!

This was a wonderful experience. We kayaked as a family with 2 children (6 & 7 years old). Everyone enjoyed the wildlife sightings and were lucky to have good conditions to enter the cave. The guide was knowledgeable & attentive. Highly recommend.

Monkeycity1