Tours/Santa Monica/2-Hour Kayak or Paddleboard with Sea Lions in Marina del Rey
Viator · group up to 7 pax

2-Hour Kayak or Paddleboard with Sea Lions in Marina del Rey

4.7(65)Santa Monica1 hour
VIATOR4.8(56)TRIPADVISOR4.4(9)

Description

Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of beautiful Marina del Rey marina while kayaking or standup paddle boarding. Discover unique sail and power boats and spot local wildlife (sea lions, dolphins and a big variety of birds). Our kayak/SUP tour takes a responsible approach to tourism and environmental stewardship. We're proud to offer a 100% sustainable way to explore Marina del Rey's natural beauty.

Tour Options

Kayak or Paddleboard with Sea Lions

Highlights

Kayak or Stand Up Paddle Board (we offer 2 double kayaks, 2 single kayaks and 4 SUPs on first come first served basis)
Life jacket

What's included

Included
Kayak or Stand Up Paddle Board (we offer 2 double kayaks, 2 single kayaks and 4 SUPs on first come first served basis)
Life jacket
Not included
Towel
Sunscreen

Traveller Ratings

4.7
65 reviews
5
57
4
2
3
3
2
1
1
2

Important Information

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Reviews(65)

G
Gail_S
August 12, 2026
Really great experience - LOTS of sea lions, great guide

The two hours on the water with our guide, Elvis (actual name he uses) was even much better than expected. We thought we’d have a good time kayaking around, but he took us to all the places where he knew the sea lions hung out. We got close to several individuals and groups. They were so entertaining. He also stopped a few times to help pelicans that had gotten caught up with fish hooks or lines. That was cool to see as well.

N
Nicole_F
August 9, 2026
Sea lion kayak tour with Elvis.

Our tour guide Elvis was amazing. He showed us great places with lots of sea lions and he was patient and a lot of fun.

S
Sonya_L
July 27, 2026
Good communication for...

Good communication for directions and meet up. Our guide, Elvis, was so friendly and knowledgable. We saw lots of sea lions and sea birds and boats. Would highly recommend for a relaxing SoCal outdoor activity.

M
Megan_S
July 25, 2026
Save your money

It’s not at all worth the money. This more of a self guided tour rather than tour guided. I was hoping for some history or some fun facts. We saw very few sea lions and they were just sleeping on the back of boats. This booking made it seem like we would be interacting with the animals or they would come close to us. We were only on the water for 1 hour. Very disappointing.

Operator response

We’re sorry the experience did not meet your personal expectations, but we would like to clarify that this is a responsible wildlife-viewing experience - not a zoo or an animal encounter. Sea lions are wild animals, so their location, behaviour, and level of activity can never be guaranteed. Approaching, touching, feeding, chasing, or otherwise disturbing them is neither appropriate nor permitted. We respect the animals and always observe them responsibly from a safe distance. Nowhere in our listing do we promise that guests will interact or play with sea lions, or that the animals will approach the kayaks. Interestingly, another guest from the same group left a five-star review describing the guide as excellent, noting that they saw multiple sea lions, including families, took excellent photos, and had a great time. This demonstrates how differently guests may perceive the very same experience. We are sorry that you were expecting a closer animal encounter, but that is not something an ethical wildlife tour can or should promise. We strongly encourage guests to read the full experience description before booking to ensure that the activity matches their expectations.

J
Jessica_L
July 25, 2026
Excellent guide, we saw...

Excellent guide, we saw multiple sea lions including families. We were able to get close and get excellent photos. We had a great time!

M
Melanie_W
July 12, 2026
Awesome Adventure 🤩

It was an amazing experience! I had never been kayaking before and was a bit nervous. Elvis was very reassuring and helpful and made me very comfortable. It was my best friends birthday so 5 of us decided to try this. We had a blast and got to see a few sea lions and learned the basics of kayaking. I would definitely recommend this adventure! 🙌🏽🙌🏽

T
Taeya W
September 24, 2025
Very friendly and fun

The tour guide Tyler was very nice and respectful. He made sure we all felt safe and had fun. The sea lions were lovely to see and it wasn’t too warm or cold!

R
rlswright1
September 24, 2025
Fun but not informational

Kayaking around the marina was a great way to spend time on the water and get a great view of all the boats. Our guide was very friendly and patient with a first-time kayaker, but when I choose to pay for a tour over self-guided, I expect to hear stories, anecdotes, lore, information, history, and/or fun facts about the area we are visiting. Our guide had three trivia questions.

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Hello there, Thank you so much for joining us on the water and for sharing your experience. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed kayaking around the marina and that our guide made you feel comfortable as a first-time kayaker. We also appreciate your feedback about the tour content. Our goal is to provide not only a safe and enjoyable paddle but also to share engaging stories and insights about the marina and its history. We’ll be sure to pass your comments along to our team so we can enhance the experience with more fun facts and local knowledge. We truly value your input and hope to welcome you back for an even more memorable and informative adventure next time!

A
AnaLiza_Q
September 20, 2025
Highly recommend

Group of 5 enjoyed this fun, relaxing tour of Marina and saw plenty of sea lions. Four took single kayaks and one double. Tyler was a knowledgeable guide.

A
April_M
September 20, 2025
Great excursion

This trip was a fun trip around the harbor to see Sea Lions. We saw many. As long as you are in great shape, you will love it.

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4.7(65)
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