Adventure & Wildlife | Kayak San Juan Island

The Half Day Kayak Tour is the most popular San Juan Island kayaking tour. It offers great opportunities for exploring the iconic West side of San Juan Island and whale watching potential. The routes offer excellent wildlife watching and exceptional views of the Olympic Mountains.

San Juan Half Day Kayak Tours are great for those looking to get a bit of time on the water kayaking yet still have time for other activities that day. If you prefer this shorter trip you’ll still experience the same amazing west side views as our Full Day tour. We select this route to provide a full San Juan kayak tour experience during our time on the water.

Daily Departures: 8 AM, 1130 AM and 130 PM

What’s the Discovery Sea Kayak difference?

We set ourselves apart by offering the smallest group sizes on San Juan Island, quality kayaking equipment, and professional sea kayak guides. We focus on personalizing your kayak tour experience and reducing our impact as we explore the shoreline. Our staff is educated to provide detailed information about all of the region’s wildlife and history. We train extensively every season to hone our kayaking and leadership skills.

Professionalism from start to finish.

We strongly believe in honesty and integrity above all. When you contact us we will always provide you with the most accurate and best information possible about the current kayaking conditions and wildlife sightings.

We Provide

Kayaking Instruction and Professional Guide
Waterproof Pants and Jacket
Kayaking Gear
Dry Bag
Transportation to and from launch location

You Provide

Water bottle
Sunglasses and Hat
Sunscreen
Extra Layers
Sandals or Water Shoes that can get wet
Gratuity for Guides (greatly appreciated)

Learn More About Tour Prep

Book The Tour

Price:	$99/Person
Style:	Opportunities: Seals, Sea Lions, Whales
Location:	West Side of San Juan Island
Duration:	4 Hours
Depart:	8:00am 11:30am 1:30pm Our Shop
Activity:	Beginner Level
Restriction:	12 Years Min / 250 Pounds Max

Tour Dates

Daily April - September

Route & Itinerary

The Half Day Kayak Tour route travels within the heart of whale habitat.

The west side of San Juan Island offers the best opportunity to encounter killer whales and marine wildlife.

Paddle along the steep bluffs and rocky shorelines near Lime Kiln State Park. This area boasts some of the island’s most spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island.

Check-in: 15 minutes prior to reserved departure time at our shop, 260 Spring St.
Depart Shop: Scenic drive along the west side to San Juan County Park.
Kayak Orientation: Learn paddling techniques and safety procedures. Team-carry kayaks to the beach.
Water Time: Spend the next few hours exploring the western shore of San Juan Island.

Trips may be delayed due to orca encounters. Because of regulations in place to protect our local orca whales our movements can be restricted when whales are in the area. Please keep in mind this can affect our return time back to town. We will always do our best to get everyone back in a timely manner.

Half Day Kayak Tour Schedule of departure and arrival times

8:00 AM Departure from our Shop | 12:00 PM Arrival back at our shop
11:30 AM Departure from our Shop | 3:30 PM Arrival back at our shop
1:30 PM Departure from our Shop | 5:30 PM Arrival back at our shop

Wildlife & Weather

Wildlife

San Juan Island is home to a wide variety of amazing wildlife:

Southern Resident Killer Whales: Salmon eating whales commonly seen June through mid-October.
Transient Killer Whales: Marine mammal-eating whales may be seen throughout the year.
Baleen Whales: Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.
Porpoise: Harbor and Dalls porpoise are encounter year round.
Seals and Sea Lions: Harbor Seals, California Sea Lions, and Stellar Sea Lions
River Otters: More elusive but seen any time of year. Most sightings are early morning or late afternoon.
Bald Eagles: San Juan hosts a healthy population of Bald Eagles with many nesting sites.

Every day is different and we can encounter other species of whales, seals, porpoise, and birds not listed above.

Weather

Early Season: Spring weather on San Juan is typically cool with daytime temperatures ranging from the low 50’s F to the mid 60’s F. Expect partly cloudy skies with light breezes to windy conditions.

Summer Season: San Juan Island can have some of the most pleasant summer weather. With half the annual rainfall of the Seattle area, San Juan is typically dry all summer. Temperatures range from upper 60’s F to the mid 80’s F. Skies are usually blue and clear, great for evening star gazing.

Late Season: Fall can be one of the best times to visit San Juan Island. The days become cooler, ranging from the low 50’s F to the mid 60’s F. Winds can be light to moderate depending on the current weather systems.

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