The Channel Islands National Park offers some of the best kayaking opportunities in the state. Excellent marine life, pristine kelp forests, rugged coastline and hidden sea caves make the Channel Islands a world-class destination. Come with us for the ultimate adventure experience. You end the trip knowing that you lived for the day and enjoyed an awesome challenge.

New Discounted Rates!

Santa Barbara Adventure Company is proud to announce our new adventures to Channel Islands National Park. We will be guiding the outer waters and most remote sections of these magnificent islands. Our trips focus on the areas of the island that are less traveled and rarely kayaked.

Read below about our Channel Islands Kayaking Adventures.

New Painted Cave exploration aboard the vessel Truth out of Santa Barbara Harbor.

Join us for this exciting new adventure. Explore the less traveled west end of Santa Cruz Island and the beautiful Painted Cave. This all inclusive trip departs out of the Santa Barbara Harbor at 9am. Enjoy whale watching and kayaking aboard our custom charter boat. We will explore the Painted Cave by kayak (conditions permitting), the largest sea cave in the world. Relax and let us take care of the all the details on this unforgettable trip.

Level of Difficulty: Beginner through advanced welcome.

Cost: $235 adult/$215 child with more than two weeks advance booking. 3 person minimum*. 2.5 miles, 3 hours of actual paddling. Children under 12 years old must ride in double with parent. This trip is Only Available On Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the summer months.

*We will start the reservation process with three people and reserve the right to add others into your trip.

Trip includes:Breakfast and lunch, authorized concessionaire boat transportation, knowledgeable guides, single or double kayaks and paddling gear, as well natural history and marine ecology along the way.

Santa Cruz Island One Day Kayaking out of Ventura Harbor.

A full day of incredible kayaking. You will meet your guides at 7:30am at the Ventura Harbor and cross the Channel via Island Packers boat, an authorized NPS concessionaire. On the enjoyable boat ride out we often spot migrating whales and pods of dolphins. Upon arrival at our put-in spot the group will get suited for the adventure with wetsuit, paddle jacket and helmet (provided). Once on the water your guides will offer a thorough kayak lesson to assure everyone is comfortable.

The trip will tour 3 plus miles near beautiful kelp forests and along rugged cliffs. Your guide will offer marine ecology and natural history information on the islands as you paddle an unforgettable section of the park. Abundant marine life and sea birds offer great opportunities for wildlife viewing throughout the trip. A full day of adventure, returning by approximately 6pm.

Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the Channel Islands, and supports more than a thousand species of plants and animals, including 12 found nowhere else on Earth.

Level of Difficulty: Beginner through advanced welcome.

Cost: $165 adult/$140 child, with more than two weeks advance booking. 3 person minimum*. 2.5 miles, 3 hours of actual paddling.

$185 adult/$160 child~Less than 2 weeks advance booking.
Child under 12 years old must ride in double kayak with parent.

*We will start the reservation process with three people and reserve the right to add others into your trip.

Trip includes: authorized concessionaire boat transportation, knowledgeable guides, single or double kayaks and paddling gear, as well natural history and marine ecology along the way.

One Day trip to Anacapa Island

Anacapa is the second smallest of the Channel Islands. It has some of the most spectacular sea caves around! Thousands of sea birds use Anacapa as a nesting area because of the lack of predators on the island. The rocky shores of Anacapa are perfect resting and breeding areas for California sea lions and harbor seals. Barking sea lions can be heard from most parts of the island.

For this one-day adventure, you will meet your guides at the Oxnard Harbor at 7:30am, and return around 5:00pm.

Cost: $175/adult. 2 weeks prior. 2 person minimum.
$195/adult. Less than 2 weeks advanced notice. 3-4 miles of paddling over 3 hours. This trip is limited to adults 18 years of age and older.

Trip includes: authorized concessionaire boat transportation, knowledgeable guides, kayaks and paddling gear, natural history and marine ecology.

For more information on Anacapa Island, you can visit the National Parks website at: http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/anacapa.htm

Santa Barbara Island

Santa Barbara is the smallest of the eight Channel Islands. In fact, it's the perfect size for a one-day kayaking trip around the island.

This is about a six-mile paddle around the entire Island. You will be treated to views of elephant seals and other marine life, as well as sea caves and arches.

Cost: $205/adult with 2 weeks prior notice. $230/adult with less than 2 weeks notice. This trip is limited to adults 18 years of age and older.

Trip includes: authorized boat concessionaire, knowledgeable guides, kayaks and paddling gear, natural history and marine ecology.

Trips to Santa Barbara Island run more infrequently than the other trips, and are subject to availability.

Santa Rosa Island

Because of the prevailing winds, Santa Rosa is for advanced kayakers only. We are currently developing adventures to Santa Rosa Island. Check back to learn about our exciting new trips!

Information About Kayaking at the Channel Islands:

All kayak trips will start with a paddling lesson, safety skills, and a talk on preserving the beauty of the Channel Islands. All of our trips meet the parks requirements for preserving the island natural beauty and protecting native birds and marine life. Channel Islands National Park was established in large part to protect the unique natural and cultural resources found both on the islands and within ocean waters, and the park has a long history of monitoring, protecting and restoring these resources.

Outfitters are not permitted to provide food to guests; therefore, all guests need to pack a lunch, and seal it in a zip-lock bag. Please make sure you carry out all items brought to the islands. We will provide a safe place to store your gear while you are on the water.

All of our trips to the Channel Islands will be chartered through Island Packers, an NPS authorized concessionaire--located in both the Ventura and Oxnard Harbors. For directions and more information on Island Packers: http://www.islandpackers.com/contact.html

Participants should dress in layers. The boat ride to the islands can be very chilly. We will provide you with an equipment list.

Trips are subject to charter boat availability. Concessionaires allow a maximum of 12 kayaks per trip to Anacapa Island, and 18 to Prisoner's Bay. Weekend reservations must be made at least four days in advance

April through Nov trips are scheduled weekends and many weekdays. December through March on demand with 4 person minimum.

The Santa Barbara Adventure Company sends inquiries for the Scorpion area of Santa Cruz Island kayaking trips to associate outfitters with permits to operate in this area of the National Park. These associate outfitters meet our high standards for professionally guided trips.