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EXPLORE ACTIVITIES

Kayak Connection is Monterey Bay’s favorite outfitter for sea kayaking and paddleboarding rentals, sales, lessons and tours.

single sit on top kayak

Rent a Kayak

Spend the day exploring with friends or relaxing on your own. From our private docks paddle the iconic Santa Cruz Harbor and Monterey Bay or explore the protected waters of the Elkhorn Slough with unparalleled wildlife encounters.

Elkhorn Slough
Santa Cruz
kayak tours in santa cruz and moss landing

Go on a Tour

Discover all the hidden wonders you might have paddled right by without our naturalist guides leading your adventure. Make the most of your experience by taking a guided tour customized for you and your group.

Elkhorn Slough
Santa Cruz
stand up paddle boarding

Rent a Paddleboard

This beginner friendly area has all the scenery to catch that Santa Cruz stoke, or provide a challenge for the experienced paddler who wants to venture out to sea. Views of the iconic yacht harbor will wow and re-energize you.

Santa Cruz
Two smiling kayakers hugging on a tandem kayak tour

Take a Class

We offer quality sea kayaking instruction taught by highly trained ACA instructors. Let us prepare you for that multi-day kayak camping trip, or geek out on perfecting your forward stroke technique.

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Santa Cruz Harbor Location

Come to our Santa Cruz Harbor location to experience over a mile of calm protected waters – perfect for beginning kayakers or paddleboarding enthusiasts. 

For the more adventurous, head out into the Monterey Bay for open ocean exploration. See the iconic Santa Cruz sights including the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Santa Cruz Wharf and experience the surf stoke at Steamer Lane.

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Elkhorn Slough LOCATION

Elkhorn Slough is one of the top ten wildlife viewing destinations in North America. The Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing boasts the largest remaining raft of southern sea otters on the planet. 

Come paddle with these amazing endangered creatures, as well as sea lions, harbor seals, beautiful floating jelllies and migrating sea birds. 

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WHAT WILDLIFE WILL YOU SEE TODAY?

Sea Lions
Sea Lions
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales
California Southern Sea Otters
California Southern Sea Otters
Pacific Harbor Seals
Pacific Harbor Seals
Sea Anemones
Sea Anemones
Purple-Striped Jellyfish
Purple-Striped Jellyfish
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Opalescent Nudibranchs
Opalescent Nudibranchs
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MEET YOUR TOUR GUIDES

Our team is our greatest asset.  Kayak Connection is proud to introduce you to our extended family of kooky paddlers. We take no greater joy than kayaking together, and helping you discover the adventure and magic the ocean delivers. 

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WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING

Great experience. Miles gave us a thorough orientation on the tides and important landmarks. This really is the place to go for a complete experience of the Monterey Bay. So many otters, seals and birds.
Aaron Campbell
Aaron C.
18:07 28 Aug 26
Daniel was the best guide! Super knowledgeable and lots of laughs. Had an amazing time. Sea lions seals otters and birds galore. Would absolutely come back!
Lissa Glynn
Lissa G.
18:55 20 Aug 26
We went there on a Sunday morning, and it was beyond our expectations. Even though we were running late, the management team was extremely understanding and accommodated us. (The main Manager – Rhubarb was the highlight).We really liked that we didn’t have to stay with the group. We had our own time and our own plan while still receiving all the instructions and safety briefing individually.We will definitely come back and bring more friends. One tip: if you’re planning to go kayaking, bring waterproof clothing, especially if you choose the open kayaks.
D N
D N
22:40 10 May 26
I did the 3h private photography tour in Elkhorn Slough and loved it so much I did it a second time 2 days later! Cam was so lovely to hang out with, had so many hours’ worth of fun facts, and also helped me get incredible views of the animals while respecting their boundaries. We saw so many sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, as well as a wide variety of birds and sea slugs! Thank you so much!
Diane McCune
Diane M.
19:07 07 May 26
I decided to do this tour solo while visiting cali. They promise to see otters and we definitely did! We saw a few rafts of them along with sea lions and so many birds. They provide a spray skirt and life vest so you definitely stay dry, though I recommend wearing a rain/waterproof jacket to protect your arms. It started pretty chilly and got pretty warm so layers and hat/sunglasses are helpful too. The only bathrooms on site were portapotties. If you love otters its must do!
Jaclyn
Jaclyn
16:10 02 May 26
My family of 4 went out on an early morning tour on the last day of March primarily for my son to photograph birds. The “we paddle you photograph” tour was perfect, Alex was an excellent guide, helping him find lots of species. The rest of us looked for birds but also found otters and harbor seals guided by Cam. Kayaks worked great, we had calm water and a few sprinkles didn’t keep us down. Highly recommend them for seeing what Eklhorn Slough has to offer!
Jane Maisch
Jane M.
16:59 02 Apr 26
We just got back from an evening wildlife tour with Kayak Connection, and what an unforgettable experience! Our guide, Isla, was absolutely wonderful — knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating facts that really brought the whole outing to life.From the very start, Isla went out of her way to make sure we felt comfortable, including arranging a kayak switch for us without any hesitation. Her accommodating nature and genuine kindness made such a difference and set the tone for a truly relaxed and enjoyable evening on the water.We were treated to incredible wildlife sightings: curious seals that came right up close to us, sea lions, otters, and a stunning variety of birds including cormorants, pelicans, and herons. Watching all of this unfold as the sun dipped below the horizon made for a truly magical evening.Isla’s enthusiasm and expertise made the tour so much more than just a paddle — she turned it into a genuine learning experience that we’ll be talking about for a long time. If you’re looking for a peaceful, awe-inspiring way to connect with nature, this tour is an absolute must. We can’t recommend Kayak Connection highly enough! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jennifer R
Jennifer R
16:02 22 Mar 26
We visited Kayak Connection for a school field trip and had an absolutely amazing experience! From start to finish, everything was well organized, fun, and incredibly engaging for our students.Our guides, Susie and Laura, were fantastic. They were not only knowledgeable and professional, but they also took the time to truly connect with and encourage the kids. They made learning interactive, fun, and memorable while ensuring everyone felt safe and confident on the water.It was the perfect mix of education and adventure. We highly recommend Kayak Connection for school groups and families alike. We will definitely be back!
Eva Armstrong
Eva A.
02:54 05 Mar 26
Our class of 5th & 6th graders went there today and had a guided tour & we had a great time! Our guides, Suzy & Laura, were so good with the kids and made the trip a lot of fun! I highly recommend!
Lloyd
Lloyd
02:50 05 Mar 26
We came with our school’s 5th and 6th graders and the experience couldn’t have been better. Beautiful day, enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides; we all loved every minute! Seeing the otters, seals and birds were a favorite part for the kids and adults. Thanks for a wonderful morning!
Jessie Fowler
Jessie F.
20:31 04 Mar 26
A fantastic tour of a treasure of a place – the Kayak Connection is the place we always call when we have active out of town guests and we want to get close up as legally possible to sea otters and hear information about the Slough
Laura Sutherland
Laura S.
00:33 18 Feb 26
We enjoyed a delightful day with Kayak Comnection on Galentine’s Day! A day so delightful, it inspired this poem:Rose are redViolets are blueKayaking’s greatEspecially at Elkhorn Slough
Kris C
Kris C
14:41 15 Feb 26
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WHAT ADVENTURE WILL YOU GO ON TODAY?

Fall in love with kayaking the Central Coast. Rent a kayak or paddleboard, take a class, or book a tour with our local guides to experience a magical outdoor adventure. 
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