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Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan
4.8
| 5 reviews

Kayak the Marine Highway of San Juan

4 nights
Moderate

Kayak the wild coastline of America's San Juan archipelago for the chance to see whales and marine wildlife

What's Included?

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

excluding flights
From

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.8
| 5 reviews
Another well organised trip. The food was g...
September 2022
Shelian
Another well organised trip. The food was g...
September 2022
Shelian
Couldn't have asked for a better week away....
July 2022
Harriet
Couldn't have asked for a better week away....
July 2022
Harriet
Couldn't have asked for a better week away....
July 2022
Harriet
Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan
Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan
Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan
Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan
Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan

Kayak the fabled whale highway, a wildlife hotspot that’s home to porpoises, sea lions and the densest population of harbour seals in the world

Paddling in the San Juan Islands is a great opportunity to look for whales: you can scout for Orcas, Greys, Humpbacks, and Minkes

Witness perfect sunsets as you camp inside peaceful marine parks in the Wasp Islands Group

Key Information

Day 1

Get Paddling

Kayaking

6hrs

Board the complimentary shuttle from the ferry terminal to the San Juan Island Country Park and kayak north through the Orca Whale Sanctuary – keep your eyes peeled for your first whale sighting. Stop for lunch at a suitably scenic spot and then continue on to tonight's campsite. Relax, explore some of the nearby trails and then enjoy dinner while you watch the sunset over the ocean.

Day 2

Gentle waters

Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan

After breakfast and a briefing on today’s route, hit the water and let the tide carry you along. Stop for lunch on a small pocket beach where you can refuel, relax and take in the peaceful surroundings. Hop back into your kayak and continue your journey to tonight’s camp where you can relax at the water’s edge as you wait for dinner to be served.

Day 3

Relaxation kicks in

Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan

Wake early and appreciate the serenity of the islands with a coffee in hand. Today's pace depends on where you decide to go, but whichever direction you choose you’re sure to be surrounded by a beautiful coastal landscape with bald eagles and seabirds flying above. Tonight, you're likely to camp at Blind Island or Obstruction Pass - whichever it may be, you’re in for a delicious dinner, fun company and another stunning sunset.

Day 4

Cypress Island and Eagle Cliff

Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan

By now, you’ll be in tune with your surrounding and able to spot seals in the distance at a glance. Enjoy a morning on the water and stop at Smuggler’s Cover for lunch and a stretch. Continue paddling to Cypress Island where the landscape becomes wilder, with no farms and homes, just ancient trees covering the high slopes. Set up camp and take an evening walk to Eagle Cliff - the views are amazing so be sure to take your camera. It’s your final night, so enjoy a glass of wine and absorb a last, unforgettable sunset.

Day 5

Pelican Beach Sunrise

Kayak the Whale Highway of San Juan

Get an early start to witness arguably the most satisfying sunrise you'll ever see as it appears over the volcanic mountain, Mt. Baker. After breakfast, choose your route back to Anacortes, arriving between 14:00 and 16:00 depending on the conditions of the day. Unpack, say farewell to your guide, team and kayak and then head back home, or maybe travel further in this lovely region.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Anacortes Ferry Terminal

08:00 on Day 1

Ends

Anacortes Ferry Terminal

16:00 on Day 5

Transfers

Meet your host at their base located just by the Anacortes Ferry Terminal.

It is 90-minute drive from Seattle and parking is available. Due to the early start we recommend you arriving in Anacortes the day before your trip. There are some suggestions in the FAQ section for where you might want to stay.

At the end of your trip, you'll arrive back at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal between 14:00 and 16:00 depending on the conditions of the day. Please allow plenty of time for your onward journey in case of delays due to weather conditions.

Travel options

There are regular, direct flights to Seattle from major airports across the US and Europe.

Seattle to Anacortes by car: Anacortes is a 90 minutes drive from Seattle. Travel via the I-5 and take Exit 230 on Highway 20. From there you can follow the signs to the Ferry Terminal where parking is available for a nominal fee.

Seattle to Anacortes by bus: The bus shuttle from Seattle Airport departs every 2 hours and takes around 2.5 hours to the ferry terminal in Anacortes. Please have a look at the Sea-Tac (Seattle Airport) to Anacortes schedule. There are 3 drop-off points in Anacortes depending on where you're planning to stay.

Boarding the ferry: If you're travelling by car, please have your vehicle parked and be ready to board 40 minutes before the ferry departure time. Once on San Juan Island, the complimentary van shuttle will be waiting directly across the street from the ferry landing, or to your right (north) in the traffic circle just past the ice cream shop. Your host will let you know which bus stop you need before the start of the trip.

Please note that the buses depart at the specified times and do not coincide with Washington State Ferry schedules. Please allow extra time (in both directions) to ensure proper connections.

Day 1

Campsite · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 4

Campsite · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Much of the food on this trip is seasonal and sourced from local organic farms in the Skagit and Samish River Valleys. A quick stop will often be made at the little grocery store in the quaint Orcas Island Village to replenish stocks and help support the local community.

Vegetarian, vegan and most dietary requirements can be accommodated on the trip - please request when booking.

What is the accommodation like?

San Juan Archipelago
San Juan

You’ll camp on various islands along the San Juan shoreline, mostly in Washington State Parks. Campsites have composting toilets, picnic tables and fire rings. Tents are 3-person models shared between 2 people.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space - single tents are available on request (see Optional Extras for costs).

Shelian(September 2022)
Another well organised trip. The food was g...
Another well organised trip. The food was g...

Another well organised trip. The food was great (and plentiful), the equipment provided was a good standard and what can we say about the views - spectacular! Our guide was good company, and made sure that everyone got what they wanted from the trip.

Harriet(July 2022)
Couldn't have asked for a better week away....
Couldn't have asked for a better week away....
Couldn't have asked for a better week away....

Couldn't have asked for a better week away. Our guide Alex was amazing and made it such a fun and enjoyable week. The San Juan's are now my new favorite place in the world and I'm planning another trip back...we saw seals, eagles, vultures, deer, and porpoise a plenty and if that wasn't enough on our last day we saw Orcas. The food was delicious and such a good amount provided we never went hungry. An amazing route planned with gorgeous scenary - book it and you wont regret!

Jayne(July 2019)

The organisation, scenery, route planning, food (tablecloths) were great

William(July 2019)

The trip was fantastic. You feel totally at peace in the wilderness, whilst still being well looked after and seeing a ton of incredible wildlife; from orca to eagles!

Jill(June 2019)

What a fabulous trip! A brilliant experience, highly recommended. The pre-trip support and organisation from Megan were exceptional, and our guide Alex was fabulous; highly knowledgeable, calm, patient and fun. The San Juan Islands certainly lived up to its reputation for stunning beauty and amazing wildlife. Just amazing.

Guides

Local qualified guides, with a guest: guide ratio of 6:1

Accommodation

4 nights camping

Meals

Munch on tasty food throughout

Transfers

All local travel

Equipment

All your kayaking and camping equipment except for a sleeping bag

Permits

All taxes and licenses

Our trips are hassle-free by design. We include all the activities and equipment, as well as many of the meals, so you can simply rock up with your rucksack and share the adventure with your new pals.

Personal Expenses

You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's included?

  • All kayaking and camping equipment (excluding a sleeping bag)as well as a complimentary insulated travel mug
  • Every person will be assigned 2–20L dry bags and 1–10L dry bag for storing their gear

What's available to hire?

Sleeping Bag (see Optional Extras for costs)

What do I need to bring?

  • Long underwear- polypropylene or synthetic, top and bottom
  • Shorts (1 pair, preferably non-cotton)
  • Pants (1 pair, preferably non-cotton)
  • 2-3 T-shirts
  • Sweatshirt (fleece or synthetic, cotton will not dry) or other insulating shirt x2
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Light rain jacket and rain pants
  • Water compatible shoes (Tevas, Chacos, water socks, old tennis shoes, etc)
  • Shoes for camp (light running or hiking shoes are great)
  • Baseball cap, or a brimmed hat
  • Wool or fleece hat for camp
  • Sunglasses
  • Binoculars
  • Two water bottles, 1 litre each (please fill them at the store, or before you arrive)
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries.
  • Sleeping Bag - must be compressible to fit into one of the 20L dry bags
  • Beer or wine
  • Toiletries
  • A small hand towel
  • Earplugs
  • Book, playing cards etc
  • Any favourite snacks (your host will provide a lot, but you may have special preferences.)
  • Camera (bring freezer grade Zip-Loc bags to protect it if it isn’t waterproof.)
  • Personal medicine if required (please inform your guide in case of emergency)
*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Optional Solo Tent Occupancy

Payable Before Departure

Optional Solo Tent Occupancy

Per Person

Single Kayak (instead of Double Kayak)

Payable Before Departure

Single Kayak (instead of Double Kayak)

Sleeping Bag Rental

Payable Before Departure

Sleeping Bag Rental

Per Person

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 51kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

The marine mammals typically seen are Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Southern Resident Orcas (these are the endangered ones, so seen less often), Transient Orcas (these are the thriving Orcas who feed on other marine mammals), Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Gray Whales as well as many different types of seabirds including Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Peregrine Falcons and many other smaller marine birds.

Please note that not all of these wildlife sightings can be guaranteed, however, your experienced guides will do their best to increase your chances.

Your host recommends the following three accommodation options.

  1. Cap Sante Inn: Basic, friendly, affordable and located in old town Anacortes within walking distance of great restaurants.

  2. Ship Harbor Inn: Located within walking distance of the ferry and includes breakfast and picturesque views of the San Juan Islands. A taxi would be needed to grab a bite to eat as the town is a 4-mile drive away.

  3. Nantucket Inn: Located as you drive into Anacortes, this is a historic building that's been newly remodelled, with a huge outdoor area to hang out in.

You can leave any excess luggage at your host's base before you set off.

265 lbs for double kayaks and 225 lbs for single kayaks. These weights are generally the limits for your comfort and enjoyment of the activity.

Of course! Your host only has a limited number of single kayak available, so please request on booking. There is a small charge for a solo kayak: see the Optional Extras for costs.

Anacortes ferry terminal parking fees may vary per season, however at the time of writing the prices are:

1 day (0-24 hours) - $7.00 2 days (24-48 hours) - $12.00 3 days (48-72 hours) - $14.00 4 days (72-96 hours) - $17.00 One week (7 days/168 hours) - $22.00

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

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Secure your spot with the minimum deposit and pay off the remaining balance in as many instalments as you like, with no interest or fees. Full details

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We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 1000 verified trip reviews averaging 4.8/5.

Connect before you go

You'll be invited to join a WhatsApp group to get to know each other before your big adventure together. Full details

DEPARTURE DATES

Illustration of a group of people kayaking

Go private and split the bill with ease.

Forget complex logistics, we've taken care of all the details to ensure a hassle-free get together. All of the adventure, none of the faff.

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