On a recent anniversary in and around Tomales Bay we had the pleasure to rent kayaks from Blue Waters Kayaking. Highly recommended! I flakily started to reserve kayaks from here in advance of arrival but went IRL instead and am so glad I did as the crew we met are all so helpful and friendly. As bearish types we felt so welcomed and not at all shamed for asking about larger sized flotation devices, or for being queer. Only realised after that they were probably tired from all the early birds returning equipment, so I'm even more impressed with how great their service was. Anyway, we rented 2 kayaks at very reasonable prices for half a day compared to locally, and then were shown how to put them on our little car. It felt totally secure which gave us confidence they'd be fine on the return too. And off we went. The folks at Blue Waters recommended a beautiful area near Marconi on the east shore which was so perfect, thank you for that. We got to see the oyster farming there and plenty of incredible wildlife, like otters and jellyfish (see photo). Mostly it was just a great spot to paddle about in Tomales Bay getting some excellent peace and quiet. Checking the kayaks back in was super easy, although I wish I'd seen the 3 women who helped us initially to say thank you in person. They are who will keep me coming back to Blue Waters Kayaking in future. Such an excellent anniversary! read more

See all

Eric led our tour on September 18th and our group was maxxed out with the most amount of people he could take in a single tour. He was awesome at making us feel prepared and his sense of humor really helped everyone feel at ease. I was especially impressed of how he helped 2 guests who were clearly scared of the kayak flipping over during the tour, primarily by being a calm, patient guide. I would definitely go back to him! Overall, our group was blessed to be out there on an overcast night, which allowed us to see a lot of the bioluminescent silhouettes of fish that swam under and around us throughout the tour. read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

Booked the evening bioluminescence tour with Blue Waters Kayaking and had an amazing experience! Booking online was easy and then as a follow up, they send you more info and a waiver to send for your excursion. They do this particular tour on nights when there's little to no moonlight since that is when you will best see the sparkling creatures in the bay. It embarks from Miller's Boat Launch near Nick's Cove in Marshall. It's not far from Point Reyes, so if you're spending time at the seashore, this is a magical way to end your day. They begin at 8 with very detailed instructions for your gear and paddling. Between that and then launching the boats in your group, you actually get on the water about 8:45 and return to the dock around 11 pm. It was a windy and foggy evening, so unfortunately, there were no sunset views. But the novelty of paddling in twighlight in to the evening more than made up for that. We had flocks of pelicans flying overhead and once we got to darker areas, the real star of the show came out to sparkle. You can see the bioluminescence light up as you paddle or run your fingers in the water. We stopped a few times along some coves and even saw the sparkles lap up on the sandy shores. We had 3 guides -one leading, one in the middle and one at the back to make sure no boats were left behind. The ride out was a bit choppy but we had paddlers of all levels in our group and everyone did okay. The guides made sure to check in with everyone and we'd count off boats to make sure we all caught up, We got to hear information about the seashore and the surrounding waters and the local creatures. The time flew by and it was such a wonderful, magical experience. If you haven't night kayaked, I'd definitely say to try it once. I hope to travel with Blue waters again and try one of their day trips, While it's important to dress warm and wear waterproof shoes, they do provide dry bags, a waterproof top and of course all the safety gear for your excursion. read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - The area by the water where we met up - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

See all

We did the night time bioluminescence tour and it was amazing. We had a night with no moon and it was unusually warm so pretty lucky experience. Our guides were Jeff and Bud and they were great. Learned lots while being awed by the beauty of nature. read more

See all

My mom (78) and I went on a night kayak for bioluminescence and had a great time overall. If you are staying overnight, I recommend staying near Point Reyes Station. We originally were suppose to leave out of Nick's Cove in Marshall so we booked a place right there. Due to weather they moved our excursion out of Heart's Desire Beach in Inverness. This is about 45 min and could be longer in the dark as you don't want to speed with the wildlife crossings. We had to cancel last minute and book closer, but really frustrated the first local place that we booked. I felt really bad, but driving 45+ minutes after 3 hour kayak at 11pm wasn't something I wanted to do. We got lucky and found a vacant spot nearby, but could have gone differently. I wish this is something they let people know so they could make the best decision for them. There were two groups that went out and sadly I don't feel like we got the best (or worst) guide. It started off with no real direction at check-in other than pit slip on dashboard so we just walked around other people. Later we found out we needed a group number and we were almost forgotten. Some people were given dry bags, we were not asked or offered - luckily we didn't need one. They split us into groups and did a nice ice breaker. The gal who led our group was a little dry and I'm not sure that her personality was best suited for something like this...once on water and she got into her groove she got a little better. We didn't see much of bioluminescence, but we did see a little! It's Mother Nature so know it's not something that can be predicted. We got lucky and had a warmer night...and the stars and moon were stunning. Even without the bioluminescence it was an amazing experience. Getting back on beach they do push people to carry kayaks all the way up. I wish they tell you that as well. My mom is older and after the long paddle it was hard. I had just pulled a leg muscle a few days before, but willing to help where I could...after saying that my guide started fast pulling the kayak and I could feel my leg muscle acting up while walking through sand...another person was helping us and told me he could handle it and not to push my leg since she was going to fast and not listening. The other guides on our trip were all nice and from what I heard of the other in group 1 they all seemed great. Low tide can get muddy, something to be aware of. They do provide skirts that give over your kayak to reduce water in your lap as well. Def an experience I would still recommend even with the minor frustrations we encountered. read more

This was a good beginner's trip, but don't be duped by their tipping recommendations of 15-20% of the trip. I paid $550 for a half day paddling instruction for 2 with a guide. The guide Brian Westrick was knowledgeable. However, at the end of our excursion, he *voluntarily offered* to provide me with additional advice to further my paddling abilities in preparation for a future kayak tour abroad. When you volunteer this and even give your cell phone number to a client, you should mean what you say. Otherwise, don't say it! He ghosted me on the advice category. I won't use him again as a guide for the reason of his lacking integrity. I regret tipping him $50. Tipping 15-20% is way out of line; that would have been $82.50-110 tip, added to the $550 base cost. You have got to be kidding. BWK should just pay their guides enough! Furthermore, during the 3-hour tour that Brian was our guide, we prepped our gear before entering the water. During that time, he was MIA for about 10 minutes due to socializing with a couple of other guides from a different outfit. Professional? Not! I've moved on. I rented kayaks from BWK's competitors Pt Reyes Adventure Company, and these folks rock! It's a small outfit, owner-operated, and these folks are truly professionals. They respond to all texts in a timely and helpful manner. They also provide coffee and tea, along with pastries from Bovine Bakery, as part of their rental services. Furthermore, I booked a bioluminescence trip with Pt Reyes Adventure Company. Owners Dallas and Liz really know how to treat their customers. read more

See all

The Bioluminescence kayak tour was amazing. You can't believe it unless you see it yourself! Luke and Ginger were great tour guides, sprinkling in facts throughout the 2.5 hours we spent on the bay. The first 30-45 minutes are spent on safety and getting properly geared up, and even as first time kayakers, we felt comfortable and safe the whole time. 10/10 would recommend. This is totally a hidden gem - about an hour from the East Bay. read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - Getting on the water in our kayak! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

Stunning landscape in the Tomales Bay area and impressive first experience co-kayaking at night with a friend when all is pitch black and we are just guides for the dim lights of the kayaks! My friend Stefanka had 2 tickets and her son could not go. Needless to say I am your perfect friend for last minute invites, a freebie like this I could not miss it, I am so thankful for the gift because we not only had a blast during our more than 2 hour trip from San Jose to the departure point of the kayaking bioluminescent tour, but also this was new for both of us. We feel like having a mini Thelma&Louise adventure, with tons of life-coaching each other on the way! Tour specialists were top-notch, very friendly, polite, patient and good vibes only type. We enjoyed their guidance, even if we found the prep time was a bit too long (we had an issue with our first kayak so they needed to change for another one and then there were some other solo kayakers not allowing us to launch on time). I was kayaking in the back, so the one that has to pedal on top of paddling...well, total loss of direction all the time, getting out of the line and having tons of laughs in the process while making sure we did not fall in the water (which actually was pretty warm, we overpacked in winter clothes but honestly not needed and you will exercise a lot, so no need). As per the bioluminescent fish, yes there were sparkles in the water, tons of them, but do not expect a fake idyllic image of fish coming to say hi like mini lanterns in the night. In fact for a while we did not see anything and then there were pockets of this phenomenon that was amazing but was not continuously happening. Overall, will recommend, it was a very well spent Friday afternoon-night even though the way back to San Jose was tiring with those many curves and yes, traffic! read more

See all

We didn't do a tour but rented boats and had a great experience with Blue Waters Kayaking. They told me everything I needed to know but even though I was completely disorganized and forgot to do the waivers, forgot to get my gear before leaving Point Reyes Station, they did everything perfectly. We picked up our boats at Heart's Desire Beach and they were in great shape. Far better than they typical kayak rental with good deck lines and not beat up. Will rent from them again when we return to Tomales Bay. read more

Amazing experience from Go! My partner and I enjoyed the bioluminescence tour under the Milky Way. Sabrina and Diego got us all started with a round of intros and the sharing of a fave stretch or dance move. Nice icebreaker! Tomales Bay is truly a magnificent wonder! Every time I go there, I enjoy the plethora of wildlife that live in the area. So to begin with, you cannot go wrong here, unless you are a city slicker and you don't prepare for wet and cold. It helps when the weather cooperates and it is smooth sailing with no fog and little wind during our trip last night. It was absolutely gorgeous, a great night to paddle beneath skies that offered up shooting stars several times! Great bonus! Sabrina is a local. She's a fantastic Naturalist who really shows her passion for the area with her deep knowledge and her obvious reverence to Tomales Bay and beyond. She used the word, "magical," to describe the landscape, and I appreciated how that was in no way over the top. She showed tremendous respect to the wildlife in the bay, taking great care to lead us with grace through Hog and Piglet islands. She stopped to ensure we were not spooking harbor seals, and she was amazingly adept at pointing out animals by sound. She found a pack of coyotes whining in the distance that I don't think we would have been aware of were it not for her. She identified birds by sound and has extensive knowledge of all the creatures that live on, below, and above Tomales Bay, as well as the tectonic features upon which the bay is perched. She had great historical stories, and she also provided a treasure trove of great paddling tips that I had not heard before during paddling excursions elsewhere. Truly a pleasure paddling with her as our guide! Signing up was quick and efficient, and the person I spoke to was super helpful. At trip time I got email notifications and calls to ensure we were coming. These guys know how to round up cats! Though the bioluminescence was not super strong, Sabrina helped us to find as much of it as we could. So many other features superceded the light show though, I would recommend this tour 100% and whether you do or do not see the little critters, you will have an extraordinary time! If you can, book a trip with Sabrina. You will not be disappointed. read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - At the dock next to the boat launch - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

See all

The theatrical performance of the unseen luminescence came alive around 8:30 pm as the scouts of Troop 200 kayaked their way from the bank of Tomales. Lindsey (citizen scientist) and her compatriot Darian (young adventurer) were our guides who brought awe from the serene, mysterious, glassy waters on the night of Saturday before Easter Sunday. The magic of the glassy dark waters came alive when touched and played with - bending light in incomprehensible ways guided by the wakes and eddies as the scouts paddled their way - the glow of water as it ran across their fingers - living light - the awe in bioluminescence was experienced by the scouts - who all are very thankful to have been guided by Lindsey and Daria, the naturalists of Blue Water Kayaking. read more

I highly recommend Blue Waters Kayaking for their bioluminescence tour. Reservations are definitely needed as this experience books up quickly even during Covid times, it seems. This activity was booked when I checked in October, so I put myself on the waitlist in case someone cancelled their reservation. I later received an e-mail the next month in November for more dates in December! Score! I think it was Dallas who helped me book my reservation over the phone and he was super friendly! Confirmation e-mails were sent immediately and continued to be sent until the day of the reservation. Note that there is a 15% gratuity fee added into the total cost of the booking. The correct parking spot is on top of a hill overlooking the boat launch, $5 cash only. You have to walk down the hill to the restroom area and there, you will find the envelopes to pay for parking. Bring your own pen! Sophia and Oz were our tour guides that evening and they were excellent! Sophia led the group of 6 kayaks (2 people per kayak) and Oz stayed in the back. We suited up in a lot of kayaking gear, which was great. It was a clear and calm night with perfect conditions. We even saw Starlink satellites in the sky which looked like a string of pearls moving through the night sky! It was amazing! Even more amazing was seeing the bioluminescence! With each stroke of my oar, it looked like glitter in the water. We could even put our hand in the water and see all the glittery looking bioluminescent! I had a really great time night kayaking and seeing the bioluminescence. Dress warmly. I also wore a beanie. FYI, if you wear glasses, they could potentially fog up and water can also splash onto your lenses. Night kayaking is a perfect natural social distancing activity. I highly recommend it! I didn't even know I could see bioluminescence in NorCal. I thought I had to go to Belize or somewhere out of the country. read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

We (3 adults) did the Drake's Estero Half Day tour with Jeff and Kari in mid-October and had a fantastic experience. We got very lucky and had great conditions: overcast but not cold and no wind. The water was completely still and we could easily see into it, so we were able to see leopard sharks and a moon snail. These conditions also made for easy paddling. Though we were experienced kayakers, most of the people in our group had little to no experience. Hence, Jeff and Kari were very thorough at the beginning; they demonstrated basic paddling techniques and positions and made sure everyone's gear and kayak were setup correctly. During the tour, they managed the group well, helping out as needed and including a short break on a shore so people could stretch their legs and relieve themselves. Jeff was very knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting information about the history of the area and local flora and fauna. Both tandem and single kayaks were available. They also provided waterproof jackets, kayak spray skirts, and dry bags. Bring your own water and snacks. read more

Woohoooooo, activities are opening again!!! Kayaking in a gorgeous spot like Tomales Bay is a phenomenal weekend activity. The scenery is stunning and there's a ton of wildlife - birds, jellyfish, sharks, elk, starfish. Trips like this are worth it every time, although the unpredictable Tomales Bay weather can be a dealbreaker. Make sure to bring LOTS of layers - hat, jackets, long underwear, shorts, t-shirt - so that you're prepared whether the microclimate is hot or cold. They have the usual kayaking gear (waterproof jackets, spray skirts, life preservers, etc.) that provide extra warmth + protection. Bring tons of sunblock, snacks, and more water than you think you'll need. Before you go, be careful which company you pick and the guide you get. Things to know about Blue Waters: - Morning trips are supposed to start at 9:30am. - HOWEVER, they have everyone stand around in a circle, say their names, and perform a stretch or yoga pose for the group. It eats up half an hour and is basically my WORST.NIGHTMARE.EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. If I'd wanted to pay for a performative yoga class, I would've done that. I do not CARE if Bob from Sacramento enjoys downward-facing-dog. Please get me into a kayak and onto the water, thank yoooou!!! - The guides vary in their style and knowledge. We had Seamus, a bellower who scared all wildlife away because he YELLED. Once on the water, every single living thing scurried away or dove headlong into the water, including me, as soon as he started bellowing. (Note: We ALMOST saw a few otters.) It would've been simple to round up the guests: there were 3 guides and all had walkie-talkies. All they needed to do was communicate to each other, then us, that we were gathering for a lesson-slash-mansplaining session. Please, train your guides to respect the local wildlife and the guest's ears :( - As many of the guides do, ours fashioned himself to be a naturalist. However, he couldn't get his facts straight, which was frustrating for our group of *actual* naturalists. He misindentified 4 different bird species in the first hour, then plucked a starfish off a rock where it was feeding to hold up for display. Dude -- leave the wildlife alone, please, and go brush up on your birds. (FYI: that wasn't a Great Blue, it was a Black-Crowned Night heron. That was a flock of snowy egrets, not terns. And while bears have claws, osprey do not - they have TALONS. You're welcome.) We appreciated the attempted education, but maybe make sure your guides know a bit more before you sic them on the public...? TL/DR: Tomales Bay is an epic kayaking location, but vet the kayak company you choose carefully. Bring layers, water & sunblock. Ditch guides who scream/mansplain and leave them on the shore. Enjoy!! read more

We had a fantastic tour of Tomales Bay, provided by Jeff and Laurie. This was my 3rd time in a kayak, and for a few people in the group it was their first. The bay is dynamic, we experienced both calm as a lake waters, and bumpy (about 6" wave height). Completely manageable for an inexperienced kayaker. They provide waterproof jacket (I was fine without it), life jacket/pfd, and spray skirt. There are porta-potties at the boat launch. You take a half-hour break at one of the beaches, be sure to bring a lunch. Tip your guides! read more

We took advantage of their kayak rental service directly from Heart's Desire beach. We had two small children and the two staff members were incredibly helpful and just really nice. It made the day that much better. The kayaks and equipment were in great shape and our reservation time was flexible (I booked for two hours but they let us change it to four hours before we took off). Highly recommended! read more

I had previously tried to rent kayaks from this outfit a couple of years ago and they basically blew me off and were colossally unhelpful. I went back this past weekend and...I wish I hadn't. You go into Point Reyes Station, load the kayak(s) onto your car yourself, drive to a launch spot (they recommend Hearts Desire Beach, which costs an extra fee), then unload and reload everything on your own. All that shuttling and loading with no help from staff means that a half-day reservation realistically translates to less than 3 hours on the water. At the very least, Blue Waters should have a staff person stationed at the recommended put-in spot to give customers a hand if needed. I had rented two single kayaks so my boyfriend and I had to move them one by one to and from the beach - which took a fair amount of time - and we would have been unable to reload safely without the help of some very kind strangers who saw how much trouble we were having. Plus strapping the kayaks down tight enough to stay secure in the wind dented the roof of my car. If I wanted to do literally all the heavy lifting myself, I would buy my own kayak instead of paying an outfitter to not help at all. read more

We made a last-minute decision to do some self-guided kayaking around Tomales bay, and rented a 2 person kayak from Blue Waters. It was a great experience -- they were super-helpful and thorough, including teaching us how to strap the kayak to the roof of our car with the equipment they provided, as well as giving us maps of the bay and wildlife guides. Very friendly outfit, would recommend to anyone wanting to kayak in the area! read more

We attended the bioluminescence tour held by blue water kayaking and it was amazing! They provided us windproof jacket and spray skirt so we did not feel cold our entire ride. Our guides explained everything well and was quite helpful in guiding us during the trip. The bioluminescence was really cool, we could see it while paddling and under the kayak while moving. Highly recommend it! Tip: You can have dinner and park your car at Nick's Cove next door, good view and good food and free parking. It's walking distance to the kayak place. read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

See all

Went on the Bioluminescence tour of Tamales Bay. While the Guides were great, the equipment was not. Our first Kayak had the foot pedal break and so they had to get another Kayak. The tour was supposed to start at 7:00, but we only got onto the water at 8:30 with this delay and with waiting for the other tours to get out. Our second Kayak had the rudder keep sticking making our Kayak go off in every direction. I had to paddle like I have never done before to get it going straight. My back and arms are in pain as I write this. Never going to go out in group kayaks again unless it is a none rudder style. If rudder is not turning as it should it makes for a crappy experience. Our guides did not have much sympathy for us and kept blaming us for not using it right. I did not enjoy the trip at all. read more

We rented kayaks for the weekend and the people at this shop were super friendly and very helpful. They took their time to explain details and carefully mounted our kayak to the roof of our Mazda Miata mx-5. I wasn't sure if it could work but because the car was hard top, it worked. Super pumped to come back and rent more kayaks in the future. Rent your kayaks here if you want to go a cross the bay to beach camping. read more

Great friendly and efficient service. We picked up our kayaks at nicks cove for a half day rental, which is more than enough time to enjoy the area ... now to go get some oysters read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

See all

My boyfriend and I had a great experience with Blue Waters Kayaking. It was a fun way to get outside and away from the city. A couple things to know: 1. Make reservations prior to going. (Especially if you're going on a weekend). I had called the day before for a Sunday reservation. 2. The shop is behind a gas station. You'll need to strap the kayak to your car and drive a couple miles to Hearts Desire Beach at Tomales Bay State Park. 3. Pack some light snacks to enjoy on your Kayak and then head to the Marshall Store for some oysters! read more

Anee, Diego and Sabrina were knowledgeable and awesome! We learned so much about the bay, the animals and sea life that live there, and the surrounding landscape. It was all so cool to see that sometimes I would even forget to paddle! Which at one point put us pretty far behind but Anee came to the rescue and there were multiple meeting points so we never felt too far behind. I'm normally not the outdoorsy type but I have to say it was a lot of fun and I'd totally do it again. Good times! read more

"We had a great experience with blue water kayaks. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. We rented sit on top sea kayaks and paddled around Tomales Bay and had such an amazing day. The equipment was in good condition and they run a safe and fun operation." read more

See all

We rented kayaks from here on our own without guide and it was fairly affordable. $70 for double kayaks, $50 for single kayak. There is a $5 cash discount per boat if payment is made fully in cash. We were expecting to rent closed top kayaks, and were definitely disappointed to know that they only allow open top kayaks :( Thankfully, they rental came with wet suit which helped to keep us warm. They also provided life jackets to keep you safe in case you capsize. It turns out that capsizing on the open top kayaks were extremely difficult. My friends on single kayaks tried and it definitely took them some effort to intentionally capsize ;) The nice lady gave us a quick orientation on paddling and getting on/off the kayak before sending us off. It was a beautiful day and we had a nice time paddling to a nearby beach for a quick picnic. It wasnt too sunny, but sunblock would still be good. Also I like that they provided dry bags for our belongings so we could stuff our food in there for the picnic. The water was relatively calm and it was a pretty easy paddle. Unfortunately, we didnt get to see any wild life :( Overall, it was a good experience :) read more

We did the nighttime bioluminescence tour and it was excellent. The guides were knowledgeable and helpful. The equipment was in good shape. It's a bit expensive, but it's in a national park at night, so it's a unique experience that you're not going to do often. We did get lucky with the weather and the bioluminescence on our particular night; other nights you might not see as much. read more

The bioluminescence tour was fantastic -- cannot recommend it highly enough. I grew up in the Bay Area but had never heard about these glow-in-the-dark plankton. Amazing!! Our guides were great -- very professional. They explained the sights and kept us together but weren't overbearing. Truly a unique experience. Also this is a perfect activity during the pandemic (our tour was in August 2020). It's an outdoor activity with natural social distancing. Everyone wore masks on shore, and the guides made a point of keeping everyone spaced appropriately. Excellent. read more

I can't recommend these guys enough. I recently rented a single, sit-on-top kayak from them for a two day solo camping trip in Tomales Bay. Everyone was extremely helpful in helping me prepare for the trip, over the phone, by email and in -person. Piro (not sure if that's how you spell her name) was especially helpful in teaching me how to load and unload my kayak from the car as a solo female traveler. They all gave me the skills, equipment and encouragement I needed to have a great time out on the water. It was a great trip, thanks to them! I would definitely rent from them again. Thank you guys! read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - Camping on Marshall Beach - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

See all

I went on their bioluminescence kayak trip and it was wonderful. It's very well organized and the team leading it know what their doing. They'll make you comfortable regardless of you kayaking experience. They provide the kayak, a paddle, spray jackets, a spray skirt, and a life vest. Everything you need for a fun and informative paddle on the water. I had Liz, Tom, and Zack running my trip and they were friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed it and I'll gladly go again. Be sure to dress comfortably with nothing cotton. Make sure you're dressed warmly enough for your trip, because there's nothing worse than being cold and miserable while you're out on the water. If you're not sure what to bring they have information on their website or you can always give them a call. I wore a pair of rain pants, hiking boots, a long sleeve base layer shirt, a short sleeve synthetic shirt, and a synthetic fleece vest. I also brought along a pair of gloves and a thin hat, which I ended up putting on later in the trip. This along with the spray jacket, spray skirt, and life jacket were comfortable to me for a night with a little wind and temps in the low 50s and high 40s. They're very easy to deal with and are good at what they do. I can't recommend Blue Water enough. read more

Great place to launch off their kayaks. Please make a reservation, especially if you want a single. You will wait a bit for one with no reservation. Lovely setting and easy 2 hour rental, no guide. The kayaks are ok, no rudder so steering can be a little tiresome and the open seated style was a little slow. Oars are a bit damaged but pretty useable. Warning: you will get wet. Prepare for it with proper clothing and you'll enjoy the heck out of the journey. read more

This was our first time kayaking and we could not have asked for better guides. We appreciated the explanations on kayaking how to, and the patience and direction of the skillful guides. We loved learning about the geology, native (and non native) plants, ecology and history of the area. Perfect pacing to rest, take photos, and take in the beautiful bay. Thank you for a safe, and outstanding first adventure! read more

Blue Waters Kayaking - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Point Reyes Station, California

Good honest people run this business! I'm not even a customer, but received help after stopping by to inquire if they had an air pump I could borrow (since mine appeared to be broken). Dallas disassembled part of my pump and diagnosed a blown fuse. It was located in an unexpected part of the pump! We though the whole unit was broken, but due to his help we were up and running quickly. So thanks again, Dallas! read more

Friendly, helpful staff and solid equipment - partner and I rented a two person kayak for a half day. Kayaking in Tomales Bay is beautiful! Will definitely come back soon read more

Amazing Private Kayaking Tour! The bioluminescent kayaking & camping trip I took last year was so amazing that this year I decided to host a private trip for my friends and family. We had 17 people on our trip, including folks who had kayaked, a couple of people who had never kayaked, and one person who had never slept in a tent before. Amanda and Kelly were awesome guides. They gave us a great tour of Tomales Bay during the day and a magical tour of the bioluminescent bloom after dark. They were both very knowledgeable, supportive, and fun! I would highly recommend Blue Waters Kayaking for your next adventure! read more

See all

I recently did a kayak trip to Tomales Bay. Prior to the trip I called John at Blue Waters Kayaking to get a feel of what I might be getting myself into. John was very helpful, answered a lot of my question, and put me at ease. The trip went great thanks to John and BWK. Would recommend this to anyone looking for some Tomales bay adventure. read more

We were all set for an evening kayak trip. Unfortunately due to the weather, they cancelled. I get it, due to safety. However, when I booked reservation, I paid a 5% processing fee which I knew about. However, they cancelled the trip and refunded me but got charged the 5% again. It's not my fault the trip was cancelled and I understand you can't predict the weather but think it's a pretty s******* thing to do to charge me another processing fee because I want a refund. I was visiting from out of town and could not rebook another trip. I should have said something right away on the phone, but didn't think about it till later and the woman on the phone wasn't to pleasant. I have a high tolerance of patience, but feel they could handle these cancellations better. read more

Went on the night bioluminescent tour. It was surreal. The water was dark fog rolled in which made the bay mysterious. As you are paddling the oars light up as you scoop the water. The guides Lori, Amanda CalmYar were fantastic and very informative. This is a must do tour. read more

We had a great experience on the bioluminescence tour. Only in the Bay Area, unique and otherworldly. Our tour leader was very good and his and the front "office's" judgement about the wind and whether to go out, when to cancel, was excellent as was the tour route. Also they were quite good with training and assisting. We crossed Tomales Bay to Hog Island, rafted up with the other kayaks, crossed to Wall beach, worked our way up to other coves and crossed back over to the launch site. Three legs of a triangle probably just under 3 miles total distance. The bioluminescence manifests as sparkles in the water in any turbulence such as from your kayak paddle or if a fish or sea creature swims thru vigorously. Really neat, really cool. You do need black dark night and your best nighttime vision to see this. Any nearby light pollution such as from a flashlight or camera lcd ruins it. Our equipment, however was worn out and should have been retired or repaired: broken handles and straps on the kayak, poorly operating rudder pedals with schlocky nylon strap type cables to the rudder; old junk which affected my ability to keep my feet on the pedals and keep the rudder operating and steer. We were supplied much better gear kayaking the Channel Islands, for example. Fortunately with little wind our night, no waves, all went well. So a 5 star rating for the experience and tour and a 1 star for lousy equipment. There was another outfitter leaving our night and they seemed more regimented with better equipment. I personally would not have liked the extra regimentation but would have preferred the better gear. Also we went out with some 12 kayaks total, 9 client boats, tandem seating, and 3 guide boats; that seemed quite a large group, we clonked into one another regularly as we rafted up and derafted and it affected my enjoyment of the experience. Better would have been a group of no more than 4 kayaks and you maybe could have had a quiet moment to observe the phenomena. read more

One of the most amazing experiences in my life was being able to see the bioluminescence. The team is amazing and they are super friendly, kind and knowledgeable. I highly recommend. read more