We booked a Dinner on the Dunes tour for two to celebrate our anniversary and we had a wonderful time! John, our paddle tour guide, took us to a number of special places through the bay and we learned a great deal about the local marine life and history. The water was smooth and easy kayaking and John didn't need to rush. When we got to the dunes, he set up a fine picnic dinner with great salads (the couscous was my favorite), crackers, bread, hummus and carrots. There was beer, wine, and sodas. The paddle back had an amazing sunset as a backdrop (no fog!). Altogether thoroughly amazing! read more

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My friends and I loved our kayak tour with John! As a group of 5, we decided on two tandems and one single. It was easy to follow John through the calm waters on a cloudy Saturday morning, and we enjoyed learning about all sea otters, birds, harbor seals, oysters, and ecosystems. We saw so much wildlife while keeping a respectful distance. We greatly appreciated John's patience with 5 girls who all reunited for the first time in four years and had much to catch up on. The tour was so well organized and he was truly a wonderful guide. We can't recommend this tour enough for some seriously therapeutic time with nature!!! Don't be afraid if you're a beginner! They go through the basics with you and are nearby to help if needed. Life vests are worn at all time for safety. There was a big parking lot and quite a few unisex restrooms available. read more

Frickin' LOVED this experience. Booking was easy.. instructions were easy.. they ensured I knew how to get there (GPS may be wrong) and park. Our guide Mike was fantastic - easy going, talkative, informative. I kept getting distracted during the sunset kayak I booked... watching birds and seals and otters and he was very patient with me. Mike took us through the harbor and over to the opposite beach - 4 miles of shore with no other people! We had some cheese / crackers / wine and admired the view before heading back to the dock. It was so quiet and gorgeous. We can't wait to return and do it again. read more

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We did the sunset tour with John and I cannot recommend it highly enough! Saw harbor seals, a sea otter or two, pelicans, herons, cormorants, and fish. We were lucky enough to get a fairly clear sunset at the dunes, which was amazing, before the fog closed back in for the paddle back to harbor. He has so much local knowledge (including what's going on with iconic smokestacks). We will definitely do this again when we come back next year. read more

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What's better than kayaking on Morro Bay? Kayaking Morro Bay at Sunset with a private tour by Ocean Mike! My travel companion and I accidentally had the tour to ourself, and Ocean Mike went above and beyond to make it a special tour for us. Because it was just the three of us in the water, we were able to take our time admiring the sea otters, sea lions, and various birds while the sun went down on the horizon. We took a little walk around the island and Mike provided wine and snacks for the perfect little picnic. Mike's enthusiasm and love of the nature around the bay was infectious. He was highly knowledgeable about everything from the local history to the best place to grab some fresh oysters in town. If you want to get an in-depth appreciation of Morro Bay, definitely take a tour at the Kayak Shack, and ask for Ocean Mike! read more

So this morning looked brutally foggy, my daughter even asked if we would see anything but on our third tour, this time with Bonnie, the views and wildlife did not disappoint. Bonnie is really great with kids, you can tell she is a great mom. She was very informative and offered different information and facts about the estuary than we had heard before as well as a new route. We saw our first bat ray, lots of seals and otters, tons of birds too! read more

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What an amazing tour and seamless booking process. John answered my questions and booked us a tour for that weekend (March 2021). We were a party of four with two adults and two kids (ages 6 and 8). The communication was superb, John called us and arranged an early start time in order to beat the winds. On arrival, Mandy greeted us and filled us in on the day's weather. We actually had a negative tide that morning but Mandy took us through the bay and provided knowledgeable insight. She cautioned us and guided us safely through the shallow waters. She tailored the tour to our kids and made it exciting and fun for them. We saw the oyster farm, a tiger shark, seals, an otter, and went tide pooling in our kayaks. We made a stop at the dunes and the kids LOVED it. Bring sleds or bogey boards, we totally forgot to. The tour was pricey, but the service/guide during the weather made the tour worth its weight in gold. The tour included water and a light snack. Bring water shoes, light clothing that can get wet. They did provide a jacket for my husband (he forgot his) and provided lap blankets for the whole party. read more

Central Coast Outdoors - Protected waters - Tours Near Me - Morro Bay, California

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Our kayaking excursion on Morro Bay exceeded every expectation! I was traveling alone with my two young boys (4 and 8 years old) and wasn't sure if it was even possible to get out on the water, but Central Coast Outdoors made it easy. John responded promptly to my email and offered to set up a reasonably priced private tour. He recommended going out early to avoid the wind that was predicted that day, and conditions ended up being perfect. Virginia was our guide, and it was so nice to have someone knowledgable navigating us to the best spots. We saw several mama and baby seal pairs on the shore, and then some came out to our kayaks to say hello! It was magical. Virginia also shared all sorts of interesting animal facts that we have continued to talk about days later. This family-run company clearly prioritizes providing a great experience to their customers. Our tour was the highlight of our vacation, and we will be back on future trips to Morro Bay! read more

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This is our second adventure with Central Coast Outdoors and it was just as much fun as the first. Both times we were treated to well organized kayaking with very friendly and knowledgeable guides. We will be back again! read more

I say maybe but give the central coast 5 stars is it's a paradise and we want to keep it that way. But if you love it here and you're visiting please, please be kind, pick up your trash and dog poop and be respectful. That way we can enjoy your company. Some of the most pleasant people /tourists we've met are from foreign countries appreciating our beautiful views. read more

We kayaking today with the family today. Our guide was Katarina and she was just fabulous!! We had never been before and she was excellent at teaching us. My daughter and I were in one, my wife and son in the other kayak. We had a lot of fun and I highly recommend this tour for everyone!! Katarina was great at explaining things and super patient with us beginners! She's wonderful! We saw seals, birds and even a otter! It was such a wonderful time we hope to come back and do it again! This a must thing to do in Morro Bay! read more

Really great place for kayaking. They do other activities as well but we have gone on three guided kayak paddles with them and we were impressed with the guides each time. Very patient and informative. Would like to try the "sunset paddle" next time. read more

Central Coast Outdoors - Morro Rock - Tours Near Me - Morro Bay, California

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We had an amazing time on our sunset paddle with Katharina! Our party consisted of an 11 year old, 2 adults, and our mother (late-60s). We were joined by another couple out this trip as well and Katharina did an amazing job catering to everyone's kayaking experience levels while still ensuring we all had a great time. We learned a ton about wildlife and had the privilege of seeing a ton of birds and some seals in the bay. The sand dunes were beautiful and allowed for a great view of the sunset. There was quite a selection of drinks and snacks offered. On the way back we were able to see the stars come out and finally when we got back to the dock we were able to see the moon. Overall an amazing experience for all of us. We really loved having Katharina as a tour guide. Can't wait to come back again! read more

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My husband and some friends did a coastal bike ride from the bay area to Santa Barbara. This is the second trip they have done with John at Central Coast Outdoors. It was a phenomenal experience both times. John is an expert in the area and he made the trip a special one for the whole group. The group appreciated the support, the food/accommodation recommendations and the stories John shared. We'd highly recommend Central Coast Outdoors! read more

We had a wonderful time for our sunset kayaking trip. Although the weather didn't corporate, so we didn't get to see the sunset because the fog was so thick. Our guide Mandy, made our trip so worth it, even without the sunset. We saw sea lions, baby sea lions, pelicans and a bird sanctuary. She describe the local area and the oyster shelf on the banks of the ocean. Mandy gave a brief summary of her background which included her many years of kayaking in Florida, California and participating in the olympics. She was a wealth of information. Mandy was so personable and easy to talk to. We had the option to go the designated spot or keep paddling around the bay. We all decided to continue to paddle around the bay. She had so much patience with us newbies. We had a baby sea lion follow us for a while. After all said and done we would love to kayak again with Mandy and see the sunset. Thanks again for a special day and a great conclusion to our trip. read more

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The Kayak Shack was the highlight of our day. Our guide was exactly what you'd hope for. He was informative, good humored and kept the tour at a steady pace. read more

Central Coast Outdoors - Kayak shack! - Tours Near Me - Morro Bay, California

We did a sunset kayak tour and it was stunningly beautiful! Also, our guides, Jen and Mike, were so knowledgeable about the local wildlife on the bay, were so nice and fun, showed us the best picture spots, even did some wildlife show and tell -- it was more than I expected and really added to the experience. They also knew the best spots for viewing the sunset and how and where to dock. Very glad we went with Central Coast Outdoors instead of trying to kayak on our own -- we would have missed out on a lot! read more

Half day kayak trip in Morro Bay. Saw seals, an otter, tons of birds. Dave and Heather were awesome. read more

Central Coast Outdoors - Tours Near Me - Morro Bay, California

I went on a guided sunset kayaking tour with Mandy, the tour guide, and had a great time. Before heading out, she gave a brief lesson on how to paddle and maneuver the kayak . The weather wasn't very cooperative (extremely windy resulting in white caps on the water & a bit of rain) so our tour was modified. Instead of going out into the middle of the bay, we kayaked close to shore to avoid the choppy waters. I very much appreciated her concern for our safety and offering us the option of cancelling or modification. Mandy was very knowledgeable about the history of the land and the animals that we saw (egrets, blue heron, cormorants and a lot of other birds, a momma otter and her baby). We still had our wine, cheese and crackers, which were delicious, and Mandy took us on a land tour around the area. The next time I'm in the area, I would book with them again. read more

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We had such an amazing kayaking trip - what a beautiful spot! Our guide (Virginia) was lovely and knowledgeable and we saw so much wildlife! Would highly recommend. read more

My wife and I booked the short paddle kayak tour around Morro Bay. Let me just say this tour far exceeded my expectations! We got lucky and were the only ones to book the tour that morning so we got a de facto private tour with our guide John. He was great. Very personable and kind; he made my wife feel right at ease as she was very nervous about kayaking for the first time. You will learn a lot. John's knowledge of the area's history, flora, and fauna was vast and I came away from the trip having learned a ton! As fellow animal lovers, I would also like to mention how much we appreciated John's care not to allow our group to disturb or frighten the wildlife, of which we saw quite a bit. Seeing enormous flocks of pelicans and egrets flying majestically just over your head while seals frolic in the water nearby was an unforgettable experience for this nature lover. What are you waiting for? Book a tour and get out there on the water! You wont regret it! read more

Just had the most amazing private kayak tour! Our guide Ed showed us wildlife, plants and taught us all about the local geography. Ed made our tour so enjoyable and educational - highly recommend!! The blankets and snacks are also a perk :) read more

We were first time kayakers, mom and daughter (11), and had a great time! Our instructor, Tom, was the best, my daughter had some anxiety about kayaking but once we were out on the water she had a great time. I think having a calm instructor who loved kayaking himself was super helpful and he knew a lot about the area and local wildlife. We hope to be back!! Thanks!! read more

Central Coast Outdoors - Harbor Seal - Tours Near Me - Morro Bay, California

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Seems like I'm not the only one that has enjoyed my experience here. Took my young daughter on a kayaking adventure with Craig and Chris as our guides. While there was nothing flashy about our tour of the bay, there did not need to be. Our guides were knowledgable and genuinely seemed to care about our experience. Morro Bay is absolutely gorgeous and the morning views were amazing. read more

My tour with Caterina was the highlight of my trip to the Central Coast. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and so helpful in every way. She made everyone feel welcome and could answer any question, and the wine and cheese spread was great. If I return I would do the same tour again. read more

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Normally we just rent kayaks but this time we decided to do a tour and I'm so glad we did! There are so many different bird species and other interesting i things that we never would have known about if we had gone out on our own. Virginia is super knowledgeable and so friendly and easy to speak to. We called the day before and booked the tour over the phone. They let us know about the road work en route so we knew to leave a little earlier. Super friendly and personable. Can't wait to go back with the kids. read more

Great kayak tour of Morro Bay! Our guide Michael did a fabulous job of sharing interesting info about the Bay. Watching the sea otters play and "shooting the pier" (kayaking under the pier) were our favorite parts of the tour! Also loved the waterproof lap blankets to keep our legs warm & dry. read more

Rented a tandem kayak. Beautiful day, everything worked, easy and painless to do, and everybody was really nice and service was great. The area is fantastic for kayaking, whether going through the wetlands, checking out seals and birds, or paddling to the sand dunes that act as a giant breaker for the bay. You can easily spend hours and hours here. We got a wet bag for a dollar extra, which we would recommend for cameras, wallets, whatever, although tandem kayaks are kinda hard to tip. Great experience. read more

Michael was an excellent guide. He went over and above. His knowledge of the wildlife and animals made our tour very fun! I highly recommend the tour! We got to see many fun things and it was a high point in our trip! read more

The wife and I had a great time with this. Paul, our guide, was perfect for this type of tour. He shared all types of knowledge ranging from the current wildlife, the changing ecosystem of the bay, as well as historical context for a variety of things. I'm glad we went for the "short paddle" (short referring to time) rather than the half day. It was the perfect amount of time for us. read more

We had a great time on our sunset Kayaking tour! Our guide was Mandy and she was awesome. Knowledgeable, friendly. We saw seals, tons of pelicans, and live sand dollars. Great little hike on the sand dunes, followed by some wine and cheese at sunset. My friends and I would love to come back and enjoy it again. Thanks Mandy!!! read more

My son and I had such a wonderful experience doing the short paddle. Check-in was easy, we got all of our gear and instructions and got going right away. The views are stunning. Jen was our guide and she's knowledgeable, funny, and just a beautiful human being. We saw a sea otter, lots of birds and were followed by several curious seals along the way. I highly recommend it. read more

Have you ever experienced something so beautiful, so ethereal, so spiritually moving, yet so delicate it makes you hold your breath? You're scared to breath because any moment, you might wake up and realize that the artistry is just a figment of your imagination, a chimera of sorts. The sun bouncing off the water reminds me of Dawson's creek. (oh the 90's) The light emanating speckles of glittering rainbows. The elements fashioning exquisite patterns in the sand. The sun sets and all I can think of is how to describe the colors, so vibrant, so alive. I tried to capture them in a photo but they refused to be held captive. As the sun is setting, the world becomes a blur. I can't help the tear rolling down my cheek, nothing makes me feel more like a pussy. I sigh a sigh of contentment. Wishing I could somehow freeze frame this intangible moment and cherish it. Our tour guide, and owner of this company Jon was a sweetheart. We set up a kayaking tour and sunset picnic directly with him and since it was off-season still and it was slow, he was able to be our tour guide and fit the 4 of us in right away. He showed us the ropes of how to steer and row, and we set off on the adventure. Don't be fooled, your arms will be sore after it. haha He guided us around and pointed out sea otters and sea lions and egrets and all the different types of birds. When we finally got across the bay, we were able to frolic in the sand dunes. We body surfed down the dunes and explored the deserted beach. Right when the sun was about to set, we trekked back and there was a beautiful picnic spread of wine and an assortment of drinks and cheeses, crackers, and fruit. (I discovered a love for smoked Gouda as well.) Watching the sunset while scarfing down brie and apple slices with some local white wine is my idea of heaven. After the sun set, we packed up and kayaked back to the dock. Tired and worn but thoroughly happy, we dragged ourselves to the car and made the long journey home. This weekend adventure was a success. Supercalifrajilisticexpealidosious read more

We had a fantastic time on the trip. Our guide, Karen, warned us that the weather was gruesome and gave us the option of canceling and getting a full refund, or rescheduling for another day. We were glad they gave us those options, but we were only in Morro Bay for one night and didn't want to miss out, so we went ahead. Over the course of our trip, the weather got dramatically better, and we saw a beautiful sunset over the dunes and paddled back to the dock among a number of bat rays that were coming out to feed. We learned a lot from our guide, both about kayaking and about the wildlife in Morro Bay, and we really felt we saw some special things. We would definitely book with this company again. read more

I took my children on a short vacation during their spring break. We decided to book a Big Sur eco-tour. John and Craig were our guides, and they were simply outstanding. My kids and I learned so much about the central coast and Big Sur. They showed us historical landmarks and revealed various footnotes of the region. I was amazed by the breadth of their knowledge. When John and Craig were explaining various events and the ecology of the area other folks tended to be mesmerized and followed our tour. hat became somewhat of a nuisance, but I was extremely pleased with the day long tour. Additionally, the gourmet lunch they provided was great. This trip was the highlight of our trip, and my kids and I are looking forward to booking another trip with them again. I would suggest booking with them during the off-season, as you won't have to compete with other people at these locations, who are trying to vie for the perfect picutresque vista. read more

My wife and I booked the Big Sur Eco Tour on our honeymoon and it was quite possibly the best experience during our stay in CA. Our tour guide, Cindi, picked us up at Treebones Resort and took us to our first destination, a hike down to Partington Cove. The journey down was a pleasurable hike down a trail that led us to the cove giving us some wonderful views of the Pacific. Although we didn't spot any sea otters in the kelp, we knew our day was off to a great start. From there, we journeyed north to Julia Pfeiffer-Burns State Park which led us to even more breathtaking views of the pacific overlooking a waterfall on the beach below. It was here that we learned a little bit about the park's namesake and about Helen Hooper-Brown. Cindi was very knowledgeable in the area as well as the history and opened our eyes to a whole new chapter in history that we knew nothing about. We were then left alone for about a half hour to explore the area a bit more and I only wish we had a little bit more time. However, when we met up with Cindi, she had laid out a fine, gourmet lunch for us to enjoy and the best part was sitting amongst the Redwoods along a stream. It was a nice peaceful break to our morning adventure and a fine segue in to the afternoon hike. After lunch, we continued traveling north to Limekiln State Park where we began a hike through more Redwoods which eventually took us to an area with four lime kilns. It reminded us of hikes we've taken in the Kent, CT area where furnaces can still be found. We then hiked across some streams, over and under some downed trees until we reached a magnificent waterfall in the middle of the forest. It was a sight to see and a true pleasure. We highly recommend booking this tour through Central Coast Outdoors and we've already been raving to friends and family to book a trip if they ever find themselves in the San Luis Obispo/Big Sur area. The hike was advertised, moderate-easy and is worth checking out if you're looking for activities to do. read more

I work as an outdoor educator for a school, and we took both our 9th and 10th grade students on the Kayak Tour of Morro Bay. I only have positive things to say about this company! The itinerary is educational, scenic, and fun, seeing and learning so much about Morro Bay in the allotted time. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and their enthusiasm was infectious. All students, regardless of ability or initial interest, had a phenomenal time and walked away with a truly unforgettable experience. Would recommend to any group, whether friends, school, family, or any other reason to get out on the water with these incredible guides. read more

If you are considering doing a tour through Central Coast Outdoors- stop deliberating and just do it. You will not be sorry, and more importantly, you are likely to having an amazing and memorable experience. My fiance and I went on the dinner on the dunes kayak tour, and it is something we will never forget. Our tour guide was a biologist, and he knew all the answers to my relentless questions about the birds and wildlife. At one point, we paddled into a feeding frenzy- when the sea lions chase a school of fish into a tight ball and everyone starts feeding on the fish including the birds. There we were with pelicans and cormorants diving into the water only a yard or two from us. We even had a sea lion pop his head out of the water a few yards away. As if that weren't enough for one tour, we paddled over to the dunes, and got to explore while our guide made us dinner. While on the dunes, we pretty much had them all to ourselves. The sun was setting, so it was a great view. I have to commend CCO on how friendly they were in catering to our dietary restrictions- we're vegetarian and gluten free. They were completely understanding and accommodating, so don't let a food allergy hold you back from calling them. After we finished dinner (which included locally grown wine), we paddled back to the dock in the dark, which was yet another enchanting experience. The only bad thing about the tour was that it had to come to an end, but I have a feeling we'll be back for another tour sometime soon. read more

It was very easy to book a group tour with our Scout troop for the Sunset Paddle. The staff were responsive and flexible by email, and we were able to pre-sign all the waivers. The trip was about 3 hours long, and the guides, Heather and Jen, were knowledgeable and fun. It isn't an easy task to hold the attention of 10 adolescent boys. One of the many highlights was a pit-stop on the sand spit to have some dune time. Sliding, jumping, and tumbling in the soft sand was a hit. Cresting the dunes on the way back to the kayaks and seeing the pink/purple sky reflecting in the bay was amazing. I guess the best praise would be the unanimous "YES!" from the Scouts that they would do it again next year. read more

We booked a half day kayaking tour not knowing what to expect. We had a blast. Our tour guide Tom was amazing and very knowledgeable. He took us around to the best wildlife viewing areas in the bay. It was incredible to paddle next to harbor seals and see pelicans fishing on the water. Our only disappointment was not getting to see an otter. We will have to come again. This was a very well organized company and the tour exceeded our expectations. Our five year old thought it was the best thing ever and is now bugging us to buy our own kayaks so we can go all the time. The paddle to the dunes was incredible. Thanks for the great adventure. read more