We love renting kayaks here! Such a lovely place to paddle out of! The staff is always so helpful too! Great prices! Much Fun to be had for a couple hours! Highly recommend! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

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We had the best time!!! We rented 2 double kayaks for an hour and had so much fun. The harbor is beautiful and the owner was very sweet. The water is much clearer than the Ventura harbor. Definitely recommend you rent here! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

Mike was super nice, pleasant, gave me a shortnlesson, and I was on my way. Great folks and location!!

We had so much fun. The owner of the kayak place was very cool. He was like a real life Johnny Lawrence from cobra Kai. We will definitely go back again read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Us at the Kayak rental - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

If you are visiting Ventura County & you're not sure where to go or what to do.......I highly recommend renting a kayak and getting out on the water! You won't even get wet! Even my dog loves it! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - My dog loves being out on the kayak with me! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

$20 for a single kayak for an hour.... this was soooo fun, so therapeutic, and a good form of exercise. I highly recommend this place!

Everyone here is so nice from the people in the office to the strong men who push out the kayaks and pull us up. Prices are good and they always give you a little extra time. They are able to handle large groups too but if you want several single kayaks you should reserve in advance. Very professional company. read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Doubles kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

Great service! Reasonably priced. Got a double kayak and it was great to cruise around the harbor

This place was great. From Mike the owner, to Claire our tour guide. Mike was so nice to call me and go over the pricing and type of kayak tour we would be going on, he was attentive and so professional and kind. Upon arrival the entire staff was very friendly and welcoming. Claire, our guide was so knowledgeable about the history of Channel Islands, and the wildlife there. She made the tour so personal and she was so friendly the whole time. We even got to take our own time to explore the harbor ourselves after the tour was done, admiring the sea lions, starfish, crabs, and birds. I didn't get his name but the guy helping us in/out our kayaks was also a total sweetheart and so helpful. Kayaking was fun and relaxing and I will definitely be frequenting this place to rent kayaks in the future. Great prices, great people definitely recommend! read more

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Took my nephew SUP paddle boarding for his birthday and we had the best time. Mike the owner is super knowledgeable and extremely helpful. To me he made the experience. He's a world champion in surfing. I'm definitely gonna come back. I would highly recommend this activity. It connects you to nature and the beautiful ocean. Thank you Mike!! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

My family had the best time. The staff was very friendly and did their best to keep the line moving. Highly recommend. I can't wait to go back. read more

Went during Labor Day Weekend and they had a long line going out the door! Would recommend going early if you want to avoid the lines. Aside from the wait, we had a fun experience. They have tons of paddles and kayaks waiting at the docs, and their staff let you leave your shoes on the dock if you don't/can't bring them with you on your kayak. Great prices and we were on the water relatively quickly after signing our waivers. My one critique is their customer service. We were told to walk down to the docks for a kayak, but no one told us to grab a paddle and life jacket. It's unclear that the life jackets and paddles that are laid out belong to the store and not some other owner on the doc, but we grabbed what was available and assumed it was all ok. The guys helping us into our kayaks were nice enough, but seemed frustrated by the lack of organization and communication with their management at the storefront. Paying at the end was truly the most lacking part of their customer service - the girls working in the store were really rude when we went to pay. They acted like we were causing a ton of hassle for them when all we were trying to do was pay and wrap up our day. Granted, we knew they were having a busy day, but no one was waiting behind us to be helped and there's no excuse for rude customer service. All in all, you spend most of your time on the water anyways so we still had a great time. I'd definitely return and recommend this place to friends and family, but just caveat the customer service. read more

One of the most unorganized kayak businesses I've ever encountered. We went the day before Labor Day, which meant that many other families did the same. It is understandable that there would be a wait, but the business was completely caught off guard by the amount of customers. They ran out of forms, so the staff were writing by pen on blank sheets of paper. The staff taking in the rental forms were bored and seemed aggravated the entire time, which I can sympathize with given the circumstances, but added to the generally lackluster experience. Strangely enough, it was organized by the trust system as you pay after you rent the kayaks/stand up paddleboards, and they don't even take in a drivers license as collateral. This was interesting, but resulted in even more people waiting in line, not only those waiting to rent the kayaks but those who were waiting to pay afterwards. The staff were struggling to divide the line. Outside of the intake process, the business proudly claimed to wash all the kayaks, paddles and life jackets between customers. That was obviously untrue as customers were told to throw their gear into a pile after the experience, one which new customers were told to choose from. All the gear was on the ground in big piles, which wasn't organized by size and is very unsanitary. The one good side of this experience were the staff that helped us get into the kayaks and off the landing docks into the water. They were very welcoming and made sure to give us instructions about where to go in the area. As a business, I would expect Channel Islands Kayak Center to be smarter and more organized especially during holiday seasons. It should be easy to understand that you would need to scale up your business. At a minimum, printing enough forms to make the experience smoother for both staff and customers should have been easy enough to do. read more

Me and my family rented kayaks to take on our camping trip to Santa Cruz Island. It was a five star experience from the beginning. Mike gave us a detailed introduction on safety, and what to check out around scorpion anchorage. The caves and rock formations were definitely the highlight of the camping trip. The advantage to renting vs. the guided tour provided by another company. With mikes guidance at departure,we got to experience everything and more of the tour. At our own pace. In a small group. Plus we got to use the kayaks all we wanted during our trip. Now for the super bonus. It was half the price. I couldn't recommend this company more. Thank you for providing my family with a lifetime experience we will never forget. read more

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The staff is friendly and the owner was very welcoming and informative about how to move around the bay for a good session. He also set up an interesting exhibit type under the small pier you go under to enter the bay. Also, we got to see a handful of seals in the bay as well, my favorite part! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

The line was long but it moved quickly and it was worth the wait. Only $20 for a double kayak for an hour, everything included. The life vests, oars, and the kayak itself were all in great condition and felt totally safe and clean. Our kids had so much fun! This is the perfect weekend activity if you need some fresh air and to do something a little different as a family. We loved every minute and we can't wait to go back! read more

We had a great time! Beside the crazy lady shouting at us to hurry up and move before she hits us with her boat we had read more

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Amazing experience! We really really needed to get out of the house (July 2020 covid times). SO HAPPY THIS PLACE WAS OPEN!!! Like the other reviews mentioned: clean, friendly, plentiful parking, felt safe! We got there 20 minutes before opening to skip the line and we signed everything (took 30 seconds) and just enjoyed the view! Kayaking was so fun! We stayed in the harbor. Got 3 singles and a double kayak. I had so much fun! Please support these guys! Also the restaurant next door was delicious! I would recommend the clam chowder! Oh and there were seals haha! So fun! read more

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Great experience for the price. Perfect for our mini vacation. It was easy to get in/out of the kayak and very straightforward to learn how to row. For younger kids however, I would recommend splitting a 2 person kayak with them. Maybe I'm weak but even I was struggling at the end! One thing they don't tell you is how tired your arms get after rowing for an hour lol. But it was great to get out into the open water and have a relaxing day! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

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Went Kayaking with my girlfriend and had a great time finally getting out and exercising despite the recent lockdown. The kayaks were sterilized between guests and we had a beautiful time in the harbor even on a windy day. The wind was blocked by the buildings and the water was calm. We saw some cute seals , fish, sting rays, and birds in our venture. I'll definitely be coming back again! The guys at the shop were extremely kind and helpful! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

Had an AMAZING adventure tour last Saturday. I was with Venture Well Yoga / Pop Up Yoga group at the Santa Cruz Islands. Our tour guides for kayaking were Marc, Hector & Rebecca. They were EXCELLENT! Well educated, well rounded, knowledgeable, informative, humorous, terrific mentors, kind, patient, and flat out SPECTACULAR! We saw harbor seals, sea lions, fish & numerous types of birds. We learned about all the creatures as well as the different types of kelp. We kayaked through many caves & it was a BLAST! I arrived as a beginner & afraid. I returned feeling confident, enlightened, and ready for more. What a rush! High adrenaline RUSH. Can't wait to do it again! Definitely the BEST part of our three day stay at Santa Cruz Island. THANK YOU! read more

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There was four of us on a double date paddle boarding for an hour and a half through the channel Islands Harbor. Had a fantastic time, was helped all through the process of getting on the board and showing how to use it. Sasha and Tony were fantastic! Sasha made the check in seem less and quick while Tony made sure we were set on our paddle boards before we took off. My wife says she wants to go once a week. Which at Channel Islands Kayak prices, it is definitely doable. read more

These guys are friendly, and the prices are reasonable. So happy they're open during these crazy times. I drive up from L.A. and it's more than worth it! read more

We had a great day today at the harbor! The staff here are all friendly and professional. Everyone works as a team. They were slammed today but because they were so organized we didn't feel rushed. We took one of the guided tours which completed the whole thing. Thank you for helping to make our daughter's birthday a memorable one. read more

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I've been wanting to buy a Hobie inflatable for a couple of years now and when I contacted Mike to inquire, he not only got back to me immediately with options, but was easy to chat with on the phone. Mike went above and beyond to check the product for me and ensure it was in sellable condition. I am so happy with my new Hobie, and based on Mike's customer service, I'm excited to try one of their tours! I highly recommend checking out Channel Islands Kayak Center, especially if you're a fan of the Hobie brand. read more

We had a great time kayaking. What a perfect way to see the island. Chuck and Stella were amazing guides. We are looking forward to our next visit! read more

Thank you Craig and Joel! Great customer service and we appreciated the flexibility. We got lost trying to find this place and Craig was able to give us directions. Craig called 15 minutes before our appointment luckily. Both guys had a great sense of humor and we had an amazing time on the water. Can't wait to come back! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

Awesome experience and great service. I'll be sure to be back again!! The staff was very friendly and informative. Got there first then they opened up and process was amazingly smooth during COVID. read more

It was a lot of fun in a sunny day. My son and I rented a kayak. Bring extra clothes and zipper bag for your phone. Everything got wet after a few minutes, we ended all soaked. Ladies at customer services are nice and really helpful read more

This past Monday offered another warm, sunny day in the Channel Islands Harbor, so I suggested to Deb & Samantha* that we rent kayaks, and have some fun-in-the-sun before heading to the Ventura County Fair to see the The Beach Boys perform. Less than two hours later we had successfully *circumnavigated* the entire harbor, including the adjoining waterfront neighborhoods, worked on our suntans, got some much-needed exercise, and shared some laughs. This business also will get you outfitted & coordinate a kayaking trip around the Channel Islands for half day & full day adventures, so check out their website for further details: www.cikayak.com * my thoughtful & entertaining 15 year old niece. read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Channel Islands Harbor location - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

I went to CIKC for the History and Wildlife tour. We were a party of three beginning kayakers. We paid $69.95/person (they honored a $10 off coupon that was around town). Checking in was easy. The friendly owner and staff members were awesome and really set the tone for the day. The tour begins with our awesome guide "GJ" talking through the history of the Channel Islands and the Harbor. He was friendly, energetic, and really showed us a great time. We kayak around the harbor, following GJ as he pauses often to stick his arm into the water. Everytime he did that he would pull out a different sea creature! It was awesome to look forward to each mystery creature being pulled out! We saw sea cucumbers, star fish, crabs, and many different species of birds. Overall, I recommend this tour to anyone! It was a great three hours of exercise and educational adventure. Between the friendly staff and the natural wonders around the harbor, this experience was worth the time and money. read more

My husband and I spent our anniversary in Oxnard. We love kayaking and looked online for a place nearby. Channel Islands Kayak had everything we wanted - easy and inexpensive services, friendly and helpful staff, and a gorgeous location. One of the best kayaking experiences we've ever had! read more

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We had a good experience with our full-day double kayak rental for a Channel Islands trip! If you have any kayaking experience whatsoever, I'd opt for this over the guided tours on the islands. It was a little hard to get ahold of the office to make the reservation, but after leaving a message I got a call back within a couple hours. For a weekend in mid-summer, do plan to reserve a few days in advance, as they can run out of full-day boats. Life jackets and helmets are included for the CI rental. Pickup was super easy, as they're located right next to the ferry you'll board. We found the map and orientation talk really helpful--definitely gave us the confidence to venture out on our own. read more

Fantastic people to talk to and learn from and truly care about people. My service dog and I rented a kayak and had a fantastic time! We have never went kayaking before, but had no problem getting the hang of things. I wish all the luck to the owners and if I'm ever back in the area, it is a definite repeat visit kind of place! read more

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It was late in the afternoon and decided to come here on a whim. So glad we did. The gentleman in the shop was so kind. He was encouraging and was clear that we'd have no problem getting the hang of it being first timers. We had the best time! We rented for an hour. An hour was just enough time for us to enjoy the harbor from one area to the other. We had a blast! Whewww what a work out. :) Would definitely come here again because they made it such a breeze for us. Great experience! read more

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First time kayaking and had an amazing experience, the staff was extremely helpful and nice. I highly recommend! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

Awful service. We arrive 1 hour 15 minutes early and we're the first people there for our boat ride. The kayak place didn't open for 30 minutes because the guy was late and disorganized. Took him 40 minutes to get our two kayaks. We went to get in line to board the boat and just as the boat started to board he forced us out of line to listen to a safety video that had no video. We were last on the boat and had no seat, forced to stand despite intentionally being first there to get a good seat with a view. This employee who struggled to communicate or even form a sentence ruined our day and we never got any actual instruction. Not even time to ask questions at the end because the boat was 15 minutes late to leave waiting on us. read more

Had the absolute best time today Sunday fun day rented a kayak and went out into the harbor enjoying this beautiful day ! Oh how I love a good adventure !! Thank you so much Mike for making this experience epic read more

Decided to get out of the house for the first time since the lockdown, couldn't be happier with my decision to visit channel islands kayak! First of all, i was very impressed with their sanitation protocol. All kayaks were wiped down after use and all employees wearing masks and gloves. Next, I was very happy to see a "used pen" box next to a "clean pen" box at the hub. Staff told us they are using lysol wipes on every pen after use, definetly made me feel safe! Highly recommend renting from here, especially during these times it was very nice to have a sense of "normalcy" while still knowing we are safe and protected! Great job!!! read more

Channel Islands Kayak Center - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Oxnard, California

Poor quality, unprofessional, lazy teen employees. They're just sitting without wanting or caring to help customers and work. They have no sense of understanding of their job. Everyone seems confused. They don't communicate with one another when helping a customer. Most respond that they are not sure when they are asked a question. No type of work ethic or communication. The owner should fire them and get people that actually want to work and not have people be on their phones or sit on their @ss. read more