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    El Estero Boating

    4.0 (79 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:45 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Kosmo Z.

    I came here with my 3 year old on a slower day. The gentleman helped us out was quick thankfully and he seemed friendly. He set up a little chair for my 3 yo to sit in the middle. Overall nice experience.

    Prices as of 7/3/24.
    Dave S.

    Of course we take our grandkids here! Such a fun time peddling a purple-ish dragon around the lake on a beautiful summer afternoon. First time for the grandkids who helped us steer. Lots of laughs and I hope many good memories. Service was helpful and ever present, plenty of parking and clean boats. Prices may seem steep for a half hour but really that's all you need. Last word...memories.

    Alycia A.

    I forgot how fun paddle boating is! My kiddo had a blast, perfect activity for small children. Life jackets are provided, you can choose to paddle for 30 minutes or an hour... 30 minutes goes by so fast, next time we will do the hour. They have a small parking lot, a small selection of snacks for purchase, the park bathroom is a short walk away. It is located behind Dennis the Menace park and across the street from the beach & McDonalds. We will definitely return.

    Info (July 2023)
    Alma S.

    I grew up occasionally paddle boating here as an activity. They've come a long way since the ones I rode on as a kid/teen. Came here on a weekday afternoon with family. Parking lot still had space. We picked the swan. The staff was helpful and friendly. They made sure to give us tips for out on the water. The lady who got us our life jackets was sociable and chatty. Our time on the lake was pleasant, not strenuous for 2 middle-aged adults pedaling 2 teens and a kid. The variety of birds around must be used to the boats because they will swim alongside to give a neat up close look at them! Several other boats were always on the water with us. The lake is peaceful and you can simply enjoy the kind of experience you want--cruise around, speed/distance challenge yourself, take a lap around the island, or float & take photos. This kind of experience isn't available just anywhere, so it's something to enjoy if you have the opportunity.

    Sadie S.

    This was super fun! We paid for the 30 minutes one and they were chill about us going for an extra 10 minutes if we wanted to. They were super nice and a fun experience. They were very safe (like wearing lifejackets).

    Hong L.

    This is such a fun activity to do! I had no idea this place even existed until my husband and I drove by it on our way to our hotel. We thought it would be a fun and spontaneous activity, so we made a u-turn to check it out. It's a bit pricey at $40 for 30 minutes (for the duck/swan), but we both enjoyed being on the lake and paddling around. It went by really fast and for that price, it would be nice if we could at least get a picture of us on it. You pay upfront and lifejackets are provided.

    Lake
    Divya K.

    Wonderful family-friendly paddle boating spot. The regular paddle boats can fit up to 3 adults + 1 child with a weight cap at 500 lbs, the duck ones can fit up to 5 adults with a 1200 lbs capacity. Renting the boats is simple, $40 for 30 minutes on the duck vessel. Life vests are provided. 30 minutes is more than enough to take a couple rounds around the lake. Lake is nice and serene with lively views of the Dennis the menace park on one side. The boats seem more on the newer side and function well. Boat is safe, lake is small and not too deep making this great for all. Little snack shop also located at the boat rental shack and plenty of parking nearby. Even though they have their hours posted, I'd call in advance and check as the day we visited they closed at 5:30 PM instead of as expected at 7 PM.

    Charles F.

    Paddle boating in the winter amid a rainy weekend? Sign me up. It wasn't. the plan but we were visiting the charming El Estero lake after a nice morning downpour and when we saw Swan paddle boat emerge with passengers we quickly left the overlook area at the lake and drove an almost complete circle to park next to the paddle boat booth. Our 'ranger' was nice and did confirm that paddle boating was available. His assistant prepped with the rules and the life jackets and then our ranger wiped down our seats within the swan with his outstretched leg and his sneaker anchored to the pier. It was quite the balancing act and my brother had asked if he ever lost his balance and fell into the lake. To which he replied, 'not yet'. Well done sir. Navigating the swan was easy, even a caveman could do it, or perhaps the skipper from the Minow. We toured the lake and made sure to stay off the island! There are quite a bit of birds in and around the island so make sure to hold your phones tight while taking pictures as our ranger told us that he has quite a collection of phones, wallets, and keys that were amassed as sunken treasures. If you're in the Monterey area, and the weather is permitting, get on a Swan or a Sea Dragon paddleboat in Lake El Estero. It makes for a magical time and get memory.

    Check in
    Michele R.

    Across from Dennis the Menace Park on Lake El Estero you'll find the paddle boats. They have regular ones and the giant rubber ducky or swan. Price for regular $25 half hour or $35 for an hour Swan/rubber ducky $40 They provide life jackets and also have drinks and snacks available for purchase inside.

    Boating Options

    Awesome part of me and my lady's anniversary. Super helpful staff and time FLIES on the water shoutout Luke super helpful and nice guy!!

    Lorraine C.

    I've driven by this place multiple times and have always wanted to stop. Well yesterday was the day to make my little wish come true. As we drove by, Ron asked, "you want to ride" and without hesitation I said "YES!" So we parked and I was a happy adult kid. To our luck, there was parking readily available and no line to rent our ducky. We were given quick instructions, life vests, and assistance to ride and off we went. It was a fun little 30 minute pedal ride around a miniature lake. We saw plenty of swans and weeping willow trees. Such a beautiful day for this experience. Will definitely stop by again.

    All my girls
    brianne s.

    The guys working were great. I left a good tip. They are quick and nice professional/helpful. We did 1/2 hour rental on the bigger paddle boats for $40. My two teens and my baby enjoyed it. Clean boats beautiful water and park. Fun and cheap.

    Emily T.

    I came to visit Monterey from LA for the week and had an extremely unpleasant experience here on 5/28/2021 around noontime. To start - the young (maybe early to mid 20s) guy who checked us in was extremely unfriendly. He was skinny with long dusty blonde hair. When I arrived, he was casually standing around and eating chips in the shop, not watching the paddle boats at all. He told me that I'd have to wait about 15 minutes for the yellow duck if I wanted to rent the duck instead of the swan so I said ok. I paid in advanced and waited in my car until it was time to come back. When I came back, he told me my two small dogs were not allowed even though it says on this Yelp page q&a that dogs are allowed. I had already paid and he was giving me a difficult time about it even though I said the dogs would be on our laps the entire time (they weigh like 10 pounds so very small dogs) but didn't offer to refund me. After about 30 seconds of starring around, he finally said that he would let me this time to bring my dogs. Ok???? If they are truly not allowed then just refund me!! Well, then he handed me and my boyfriend's life vests and tells us to hop on the duck boat. Literally handed us the life vests and had us hop on. LITERALLY while trying to hop on, he tells my boyfriend "you gotta put the life vest on. It's not a purse bro". Ok BRO you literally handed it to us 2 seconds ago. Give us some time to put it on. That was an extremely passive aggressive comment that was absolutely unnecessary. After that comment, our entire mood was changed and we only paddled for 35 minutes out of the 1 hour because that guy really set us up for a great experience (sarcasm). When we came back, another guy docked us and helped us get off. He was MUCH more friendly. He was tall and had shorter dusty blonde hair and possibly a bit older (maybe mid 20s). He was friendly. He asked us if we and the pups had a good time. A tremendous difference with the passive aggressive a$$hole from earlier. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 star because of the friendly guy who helped us at the end and the duck paddle boat itself was cute and clean but I utterly can't believe how rude the first guy was. He literally ruined our experience. I'm truly disappointed.

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    Awesome , very fast service! My kids loved it . Definitely something to check out when you're around.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - El Estero Boating

    Will you be open on the Christmas Day?

    Are dogs allowed on paddle boats?

    We have our “dog boats” available, which are the regular boats that rent for $25 for 1/2 hour.

    What is the current pricing?

    $40 for 1/2 hour on the swan/duck boats

    How many people can fit on one paddleboat?

    Hi Klista, We have two styles of boats. The larger Swan and Duck boats can hold 5 people, the regular boats hold 4 people but there is a weight capacity to the boats...the… Read more

    Can we bring our own life jackets?

    They have their own! And they make sure to sanitize them as well!

    Can we choose to rent the duck boat rather than the swan?

    Yes, you certainly can! The pricing is the same, and the seating and the operation is the same on both the duck boat and the swan boat.

    Are dogs allowed to go on the boats?

    We try to accommodate dogs if there is room to safely do so. It depends on the boat, the number of people, and the size of the dog...those factors are addressed in regards to safety. We’ve had boats scratched by skittish dogs, so between that and… Read more

    What's the age limit?

    There is no age limit. We provide life jackets in various sizes at no charge. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

    Do they take reservations?

    Hello Sarah H...we don't take reservations because there is rarely a wait time for our boats...we have a good supply! On a very busy weekend there may be a 10-15 minute wait for the larger Swan or Duck boats, but we keep a numbered waiting list so… Read more

    Are you guys open to public now?

    Hello Jordon S...yes, we are open 7 days a week, 10am to 5:30pm, weather permitting.

    View All 11 Questions

    Review Highlights - El Estero Boating

    The fancier boats [swan, duck, dragon] are rented by 30 min increments and cost $45 for each half hour timeframe.

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

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    Bella On The Bay Monterey - Peace to sailing!! Woo hoo!!!!!

    Bella On The Bay Monterey

    5.0(134 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Captain Christian was the best! Contacted him a couple months before our trip to make reservations,…read morehe was quick to respond, very friendly. A week or so before our trip to Monterey our agenda has changed and we needed to switch our reservation to another day. A quick call to Captain Christian and he was able to accommodate our request. Very informative about his boat, the ocean and Monterey. Look forward to our next trip out here and will definitely be making reservations with Captain Christian.

    Sailing with Christian was, without a doubt, the highlight of our trip to Monterey, Carmel, and Big…read moreSur!! Of all the activities we planned, this experience stood out the most. From the moment we booked with Christian, we knew we were in for an unforgettable day... Christian is warm, friendly, and a true expert in sailing. His boat is stunning & spacious. His knowledge of the area reflects his years of experience, and it's clear he knows the Bay like the back of his hand. He navigated the waters to ensure we had the best experience possible, keeping us in the sun & warning us when to expect a little bit of colder wind - he accommodated us with warm blankets & cups for our champagne! He made us feel completely safe throughout. We were blessed enough to spot a few whales, which made the views even more exciting. We were celebrating my boyfriend's 30th birthday, so we had an impromptu photo shoot. Christian captured beautiful photos of us that we cherish! All in all, He went above and beyond to make us comfortable and even teaching us a bit about sailing--a dream for both of us. He allowed us to connect our playlist to the speakers, or choose one on his Spotify, and enjoy. While he gave us plenty of private time to soak in the breathtaking scenery, we also loved chatting with him and hearing about his life during the tailend of the trip. This was an incredible experience, and we can't wait to sail with Christian again when we're back in the area. Don't hesitate to book this adventure--you won't regret it!

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    Bella On The Bay Monterey - Bella (Tierra Lynn)

    Bella (Tierra Lynn)

    Bella On The Bay Monterey
    Bella On The Bay Monterey - Captain Christian is a true Gem!

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    Little Mermaid Glass Bottom Boat - Not my idea of a safe ride or welcoming experience.

    Little Mermaid Glass Bottom Boat

    3.8(46 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    We had a wonderful time. The Captain was very knowledgeable with lots of historical information.read more

    I had such a great, first time experience visiting Monterey, After lunch we walked around Monterey…read moreand realized we were able to make the next Boat Tour, I am glad that the tour departs daily every hour, we took the last tour of the day which had work out great, or else we would have missed it. It was very worth the $18.00, CASH only. The Glass Bottom Boat Tour booth is located towards the back near the bathrooms. Pay for your tickets at the little glass window , then you will receive your tickets and information to come back and where to meet, 15 minutes before tour. Oh Wow, the tour, was really awesome, my husband even thanked me for paying for his ticket. It was such a nice 35 minute cruise on the Monterey. Super grateful to be able to experience this, seeing the beautiful sunset and getting to see the sea otters and sea lions, live and up close was a WOW! We got to see and feel live Kelp as well and got great information on the creatures and Monterey. Here are some information about the Tour, it gets really cold (during February)bring a jacket. Please watch your step upon entering and exiting, you can tip the captain and staff, towards the ending of the tour, Use the bathroom before you board, be ready to take tons of pictures, lots of Photo Opts during the cruise, Departures daily every hour until 6 pm. There's also a Whale Watching Tour which is separate form this tour. Overall, I am so glad I got to experience this, I have to say this was the bestest boat ride ever and best $18 bucks I've spent in Monterey and I want my big kids to experience this too, so we will be back!

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    Monterey Bay Kayaks - Paddling Monterey Bay with Sea lions basking in the sun!

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    4.6(465 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    My friend Hayes and I went on a tor with LB and had the best time. She was an expert guide and had…read morethe best jokes!

    We had a blast kayaking with the otters and seals!…read more Parking was easy as was check in at the store. They gave an informational overview of where to paddle to see wildlife as well as other recommendations and safety tips. They provide life jackets, waterproof jackets and pants which were great too keep water off your clothes. There are porto potties available if you need to use the facilities. The staff were well very nice and helpful. The main con of our trip was the two person top sitting kayak we were on seemed to have problems with steering. No matter how hard we tried to turn right, the kayak always tended to veer the other direction which was frustrating. We got another kayak to check if they saw anything wrong visually on the water, but they couldn't see anything so maybe there was something going on with the underside of the kayak. Besides that, we had a nice time on the water and were able to enjoy seeing all the birds and cute otters and seals out and about. Later in the morning and early afternoon we even got to see the otters get more active and go diving for mud worms that looked like bright orange cigars. It was super cute seeing the otters sleeping nested in the kelp too. Try not to disturb them though since they need to conserve energy to stay warm! We unfortunately saw one tour group led by a guide that went right next to a sleeping pod of otters and woke them all up. Overall, fun place to go kayaking with wildlife! Glad we went on this trip here!

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    Monterey Bay Kayaks - Beach side

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    Sea otter with pup on her belly

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    El Estero Boating - boating - Updated May 2026

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