The whole process was very easy and enjoyable. I filled out the waiver online. Parking was easy, little difficult to find penguin paddles from the road, but just walk towards the water behind the restaurant on the main strip. Easy rental, chill experience. Everyone, even the Boston Terrier, had a blast! read more

Penguin Paddling - Boston terrier mermaid on a kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Easy to use app to put in waiver. Free Bathroom and clean nearby. Clean canoes. Good pricing. Parked for free under bridge. Lovely calm river to go up and down and see lots of birds and turtles. Each boat has a hole in the center for the water bottle read more

Penguin Paddling - View of River - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Had a superb time kayaking today! The employees were incredibly friendly and helpful when assisting to get off the kayak. Make sure to fill out the waiver online prior so you don't have to do it when you get there. Definitely revisiting again soon! read more

See all

my favorite paddling spot with great views and great customer service. you can ask for some tips and they are very helpful

Great spot. Love the setup, looked like the staff had it all together. Only complaint is that staff was not wearing their masks. I Greatly appreciated them helping us get in to the kayaks, help us get on the water & safely back out on to the dock. But given how close staff has to get to customers to help, it'd be safer if they wore masks as well as the customers. Otherwise, I would give this 5 stars. Saw a lot of wildlife, beautiful flowers along the river, very safe water to paddle in, no wake. It was so peaceful. Kayaks were dry, well kept. read more

Penguin Paddling - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Great day on the water with Penguin Paddling. The staff was incredibly helpful and accommodating. This was a great way to to spend the day exploring the Occoquan River. read more

Penguin Paddling - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

It is very nicely and conveniently located. I have rented paddle boards multiple times from them. The staff is super friendly and We always enjoy our little paddle boarding trips down the river! I fund it a little pricey when you have a large group, but it is what it is... I always have a lot of fun and have never had an issue! read more

The kayaks are quite nice, yet they are not as cheap for rent. The end, just like all the other service sectors, they ask for tips right after you pay. Which makes you uncomfortable to give them none. Forced tips. So don't recommend this place. Three kayaks for an hour, costed us over 80 bucks. Plus the tips, it costed 100 bucks. read more

Highly recommend Penguin Paddling. We spoke to Dan and got a one hour 1:1 session... This was perfect for an adult and an 8yr old- both new to kayaking. Mr. Carlos took us out and he was so nice and engaging. My daughter said he was the best!! We'll be back!! read more

The Australian Shepherds of the DMV day at Lake Occoquan. The skies were sunny and the water and Aussies were cool ... read more

See all

Fun day on the water! This place and their "office" is nestled behind madigans waterfront. Just tell them what you want and they set you up with a boat/board and life jackets. Not before you sign away your life in waiver forms. Not sure if they do tutorials or anything, we just got on the tandem (2 person kayak) and paddles off. The 2 staff members there were helpful and funny. We were a little confused at the end when paying how the cost was split, but got that settled (May have been the hot sun). read more

What a fantastic company and experience! They have plenty of paddle boards, kayaks, and PFDs so reservations aren't necessary! Even if you see a line, don't fret, it moves so quickly as the very capable staff are helping folks on and off the water safely. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and kind. I felt at home from my very first rental. They have a range of rental options from hourly to daily to punch passes or season passes! I highly recommend stopping by for a great paddle experience! read more

See all

Perfect spot to do some kayaking or paddle boating. Great customer service! We had so much fun!

Patrick was there to open on time in the morning, since this was my first visit to the Occoquan location and I've had some mishaps with kayaking in the past, I asked several questions about directions and if he had any recommendations on which way to go during the time that we had to spend on the water, including any areas to avoid etc. He was very pleasant and helpful with his guidance. He told me which way the Potomac was (towards the right side if looking off the pier towards the water) and that there would be a little water fall to look at if we went towards the left...but that there really wasn't too far to go at all if we went towards the left because there were small rapids we wouldn't be able to get past. Overall..it was a gorgeous day to be out on the water, a nice time overall, will definitely return. It's closer to home, and quieter than Georgetown. I think the season pass was $100 with 10 - 2 hour punches on a card. read more

Penguin Paddling - Sign by the pier...hours of operation - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

See all

Disappointed in the "tour" we purchased. Other than having two "chaperones" one at the front and back of our long stretched out group we we basically just rented a kayak for two hours. Never received any info on the area or anything that would come close to a "tour" of the Occoquan area. There was no real check in to say we were there...just told to wait on the side if you were in the 5pm group. Noone ever asked for our names or to see any proof of payment or reservation. We got into a kayak and pushed out and told to wait for our tour leader. That was the last time they really spoke to us. We the leader got into the water with his kayak he just said "let's go" and started paddling out. No details of what we were doing, where we were going, nothing about the plan at all. I can't even tell you the leaders of our "tour" as their names were mentioned once very quickly when we were told to move to the side and wait. They never introduced themselves as the one time their names were mentioned it was by a guy , who never introduced himself, that gave us our minimum instructions to stand to the side and wait. We waited so long to start getting outfitted and in our Kayaks we didn't even start paddling out until about 15 min past our scheduled start time...yet we came back at our scheduled end time. Finally, referring to COVID procedures and concerns, we saw no evidence that any equipment was being or had previously been disinfected after the previous use. None of our equipment was put aside when we were done, it was all piled back up with the rest of the other gear. Overall very disappointing and probably doesn't rate the star I gave it. read more

Great place to paddle! Mike is wonderful and will set you up! I have one particular kayak I like and they always bring it out for me.

Great experience! I went during the weekday with no lines or parking issues. I recommend anyone who close to Woodbridge to go here vs going downtown. read more

A year after reflecting on our kayaking tour in DC, my boyfriend and I realized it was so awesome that we should have left a review way back then. Our guide was very knowledgeable about DC and informed us about all the essential landmarks. Having lived in the area most of my life I was able to take away not only a peaceful afternoon on the Potomac, but also some information I did not know before. Kayaking was something I had never tried before, but after this trip I would feel completely comfortable jumping into one. I was surprised how easy it was to learn, regardless of my fear of tipping over. Getting to the marina was easy and parking was free and easily accessible. Our guide was very friendly and hospitable, offering us snacks and water before launching out of Columbia Island Marina. The equipment itself appeared brand new and the life vests came in a variety of sizes. During the trip, he stopped us at great photo spots and offered to take pictures of us together. We went on this trip with my family (age range 18-52) as well and our guide was able keep the whole family together regardless of stamina and strength. I would love to do this again if in the area and would even be willing to pay full price. If you are familiar with the area, this is a great way to put a spin on the hum-drum touristy things to do. Definitely a repeat if you are in the area! read more

Penguin Paddling - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

See all

This is an excellent company. Last week I went kayaking with them through an event arranged by Things To Do D.C. It was a Saturday morning and we kayaked from downtown Occoquan to the I-95 bridge and back. It took a little over an hour. The kayaks were in good condition and life vests were provided. The guide Diego was very friendly and knowledgeable. The scenery along the river is very scenic. The prices were reasonable. No complaints. Keep up the good work. Good luck in the service Diego. read more

Fun! Enjoyed kayaking on the Occoquan, can't wait till next season to do it again! Staff was extremely friendly!

We enjoyed renting kayaks here. The employees were extremely nice and helpful. We will definitely be back.

I've rented kayaks here a couple times and every time it's been a breeze! Friendly staff, nice equipment, all you could ask for! Highly recommend! read more

Penguin Paddling - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

See all

We love these guys. Easy, no hassle, and cheap to get on the water. Plus the location is perfect. You're not having to avoid big ass boats or crazy showboaters and there are plenty of food options and window browsing opportunities right there. read more

I went Kayaking at Occoquan using this company and they gave me a broken kayak. The screw was completely out of one of the leg resters so water kept getting in. I told them and they didn't offer me a different one or any type of compensation. Disappointed. read more

What a wonderful hidden gem! Was looking for nearby opportunities to kayak on a sunny weekend with my boyfriend and we stumbled upon this treasure. We definitely were not interested in high traffic waters so this was the perfect fit! Tucked in behind cute little historic Occoquan town, it was the perfect at home get away. Danny answered my silly questions, walked us through the process, and it was swift, easy, breezy! We opted for the double kayak for a very reasonable $21/hr, saw flying fishes, enjoyed our time in the calm water and shade, and made it back to enjoy lunch at a nearby patio. In case if you need to change from getting wet there is a bathroom on site as well. Absolutely enjoyed our experience and highly recommend this place! read more

Penguin Paddling is conveniently located behind Madigan's Waterfront Restaurant in Historic Occoquan. It is open 10am-7pm Saturdays and Sundays and 12-7pm Wednesday-Friday. Reservations are available for large parties (5+) but otherwise are first-come, first-served. Kayaks and Stand Up Paddleboards can be rented by the hour or by the day. Single kayaks are $16/hr, double kayaks are $21/hr, and SUPs are also $21/hr. The water is very calm, save for the infrequent wakes from boats, and is the perfect place for a beginner to learn to SUP or for those looking to relax in a kayak. There is lots of river wildlife to view; we saw ducks, a couple of beavers, and lots of fish jumping out of the water. The workers at the dock were very friendly and efficient getting us both in and out of the water. We took a double kayak out for an hour and we made it pretty far down the river, going under at least 3 different bridges. This was quite an enjoyable way to spend part of the afternoon, and definitely check them out if you find yourself in the area. They also have locations in Mt. Dora, Florida (side note: very cute antique-y town) and Woodbridge, Virginia. read more

Penguin Paddling - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

Loved loved LOVED the experience my hubs and and I had while kayaking here at the Hamptons landing marina in Woodbridge, VA! We live near by and love that the owner Danny decided to offer this. The staff is super nice and funny. We had such a great time and can't wait to go back out again soon. The views are just amazing! I'm originally from Miami and it's great to have this pretty much a walk away. I can't wait till we have our relatives visit so that we can take them kayaking :) I highly recommend this to everyone! read more

Penguin Paddling - Amazing time kayaking!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

They're located behind Madigan's Waterfront restaurant, in the town of the Occoquan, which if you're not familiar with is a very cute little town that looks like something out of a storybook right on the Occoquan River. I like coming out here because the views are nice and it's not too crazy busy out there. If you go downstream a bit there's a marina but the boats don't go fast enough to worry about tipping the kayaks which is nice. Defiantly wearing a hat and sunglasses next time, there's no escape from the sun in the middle of the water except under the bridges. The guy offered us water bottles before we went out which I thought was a nice touch. He's defiantly a lot more professional than the guy I remember from last year. read more

So accessible and easy! A great day of family fun - just too expensive to do more than once. We checked in on Sunday afternoon and our 3-person family each got their own sit-on-top kayak. The staff were very friendly and helpful. To be honest the only downside was the price - after tip and three hours of rental for a three person family it was almost $200! We could have bought our son a kayak for that amount. Anyway, it was an easy way to kayak a new body of water and let our young son practice in his own kayak. They did say when we got our own kayak that they would allow us to launch from there!! read more

My boyfriend and I went out on a Kayak tour that started in Old Town Occoquan. Our tour guide was the owner Danny. As soon as we arrived his staff and him were very nice and answered any questions we had. His cute dog was running around on the dock and greeting everybody as we came down the ramp. We are pretty new to Kayaking so this was going to be our longest trip so far. It was GREAT! The weather was perfect, we got to see some animals around the area. I would recommend Danny and his crew at Penguin Paddling to anybody and at any experience level! read more

Penguin Paddling - Our Kayak tour Guide Danny and his dog were awesome! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me

See all

We will definitely be back! We rented a tandem kayak and proceeded to paddle the river. There were ospreys, a heron, and many other birds. My daughter has not paddled a lot so this river was a good choice. The gentlemen who assisted us was really nice and even gave us extra water. And a big plus is that there is free public parking as long as spots are available. read more

I am remiss in writing this review which is long overdue. In early June a very good friend of mine was visiting from out of town and wanted to go kayaking. We have kayaked on several occasions but never in VA, so PP in Occoquan was our choice, and we could not have selected a better spot. Sure there are countless rivers, lakes, bays, and bodies of water where one can go kayaking. However, the Occoquan suited us just fine! Trust me, there are many advertisements and pictures that do not live up to the reality of it all once you're there. Situated on the riverside dock of the historic town, PP is the perfect location to start your journey. Ryan is quite the ambassador and a great person to have onboard representing PP. He was extremely helpful, thoughtful, and nice! Our experience on the river was fantastic and we will definitely be back! In the meantime, Ryan should be commended for his stellar customer service and caring manner. Keep the joyful spirit going. read more

It was an amazing first time EXPERIENCE, Sam was so nice to me and my son, she spent few minutes with him feeding the ducks trying to entertain him while I was filling out the wave forms. Definitely going there again ! read more

Claire does a great job in the heat, always friendly and competent. Spend an hour wisely before the next rainy day and paddle down the Occoquan! read more

This place is awesome! Went out for a casual afternoon trip out in the bay with a two person kayak- had a lot of fun. Would recommend a tour for anyone who has never kayaked before since you pretty much just get and the kayak and go where you want (which is awesome if you are comfortable with that). Came back early and was given a card to redeem the unused time on our next visit. Staff was awesome and very helpful! Would recommend to anyone who wants a mini adventure, decent shoulder workout and/or a little fun on the water! read more

Great people, great times!!! I've used Penguin Paddling since Danny started the business. Personally I love em! Great way for me to get out and photograph wildlife or bring a bunch of friends out for a good time. read more

The BF and saw this offered on travelzoo 2 days before we arrived in DC for a 4 day vacation, and after reading the disappointing reviews of some of the boating / cruises that all seemed to be geared towards booze rather than relaxing or enjoying DC, decided to give this a chance. We love kayaking, as a form of relaxing and enjoying an environment and are decent at it (not strong or fit enough to race or survive kayaking rapids), so we decided to give this a shot. I bought the travelzoo and emailed the company immediately, and Danny responded within a few hours (pretty quick especially for things that are promoted on travelzoo). We signed up for a double kayak for 7/17 Washington DC Riverfront Sunset tour. It was so much fun, very organized, and very low stress! We arrived around 6:15 pm (at the launching point (Columbia Island Marina) and saw Danny setting up the new kayaks he has. He was super friendly and offered us water/soda/juice and snacks (even packing a little snack bag for each kayaker to take on the near-3 hour trip. We ended up in a small group of 6, and everyone had kayaked before, but Danny was good about making sure we were still comfortable in our kayaks and knew what we were doing, and making sure to observe the safety precautions. The Kayaks, paddles, and life vests all looked new with no sign of wear. He helped us all launch, and we kept a decent pace though we stopped every once in a while to let people catch up / take photos / just enjoy the views and sunset (I uploaded some photos), but he really does a good job in balancing the group of faster kayakers with the ones who were just enjoying themselves while still keeping a tab on everyone. It was beautiful and relaxing - there wasn't too much of a tide to battle, and the views were amazing. And he was super friendly about spending time talking to people individually and giving suggestions on where to go / when to visit / great food suggestions. TOTALLY recommend this! It's well worth the money (even at full price) and we would definitely do it again if we're ever back in DC. Total other way to enjoy the city, the waterfront and some monuments, and the sunset in a very unique way. You can definitely tell he loves kayaking, and knows DC well, and he'll make sure you love his city and sport too. read more

See all

I decided to take my kids and friends to go kayaking on a last minute notice. It was a wonderful experience. They quickly explained everything and had us on paddling within minutes. There was a line, but it moved pretty fast. Would definitely go back again! read more

Just went on a 2 hour kayaking tour with Penguin Paddling and I could not be more pleased with the trip. Danny and his crew are total professionals. I had to make a couple of changes to my reservation and Danny was more than accommodating. Very enjoyable trip and will book again soon. Highly recommend. read more

I can't believe I never realized this place is located in Occoquan. I go to Occoquan quite frequently and I was ecstatic to learn that I can do kayaking/paddle boarding here :)! Now I don't need to go to DC for that stuff, woo! This place is great, will definitely continue to go here. read more