The staff is super helpful with bookings! I highly recommend giving them a call with any questions.

Some friends were visiting from out of town and my wife thought of an evening kayaking tour with Shearwater. Jeff took us, not the owner, Jeff Z, but a young man from Anacortes. He lead us on an astonishingly beautiful trip and took excellent care of us. Everyone loved it. We're all still up at 12:30 in the morning talking about how much we enjoyed it! Thanks to Jeff, our guide, and Jeff Z, for running a consistently fantastic tour company. read more

Shearwater Kayak Tours - Full moon rising over Crane Island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

Super fun and easy 3 hour kayak tour from Deer Harbor. Great and informative guide. The 2-person kayaks were easy to use. Overall a great morning on the water! Special thanks to Jeff for accommodating us! read more

Cancel my reservation just before 30 mins, do you know you infused my vacation and changed my plan, if you need to cancel, you should do it at least 24 or 48 hours. I don't join your company in future，you company has neither honesty nor honour. read more

Shearwater Kayak Tours - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

Called and spoke with Jeff and booked the lunch day tour. Since we were arriving from Lopez he held off charging us until we arrived. We went out with Lee & a group of 5. Beautiful day. read more

Perfect afternoon for a paddle out of deer harbor. Not many better ways to spend a warm afternoon on orcas. Also island pie is waiting after the trip with pizza and a beer! read more

Shearwater Kayak Tours - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

I did the evening Bioluminescence tour this past weekend. It was $100/person, consisted of 4 people on 2 kayaks (including the guide), and lasted 2 hours. They apparently just started offering these this year, which was a surprise to me as it was pretty intensely bright, especially compared to my experience in the Virgin Islands several years ago. I guess they only do these about 5 days per month when the moon phase is least bright. We went out at 11pm which is about as late as you go out all year. Any earlier and it would not be dark enough yet; early July, sun sets just before 9pm. Our guide was Brady. He did a fantastic job of explaining the dinoflagellates and how they glow. He had a great, fun personality and certainly added to the experience. He suggested some great pockets and shaded bays to kayak to which the plankton glowed more intensely, but let the clients choose the path or option that they wanted to. As it was scheduled until 1:00pm, all the clients agreed that we'd seen enough and had a great experience, so we ended about 30 minutes early. It was nice to get to bed that few extra minutes early as I had a busy day planned the following morning. Can't recommend this experience enough, was simply amazing! read more

We just took a spontaneous kayak tour with Lee. I don't think we've ever had a more energetic, but easy going knowledgeable tour guide. We had a blast, always felt safe, and just had the best afternoon. Highly recommend for an enjoyable day!!! read more

Our group of 7 went on the Bioluminescence Kayak tour last night from 8:30 to 10:30 with our fabulous guide, Jenna. We totally enjoyed this experience and saw all the sparkly little creatures. Jenna was an excellent guide and made sure we were safe and comfortable. It was a once in a lifetime experience and all of us were happy to have chosen this tour. Highly recommend!! read more

Despite the rain, the tour was great. Yuen, our guide was wonderful, friendly and informative!

Thank you Dan for an amazing adventure. Our family of four (two teenagers) had a great 3 hour paddle from Deer Harbor. Dan is so knowledgable about flora, fauna, history, geography, geology, restaurants, hiking and even local celebrity ties. The time went by quickly with bouts of paddling followed by short rests in coves. Deer Harbor Marina is a nice relaxing place if you have time before or after your trip. Quaint little market with a small counter service restaurant, nice restrooms, boat watching, float plane landings. I only wish Island Pie was open after our paddle. Not much parking, so know the rules and locations before you go. We had a rental car from Orcas Island Shuttle waiting for us. read more

AWESOME HALF DAY TRIP!! My roommate and I took the half day tour from Deer Harbor yesterday. Our guide, Cory was so knowledgeable, entertaining and enthusiastic. He made sure we were comfortable in the kayaks before we left the marina. He also let us know where each "leg" of our journey was headed towards so we had perspective on how long we would paddle. He showed us wildlife, reefs and the wasp islands, all the while chatting with us and explaining everything from the animals in the area and their habits to the history of the area or rules of the road on the water. We were provided with splash skirts, dry bags and life jackets (splash skirts came in clutch). Overall this was an excellent way to spend the afternoon, we got much more out of the experience than I expected. I'd love to come back and do a full day tour!! read more

We took the morning trip out of Doe Bay with Blake as our guide. Our group was all adults, and all of us had some (not a lot) of previous paddling experience. It was a great trip! We started by exploring the shallows (tide was out) and seeing sea creatures (stars, sea cucumbers, crabs, etc.). From there, we paddled out to meet the current to cruise back in. The winds were strong (12-15 knots), which made it extra challenging. I'd recommend the other tour (Deer Harbor) if you want an easier paddle or have younger children. Either way, would recommend Shearwater for your trip. Equipment in good shape, knowledgeable friendly guide, reasonable price, and great time-- all in a beautiful setting. read more

I took my 11 year old son and one of his friends on a kayak trip in Deer Harbour. Our guide was Carson and he was fantastic. The boys thought he was the coolest and I enjoyed his sense of humor and knowledge of the area and kayaking. We came over from Rosario because their tours for the day were booked. It was nice to see another part of the island, I think that it was a more interesting area to kayak. We took out a three person kayak, it was hilarious trying to coordinate strokes with the boys. Once we got it figured out, we were able to move along pretty fast. The highlight of the trip was seeing a seal and her pup in the harbor. They weren't concerned about us in any way and we passed fairly close. I suffer from low back pain, but have been able to kayak in the past. On this trip my back flared up after about an hour. We had to cut the trip short and in the end Carson had to help tow us in. He did a great job of handling the situation. He mentioned that if I called Shearwater they would probably refund part of the cost of the trip. Before I could call I received an email that part of the cost of the trip had been refunded. I was not able to complete the trip due to a pre-existing condition that I was aware of. I didn't expect any kind of refund. They went above and beyond. read more

Went back in August and had a personal tour guide whom we loved (sadly we don't remember his name). Fun expedition and great for our two younger kids (7 and 10). read more

We went on a late afternoon tour with our awesome tour guide Rich. We launched off Deer Harbor which is on the other side of the island from where we were staying (Doe Bay), but the hour drive gave us a chance to see what was on the other side. We saw sea lions, bald eagles and so many other native birds. We not only saw, but learned so much from Rich our knowledgeable history/ecolgocical/nature guru! I highly recommend not only kayaking around the islands, but going with a tour guide like Rich so you can learn and understand what to look out for! read more

We had the best time on our morning 3-hour kayaking tour leaving from Doe Bay! My sister, my mom and I all went together, and it was so fun. Our guide, Cory, could not have been better -- he was kind, fun and very knowledgeable about the surroundings. We highly recommend! read more

We took a fantastic kayak tour with Shearwater! It was the sunset trip out of Deer Harbor. Our guide, Charlie, was great. He was knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna, fun and concerned about our safety. We saw harbor seals with their pups, bald eagles and other critters. It was a beautiful evening paddling around the various little islands off Deer Harbor. Highly recommended! read more

Fantastic experience! From the start, the owner was very accommodating and put any fears to rest. Upon arrival everything was as it should be, the sky was blue, the boats were ready and waiting and the currents were working with us. Blake was an additional guide and I can't say enough good about him. Great sense of humor, knowledgeable about the water and a good naturalist. All and all a fantastic experience that I recommend highly. There isn't a better way to see the islands! read more

I wish I could've left a better review. I'm sure their tours are great. Unfortunately, after driving 40 minutes from one end of the island to the other to go on a tour, we arrived with an excited (but soon to be disappointed) 7 year old to an empty office and another couple waiting. About 10 minutes before the tour was supposed to start, the other couple managed to contact Shearwater's office only to be told that the tour was being cancelled at the last minute due to wind. Of course, they had my cell phone # from when I made the reservation the day before. And of course they could've called us in the morning and given us a heads up that the weather was iffy. Or they could have told us when we booked the reservation that sometimes tours are cancelled because of wind/weather. But they did neither, and to me that demonstrates an incredibly poor level of customer service. We'll be back to Orcas, without a doubt. And we'll certainly avail ourselves of one of the other outfitters when we do. read more

What great day trip! And Carson was an awesome guide. Good gear. Great route. The all day trip is the way to go as it has a nice hike in addition to the kayaking. read more

We had a great family day kayaking out of Deer Harbor with our guide Anica. Anica was very patient with us, as we are not experienced kayakers. She did a great job explaining how everything works and explaining what we were seeing around us. Anica grew up on Orcas so she was knowledgeable about all we were experiencing and San Juan Island history. We saw harbor seals, Bald Eagles, and other marine birds. Our 3 hour tour flew by! We had a great time and would definitely kayak with Shearwater and Anica again! read more

I so enjoyed the afternoon 3-hour kayak tour! Carson was our guide, and his knowledge of the plants, trees, seals, and bald eagles was amazing. He fitted us all up with gear, and off we went for a paddle around islands and across inlets. If you want a terrific time on the water -- and to learn more about the flora, fauna, and ecosystems of the San Juan's or just to soak in the beauty, this is the tour to go with! read more

Took the sunset cruise out of West Beach one Sunday evening. There were 4 of us and no one else signed up. Our guide was super sweet, super nice and very knowledgeable. Just some notes for those of you who decide to do this: 1) Make sure your relationship is strong if you get in the kayak with a spouse/significant other. The person in the back gets to paddle AND steer the kayak with the foot pedals that control the rudder. This means that person will constantly get yelled at by the person in front who has no idea how hard it is. 2) They call these two person kayaks "Divorce Boats." See #1 3) If you are tall and/or big it's a challenge getting in and out and not necessarily the most comfortable experience sitting in the kayak. Make sure your back is in good shape. 4) See #1 and #2. read more

They're ok -- we did a 3 hour kayak trip with them that went fine. But if you're looking for an outfitter, I would be inclined to go with Outer Island Expeditions instead. The kayak trip we did was pretty, and went smoothly, but Outer Island just goes to prettier and more interesting places I think. I also found Outer Island's service to be better. I called Shearwater before this year's trip to ask about bringing my 8-year-old son, and they were pretty snotty to me about it. I then called Outer Island, who were friendly and accommodating; and on the trip were really great with him. read more

We did the Sunset/ Moonlight tour with Jennifer. We had a delight guide and a lot of fun. We watched the sun set, watched the moon rise and saw seals in the ocean. This was one of the most memorable nights of my vacation. We were first time kayaker and my husband is not a strong swimmer. Jennifer took the time to make us comfortable with the equipment and instruction of properly using the kayak. She also had lots of information and answered many questions during our tour. I would highly recommend this group! read more

I planned a trip for a group of 14 through Shearwater for July 3, 2012. Somehow, my initial reservations were lost (which may have been my fault, I can't recall since this 40th birthday had been in the planning stages for 6 months) but I called a week ahead and Shearwater immediately booked our group out of Rosario anyway. The day of the trip was brutal and blustery, so we had to cancel, but Shearwater was wonderful by re-booking 8 of us for the next day (July 4, a holiday!) and they accommodated another 2 of us per my request. We ended up being guided by the owner, Tom. Apparently the staff had to talk him into going out, and thank goodness because it was a most gorgeous day of kayaking. Big thanks to Shearwater for accommodating my group and helping make my 40th birthday the most memorable birthday I've ever had. read more

Cory the tour guide kayaking master was so friendly and rad! We stayed at the Doe Bay Resort and did this on our last day, easy since the kayak shack was right on the grounds. Kayaked in tandem kayak with my partner, small group of six + Cory, so four total kayaks. Went out to Peapod islands and around Rosario straight and saw all sorts of seals including their pups (at respectable distance), starfish and crab on the way there and back, and one jellyfish in the mix :) Large eagles nest as well. Time flew, had no idea we had paddled several miles! All the while Cory encouraged kayakers so get close to coves and look closely at the wildlife, very knowledgeable too. Plenty of breaks if needed. Water bags provided for snacks/electronics and wet skirt for keeping water out of the kayaks while paddling. read more

A group of us rented kayaks. Nothing really special about the rental place, but enjoyed the actual kayaking as got to see a lot of jellyfish. read more

We had a great family kayak trip for three hours out of Deer Harbor. The guide was knowledgeable and patient with our inexpert paddling. Great fun being on the water, seeing seals, eagles and other wildlife. This is our second time doing the trip and we will definitely be back another summer. read more

We were the only couple on a morning tour with Jeff. We had no previous kayaking experience, but Jeff gave us great, practical tips for managing the kayak. He took us out to Yellow Island where we got to get out of the kayaks and have a walk around. We saw seals and and a couple bald eagles. This was our favorite activity on Orcas, though we were a bit sore the next day! read more

We had a great time on our kayaking trip! Corey was awesome, super informative and had a great sense of humor (extremely important when kayaking with 3 nurses). We learned a lot about the wildlife around the island and saw a few seals. I would definitely go back next summer! read more

I took two trips with Shearwater on our July 2014 vacation to Orcas. The first day we did an all day trip around Sucia Island. Our guide was Cory and he was great. Very enthusiastic, knowledgeable about the islands, and a very calming and reassuring guide. (We have been in kayaks before but never on open water, only lakes and slow rivers). The next day we did a three hour tour of the coves around Doe Bay. Again, Cory was our guide and he was just as good. The gear is good quality and in good condition. To echo what some other reviewers have said, be physically prepared and properly dressed. Also, in a tandem kayak you really have to work together or you'll go in circles. :). Our trips were made very memorable by the PERFECT weather we had. I would recommend Shearwater if you want to have a guided trip on the water. read more

We went on the morning tour out of Deer Harbor and had a blast. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We were able to go around two of the smaller islands and saw loss of birds, sea life, and animals on the islands. The day was spectacular, highly recommend! read more

Trips fill up quick so sign up fast! Went out and did the sunset paddle. Amazing views and got to see some porpoises. Didn't get to see orcas during the tour, but saw them from the launch area. Recommend this trip because once you round the corner and see Mt Baker in the sunset you'll never forget it. Michelle was an awesome guide too! read more

Ably guided sea kayak group in the San Juans. We launched from Deer Harbor on Orcas but other locations were offered. Our group saw bald eagles, many types of sea birds, harbor seals, sea stars and jellyfish. Our guide gave us bits of history of the islands, ecology of the area, and descriptions of the animals. A quiet, peaceful trip I would happily do again! read more

Fantastic three hour tour from West Beach resort. Blake was really knowledgeable and did a great job explaining things to my kids. Really patient with beginning sea kayakers. Saw porpoises, seals, and eagles. Beautiful! read more

Great guide. Super flexible. The weather was a little spotty (aka lots of rain and cold) and we were given the option to reschedle or go. It was worth it despite some crazy conditions. Local fisherman dubbed us "hearty souls" as we loaded up our kayaks and had a short, simple lesson on basics of kayaking. We left out from Deer Harbor. We saw a lot of wildlife- seals, sea stars, and some birds. read more

This business had great reviews and my wife and I really wanted to book a kayak trip with them for our upcoming visit to Orcas Island. I contacted them once via their online reservation form and heard nothing back. I waited a few days and personally emailed them to make a reservation and still heard nothing back. Finally I attempted to personally call them and left them a voicemail. I am literally trying to hand them money and it seems they can't get their stuff together. I'm bummed out because they had great reviews and I've heard good things but I guess I'll have to go with another business for our trip. read more

We had a great kayak trip out of Doe Bay! I have very little experience kayaking and Zack was very helpful. We saw a couple bald eagles, herring, starfish and even a harbor seal. Zack shared lots of good facts about the area as we paddled. Thanks & I look forward to my next trip. read more