We had an amazing and meaningful experience paddling out on Tomales Bay. We rented a double kayak for my college buddies 20 year reunion. Cooper initially said the rentals were closed, but opened it up for us so we could explore the bay. He gave us some tips about where to see the best wildlife and told us to keep an eye out for rays since it's there breeding season. We ended up seeing SO MANY rays, they were even swimming under the boat. We sat and enjoyed the sound of waves lapping against the shore, the wind ruffling through the trees and rays splashing all around us. We ended up getting swept up by the experience for too long and my watch died, so we retuned the kayak late, but Cooper was really understanding. Next time I need to rent a kayak, I'll be coming back here. You should too. read more

Bioluminescence Night Tour review Location: right alongside an inn, with plenty parking. You paddle through multiple coves and cover about 5miles, loop. Our guide said the tours are tailored to increase likeness and visibility for the group. Guide: Cooper was amazing! A local with knowledge and experience that makes paddling with strangers fun. He was right there when others needed kayaking help and always gave us tips to see more of the glowing microorganisms. Bioluminescence: activated by movement and can be easy to overlook without guidance, once you see it- you can't undo the fascination their sparkle brings. Our arms were wet from leaning over to make direct contact and splash around, well worth it. Cloudy nights make for better viewing, less ambient light means more to see! Tip: stay at Cottages at Point Reyes, 1 minute drive away, for an easy commute to follow! read more

Tomales Bay Expeditions - Bioluminescence night tour was amazing! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Inverness, California

I visited this kayak shop for the first time and had such an incredible experience. Cooper was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and thoughtful throughout the entire process. He made everything feel approachable and safe, especially for a beginner like me. The gear was top-notch and worked perfectly, which made it easy to relax and just enjoy the adventure. The scenery was absolutely stunning -- pulling into quiet coves, exploring hidden spots, and seeing sea life up close. We spotted adorable otters, beautiful birds, and even jellyfish. It was peaceful, exciting, and honestly a little magical. If you're on the fence about trying this, do it. If you think you "can't," I promise you probably can. I'm plus-size and currently in physical therapy for a back issue, and I was still able to enjoy several hours out on the water comfortably. 100% recommend this business. I'll definitely be back. read more

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So glad to find another Tomales Bay kayaking company and in a great In Inverness location. Cooper is a great host, and the kayaks are great. Looking forward to another paddle soon! read more

Tomales Bay Expeditions - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Inverness, California

Great experience! We saw beautiful stars and the glowing water. I stayed warm and dry in the kayaks with covers and everything was well managed for time and equipment. I've always wanted to experience this and it absolutely met my expectations. Would 100% recommend this outfit. read more

We had two great experiences with this group! My husband and I did the bioluminescence tour in the evening with Cooper. What a unique venture! Not only did Cooper know all the great places to find bioluminescent activity, he shared a bit about the history of Tomales Bay, about the wildlife, and other fun info. He was a great tour guide! We were comfortable and stayed dry with the provided gear. We got to see some amazing stars, the Milky Way, and hear nightlife. What a memorable trip! The next morning, we did a daytime kayaking trip with our two littles (8 & 6 years old). They got us fitted up and told us about how to stay safe. It was just a tad breezy and the tide was coming in so after paddling for about 45 min up the bay, we opted to float back and enjoy the scenery. It was perfect. Lots of birds and we even saw a tiger shark! The pricing is reasonable, the gear they provide was great, the scenery is hard to beat, and the staff were courteous, helpful, and provided great customer service. As an added bonus, we opted to stay at the Tomales Bay Resort which is where Tomales Bay Expeditions is located. It made it nice and easy to go to bed right after the night paddle. Great experience and we are looking forward to coming back! read more

This is my second time kayak camping with rental these folks. Such great human beings, in the business for the right reasons and genuinely passionate about helping the customers, even after a long day when they were closing. They set us up and gave us an intro that was customized to our level, then set us off with good advice on the beaches. We had a beautiful beach all to ourselves, had a nice campfire (don't forget your online fire permit! - it takes 2 seconds!), and then went back out on the water to see the bioluminescence, which was the best bioluminescence I have seen anywhere in the world. When we got back in, the man who usually does the tours was helping us and he started talking to us about the birds and the history of the area. Hearing his descriptions of nature and the area's land politics left us talking all about it on the way home and we definitely want to come back and take a tour with him at some point. AMAZING CREW read more

We really had a great day on Tamales Bay. Cooper and Brett were highly professional, friendly and relaxed. Brett's instruction regarding technique and gear was perfect. The location of this business is really well placed. It's on the west side of the Bay which is the more scenic side. It was really cool to see a couple of river otters and some massive pelicans dive fishing nearby. read more

We took the Winter Wildlife tour and it was fantastic. We saw tons of wildlife -- seals, sea lions, many varieties of ducks and other sea birds. Our guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. The kayaking equipment was top notch. All in all it was a great morning adventure. read more

Would highly recommend Tomales Bay Expeditions - we did a night kayaking tour to see bioluminescence and it was a really cool experience. They provide really great gear, lots of fun facts and a unique way to see Tomales Bay. 10/10 - Cooper was great!! read more

It was very easy to reserve kayaks for a group of 15 to go camping at one of the beach campsites. We wanted to catch the bioluminescence at night which we were able to see faintly. Each kayak rental comes with a dry bag so you can put your stuff in. Although the rentals were expensive, convenience comes at a cost of not having to lug your own kayak here. The only bathroom available is a portable bathroom which was a little sad. read more

Great fun! Cooper was very good at getting us out quickly. Even though it was a bit breezy Cooper told us where to go. The sun came out after about an hour and we found a beach to hang out and get wet. We took one tandem and two single kayaks for family of four. A very memorable experience! read more

We had a great time with Tomales Bay Expeditions. We were thrilled to get last minute kayaks over a holiday weekend. The communication was really good and Cooper returned my inquiry promptly the previous day to let me know they had availability. All the equipment was clean and in good condition. Cooper gave us advice about where to go and when based on the wind conditions. We saw tons of bat rays and jellies. I will be back the next time we want to rent kayaks. read more

Tomales Bay Expeditions - Bat ray. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Inverness, California

Amazing company and people! We rented kayaks through them for an overnight camping at Marshall Beach and I have nothing but great words for them. The check-in process was fast and efficient. All their gears are very clean. Even their life vest looks brand new but they said they aren't and they just clean them well. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. They briefed us with safety information and need-to-knows before we all launch. Their kayaks were in great shape as well. Each kayak comes with a 32L dry bag but you can rent additional ones (if a available). We went on a Labor Day weekend so they were fully booked. They are located behind the Tomales Bay Resort. Highly recommended if you plan on kayak camping or even a day trip. read more

Such an incredible experience! I just did the bioluminescence tour last night with my dad and we had a blast. We got lucky with such vibrant color, and overall the trip was worth the drive & the cost. Guides were very informative, and the whole process was smooth & educational. It was such a fun time! Highly recommend if you're into bioluminescence and can handle kayaking a few miles! read more

Had a magical bioluminescence night tour! The team was very nice and great at communicating. The equipment was better quality than what I've rented elsewhere. Great experience! read more

Great experience and beautiful place to kayak. Easy rental process. Just a heads up they have a porta potty for restroom. read more

This company is great! We got park reservations for a 2-night kayaking camping trip in Tomales Bay over Thanksgiving 2022 (4 people, 2 double kayaks). After getting the park reservations, we discovered that all of the Kayaking rental companies would be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Cooper graciously offered to open the shop for us in the morning so we could rent gear! They offered us great advice on how to find the campsites as well as kayaking instructions. We geared up and headed out for a fantastic stay in Tomales Bay. We used Marshal as our base camp and explored the bay. The weather for the 2 days was perfect, we also had the beach at Marshall's basically to ourselves. I highly recommend Tomales Bay Expeditions with absolutely no reservations whatsoever. These guys are great. read more

Had a wonderful day on the bay today! This place is so worth the drive from the city. Saw a TON of leopard sharks- was like a miracle and I was honestly a little scared there were so many of them in one place. Brett was fantastic with advice. I was about the go the wrong way and would have surely gotten myself stuck but he told me the afternoon wind is stronger than the tide and he was right! Saved me and I had a perfect day. Highly recommended spot - perfectly located right in the most beautiful area of the bay with the most wildlife! read more

We booked a bioluminescence night tour and had a fun time. The tour was guided by Brett and Cooper, both of who were knowledgeable and very helpful. All the gear was provided and the kayaks were easy to control. The bioluminescence is faint, but pretty amazing to see. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so be aware you likely won't get a response those days. read more

Absolutely magical kayak outing to see bioluminescence under the stars with friendly and knowledgeable guides. Very safe for a newb. An experience I won't forget! read more

The staff went above and beyond to make this a special experience. Extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff who care about what they do. The most beautiful scenery you could ask for and a ton of wildlife to see out there. I cannot wait to come back. read more

Rented a 2-seater kayak on a walk-up basis and self-guided a lovely afternoon on Tomales bay with my daughter. We had lots of fun spotting jellyfish and exploring the shore and its hidden beaches. These guys have a lovely spot and were operating very thoughtfully during Covid, with a separate bin for sterilized pens, masks and social distancing enforced, and obvious procedures to wipe down the equipment. read more

My wife and I booked a bioluminescence tour for my birthday and I've got to say it was absolutely incredible. Cooper was the BEST guide. We were so impressed by his knowledge of local history and geography. Also, the whole tour had a great vibe - like you were out with a friend. He took us to a great location that was very dark and it made the bioluminescence extra brilliant - think Avatar. We enjoyed the paddle out and back, listening to the ocean waves crash over the point. We also got to hear the coyotes howling up on the hill. This is a great local business with all the local knowledge of Tomales Bay. These guys know their stuff and I wouldn't think of booking with any other company. We can't wait to get back out on another tour soon. read more

Couldn't be happier with the service my partner and I received from Cooper at TBE. Especially his attention to detail when providing us with clean and safe gear in this time of uncertainty with Covid. We got out there on a perfect day in February and got to eat lunch out in the sun on the water, surrounded by thousands of migrating birds. Thank you Cooper for making it all possible! We'll definitely be back to enjoy the bay with TBE! read more

I had such a wonderful time with Cooper and Brett out on the water Sunday for the bio luminescent tour. Amazing to see the water glow at night and also amazing to think about how much light pollution we really get, it's so dark and calm! This bay is awesome and smooth, not a difficult paddle even in a solo. Can't wait to go back and try daytime . read more

Great spot to start a kayak day trip on the bay, in the calmer upper bay and close enough to Pt Reyes Station. Helpful staff and nice kayaks. I liked that I could do a 2-hr rental which was time enough this particular day. I highly recommend this outfit. read more

We had an excellent experience on our bioluminescent kayaking tour with Tomales Bay Expeditions! Cooper booked a tour for the four of us on just one week's notice, and was very professional about handling all of the details and making sure we were safe and comfortable. The guides knew exactly where the best spots for seeing the glow would be, and they were also very knowledgeable about the local wildlife, geology, and history of the Tomales Bay Area. The gear--kayaks, paddles, jackets, and spray skirts--was all new and top-notch too! Would highly recommend! If you want a great experience with expert local guides, don't hesitate to call them up! read more

I had a GREAT experience going bioluminescent kayaking with Tomales Bay Expeditions. I worked with them to organize two trips out on the bay during September's new moon. These guys were exceedingly polite, professional, and communicative. When the weather forecast took a turn for the worse leading up to my outing, Cooper and his team were great about getting in touch, prioritizing safety, spelling out all the options, and keeping me in the loop about how things were looking. Fortunately things worked out well and we were able to get out on the water, and it was amazing to witness. 10 out of 10 I would choose Tomales Bay Expeditions to work with again. Don't let their lack of reviews stop you. They are a new company, but have very experienced guides, and are nice as pie on top of it all. read more

I went on a bioluminescence tour with Cooper and had such a magical experience! I will never forget it! Cooper is so in tune with Tomales Bay. He is a West Marin native and couldn't be more knowledgeable of the area. He pointed out so many things I wouldn't have noticed. He knew just when to talk and also when to let you experience and be in awe of the gorgeous bioluminescence right at your fingertips. It was also my first time ever kayaking, so I was a little worried, but it was no problem at all. Though, I don't think I'll ever be able to top that kayaking experience! Seriously, sparkly glittery water!! read more