Sea Kayaking with Whales = Best Whale Watching for Nature Lovers
Kayaking with whales 
sounds like an adrenalin-high adventure, akin to cliff diving or whitewater rapids sought by robust 20 year old thrill-seekers. Consequently, many of our guests are surprised to find our tours are suitable for novices of any age or even those with no kayak experience at all. Sea kayaking is a versatile sport that allows for wonderful wilderness adventures at any level. Experienced paddlers may choose open-ocean or rapids, but Sea Kayak Adventures specializes in bringing nature-lovers closer to wildlife, seeking calm waters. Co-owners Terry and Nancy dedicated their lives to finding the best places to whale watch that also host calm, sheltered paddling conditions. Many of our guests have little or no kayak experience, but seek the opportunity to see whales up close.
Sea kayaks allow for complete immersion in nature. There is no glass between you and the outdoors, and no motors to scare away animals. The gentle paddling of a kayak is largely non-invasive to wildlife. Flocks of birds that would take wing at a human on foot or a motorboat do not flee the sight of a kayak, allowing closer encounters. Pinnipeds like sea lions and seals find the kayaks a curiosity, and will even approach for a closer look. And while we proudly adhere to all Be Whale Wise regulations, a raft of kayaks tucked respectfully into the kelp bed may have extraordinary views of a passing pod of orcas as they make their way along the coastline. In Baja, dolphins often pass near or through our kayaks, and great blue and fin whale spouts may alert their presence. In Patagonia, we float in our kayaks near gently breathing mom and baby southern right whales on a warm hiatus away from the cold of Antarctica. Whale watching has never been so intimate!
Shallow-bottomed kayaks, which can float in just a foot of water, allow exploration of inlets and channels that host tidal life wonders and beaches inaccessible from boat. Akin to backpacking on the ocean, kayaks allow for expedition style tours – without leaving behind all of the creature comforts. The hatches of the kayaks allow for carrying a full set of camping equipment, cooking tools, and fresh food. Because of this space, your wilderness adventure won’t be sustained by jerky or trail mix. Instead, enjoy freshly prepared meals like lasagna or a salmon-bake, along with fresh salads daily! We even bake cakes in dutch ovens on our tours! And because these are guided tours, you can enjoy your wildlife vacation while letting our fantastic guides show off their culinary skills and do all of the cooking.
Join us to kayak with whales and experience in person – and at eye level – these ocean wonders in their natural environment.
Baja kayakers are fortunate to have direct flights to the town of Loreto, the gem off of Baja’s East coast on the Sea of Cortez. The Islands of Loreto Bay are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Marine Park, and offer endless picturesque coastline for kayaking, camping, hiking and snorkeling. In past years, flights were limited to a single carrier just 4 days a week, but as the beauty of Loreto entices greater numbers of travelers, a new airline is expanding coverage to this sunny destination. 
lead Sea Kayak Adventures to Johnstone Strait, the northern section of Vancouver Island’s Inside Passage. Johnstone Strait in July-Sept is the best place in the world to kayak with orcas and see killer whales up close, due to the concentration of orcas in this narrow, sheltered waterway. This unique subspecies of orca, called "northern residents," is found nowhere else on earth and eats only fish. They congregate each summer in Johnstone Strait to feast on the prolific salmon runs concentrated by the geography of the strait.
Kayaking with orcas and humpback whales often takes center stage on our sea kayak tours off of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. However, this picturesque wilderness also hosts a wide variety of other interesting marine mammals to delight kayak guests. Here are some of our favorite marine animals in British Columbia:
Harbour Porpoises: This shy, gray porpoise is one of the smallest marine mammals. They travel in small groups, foraging for crustaceans, squid and fish, but rarely take part in aerial displays or acrobatics. They are sometimes called “puffers” because the sound of their breathing resembles that of a snorting pig.
Price: Our trips start at $895 for a 5-day itinerary, including hotel. Even with the addition of airfare above the trip cost, many folks would be hard-pressed to find a week’s worth of travel, lodging, meals and guided activities for this price. Hotel and food alone would nearly equal the cost, and even with a meager budget for activities, most vacations far surpass our prices. So why not leave the planning, packing, and supplies up to SKA? Just bring your clothes. It’s that easy.
Thought that I would just give you all a little summary of one of the most incredible experiences I have had in all these many years. Took a trip with Sea Kayak Adventures, Inc. 
became synonymous for many North Americans due to the widely publicized killer whales that live in these waters. However, many people don’t realize that a much larger population of salmon-eating orcas congregate just a couple hundred miles north of the San Juan Islands, in Vancouver Island’s northern Inside Passage in British Columbia, Canada. These “Northern Resident Orcas” number over 200 strong – more than twice the size of the population found in the San Juan Islands – and with a territory much more feasible to kayaking with orcas. From mid-July through mid-September, most pods congregate within a 40 mile channel following salmon runs in the world’s best-kept-secret orca-viewing site: Johnstone Strait. The strait is only 3 miles wide at its largest point, making it a perfect venue to camp and kayak with killer whales. (This is far easier than trying to find orcas among a group of scattered islands).
is a “Bucket List” item for many outdoors enthusiasts. Floating on tranquil tide at eye level with a spy-hopping whale is an unforgettable experience. There is something special about meeting this intelligent, wild creature in its home habitat. Kayaks allow for a more intimate setting than commercial whale watching cruises, as you can observe the whales’ behavior without the sound of a motor or flocks of other guests jostling to a boat railing for a look. Additionally, the eco-minded will enjoy the low impact of 
Our Baja kayak tours operate out of Loreto, Baja. Travel to this supreme paddling and whale watching destination is surprisingly easy for a world class wilderness adventure. Like many national parks, the Loreto Bay National Marine Park and the islands in the Sea of Cortez UNESCO World Heritage Site remain pristine in part due to their geographic remoteness - and they are just as worthwhile to visit! Fortunately for travelers, Loreto hosts its own small airport with several flights per week on a US carrier. Additionally, the international hubs of La Paz and Los Cabos ("Cabo") are just a short distance south down the Baja peninsula and offer easy transit to Loreto. The following travel options are well-tested and utilized by Sea Kayak Adventures guests every year.
and meeting the majestic killer whale in its own environment inspires dreams among many admirers, and often a bit of awe for others. Orcas hold both the reputation of a ferocious predator as well as a glamorized, friendly “Seaworld” performer and everything in between. As many companies advertise orca kayaking tours with stunning photographs of close encounters, many people acquire the impression that they will spend hours each day kayaking with killer whales. Such expectations do not take into account the laws which protect the orcas, the behavior of these animals, and the geographic location of the kayak tour.
locations on our kayak and whale watching tours. Each year, as excited guests arrange the details of their trips, we receive the same question over and over: "How do I get there?" We do our best to provide up to date information about flights, buses, and other methods of transport. While we are so fortunate that Loreto, where we kayak on our Baja tours, is easily-accessible by regular transit (no need to travel for 2-3 days to get there!), flights sell out quickly in advance of our tours. 
The first few minutes of kayaking started, as with all new ventures, with adjustments. It took time to figure out where to brace my knees, make the most of every stroke, and keep paddling while taking in the sights. However, even as we acclimated to kayaking, fortune smiled upon our group. Within a few minutes and just a few hundred feet of our launch site, I spotted a sea turtle bobbing at the surface of the water, surveying us. She lingered for a short time as we gasped, pointed, and fumbled for cameras, before deciding we were of little interest to turtles and diving out of sight. “This group has good karma,” Alex remarked.
began with a 2:00am alarm to catch a 5:00am flight that would deposit me at LAX in time for the only flight to Loreto on Sunday, October 30, 2011. Upon Sea Kayak Adventures’ recommendation, I took only a carry-on bag with my clothing and thus whisked through my connections without the concern of relinquishing my carefully-packed duffel to the vortex of lost airport luggage.
I didn’t do everything wrong on my Baja trip. After all, I had the time of my life! I just don’t recommend pinning the success of your tour on my misadventures. Consequently, I bestow this blog to fellow nervous-novices that you might glean from it the fruits of my foibles.
If you are considering a kayaking and/or gray whale tour in sunny Baja, give us a call for friendly advice about the best trip itinerary or location to meet your needs. We are happy to answer all of your questions, and please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-616-1943 directly - we're always eager to chat about all things Baja!
Vladimir "Vlady" de la Toba has been a cheerful, enthusiastic member of the Loreto Sea Kayak Adventures team for over 6 years. A 3* British Canoe Union kayaker, Vlady also brings a wealth of local knowledge about the wildlife and wilderness of Baja to all of his tours.
with his other hand. He calls it "sea turtle rodeo." After measurements are taken, the turtle is returned unharmed to the sea. You can 
Kayak? On the ocean? Like, where the big fish live?
Dutch ovens are the first “ingredient” to our success. Sea Kayak Adventures remains one of the few kayak tour companies that cooks with this authentic, versatile method. Dutch ovens are placed on or over a campfire or stove, often with coals placed along the lid to heat from the top as well. While most people think of Dutch ovens as suitable only for slow-cooking, like roasts or stews, our specialty is dutch oven baking for savory main dishes like chili rellenos, baked salmon and vegetable lasagna.
