Healthy and Responsible Travel
Dear Traveler,
As the world adjusts to ever-changing health concerns, we join you in doing our best to navigate these uncharted waters. We continued to operate throughout the pandemic and are happy that we’ve been able to provide much-needed respite and life-changing travel experiences for thousands of people. Our trips in the USA, Baja, Mexico and British Columbia, Canada have been busy and we’ve seen a resurgence in travel to other international destinations including South America, Africa, Europe and Antarctica. We have well-practiced protocols in place to be responsible travelers during these trying times.
We continue to believe in the transformative power of travel, and that your journeys build connection and meaning wherever you go. As well, they provide purpose, hope and tangible support to our staff and the people and communities we work with around the world.
We invite you to contact us with questions and very much look forward to sharing this magnificent, magical and wonderful world with you!
Yours Faithfully,
Peter Grubb
Founder & President
And the entire team at Sea Kayak Adventures
Important Updates for Travel with Sea Kayak Adventures
Your safety, as well as the safety of our employees, partners and host communities, has always been a top priority for Sea Kayak Adventures. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic we’ve been operating with increased precautions. We take standards for sanitization, hygiene and cleanliness seriously and regardless of the status of the pandemic, we will continue to take additional steps to protect our guests, employees and everyone we contact, from virus spread.
The decision about whether or not to travel is a personal one. As you consider your options, it’s key that you feel comfortable with the uncertainties of the world today. We are working hard to mitigate risk with additional operational precautions and procedures, but the risk of exposure to, or contraction of, COVID-19 and other viruses cannot be eliminated. Participants of commercially outfitted trips must accept the inherent risk presented by the fact that it is not reasonable to expect the outfitter to effectively eliminate any virus from the environment.
Time in the outdoors is always rejuvenating, and now, may be more important than ever. Being with others to share the joys of nature, connection and camaraderie in a healthy, supportive atmosphere has always been central to what we do. On our adventures and tours, we plan to continue our operational procedures as detailed below. Our policy will continue to evolve as time goes on and we continue to monitor global, national, and local health recommendations. What will never change is our desire and commitment to keep you safe and provide a life-enriching travel experience!
Traveler Requirement and Safety Measures:
Effective November 14, 2022.
Sea Kayak Adventures is no longer requiring guests to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, we do strongly recommend vaccination. Please note that some international destinations do have vaccination requirements and/or documents needed for entry.
Sea Kayak Adventures strongly encourages all eligible guests to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to traveling. Vaccination has the added benefit of making the vaccinated individual less likely to get severely ill while traveling with us, a huge benefit given the remote nature of many of our trips.
Please do not that regional travel requirements continue to change, sometimes with little notice, so traveling as an unvaccinated person may cause trip disruption and challenges throughout your travel journey. Sea Kayak Adventures will not offer reimbursement to those who are unable to join a trip or take part in certain activities due to any requirements in place during the trip.
Please see the FAQ section below for additional information and detailed answers to some frequently asked questions.
Do I need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to travel with Sea Kayak Adventures?
No. While we strongly recommend vaccination as it offers you better protection in the remote, wilderness environments where many of our trips take place, as of November 14, 2022 we no longer require vaccination against COVID-19. All travelers will be required to follow and understand the entry/exit requirements of their destination country (and home country), which may require full vaccination. It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure they meet all applicable entry requirements in effect at the time of travel.
Are Sea Kayak Adventures guides and staff vaccinated?
Yes, Sea Kayak Adventures requires vaccination for all staff where local/international jurisdictions allow.
Is my travel insurance refundable?
If your policy was purchased directly through Travel Insured International they will provide a voucher of commensurate value to be used on a future vacation or trip. If you purchased your travel insurance policy through Sea Kayak Adventures, prior to January 27, 2022, Sea Kayak Adventures will provide you with alternative options such as a voucher or credit, or a full refund.
What if someone has symptoms of COVID-19 on my trip?
We have protocols in place to safely address any COVID-19 related situations. We ask our guests to immediately notify their guides if they experience any symptoms on trip. The general protocol is to isolate any symptomatic person from the group and provide a COVID-19 test. If the test is negative, no further action will be taken.
What if someone tests positive for COVID-19 while on my trip?
We will follow our COVID-19 protocols in addition to current CDC guidance, for any person on a trip that tests positive. On wilderness trips in remote areas, this means isolating the positive individual as much as is practical and possible. For trips in less remote environments, this would likely mean that the person will be asked to leave the trip and possibly also, the person they shared a room with, and to follow CDC isolation guidelines. Our guides will coordinate this and communicate other necessary measures if other members of the group had close contact with the positive individual. We highly recommend that you protect your trip investment through the purchase of travel insurance.
Will you be providing hand washing or other methods of sanitization?
Yes, we have hand sanitizer available during your Sea Kayak Adventures trip. We ask that you bring your own as well to use and for easy access throughout the tour. Additionally, we have hand washing stations set up before all meals and near bathrooms.
Will this policy change over time?
Given the constantly changing global health environment and newly updated medical guidance, our plans and requirements may evolve. Decisions will be based on current recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO). We reserve the right to modify our policies as required by state and federal governments and in consultation with the various entities we rely on for guidance. It will be your responsibility to stay abreast of changes by frequently visiting our site before your travels.
Information, Communication and Support:
Our Team is Here to Help you Prepare - Our experienced staff is here to provide advice and answer any questions you have as you prepare for your adventure. We keep a constant eye on what is happening in the world and how it impacts our trips, including the current pandemic situation. To guide our decisions, we follow recommendations from the CDC and WHO, in addition to local authorities where we travel. We will communicate any pertinent information related to your trip by email.
Trained Guides and Staff Offer 24/7 Support:
Our organization is staffed for emergencies, and we'll be there to provide support for you and our guides in the field when needed. We have training and detailed internal protocols and support for any COVID related or other medical issues that may arise. Although many of our trips operate in wilderness environments, we carry satellite phones for emergencies and have other communication strategies in place so that guides have additional resources as needed. Our guides are trained in First Aid and CPR, and for this season are getting additional training regarding possible COVID-19 situations. This includes our long-standing protocols for evacuation should that be necessary.
Courtesy & Respect:
Since our trips are all group activities, we’ve always expected people to act with courtesy and respect towards others. We require all guests to wear masks in vehicles and whenever requested by guides, to maintain physical distancing and follow any other precautions that may be necessary to protect the health of everyone.
Maintaining Distance:
Choosing outdoor adventure in wild places affords opportunities to spread out. Sea Kayak Adventures is committed to maintaining recommended distances during all aspects of our trips whenever possible. Camping areas have plenty of space to spread out. Our camp dining areas will be more spacious than normal.
Meal Preparation & Outdoor Dining:
Our guides are trained to follow the recommended State and Federal guidelines for foodservice operations. For 2022 our guides will wear masks while handling food if this is a public health recommendation and/or required by local or regional regulations.
Additional Cleaning & Sanitation:
Additional precautions have been implemented to further clean and disinfect all surfaces of the various equipment we use, including kayaks, paddles, PFDs (personal flotation devices), transport operated directly by Sea Kayak Adventures, door handles, portable toilets, etc. Gloves, masks, and distancing according to current recommendations will be required of all staff.
Hand Washing & Sanitizing:
At camp hand wash stations will be set up as they always have been. Hand sanitizer will be available in our dining area. We encourage you to bring your own hand sanitizer too.
Bring a Face Covering:
Bring your preferred face covering, and we’ll supply a few extras on the trip in case you forget. Cloth masks, buffs, etc. are all good options. While we don’t anticipate needing to wear these frequently, there will be times when they are required such as at an indoor orientation meeting or when using group transport. We believe that traveling responsibly during this time means having recommended resources at your disposal should the need arise.
Traveling Solo:
You will have your own tent on any of our camping trips. We do have a supplemental charge for the use of a single kayak.