Our trips to Sucia Island require a ferry trip to Orca Island. We highly recommend adding extra time on Orcas Island if you are able. The Moran State Park, or Turtleback Mountain, are wonderful places to hike. The tiny hamlet of Eastsound has many fun shops to browse through as well as some delicious restaurants.

Let’s Go!

Arriving on Orcas Island you will make your way to the north shore area known as North Beach. It is about a 25 minute drive from the Orcas ferry landing. Your guide will meet you at the launch site and will issue you dry bags so that you can begin packing your personal gear. (If time allows, feel free to drop by our office in Anacortes prior to departing on the ferry. We can check you in early and give you your dry bags at that time.) Parking is located right at the launch site, there is no cost to park and your guide will direct you to the best places to leave your vehicle.

After packing your gear and loading the boats your guide will discuss some safety considerations, explain the planned route for the day, and give you a short introduction on the basics of sea kayaking. After a last minute restroom break you’ll be off the beach and headed into the islands!

The Trip:

Day One:

Launch from North Beach, and paddle across the channel to Sucia Island. Our guides are familiar with the tidal currents and will choose the optimal route for your group. The crossing is approximately two miles and generally takes about one hour. Keep your eyes open for porpoise cavorting in the tides, or seals hunting salmon. After completing the crossing we usually head directly into one of the coves on Sucia Island to find our campsite. We like to find a camp early in order to unload the equipment, enjoy a delicious meal, and relax a bit before heading back out for an afternoon of exploration in the kayaks.

While on the beach at Sucia Island you are free to explore the trails on your own, or accompany your guide on a walk if you prefer. Later in the day, after a fun exploratory afternoon of kayaking, your guide will be busy preparing a delicious dinner for you to enjoy. This is another great opportunity to go for a walk or just relax on the beach with a glass of wine, watching the evening light coloring the sky. Sucia Island boasts some of the most spectacular sunsets anywhere in the San Juan Islands. .

Day Two:

After a hearty breakfast your guide will talk with you about the day’s paddling options. We rarely have a set plan for this day, so feel free to talk about what you are hoping to see and do. Our guides love to try and tailor every trip to meet their guests expectations. If weather and tidal currents are good then your guide may suggest a day trip to one of the neighboring islands, called Matia or Patos islands. This can be a very rewarding experience, but it is more physically demanding. If you are feeling ambitious then let your guide know and they will try to incorporate it into the trip. We have found that most people are happy with about 5-6 hours of paddling, with plenty of relaxing breaks on the many small beaches located around Sucia Island. Lunch is almost always prepared in the field, away from camp, so bring all that you need for the day. It should be mentioned that occasionally some people prefer not to paddle at all and would rather spend the day walking on the miles of trails found here. That is fine with us, you will just need to communicate with your guide so that they can prepare a lunch for you ahead of time. (Note: we cannot allow you to paddle without a guide present, so if they leave with the rest of the group then you will not be able to join them until they return.)

After returning from the day’s adventure it is time for….you guessed it….more relaxation! Go for another walk, skip stones, or simply sit at the water’s edge and contemplate the beauty around you, while your guide is busy preparing your next delicious dinner. (As you can tell, these guides work hard for their tips!)

Day Three:

Greet your final morning in the Outer Islands with a hot cup of coffee and watch as the Sun rising changes the shadows on the surrounding islands. After breakfast you and your guide will talk about the best route home before taking down your camp and packing the boats for the last time. Launch time is determined mostly by the tidal currents. Some trips must leave fairly early in the morning, and other trips will wait until the tides turn around in your favor. It all depends on the days that your trip is happening.

Lunch will usually be another beach break somewhere along the route home.

Depending on the route you take, and the conditions of the day, you will likely return back to Orcas Island sometime between 2:00pm and 4:00pm. The exact return time is difficult to predict because so many factors are involved with this sort of travel experience. We recommend that you do not schedule things too tightly just in case the weather or some other variable slows you down along the way.

After unloading your kayaks, and saying farewell to your guide, you are off to the next adventure. Hopefully we will see you again!

**This is a sample itinerary which outlines the type of experience that most often happens. Due to the dynamic nature of outdoor adventures things can sometimes change without notice. We work very hard to provide the best possible experience for each of our guests so if you have any special needs or concerns, or any particular expectation that you have, then please do call us so that we can talk to you more about it. Thank you!

What trip offers the best chances of a whale sighting?

This is probably the most popular question that we hear on the phone. The best answer is “it is impossible to predict”. Kayaks simply do not travel fast enough to manifest a whale encounter on purpose. Our guests have always appreciated that we set reasonable expectations about whale encounters. If seeing a whale is a primary goal for you then we suggest that you book an additional trip with a whale watch company. They have fast-moving boats which can seek out the whales’ locations on any given day. Kayak trips and whale watch outings are actually very complementary and will give you the best possible experience in the San Juan Islands.

I have never tried sea kayaking before, how do I know whether I can do this?

These kayak tours are designed for people with little or no previous experience who enjoy an active experience. We like to call this activity “soft adventure” because the tours are loaded with fun (without too much adrenaline)! The goal is to move quietly through the landscape, enjoying the views while rewarding the body with a little bit of easy exercise. All of our tours will move as slowly as necessary to ensure that you won’t get too worn out. Our guides are very competent paddlers, and well-trained trip leaders, they will worry about the details so that you can relax and enjoy yourself. If you have any specific concerns then please call us so that we can make sure that you get placed on the most enjoyable trip possible.

What is the difference between an All Inclusive Package and a Self-Catered Package?

The only difference between these two packages is that in the All Inclusive Package we provide your camping gear and your meals. Here in the outdoorsy Pacific Northwest a large number of our guests possess their own camping equipment and prefer to use it. We have responded to this reality by creating an option that saves them some money and allows them to use the gear that they have already invested in. On all trips, we will provide the kayaking equipment and the same exceptional guide service that our guests have come to expect from Anacortes Kayak Tours.

What if it rains?

As the saying goes; “there is no such thing as bad weather, just unfortunate clothing choices.” Joking aside, we are very fortunate that we live in the “rainshadow” of the Olympic Mountains and consequently we receive much less precipitation than Seattle and the rest of Western Washington State. Don’t rely on Seattle weather reports to tell you what it will be like up here because we are in a very different climate zone. What little rain falls in the summer rarely lasts for too long and it usually creates some of the most beautiful kayak trips of the season as the muted colors of the Pacific Northwest come alive with the moisture. We won’t cheat you out of the experience because of a little rain, bring a rain-jacket or borrow one of ours and come to enjoy the show!

Can I paddle in a single kayak?

Yes! We have a limited number of single kayaks available to reserve. Check out our info on single kayaks for Multi-Day trips. We are currently the only outfitter in the San Juan Islands to be able to offer this option. The superior training and skill levels of our guides allow us to make this type of experience available to our guests.

What’s the weight limit for paddling in a kayak?

265 lbs for double kayaks and 225 lbs for single kayaks. We have found that these weights are generally the limits for your comfort and enjoyment of the activity.

What is your policy on tipping?

Your guides work very hard to keep your party safe while also supporting an atmosphere that is entertaining. Gratuities are always appreciated with the average tip being 10 percent of the total trip cost, with some guests tipping more and some less, depending on your experience.

What Our Clients Say

Prepare for Your Multi-day Adventure

Meeting Place and Time

For all trips to Sucia Island, take the ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island. From the ferry terminal on Orcas Island, drive up to North Beach, where you’ll meet your guide.

Gear You Will Need

Every person will be assigned 2–20L dry bags and 1–10L dry bag for their gear.

The San Juan Islands have a very mild climate during the summer months. Most trips will experience temperatures around 70° F during the day, and mid-50s at night. Rain is not common, but be aware of the weather and come prepared accordingly.

• Long underwear- polypropylene or something synthetic, top and bottom>
• Shorts (1 pair, preferably non-cotton)
• Pants (1 pair, preferably non-cotton)
• T-shirts (2-3 depending on the trip length)
• Sweatshirt (fleece or synthetic, cotton will not dry) or some other insulating shirt. (2)
• Underwear (enough to make you happy)
• Socks (enough to make you happy, 4 pairs should be plenty)
• Light rain jacket and rain pants
• Water compatible shoes (Tevas, Chacos, water socks, old tennis shoes, etc)
• Shoes for camp (light running or hiking shoes are great)
• Baseball cap, or a brimmed hat.
• Wool or fleece hat for camp
• Sunglasses! (You will definitely want these!)
• Binoculars
• Two water bottles, One liter each (please fill them at the store, or before you arrive)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Headlamp or flashlight, with extra batteries.
• Book, playing cards, journal.
• Any favorite snacks (we’ll provide a lot, but you may have special preferences.)
• Small camera (bring freezer grade Zip-Loc bags to protect it, if it isn’t waterproof.)
• Personal medications, as needed, including painkillers (we have First Aid kits, but prefer to keep our medications for emergencies.)
• Allergy medications—if you are allergic to bees, please bring an epi-pen!
• Sleeping Bag must be compressible to fit into one of the 20L dry bags. (we have bags to rent for a nominal $35 cleaning fee)
• Beer or wine, if you like (for insurance reasons we cannot provide alcohol)
• Toiletries
• A small hand towel
• Earplugs
• Any personal items that you cannot live without during your trip.

Anacortes Kayak Tours will provide

• All kayaking gear (boat, paddles, spray decks, life jackets)
• A professionally trained and fun guide, with a comprehensive safety kit
• Dry bags for your personal gear, usually two 20L bags and one 10L dry bag
• All camping gear (tents, sleeping pads, pillows, kitchen items, etc)
• All meals, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and hot drinks

Age Limits

If you have younger kids (under 12) then please call before making a reservation.

Anacortes Kayak Tours prides itself on being the most family-friendly kayaking company in the San Juan Islands. We consider your kids to be an investment in the future and we want to get them out on the water and developing an active lifestyle and an appreciation of the natural world!

That being said, kids under 12 are best suited for private trips for better group dynamics and safety on the water.

Weight Limits

For your safety and comfort, we have a weight limit of 265 pounds (per person) in tandems and 225 pounds (per person) in singles. Call if you have any questions.

Health / Physical Limits

Our #1 priority is to bring you home safely. In the unlikely event of a capsize we need to know that you are physically capable of keeping your face above the water, that you are able in some fashion to assist with the rescue, and that your heart can take the stress of the immersion and exertion of an unplanned accident. If you think that you may be at risk, or that your health conditions are of concern then please talk to your physician and then give us a call. We’d love to try and help you find a solution, and if possible to get you out on the water.

Deafness and blindness will not prevent you from enjoying our tours, but please let us know at the time of booking.

If you have health issues on the day of your trip, please pull your guide aside and let him or her know. This includes even small issues (like diarrhea) that can turn a great trip into a problem for you. Our guides can then plan the trip accordingly.

Cancellations

Multi-Day Expeditions require a 50% deposit at time of booking. 60 or more days before the trip date, full refund of all payments less a $100 per person cancellation and handling fee. 31-59 days before the trip date, guests will be charged 50% of the entire trip cost. 0-30 days before the trip date, guests will be charged 100% of the entire trip cost and no refunds will be made. All cancellations must be in writing and charged amount is determined upon the date of receipt. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy page for details.

Weather

We enjoy about 250 days of sunshine per year, mostly in the summer. Even when it does sprinkle on us it rarely lasts more than a few minutes. We won’t cancel for rain.

The only weather that will cancel a trip is windy weather that causes hazardous sea conditions. Your comfort and safety are our biggest concern.

A Few Rules–Please Read!

• • • No Smoking in the kayaks on these trips. This is a safety concern for us, many people get seasick after being exposed to cigarette/cigar smoke.
    • Please do not litter. Pack out everything that you pack in.
    • Sorry, no dogs. We like them, but they tend to tear the heck out of the boats, can disrupt the enjoyment of other guests, and can also create safety concerns.
    • Your guide needs you to follow their instructions. Please respect this.
    • Respect the wildlife who make the San Juan Islands their home. We give the whales plenty of space when they are around, we try not to frighten seals that are hauled out on the rocks, that sort of thing. Your guide will explain this more out on the water.

And at last, The Fine Print

We strive to make sure that we are being entirely open and honest with our marketing language and also when we speak to people about what our trips are like. We’ve been burned before on our travels and we never want to be remembered as a disingenuous company when you’re reminiscing with your friends later.

To assist us in placing you on the most appropriate trip please let us know if you have any special requests, concerns, or expectations when you call. That will allow us to either recommend the best trip for your needs or at least to give you a proper explanation about what we can realistically accomplish for you.