The 4 Best Santa Barbara Harbor Cruises

1.Wildlife Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 172 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59Our pick

Paddle Santa Barbara Harbor for two hours, spot seals and sea lions, and learn local ecology on a beginner-friendly kayak tour.

“We had an incredible kayak excursion yesterday! Our guides, Artie and Dario R., were fantastic—super personable, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. They made the experience both fun and informative, ensuring we saw some amazing marine animals along the way. From start to finish, they kept everything safe, engaging, and memorable. We couldn’t have asked for better guides. Highly recommend this tour if you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure on the water!”

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2.Sunset Kayak Tour in Santa Barbara Harbor (2 Hours)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $89

Review of Santa Barbara’s sunset kayak tour, with wildlife, harbor views, practical tips, pricing, kayaking details, and honest drawbacks.

“Unfortunately our impression of this tour is unfavorable. We were under the impression that we were getting 2 kayaks for the price. When we went to meet our guide Anders before our tour started and asked him a couple questions he acted as if we were bothering him. Throughout the tour he wasn’t very helpful, for example my friend needing help with her life jacket adjustments. We thought the areas we kayaked to could have been better. Around the boats and under the dock seemed rather lame. Two thumbs down”

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3.Private Harbor Cruise on Electric Boat in Santa Barbara

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Review of Santa Barbara’s private electric harbor cruise, with pricing, boat details, wildlife, food and drink tips, and booking advice.

“Our guide was friendly, fun, and very knowledgeable! The boat was great and super comfy . Would highly recommend.”

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4.Sea Lion Kayak Tour – Santa Barbara Harbor

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $70

Paddle Santa Barbara Harbor to see sea lions, birds, boats, and coastal views with a guide, family-friendly pacing, and free cancellation.

“Private tour of the pretty coast with an excellent and friendly guide. Kids loved it as did we! The facility was well run.”

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