La Jolla kayak tours: what they cost per person, and which boat to book
The flagship: sea caves at the right price
Most people paddling La Jolla book the flagship sea-cave tour. Two hours. $79 per tandem kayak — about $40 each. You paddle all seven caves from the water, spend a couple of minutes inside Clam’s Cave (the largest), and see leopard sharks and sea lions if the season is right. Rated 4.5 from 752 reviews, the biggest sample on the site. The value-for-money score is 4.4 because plenty of reviewers thought they paid $79 each; once you do the division, it wins.
Every La Jolla kayak tour, grouped by what you’re doing
Four groups: the sea-cave paddles, the snorkeling from a kayak, sunset paddles, and the two tours that are not in La Jolla at all. The last group exists for a reason: if you book the Mission Bay clear-kayak tour thinking it reaches the sea caves, you will have made a mistake. Same with Coronado bay water. Both are genuinely good paddles, just not what you came for.
Sea-cave kayak tours (the main event)
Most bookedLa Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tour
Small groupLa Jolla: Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with Guide
Golden hourLa Jolla Sea Caves Sunset Kayak Tour
Kayak + snorkelLa Jolla: 1.5-2 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour
Snorkeling tours (plus full-day gear rental)
Sea lionsLa Jolla Cove Snorkeling Tour: Sea Lions & Caves
Small groupLa Jolla Cove Sea Lions & Cave Snorkel Tour
Cheapest way inLa Jolla: Full-Day Snorkel Gear Rental
Surfing and paddle-it-yourself (La Jolla Shores)
Paddle yourselfLa Jolla: Stand Up Paddle Board Rental
LessonLa Jolla: 1.5-Hour Surfing Lesson
Not La Jolla: flat water, no caves
Mission BaySan Diego: Clear Kayak Sunset Tour on Mission Bay
CoronadoCoronado Guided Kayak Tour: 90 Minutes
Sea caves vs. snorkel vs. sunset: what they have in common
All four sea-cave tours paddle the same 1.5-mile run down the coast from La Jolla Shores, pass all seven caves, and enter Clam’s Cave. All carry helmets (required by the city on guided trips). All are governed by the swell call — on rough mornings, lifeguards close the cave entry and the tour runs the outside-the-caves route instead. The snorkel hybrid is the physical outlier because it adds two miles of open-ocean paddling and then requires you to pull yourself back into a rocking kayak.
| La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tour | Top pickLa Jolla: Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with Guide | La Jolla: 1.5-2 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79 / tandem (~$40) | $159 / tandem (~$80) | $129 / tandem (~$65) |
| Duration | 2 hours | 1.5 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Time in caves | A couple of min | Couple of min | No cave entry, snorkel only |
| Physical level | Easy | Easy | Fit swimmers |
| Rating | 4.5 / 752 | 4.6 / 268 | 4.1 / 208 |
| Free cancellation | ✓ Up to 24 h before | ✓ Up to 24 h before | ✓ Up to 24 h before |
| View → | Book this → | View → |
Book morning if you can. The swell is usually smallest in early morning, and the caves are more likely to be open. Also: mornings are calmer for taking photos and the light is better.
Read the tour reviews first
I’ve written detailed reviews of the main tours: start with the flagship sea-cave tour, the premium small-group option, and all tour reviews.
Still deciding? Read which tour suits your day, what it really costs to paddle out, or the complete guide to paddling the caves, the swell, and whether you need a guide.
Can’t make these dates?
Browse more available La Jolla kayak tour and find one that fits your schedule — all with instant confirmation and free cancellation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the $79 price per person or per boat?
Per boat — per tandem kayak with up to 2 people. So $79 is about $40 per person. Read the full breakdown here or see the comparison table above.
Which La Jolla tour should I book?
For most people on their first trip: the flagship sea-cave tour ($79). You paddle all seven caves and spend a couple minutes inside the largest one. If you want a smaller group and more guide time, book the $159 premium tour. If you are a strong swimmer, the $129 snorkel hybrid adds two miles of open-ocean paddling.
What if the caves are closed?
Lifeguards close the caves when the swell is too big. This happens most often in winter, and tour operators then run the same tour outside the cave entrances. You still paddle the same reserve, see the same wildlife, but do not enter. It is honest work for an honest price and many reviewers rate it well anyway.
Can you kayak the caves without booking a tour?
Yes, legally. You can rent a kayak at La Jolla Shores and paddle yourself. The marine reserve allows kayaking and the city’s own concession rules do not ban renting customers from the caves. What they do require: a 1.5-mile open-ocean crossing each way, your own skill at a surf launch, a readable swell forecast, and the lifeguards’ call.
Is $89 the night-kayak tour in La Jolla?
No. The $79 sunset tour is in La Jolla at golden hour. The $89 illuminated-kayak tour launches at Crown Point Park on Mission Bay — flat water, no caves, after dark.