La Jolla Kayaking Tour in San Diego - We Saw Dolphins from the Kayak

 

     My husband and I really love La Jolla, San Diego. We used to visit there every spring to see spring wild flowers and marine animals. However, after COVID-19 pandemic began, we didn't go there for a long time. For the first time in three years, we finally visited La Jolla this month.

     A week ago, I found La Jolla kayaking tour on Groupon and told my husband that I really wanted to join the tour. The One Double Kayak for Two with Guided Tour from Everyday California was originally $119 but was on sale for $79. We decided to go to La Jolla on the following weekend and booked the morning tour, which would start at 9 a.m., so we needed to arrive 30 minutes before the tour began. (This year, we've finally become morning people because we established our weekend morning hiking habit!)

      We left our home before 7 a.m. and arrived there around at 8:20 a.m. We were able to find a parking space on the street easily. 

Everyday California

2261 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

 

Tips for Kayaking at La Jolla Beach

・You will be completely soaked, so you should wear swim suite or wetsuits. You can also wear light weight waterproof windbreaker jacket to keep you warm.

・If you want to bring your smart phone, you must need a waterproof phone pouch to protect your phone from water.

・If you wear eyeglasses including sunglasses which tend to be lost in the sea, you need a glasses strap to prevent loosing your glasses.

・Wear sunscreens on entire body to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.

・You can wear water shoes in the kayak, or you can take off shoes at the beach.

・There is a public shower area at the beach.

 

Waterproof Phone Pouches

      We brought these waterproof phone pouches to the kayaking tour, and my husband purchased this orange glasses strap at Everyday California. The staff told us that 60% of people lost glasses in the ocean without wearing a strap.
 

Glasses Strap

 

My La Jolla Kayaking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

     I use Under Armour MapMyWalk App to track my kayaking. 

My La Jolla Kayaking Summary (UA MapMyWalk App)

      After checked in at Everyday California, we put our belongings in the locker, which was $6. Then, we received life jackets and helmets near the locker. There were two changing rooms if you need to change your clothes. I was wearing t-shirt over swim suit, and put on the waterproof windbreaker jacket to keep me warm in the ocean. You can rent a wetsuit there if you need it.

     We were waiting around the benches until everyone has arrived.

     There were two tour guides and 12 people, six parties, participating the tour. At around 9 a.m., we started heading toward the beach.

 

      At the beach, there were more staffs handing us paddles, and they taught us how to properly use a paddle for 3 minutes or so. 

     Finally, we headed toward the ocean with a kayak .

      Getting into the kayak and getting through the waves were pretty hard but staffs helped us. We were completely wet already at the beginning of the tour.

      The beginning of the kayak was so intense, but the ocean was very calm offshore.

      Our tour guide shouted and let us know there was a group of dolphins swimming very closed to us. I was even able to see a blowhole on the dolphin!

      The tour guides were so knowledgeable and helpful. We were able to learn marine ecosystem in La Jolla Shores. They said that pregnant leopard sharks come to La Jolla Shores for warmer water in every summer, and green sea turtles are living in La Jolla year-round. I thought that I should come back to La Jolla for snorkeling in summer.

       Because of the safety of the condition, we were not allowed to enter the Emerald Cave this time.

        After 90 minutes the tour began, we finally learned how to get off the kayak. The staff helped us and pushed the kayak back to the beach, but the waves were pretty rough, and we eventually fell the kayak, which hit my head, but I was totally fine. I understood that's why we needed to wear the helmet. If I hadn't worn the helmet, my head would have been injured. My husband said that I was always so lucky. 

     After using the shower at La Jolla beach, we walked back to the Everyday California. We returned the life jackets and helmets, and we changed our clothes. 

      We left Everyday California around at 11:45 a.m. Then, we headed to Nijiya Japanese supermarket for fresh sushi lunch. It took us 20 minutes to get Nijiya from here. It was probably our first time to leave La Jolla without seeing sea lions because we were really craving for fresh sushi.

Scallop and Salmon Bowl for $11.99 at Nijiya

Negi Toro Tunal Rolls for $8.49 at Nijiya

     Even though we couldn't go into the caves, we really enjoyed kayaking the ocean. We could see wild dolphins very close from the kayak, and I enjoyed paddling and floating calmly on the surface of the ocean. I really would like to try snorkeling here in summer. 

 

    It was our third time to kayak. Our first kayak was a sea kayaking in Okinawa, Japan about 20 years ago. The second one was a harbor kayaking in Huntington Beach in 2014. The harbor kayaking was pretty easy because of calm water, and we enjoyed seeing luxury beach houses from the kayak. I thought that our third kayak at La Jolla shores was the best kayaking we've ever tried.     

      These are my entries you might like.

■【Hike】Vernal Fall via Mist Trail - Yosemite National Park in California (2023)

■La Jolla Cove in San Diego (March 2019)

■The Sunny Jim Sea Cave and Coast Walk Trail in La Jolla, San Diego  (March 2019)

■Swimming with Wild Dolphins (Big Island, Hawaii, January 2015)

■Dolphin Watching in Dana Point (July 2017)

■Our Whale Watching Trip (Dana Point, August 2013)

■La Jolla Cove - Beautiful Spring Wildflowers and Wild Animals (2018)


       My entries related to wild animals can be seen here.

       My entries related to La Jolla can be seen here.

       My entries related to hiking and walking can be seen here.