7 destinations for an epic kayak adventure
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Loading... - Nicola Collins
- 10 Mar 2022
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From Alaska to Antarctica, these unreal locations will have you going home with bragging rights, no doubt.
San Diego, California: kayak among the leopard sharks
Kayaking off the coast of La Jolla can be amazing year-round, however, if you go from July through September, it’s extra special. That’s when leopard sharks show up in droves. Because of the nutrient-packed, shallow water and dense kelp forests, it makes a really great place for pregnant leopard sharks to cruise along. But, don’t worry, they are typically no longer than 4 feet long and are harmless. Not only do you get to see them, but you will also experience four microhabitats throughout the La Jolla Underwater Park.
Keep your eyes peeled for shovel nose guitar fish, dolphins, sea lions, lobsters and turtles. You can take an hour-long leopard-shark tour with Everyday California or opt for a sea-cave tour. Hike Mt Soledad after for views of San Diego County.
Makena Beach, Maui: spot sea turtles through the clear water
Off the shores of Makena Beach, on Maui’s southern coastline, is a beautiful kayaking spot. Here, a series of underwater lava formations, created by submarine volcanoes, makes an ideal home for green sea turtles. Maui Kayak Adventures takes guests out to this area for a morning kayaking session and snorkel. Thanks to the clear, turquoise water, it’s easy to spot marine life like angelfish, octopus, butterfly fish and moray eels. Keep an eye out for gorgeous red pencil sea urchins (they make for great photos), and stick around afterward for a beach cleanup. Keep your distance from turtles; these guys are endangered.
Antarctica, Cuverville Island: the world's coldest, driest, windiest place to kayak
This is a bucket-list kayak adventure like no other. First things first: wiggle your way into a heavy-duty dry suit, thick gloves and booties to keep the body heat in. This will protect you from the 32°F (0°C) water. You are in the world’s coldest, driest, windiest locale, after all. Start paddling and soaking in your surreal surroundings. Penguins are easy to come by.
They hang out on the shoreline and hop from rock to rock, toboggan down the mountains, dive into the ocean and dart beneath your kayak. If you’re lucky, you’ll also spot Weddell seals lounging on the snow banks. You may also see crabeater seals, orcas and humpback whales. Overhead, it’s easy to spot fast-flying petrels, Antarctic terns and albatrosses with wingspans up to 11 feet. The only noise is the sound of ice chunks, called bergy bits, clinking against each other, perhaps some avalanches and the click of your camera. So, how exactly do you get there? Read More…
