Best Sea Kayaking Adventures for Seniors

Five First Class Kayak Destinations to Explore

Images courtesy of Sea Kayak Adventures

“As a seasoned adventurer who is now 62,” writes ROW Adventures founder, Peter Grubb, “I find sea kayaking an ideal outdoor activity for the mature traveler. It is easy on the joints, providing well-paced exercise while simultaneously immersing me in spectacular aquatic settings around the world. Gliding over transparent turquoise waters along protected coastlines is nothing short of magical.
“We found so many of our guests felt the same way that we added Sea Kayak Adventures to the ROW Adventures family of companies in 2012. This has allowed us to make this activity accessible to a wide audience by taking care of all the details like food and accommodation, providing all required equipment and staffing trips with talented, caring, professional guides who know their destination and the local natural environment. Camping and lodge-based itineraries are available to suit a variety of interests and comfort levels. While no prior experience is necessary, some physical preparation before any multi-day trip will help guests to enjoy it more.”

Islands of Loreto Bay Kayak Tour, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, tours of 3, 4, 5 or 6 days from October to May

The islands of the Sea of Cortez or Baja Mexico contain striking natural beauty in a dramatic setting formed by rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches. These contrast with the brilliant reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers the perfect blend of Baja kayaking, hiking and snorkeling. Abundant wildlife, massive whales, sunny weather and warm, crystalline waters make the Sea of Cortez in Loreto Bay National Marine Park one of the best winter sea kayaking and whale watching destinations in North America.

These waters offer exceptional opportunities for viewing dolphins, sea lions and whales in the wild. High-flying frigate birds, blue-footed boobies and squadrons of pelicans are your companions as you kayak past manta rays and brightly colored fish. Perfect for snorkeling!

Each winter endangered blue whales more than five times as long as your sea kayak migrate to these waters looking for tasty crustaceans. Encountering the largest animal on earth is a thrilling experience. Fin, Humpback and Sei whales also frequent the area.

Compelling Corsica, France, tours of 9 days, June and September

This adventure is an ideal combination of hiking the spectacular granite mountains of Corsica, a French Mediterranean island, and paddling the azure waters of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Reserve Naturelle de Scandola. This active, hotel-based trip offers superb local cuisine for which the “Isle of Beauty” is famous. Talented bilingual guides help ease all guests into a deep appreciation of “corsitude” as guests embrace the authentic McDonalds-free local culture!

With the highest rainfall of any island in the Mediterranean, Corsica is also the greenest. It rises dramatically from the sea to peaks over 8800’ (2700 meters) and within this rise are three climate zones. Over 2800 plant species live here and the island’s maquis (a thick and tangled forest of oak, juniper, heather and herb) became the name for the French WWII resistance movement, due to this formidable landscape.

Food is central to life in Corsica and flavors of the maquis are found in honey, cheeses and grilled meats. Delectable wines, cured meats, fresh seafood and savory cheeses round out the culinary scene. This ancient land is full of distinctive culture, history and hauntingly beautiful music to be experienced on Compelling Corsica. In 2015 Compelling Corsica was voted by National Geographic as one of the 50 best tours of a lifetime!

God’s Pocket Kayak Tour, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, tours of 6 days during July

This popular lodge-based kayak tour is ideal for those who love kayaking by day and a comfortable bed and hot shower at night. Jacques Cousteau rated God’s Pocket Provincial Park among the best cold water SCUBA dive spots in the world due to its phenomenal marine diversity. Though we stay above water with stable sea kayaks, this island wilderness offers stunning scenery and flourishing marine life.

God’s Pocket earned its name from the seafaring explorers of ages past. Buffered by barrier islands, a small cove on Hurst Island offered the last sanctuary from stormy seas before the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. Sequestered in this sheltered bay, sailors felt as if they were safely tucked away in the protection of God’s own pocket.

Enjoying calm summer seas with a kayak exploration of these breathtaking islands, watch for humpback whales, orca, porpoises, seals, sea lions, sea otters and bald eagles. Paddle by the world-famous Browning Wall at low tide to see an explosion of invertebrate sea life. Return each day to the seven room resort with private baths, all the amenities of home and delicious meals prepared from scratch.

The Benefits of KayakingAre you looking for an activity that is good for your mental and physical health while not straining the parts of the body that especially need protection with age? Getting out in nature either on a peaceful lake or seascape and participating in a low-impact aerobic activity like sea kayaking may be an ideal solution.
For a sit-down activity, it is surprising how many muscles a person uses while kayaking. Through the motion of paddling, the full length of your arms get a great workout but you will also be working your back, core strength and legs as well. And it can get the cardiovascular rate up like a brisk jog or run. There isn’t any jarring of joints which makes kayaking a great activity for pretty much anyone who struggles with painful joint function.
To learn more reasons to consider kayaking, just search the internet.

Cuba by Kayak, 8 days, offered October to May

Discover the allure of Cuba on this eight-day tour through Cuba’s most iconic sites seen from a new angle: a kayak. Paddle your way around Cuba’s sparkling Caribbean coasts and thriving coral reefs. Skim the calm waters of rivers winding through valleys of sugar cane. Find your way to isolated cays where tropical fish are the primary residents.

This trip integrates daily explorations of Cuba’s wilderness and wildlife with insightful encounters with Cuba’s people and history. Walk cobbled streets that saw the rise and fall of Spanish colonialism or plazas painted with the colors of the revolution. Meet with Cuba’s artists who continue to shape its culture and park rangers who persist in its conservation. Visit Trinidad, where the past remains present, and the Bay of Pigs, where the infamous past has given way to a future built on nature. Cuba is a country of contrasts and irresistible surprises. American participants are approved for this tour.

Galapagos Islands Multisport Tour, 9 days, year round. Limited Time Offer of FREE Mainland Ecuador to Galapagos Islands airfare on selected 2025 itineraries!

In this region, the beauty of a sea kayak as a vessel for wildlife viewing lies in its non-intrusive, eco-friendly presence. On this 6-day itinerary, it is possible to live the wonders of the Galapagos by getting down to sea level in an exquisite marine environment. At Kicker Rock, guests snorkel with a multitude of sea life including dolphins. On land there are blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, marine iguanas, many rare finches and other birds. And there’s a chance to see the legendary giant tortoises at a local breeding center.

Sea Kayak Adventures is the only company with a tour that includes camping on the beaches of the Galapagos Islands. Here is a relatively short trip for enthusiasts who loves to kayak and camp in comfort. Waking up and going to bed surrounded by island sounds is an extraordinary experience that totally immerses participants in nature with incredible up-close wildlife encounters each day.

The six-day tour starts with an overnight in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city followed next morning by a flight to the Galapagos and the island of San Cristobal. Later in the day comes the first kayaking session. The next three days guests kayak along the coast staying at two different beach camps where strict “Leave No Trace” systems are set up to minimize our impact. There is a visit to Kicker Rock to snorkel in clear waters and see turtles, a multitude of fish including eagle rays, harmless Galapagos sharks, white-tipped sharks, and much more. On the sixth day guests return to mainland Ecuador or they may add other short options to explore the islands of Santa Cruz and/or Isabela.

Follow Up FactsSea Kayak Adventures, www.seakayakadventures.com, provides unique kayak tours for active, outdoor-minded travelers, to world-renowned destinations. Some of the most celebrated natural areas it visits include Alaska, British Columbia, Mexico’s Baja, the Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, Quebec, Scotland, Corsica and Cuba. Top-notch equipment, unique itineraries, and perfected operations attract extraordinary guides, many of whom are highly sought after in the industry. Each trip has 2-3 guides to assist, inform and lead the way so guests get the most out of their adventure. Guides love to share conversations, knowledge, and laughter – and they are great cooks!
Sixty per cent of Sea Kayak Adventures guests are over 45 years of age with an even mix of women and men. Many guests are in the 60 to 80 year age range. The top three countries from which clients are currently drawn are the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
For a challenging independent kayak journey from Eastport, Maine in the U.S. to St Andrews, New Brunswick in Canada, your will enjoy reading a senior’s account of Kayaking to Canada from our publication’s Travel Article Library.