San Juan Island Outfitters, part of San Juan Safaris, is San Juan Island’s premier kayaking tour company, running guided sea kayaking, whale watching, and wildlife tours out of Roche Harbor. San Juan Island is regarded as the number one spot in North America to view orca whales, and the business emphasizes small group sizes and a high level of customer service, with experienced guides and naturalists keeping guests safe while teaching them about local flora and fauna.
Day tours include the Roche Harbor 3 Hour Kayak Tour, a straightforward daytime paddle through the Salish Sea; the Roche Harbor 3 Hour Sunset Kayak Tour, timed for golden-hour views across the water; and the Bioluminescent Kayak Tour, a night paddle through glowing plankton. All three run 3 hours and require a minimum age of 13. Beyond day tours, San Juan Island Outfitters runs multi-day overnight expeditions, including a 2 & 3 Day Classic Kayaking Tour sampling the scenery and wildlife of the islands (seals, porpoise, sea birds, eagles, and the possibility of orcas), a Family Multi-Day Kayaking trip geared toward kids ages 6-12 with hands-on looks at jellyfish and sea stars, a Multisport San Juan Island Tour combining hiking, biking, and kayaking, and additional national park hiking and camping trips to Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park.
For those who prefer to paddle independently, the business also rents sit-on-top kayaks and stand-up paddleboards directly from Roche Harbor.
Pricing for day tours starts at $119 per person for the sunset tour, $125 for the standard 3-hour tour, and $150 for the bioluminescent tour, with the same rate applying to both adults and children. San Juan Island Outfitters is a proud member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, which works with scientists, NOAA, and industry leaders to establish whale watching guidelines and best practices, reflecting the business’s broader commitment to conservation and responsible tourism.
For visitors to San Juan Island looking to kayak with orcas and other marine wildlife, whether through a day tour, a multi-day expedition, or a self-guided rental, San Juan Island Outfitters offers a well-established, conservation-minded operation out of Roche Harbor.
