When you talk about the best places to sea kayak, it’s not just sandy beaches and tropical weather. These top spots for sea kayaking offer some of the most beautiful paddlings, from the polar Arctic to South Pacific.
1. KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK
Sea kayaking is the best way to explore Kenai Fjords National Park’s rugged coastline. It boasts more than 750 miles. Wild Alaska offers adventurers the opportunity to explore remote wildernesses where glaciers meet with the sea, and where remnants of the Ice Age still exist. Explore undiscovered coves and caves among the magical fjords. You might even have the chance to meet a sea lion, orca, or humpback whale.
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2. CRETE’S SOUTHERN COAST
Although the Greek Island of Crete has 650 miles of clear blue waters, it’s the southern coast that is worth exploring that’s truly special. The rugged coastline and mountainous terrain of the region create plenty of hidden coves, sea caves, and beautiful pink-sand beaches that draw paddlers from small villages to larger ones. This area is ideal for kayaking.
3. DALMATIAN COAST
Kayaking the Dalmatian Coast is all about the beauty of its rugged bluffs and rocky headlands. There are also sandy beaches and ancient towns that drop toward the ocean. These stunning turquoise waters, which are undoubtedly the most blue of all oceans on Earth, that stretch between Croatia and Montenegro have more than 1200 islands and small islets. Kayaking here offers endless exploration opportunities to discover hidden coves and grottoes as well as incredible reefs.
4. BELIZE BARRIER REEF
The Caribbean paradise of Belize is made up of more than 450 sandy, palm-dotted islands called Сayes. Its barrier reef is what ties them all together. This magical underwater world, which is home to more than 100 types of coral and over 500 species of fish, is the second largest on Earth. This is the perfect spot for island hopping and snorkeling.
5. GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK
There are rules and regulations that limit or restrict access to tour boats within the Galapagos National Park chain of islands. However, sea kayaking in Charles Darwin’s paradise may allow you special access. You can go out with an outfitter to explore remote locations and beaches, where you will be able to meet blue-footed boobies or giant tortoises, penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, and other exotic species only found in this remote island destination.
6. FIJIAN LANDS
Fiji is home to over 300 islands. The shallow, clear waters of the South Pacific and extensive coral gardens make it a paradise for paddlers. Sea kayakers can enjoy the calm waters of the South Pacific and the tropical climate to snorkel in this vibrant and fish-filled paradise.
7. BAJA THE “MEXICAN GALAPAGOS”
Baja, Mexico’s scenic and remote coastline, and the surrounding islands such as Isla Espiritu Sante, were not chosen for their “Mexican Galapagos” nickname. Baja’s warm turquoise waters are home to rare species and a stunning marine environment. Enjoy the day’s adventure of paddling through this evolutionary treasure trove, and then relax on sandy beaches while taking in spectacular sunsets at night.
8. SERMILIK FEORD, GREENLAND
Can you kayak in the Arctic sea? Although it sounds crazy, you can kayak the calm waters of Sermilik Fjord, southeastern Greenland in the summer. Each year hundreds of icebergs are released from the rugged and wild region’s large ice sheets. Explore this magical fjord by navigating through floating ice chunks. You might even spot whales and seals as you navigate through the maze.
9. HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM
Although it is a must-see tourist attraction in Vietnam, paddlers will enjoy the mystical Halong Bay more than any other. Sea kayakers can escape the dangerous areas where large boats descend. They can enjoy the bay’s idyllic setting of huge limestone islands that rise from the emerald water and explore hidden caves, lagoons, and visit floating fishing villages.
10. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Although Grand Teton National Park is not on the top 10 list for sea kayaking, it does make sense. Jackson Lake provides unique access to remote areas of the park that few people see every year.