General

Self rescues are not a prerequisite. Life jackets are always mandatory on trip. They are designed to keep you buoyant in the event of a capsize. If you should capsize, your guide will assist you in your recovery. Steps will be addressed in the orientation and in the event of a capsize to help assist you back into your kayak or onto land. It is not common to tip in a kayak as they are designed for stability, however the chances are still present. Please inquire with us for further information if needed.

This will vary. Often our meeting location will have washrooms or pit toilets. Other times we may need to find privacy on or near a beach. Toilet paper and sanitizer is supplied. Guides will designate an area with privacy on arrival to a new beach for use. We use the area below the high tide whenever possible. This is both the most sanitary and respectful to the area and animals. Please inquire further at any time.

Mostly yes. Please advise us as soon as possible about your food preferences so that we can accommodate you appropriately. We will avoid bringing foods on trip that may cause allergic reactions. Please be specific with allergies vs preferences.

The trip description will inform you if it is best suited for all, or those with some experience. A typical day includes 4-6 hours of paddling with a lunch and snack break. A light amount of fitness is suitable. Kayaks can typically accommodate up to 250pounds. For the trips that request some previous paddling experience it means that you should feel comfortable in your kayak in some swell or open water. Self rescues are not a prerequisite.

In Canada tips are a common way to show appreciation for a service. 10% of the trip cost is the average. It is common to give more or less depending on how well the service met your satisfaction. It is also completely optional to tip.

During an average day trip or multi day trip it is common to paddle for 2-3 hours before lunch and 2-3 hours after lunch. For a short day trip such as the English Bay to Stanley Park trip a minimum of 2 hours is spent in our kayaks.

Only if the weather is not appropriate will we need to stay on land. For a day trip, we will try to notify you as soon as possible to cancel or reschedule the trip. For a multi day trip we will take advantage of our surroundings and go for a hike instead. This is most typically because of either high winds or lightning. Rain or fog aren’t particular safety issues. In fact, on a wet day a kayak is often the best place to be! There is no bad weather, just bad clothing. We supply paddle jackets to keep you dry. Paddling will keep you warm.

Your Day Includes:

• Your guide and trip
• All kayaking and safety gear including: kayak, paddle, spare paddle, pump, sponge, tow line, spray skirt
• Lifejacket
• Paddling jacket
• Two dry bags for your personal belongings
• Lunch if listed in the tour description
• A snack

Please ask about any extra rentals if needed 

Clothing should include:

• Shoes that can get wet and most importantly have grip. They need to have ankle support. I recommend runners, water shoes, Keen or Croc sandals. Closed toed shoes help against stubbing toes on rocks.
• Shorts or pants that dry quickly when wet.
• 2-3 shirts so you can adjust your layers depending on the weather.
• A wool hat for cold days.
• Gloves for those who easily get cold fingers.

No cotton/jeans. They become heavy and cold when wet. Synthetics are a better option such as fleece or polyester. These will warm with your body if wet.

Other items include:

• A hat or sunglasses for sun protection
• 1 litre of water
• Personal medications
• Waterproof camera if possible, otherwise we have drybags which will keep the camera dry during

Your Multi Day Includes:

• Your guide and trip
• All kayaking gear and safety equipment including: kayak, paddle, spare paddle, pump, sponge, tow line, spray skirt
• Lifejacket
• Paddling jacket
• Camp chair
• Three dry bags for your personal belongings
• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping mat
• All kitchen and fire gear
• All meals and snacks

Please ask about any extra rentals if needed 

Clothing should include:

• 1 pair of shoes that can get wet and most importantly have grip. They need to have ankle support. I recommend runners, water shoes, Keen or Croc sandals. Closed toed shoes help against stubbing toes on rocks.
• A pair of rubber boots are optional. Perks include your feet staying dry entering and exiting the kayaks. Downside they can flood if a wave fills them. They can also be bulky to wear in a kayak or to store.
• 1 pair of shoes for land, after kayaking.
• 2-4 warm socks
• 2 shorts
• 1-2 pants
• Underwear
• 1 thermal underwear – like the underlays you might wear skiing.
• 3-4 shirts, short and long
• 1-2 sweaters, at least one very warm sweater recommended
• Rain jacket and rain pants
• Gloves if you easily get cold fingers
• 2 wool hats
• Sun hat

No cotton/jeans. They become heavy and cold when wet. Synthetics are a better option such as fleece or polyester. These will warm with your body if wet.

Other Items Include:

• Sun glasses
• Glasses and Contacts. Consider a back up if one becomes lost or breaks.
• Toiletries – biodegradable soaps please.
• Baby wipes and a few band aids
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Headlamp
• Personal medications. Bring extra doses medication if is critical to you. Separate and duplicate, storing one set with a partner or guide. A trip can be cut short if there is not enough medication to keep a client safe.
• Water bottle. It nice to have a clip attached.
• Book. Keep in waterproof/sealable bag
• Spirits. Alcohol may be consumed after the days kayaking only.
• Camera. Small waterproof cameras are great. If you have a larger SL camera a pelican case is a great way to keep it protected. Alternatively, a camera can be wrapped in a sweater and kept in a dry bag for protection.
• Extra batteries
• Ziplock bags
• Sleeping bag and/or mat if you prefer your own over ours.

Leave your watches and phones behind