Kayaking La Jolla; Much More Than An Adventure

 Living near or traveling to San Diego's coast provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy fun on the water with family and friends. Rent a jet-ski or sailboat in Mission Bay or take a harbor cruise from San Diego's downtown waterfront. These activities are great, but fall slightly short from kayaking through one of San Diego's beautiful marine protected areas, like La Jolla's Ecological Reserve.
 Perhaps I'm bias, but combining the adventure of kayaking the pacific with sea life playing and feeding in their natural habitat, as well as captivating sites and information regarding La Jolla's rich underwater park and sea caves,  certainly mixes up a recipe for a vacation highlight. Not only will your family and friends be talking about it years to come, but hopefully we've ignited a passion for our beloved seas and all the living creatures that reside in them.

There is a profound connection between us and the ocean:

The air we breathe -Ocean plants produce half of the world's oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. They regulate our weather and aid in cloud formation to bring us fresh water.

The food we eat -not only sea food, but kelp and algae are used in making a wide variety of foods including various dairy free products and frozen foods. They are also found in domestic pet foods to help nourish our beloved pets.

Medicines we take -there are various beneficial sea derived ingredients in medicines used to fight cancer, alzheimer's, heart disease, viruses, and various other diseases.

Our Jobs and Economy -One in 6 jobs in the united states is marine related and more than $128 billion in GDP annually results from ocean tourism, recreation, and living resources.

The Ocean and its' eco-systems play a huge role in our health and well-being.

Not only do our La Jolla sea caves and ecological reserve kayak tours shine light on our connection to our wondrous marine eco-systems, but our snorkeling tours, bike tours and guided hikes do as well.

Hike Bike Kayak tour guides are sure to bring you on an adventure, but will leave you feeling much closer to the sea. We strive to be stewards of the ocean and inspire all who join us to share ocean awareness with others.

Recaps Of Our Recent Whale Watching Kayak Tours

We've been seeing gray whales galore on our whale watching kayak tours for the past few weeks! So far this season up until today, 1,005 gray whales have been sighted off the coast of Southern California. This is 990 southbound whales, including approximately 39 calves, and 15 northbound whales already.

This past Saturday marked one of the most exciting whale watching kayak tours at Hike Bike Kayak. We counted numerous whales, with spouting, breaching, and spy hopping in the mix!

Breaching is a common behavior but we don't really know why one gray whale breaches at a particular time. There are a few hypothesis regarding a breach...It can be used as a method for stunning prey. Also, to communicate ("Here I am!"), power demonstration, or perhaps playfulness. Due to gray whales having so much whale lice (3 different species) they can get extremely itchy, so they might breach to dislodge some of those pesky creatures on their backs. Some gray whales stop along their migration to rub on sandy substrates, like off of Zuma beach, CA...which can help rid them of their lice. Sadly, some may breach to try and free themselves from fishing net entanglements. Humpback whales have been seen breaching multiple times in a row after freeing themselves from a net, most likely to test their bodies to make sure they are free, and also for the sheer relief of it.

Here is a close-up video of a breach one year ago today, off the coast here in San Diego!

Imagine being in a kayak and recording this great footage on your go pro or other camera!!

Year Round Sea Cave Kayaking!!

  Despite the Autumn month, we are still basking in sunshine down in La Jolla. Come paddle out with us on a sea caves kayaking tour to remember. At Hike Bike Kayak, we do not overpopulate our tours and prefer to take smaller groups. Why? Well, you can get an up close experience with sea life in their natural habitat. No bumping boats and competing for views of playful sea lions, diving sea birds, and colorful fish. No waiting in a long line of kayaks to enter the sea cave. No missing out on awesome information about our marine eco-systems and the sea creatures that call them home. 

  Our intimate guided kayak tours are not only a great way to get educated about our environment and sea life, but are a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends. 

  Many of our tour-goers enjoy taking in the peacefulness and beauty of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Which is La Jolla's infamous underwater park. 

  This is not a seasonal endeavor either. Hike Bike Kayak runs kayak tours all year round! T'is the season for kayaking in La Jolla with HBK!

 

These are great photos from our Trip-Advisor reviewers!!

California Sea Lions Vs. Harbor Seals

     The California Sea Lion and Harbor Seal can both be found inhabiting La Jolla's Ecological Reserve and Children's Pool of La Jolla. They are always a fun sight from our Sea Cave Kayak Tours, where they swim, play, and feed right near our kayaks. These local marine creatures are part of the Pinniped family, which means "fin-footed" or "feather-footed"...The Walrus is also a Pinniped, but they are found further north on the coasts of Alaska, Russia, Canada, and Greenland.
     It can be difficult to distinguish between the Sea Lion and Harbor Seal. As you can see in the photographs below, they appear to be very similar. One might easily mistake a sea lion for a seal from our Plunge Bike Tour, which bikes along the coast to observe the local marine life and catch the scenic views.
Both seals and sea lions are really cute, basking in the sunshine, but there are a few distinct physical differences to notice:

Sea Lion (top) Harbor Seal (Bottom)

Sea lions have small ear flaps, while seals have ear holes. 

Sea lions have longer and large foreflippers, which are hairless. 
Seals have short, hairy foreflippers with claws. 

Sea lions have long smooth whiskers, while seals have crimped or beaded whiskers.

Some of their unique features allow them to move around differently:

Sea lions rotate their hindflippers beneath them to help them walk on land.
Seals move on land by wiggling their bellies and keeping their hindflippers straight.

Sea lions swim underwater using foreflippers like the wings of a bird.
Seals swim by steering with their foreflippers and powering with their hindflippers.


All of this cool information and much more can be learned from any of Hike Bike Kayak's kayaking tours or bike tours.

Hike Bike Kayak, La Jolla- Our favorite Birds of Sea and Shore

We all know La Jolla is known for its' stretch of scenic sandy beaches and salty waves, but if you look up, you are bound to see our local sea birds in flight. These birds of air and sea have adapted to the marine environment in La Jolla, and although they vary in lifestyle, physiology and behavior, they generally live longer, breed later, and have fewer young than other birds.

Most marine bird species nest in colonies and migrate annually, the size of the migration and nest can vary from just a few dozen to millions of birds.

At Hike Bike Kayak, the most widely seen sea bird species are Brandt's Cormorant, and the Brown Pelican.

Brandt's Cormorant (pictured above) is a large, dark water bird especially found in areas with kelp beds such as the La Jolla Ecological Reserve. They specifically inhabit the pacific coast of North America and migrate back and forth from Alaska to the Gulf of California. They nest on the ground or on rocky bluff ledges and mostly feed on fish and crustaceans. The Brandt's Cormorant is especially known for diving below the surface of the water to chase their prey. They usually grab fish in their bill without spearing any. These are very often spotted on our Sea Cave Kayak Tours, as well as our La Jolla Kayak and Snorkel Tours. Occasionally, we've seen them diving for prey from one of our Plunge Bike Tour stops at La Jolla Cove.

Brown Pelicans, like the cormorants, are plunge divers and use their bill and pouch like a net, scooping up fish and water. The water filters out through the sides of their bill. 

They can be seen in the air gliding in a V or straight line formation. This is a very common sighting on any of our tours at Hike Bike Kayak...Our Sea Cave Kayak Tour, our La Jolla Plunge Bike Tour, and through the Winter months, our Whale Watching Kayak Tour. 

The Brown Pelicans are a conservation success story. Over the 20th century they were hunted for their feathers, killed by fisherman, and their nests were raided for eggs. However, nothing was more devastating than the pesticide DDT. The DDT thinned the shells of eggs causing them to be crushed under the parents weight. The Brown Pelicans were listed by the federal government as an endangered species and in 1972 DDT was banned from the US allowing the gradual recovery to begin. In 2009, Brown Pelicans have recovered to the point that they were removed from the federal endangered species list.

*all images from wikipedia

The Magic of Our La Jolla Kelp Forrest

    One of the most highly productive underwater environments that supports marine biodiversity is located  just offshore from La Jolla’s coast. The giant kelp forests here are dominated by two large brown algae species, the giant kelp and the bull kelp.

  The kelp is attached to the rocky sea floor and rises up to form a broad canopy allowing a rich habitat below its’ surface.  Giant kelp thrives in clear water that receives a lot of sunlight, which makes Southern California a perfect environment.

  Kelp is also one of the quickest growing organisms on earth, growing up to 2 feet per day. The mass amount of canopy provides a home for many fish and invertebrates that depend on the productivity of the forest for food, shelter and survival. Harbor seals and sea lions use the mysterious tall forests as a refuge from predators; gray whales have even been spotted within the kelp forest, feeding. Other animals may seek out kelp forests during storms because kelp helps dissipate the energy from waves, thus making a more stable environment.

  On the surface of the ocean, kelp looks like a spread of murky debris, but beneath the surface there exists a magical underwater world populated by many cryptic and fascinating creatures. Some of which include, giant black sea bass, yellow rockfish, moray eels, giant kelpfish, garibaldi, barracuda, yellowtail, bat ray, leopard sharks, and the list goes on. You can see all of this from Hike Bike Kayak‘s La Jolla Cove and Sea Cave Snorkel Tour, andLa Jolla Cove Kayak and Snorkel Tour.

La Jolla, California...Hike Bike Kayak's Home.

  La Jolla, California, also known as "The Jewel", was established around 1850. Its name is disputed among scholars because it can be translated in both Spanish and Native American languages to mean separate things. The Spanish translation is "The Jewel". This translation is most widely accepted because of La Jolla's beauty and charm. However, it is also translated in a Native American language to mean, "Hole in the Mountains," also an appropriate title because of the many sea caves along La Jolla's coast.

Kayaking and Stand Up Paddle Boarding near the La Jolla sea caves

  In the beginning, La Jolla was not heavily developed. Although it was part of San Diego, it was not easily accessible to those around the area. In 1890, a railway was built that connected La Jolla to San Diego. This created a large influx of visitors and La Jolla was known as a resort destination. Soon, hotels and shops were popping up all around town.

  A few notable institutions in La Jolla are the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Birch Aquarium. The Institute of Oceanography was founded in 1903. It is one of the largest and oldest ocean research centers and provides training for both graduates and undergraduates at the University of California, San Diego. The Birch Aquarium is an aquarium connected to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. It features 3,000 animals that belong to 380 different species; many of which are found in the La Jolla ecological reserve.

   La Jolla Shores, where Hike Bike Kayak is located, is a stretch of beach about one mile long. It starts at the Sea Caves and ends at the Scripps Pier. Off the coast of the shores is the La Jolla ecological reserve. This is home to La Jolla Cove as well as a giant kelp forest. This kelp can grow up to 2 feet in one day and be as tall as 100 feet! Along with the reserve, La Jolla shores has a main street of shops and restaurants, and a very kid-friendly beach. 

Guest Blogger
Cayley Harrell

Hike Bike Kayak's La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour has top rating on Trip Advisor and Viator!

Hike Bike Kayak's sea caves kayak tour is top rated on the world's most popular travel booking sites. 

alison 

This was a wonderful experience. My husband was in heaven! So much to see and learn. This is a good trip for anyone who loves the ocean! The tour guides were amazing. Awesome!

Michelle R 

I decided to surprise my husband with a Kayak Tour for our anniversary. I was so glad I decided to to try this out! We had so much fun! I recommend to anyone who hasn't tried this and is interested to do so. Trust me you won't regret it!

Barbara S 

Great experience! Not only was the tour awesome, seeing the caves and watching sea lions, but Josh shared his knowledge of the sea and sea life. And he's such a professional! Definitely recommend this trip!

Book your sea caves kayak tour with Hike Bike Kayak, and you're sure to have an experience to remember!

Docile Sharks of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve

When anyone mentions the word, "shark," a vision of sharp jagged teeth, and the infamous dorsel fin heading towards the shore comes to mind. Many people curb their seaside activities in fear of a vicious shark attack due to the popular movies, Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, and Open Water. It's unfortunate that sharks get a bad rap because not all sharks are deadly and in fact, many are completely innocuous to humans. They also play a very important role in the marine ecosystem. As keystone predators, they help control many fish and marine mammal populations, and thus help keep the ecosystem healthy. 

Here in La Jolla's Ecological Reserve we encounter a handful of docile sharks. From our Sea Caves Kayak Tours, to our Snorkel Tours , and Kayak Snorkel Tours, we frequently see these innocuous creatures cruising the waters for invertebrates including shrimp, crabs, clam siphons, and small bony fish.

courtesy of wikipedia

Leopard Sharks: These sharks congregate at La Jolla Shores every summer due to a unique set of factors including calm, warm, shallow water and abundant food in the nearby La Jolla and Scripps canyons, kelp forest, and rocky reefs. La Jolla's leopard shark population is almost all females, most of which are pregnant.  The gestation period is 10-11 months. You can snorkel with these beautiful, harmless sharks on our Leopard Shark Snorkel Tour, as well as our La Jolla Cove and Sea Cave Snorkel Tour. 

courtesy of wikipedia

Horn Sharks: The California horn shark mates in December or January. After one or two weeks, the female starts laying eggs, producing two eggs at 11 to 14 days intervals for around four months. The egg is roughly conical in shape with a spiral flange running around the outside, which enables the female to wedge it into a crevice, thereby making it difficult for predators to access. You can see these cool creatures on our La Jolla Cove and Sea Cave Snorkel Tour.

courtesy of divebums 

Soupfin Sharks: This shark is also known as the school shark because it is commonly found among large aggregations of leopard sharks in La Jolla Shores. These creatures can also be seen in the kelp forest and are very shy, often scurrying from divers. They are caught in regions outside the U.S. for their high Vitamin A content.  You can snorkel with these shy, docile sharks on our Leopard Shark Snorkel Tour, as well as our La Jolla Cove and Sea Cave Snorkel Tour. 

   

Leopard Sharks Come Early This Year!

  Come late Spring, Early Summer, large groups of leopard sharks will congregate in La Jolla Shores. This local phenomenon happens just off the coast, among swimmers, kayakers, snorkelers and everyone enjoying this beautiful beach. Despite their ferocious name, Leopard Sharks are completely harmless and are more afraid of us than we are of them. Hike Bike Kayak is now offering our kayak snorkel tours here in La Jolla, which allows the opportunity to see these amazing, harmless creatures in their natural habitat. Of course, there is much more marine life to see, as well. These animals include, harbor seals, garibaldi fish (the California State fish), guitar fish, sheep head fish, moray eels, green sea turtles, spiny lobsters, and so much more! 

Book one of these unforgettable Kayak Snorkel Tours with Hike Bike Kayak to be sure to see these amazing creatures while they are swarming in our shores and cove!

 

Get the full experience of Hike Bike Kayak in our signature, Full Day Combo Tour!!

How about a gorgeous hike in the Torrey Pines Reserve, an adventurous kayak tour through the Ecological Reserve and Sea Caves, and a breathtaking bike tour showcasing La Jolla's scenic beauty? Sounds AMAZING right?! Well, you can experience all three of these in just one day! Hike Bike Kayak offers full day combo tours for the adventure seeker and outdoor enthusiast. 

The Full Day Combo Tour is truly the best way to make the most of your stay in San Diego. If you're a local, the combo tour is a great way to learn and discover more of what you call home.

                                                                        

La Jolla Plunge Bike Tour

Sea Caves & Ecological Reserve Kayak Tour

Torrey Pines Reserve Hike

             

 Hike Bike Kayak is top rated on Tripadvisor!!

The following is a recent Tripadvisor review that captures the customer's experience of the Full Day Combo: Plunge Bike Tour, Sea Caves Kayak Tour, and Torrey Pines Reserve Hike.

Quebec City, Canada

Reviewer

 4 reviews

 Reviews in 4 cities

 4 helpful votes

“Full day of fun”

Reviewed March 23, 2014 NEW

My husband and I did the full day hike, bike and kayak package and had a great time! First, you don't have to be in top condition to be able to do all three in the same day, although it would certainly help. We started with the bike ride. They take you and the bikes by shuttle van to the top of Mt. Soledad. Before the ride starts, you get an amazing view of the entire San Diego area, as well as a full explanation of the area's geography. From there, you descend and pedal through the back streets of La Jolla, stopping off to see sea lions and other local wildlife. We then had a lunch break before starting our kayak tour. You will first learn how to actually operate the kayak, then you set out down the coast. The day we went we were actually able to enter the caves, but it does depend on surf conditions. Our guide also pointed out various fish, types of seaweed, etc. Finally, we had a guided hike in Torrey Pines State Park where we learned more about the local ecosystem and took in some terrific views. Our guide for the bikes and hike was the owner, David. Our guide on the kayaks was Amanda. Both were knowledgeable and very helpful. All in all, we had fun, learned about the area & its environment and got a lot of exercise!

Visited March 2014

Harbor Seal Pup Season!

It's slightly earlier this year than expected, but harbor seal pupping season has begun! The seals nurse their pups and haul out on these out coves, such as Children's Pool, seen here, during late Winter into Spring. Hauling out is crucial not only for nursing pups, but for resting, molting, and maintaining a healthy immune system and metabolism. This is one great experience you can capture on our Plunge Bike Tour, as well as our Coastal Bike Tour. 

Another perk of the Plunge Bike Tour and Coastal Bike Tour is a nice walk out on the La Jolla Cove sea wall. Here is an aerial view photograph of Children's Pool and a broader view of the sea wall enclosing it.

To finish off the Plunge Bike Tour and Coastal Bike Tours at la Jolla Cove, we stop at the cave store and take a trip down into one of the famous sea caves, Sunny Jim. 

For the full tours including all the breathtaking views, cool information, and fun memorable experience of La Jolla, book a Plunge Bike or Coastal Bike tour with us at Hike Bike Kayak!

Check Kayak Whale Watching Off Your Bucket List!

At Hike Bike Kayak, we make it easy for you to scratch a few incredible feats off your bucket list! Snorkeling with leopard sharks, paddle-boarding among dolphin, and of course, kayaking with gray whales!

Millions of people create a list of experiences they want to achieve before "kicking the bucket". One of the most common on the list is kayaking with whales, and rightly so. This experience is one not to be missed! Here at Hike Bike Kayak, we can make it happen for you. We track the gray whales migration daily and we keep a standing count of whales we've seen in the water. Peak Season is January-February, but each year more and more whales are making the trek, due to breeding each winter in Baja, Ca. Whale watching kayak season ends in just a few weeks! We want everyone to have the chance to see these whales up close!

Like us on Facebook to catch our Bucket List Deal! $25 Off your Whale Watching Kayak tour! 

https://www.facebook.com/HikeBikeKayak

Stay With Hike Bike Kayak!

 

Get away from it all and have some fun while doing it by booking our

Hike Bike Kayak Sports Vacation Rental!!

 

 

The Vacation Rental is located just upstairs behind our Shop.

 

VRBO Vacation Rental #501614 | View all dates

 

 

Nestled above our retail space in the quaint La Jolla Shores neighborhood, this upstairs unit is a two minute walk from San Diego's most beautiful and family friendly beaches, La Jolla Shores.

The unit is upstairs from Hike Bike Kayak and Menehune Surf School, who generously includes free equipment rentals for guests of this unit including bikes, kayaks, boogie boards, snorkels, foam surf boards, paddle boards and wetsuits. They also include 25% off guided tours and lessons for guests of this unit.

The unit is a one bed, one bath with sleeper couch. Perfect for a couple or young family.

La Jolla Shores is a mile long pristine beach and the neighborhood is much quieter, easier to park, and more relaxing than La Jolla Village. However, La Jolla Village and La Jolla Cove are still a five minute car ride, fifteen minute bike ride (for adults), or twenty minute walk. While La Jolla Shores has such famous restaurants as Piatti's, Osteria Romantica, and the five-star Marine Room, the shopping, restaurants, bars, and art galleries are still very accessible from this location.

From La Jolla Shores, depending on the season, you can relax on the beach in the sun, kayak the La Jolla Sea Caves, snorkel with the famous (and completely harmless) leopard sharks, kayak with gray whales, surf gentle waves, boogie board and bike around the beautiful coast. All with equipment or instruction from Hike Bike Kayak and Menehune Surf School.