Aqua Safari Tours
Whether you meet us at our shop in Bar Harbor or Southwest Harbor we will be shuttling you to the far west side of the island to go paddling (known as the Quietside to the locals). We like to take you to remote spots where you will not see hotels, motels, restaurants, cruise ships or lots of boat traffic. We take out a maximum of 12 people and will provide all of the transportation for you.
Our tours are four hours because they include transportation and we feel that a 4 hour tour gives adequate time for relaxation, wildlife viewing, and interpretation from our professional Registered Maine Guide staff . We are on the water for 2 ½ to 3 hours and do stop to take a break on a beach or island for a short break where you can have a snack that you bring and stretch your legs. Our tours are good for beginners and our Registered Maine Guides will choose routes using the wind, weather, tides, and group dynamics to make for an enjoyable and relaxing experience. We paddle in Western Bay and Blue Hill Bay and try to go one-way if at all possible using Mother Nature to our advantage. Occasionally we will do round trip tours if it is what the conditions warrant. All guests should expect to go in a tandem, though occasionally a guide may be able to offer a solo. This is a day of decision made by the guide. Please bring water, sunscreen, quick dry layers, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!
Acadia Youth Kayaking
We do these tours at the north end of the island at Hadley Point Beach and they are perfect for families with children that are six years old and older. Up there we have a great opportunity to paddle by a natural shoreline, check out some small islands, and look for wildlife. The tours take out 12 people maximum and are 2 ½ hours in length with 2 to 2 ¼ hours on the water. We do not get out of our boats during the tour but do take float breaks along the way to talk about what we are seeing and have a drink of the water you bring with you to stay nice and hydrated. Please bring water, sunscreen, quick dry layers, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!
Oyster Tours-Not offered in 2024 unfortunately!
This tour is a great opportunity to learn more about the aquaculture industry in Maine. You will start the tour at Hadley Point Beach and we have a maximum of 12 people paddle out to a barge to meet up with the owners of the Bar Harbor Oyster Company. There you will meet the owners who will talk about the industry and what they do and you will get a chance to try some fresh oysters while you are out there. It is about a 45 minute paddle out to the barge and you will spend about a half hour there and then you will paddle back to the beach. Please bring water, sunscreen, quick dry layers, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!
Semi-Private Tours- These are occasionally offered, if you don’t see availability then we aren’t offering for that day!
This tour meets at our Southwest Harbor location and paddles on the far west side of the island (known as the Quietside to the locals). What makes this tour a little different is that we only take out 8 people and everyone needs to be 18 years old or older.
This tour is four hours because it does include the transportation. We are on the water for 2 ½ to 3 hours and do stop to take a break on a beach or island for a short break where you can have a snack that you bring and stretch your legs. Our Registered Maine Guides will pick routes using the wind, weather, tides, and group dynamics to make for a relaxed and enjoyable experience. Please bring water, sunscreen, quick dry layers, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!
Adult Harbor Tour- These are occasionally offered, if you don’t see availability then we aren’t offering for that day!
This tour takes place at Hadley Point Beach and is two hours long. We take out a maximum of 12 people and everyone needs to be 16 years old or older. This is a nice opportunity to get out on the water for about 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours and experience some sea kayaking in a quiet place. We paddle along the shore line and up to some small islands and are always seeking out wildlife. If you do not see a calendar pop up when you choose this tour it means that there are no tours available.
Adult Sunset Tour
This tour takes place at Hadley Point Beach and is two hours long. We take out a maximum of 12 people and everyone needs to be 16 years old or older. This is a nice opportunity to get out on the water for about 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours and experience some sea kayaking in a quiet place as the sun starts to set. We paddle along the shore line and up to some small islands and are always seeking out wildlife. If you do not see a calendar pop up when you choose this tour it means that there are no tours available.
Our routes and meeting locations