THE 10 BEST Santa Barbara Boat Tours
Boat Tours in Santa Barbara
Category types
Outdoor Activities
Traveler rating
Good for
18 places sorted by traveler favorites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
Multi-day Tours • Boat Tours
Boat Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching
Parasailing & Paragliding • Boat Tours
Scuba & Snorkelling • Adrenaline & Extreme Tours
Boat Tours
Boat Tours • Private Tours
Boat Tours • Cooking Classes
Surfing & Windsurfing • Swim with Dolphins
Boat Tours
Boat Tours
What travelers are saying
- Mary S2 contributionsOur tour with Meredith was absolutely amazing! She was so flexible and accommidating with our requests and with the weather challenges that we faced. She shared so much about the Santa Barbara area. We had a great time with her and that day was the highlight of our vacation!Written April 9, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Joe J2 contributionsAnother awesome experience! Big thanks to the crew of Celebration Cruises for a fantastic sunset boat experience. A must-do when in Santa Barbara! Special thanks to my friend and colleague Patricia for taking me and always making my Santa Barbara visits memorable.Written April 17, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sandra A1 contributionBooked a tour for Mother’s Day. A fun family experience
The staff is what made it amazing! Kind funny and extremely personable.
Will book again !Written May 13, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - yalibrarianSan Antonio, TX355 contributionsI've been on the Condor Express three times in the last five years and it never disappoints. It's easy to book either online or in-person, the parking lot (paid) has lots of space and is right across from the Maritime Museum and Brophy Brothers, I've always gotten seats outside/on top (or you can sit inside), the naturalists are informative and friendly, the PA easy to understand, and I've always seen something cool: dolphins, minke whales, humpback whales, gray whales, sea lions, brown pelicans. This last time we saw humpback whales and a mom/calf gray whles playdate in the kelp near the coast. I'm prone to seasickness, but have never had any, although I do take my meds and ginger ahead of time. Restrooms right at the dock and food/drink available on the boat.Written April 19, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ChristiB50Marshall, MIchigan263 contributionsGreat time! We didn’t see whales today but we saw thousands of dolphins and some sea lions. Captain and crew were exceptional!!Written February 22, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- John T1 contributionA fantastic trip. Our captain, Elio, was superb and made us feel so welcome. He really took attention to all our needs. He is wonderfully enthusiastic about his job, highly knowledgeable and also great fun. Totally professional and we felt completely safe out on the water with him. He knows so much about the ocean and the sea life in it, he even helped us see some whales!
I thoroughly recommend Elio, a great sailor and a great guy ( with a great dog too!)Written February 24, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - 1861JamesSue16 contributionsFantastic Sunset Cruise. This cruise had perfect weather and calm seas the sunsets were amazing. You can move around freely to all sides, front, or back of the sailboat. The crew gave us some highlights of the entertainers on shore. It’s a great way to see the city from the water.Written December 16, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- beth ann kHalstead, KS1,805 contributionsWe had a lovely sunset cruise! We say LOTS of dolphins, and the weather was great! The crew was very nice also.Written November 1, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- graceann29San Francisco, CA3 contributionsSailing to the Channel Islands on the Green Flash with Captain Arthur and Chef Sherri was a magical way to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday with our family! We loved the well appointed catamaran. Accommodations were so clean and comfortable. There were lots of places to hang out and relax on the boat as we took in the beautiful scenery and listened to our favorite play lists on their music system. We had so much fun seeing all the beautiful marine life from the boat, kayaking in the cove and caves and just chilling on the Green Flash. Arthur and Sherri are gracious hosts and make every effort to make sure you are having an unforgettable experience. The food was delicious and healthy; snacks, appetizers, happy hour and meals were all done perfectly for our crowd. They made sure to have our favorite happy hour drink on board, Aperol Spritz's. Such lovely people who are experts at providing you with the best sailing adventure possible! ~GraceAnn & Gary and FamilyWritten July 19, 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- J Wap4 contributionsWe had an amazing time out at sea exploring the Santa Barbara Channel and Santa Cruz Island. Captain Garrick has an intimate knowledge of the local waters, wild Pacific sea creatures, and interesting Santa Barbara lore. He is truly delightful.
I’m addition to playing tourist, I also had the unique opportunity to do some foil shredding behind the boat. I felt like a pelican hang gliding over the sea. It was magical. Captain Garrick has this on lock and can get you dialed.
Cannot wait for another adventure!Written November 17, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Stephan BSanta Barbara, CA13 contributionsGreat charter experience, the boat is roomy for the 2 of us plus the crew.
Captain Conrad is an experienced mariner and knows the channel islands very well,
Got us on some great diving spots.
Will definitely go again.Written August 14, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - sfaracBellevue, WA1 contributionWe left with captain Gabe on his zodiac for a day of spearfishing. Gabe is a very knowledgeable with a PhD in Kelp. Knows all the fish and understands currents and where to find fish and which fish are good to eat. He puts a priority on safety but it is clear that he really enjoys being out on the water.Written April 6, 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
