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Frequently Asked Questions for all Trips
Is this activity suitable for beginners?
Is it possible to do a private trip?
How far in advance do I need to make my reservations?
What are the minimum and maximum ages for activities?
What if I have to cancel or can’t make it at the last minute? What is the Cancellation Policy?
Will tours run rain or shine?
Will more experienced participants be equally entertained?
Can my party join an existing group if we don’t meet the minimum number of required participants?
Can I buy a Gift Certificate?
What are my payment options?
Can I pay on the day of my trip?
Will I be charged a “mandatory tip”?
What’s the maximum group size Santa Barbara Adventure Company can accommodate?
I want to go on a trip. What’s available?
Do you rent kayaks, surfboards and other equipment?
I need directions to my meeting spot. Where can I find my guide?
Can I buy an Adventure Company hat or shirt?
Channel Islands FAQs:
What about food at the Channel Islands National Park?
Is there drinkable water on the island?
How long is the boat ride across the Channel?
Do you arrange our transportation to the Channel Islands?
What if I already made boat reservations with Island Packers?
I have never been to the Channel Islands, what should I bring?
Can you provide me with Channel Islands camping information?
What is the difference between Scorpion Ranch and Painted Cave Kayaking?
What is the weather looks bad for the day of my tour?
My group booked separately. How do I make sure we are put in a same kayak group?
Wine Country Tours FAQs:
Can we add someone to our tour at the last minute?
Can we pick our own wineries?
Where do we meet for wine tours?
What is for lunch?
How many wineries will we visit on our tour?
Is this activity suitable for beginners?
Yes, most of our trips are suitable for beginners. Unless we’ve noted in the activity description that previous experience is required, beginners are encouraged to sign up.
Is it possible to do a private trip?
Absolutely. We’re flexible and happy to customize our itinerary to your needs. Please contact us for details.
How far in advance do I need to make my reservations?
Please make your reservation as early as possible to ensure your date. For most tours, we can usually accommodate guests within 48 hours, sometimes less. If you have a large group (10 or more participants) we encourage you to make your reservations at least 2 weeks to 2 month in advance, especially in the summer and fall. Channel Islands trips should be booked as far in advance as possible, especially for overnight camping. Channel Islands trips book up quickly during the summer months and availability is limited by the National Park. Call us to discuss your dates, especially if they are not flexible.
What are the minimum and maximum ages for activities?
Kayaking: 5 years old. (Must be comfortable swimming in the ocean, able to follow instructions, paddle and get in/out of kayak independently. Must be in a double kayak if younger than 12)
Surfing: 7 years old (Child must be comfortable swimming in the ocean and ducking under waves)
Stand Up Paddle: 7 years old (Child must be comfortable swimming in the ocean)
Biking: 10 years old
Horseback riding: 12 years old
Wine Country: 21 if they are going to be tasting (Children 12+ can accompany a parent)
Rockclimbing: 8 years old
Rope Course: 7 years old
Hiking: All ages
A parent is the best judge of a child’s ability. If you wish to take a younger child on a trip, please call our office. We can sometimes accommodate younger children if we have proper equipment. There is no maximum age limit if you are energetic and in sound physical condition.
What if I have to cancel or can’t make it at the last minute? What is the Cancellation Policy?
SBACo pays out considerable costs prior to the start of all trips. A full refund, minus a $35.00 per person processing fee, is available up to 7 days prior to the trip. No refund will be granted for a cancellation within 7 days of the trip. SBACo reserves the right to cancel, reschedule or adjust the trip due to dangerous weather conditions. This cancellation policy may vary for custom trips and events which require more preparation.
Will tours run rain or shine?
Our kayak, surf, stand up paddle, snorkel and wine tours will all run rain or shine. All other tours have the potential to get cancelled in the case of heavy rain.
Will more experienced participants be equally entertained?
Our knowledgeable guides offer a variety of challenges throughout your day with us, and natural and human history/marine ecology are part of every trip. For example if you’re looking for an activity for a group (some of your party are experienced mountain bikers and some are novices), the All Downhill Bike Ride might be perfect for you. It may not be physically demanding, but the views from Santa Barbara’s highest peak are so compelling and the cultural information is so fascinating you can’t help but have a good time!
Can my party join an existing group if we don’t meet the minimum number of required participants?
Of course. Just let us know your dates, the activities you’re most interested in, and if your plans are at all flexible. We will do our best to accommodate you. If we don’t have a trip to add you into, we can put you on our waiting list.
Can I buy a Gift Certificate?
Definitely! What a great gift! Just call us with your request. We’ll be happy to send you a certificate by email or regular mail. You can also buy Gift Certficates using our online reservation system. Buy Gift Certificates Online Now.
What are my payment options?
We accept Visa , MasterCard and checks.
Can I pay on the day of my trip?
Our office will charge the full amount of your trip when you book your reservation. Our guides are not prepared to handle payments on the day of your trip.
Will I be charged a “mandatory tip”?
No. Our guides do their best to ensure you have a great time. Please feel free to show your gratitude at the end of your day. Tips are customary, but always optional.
What’s the maximum group size Santa Barbara Adventure Company can accommodate?
We can provide just about any activity for any size group. If you have a corporate group, youth group, event, or just have a big family, call us to discuss the details.
I want to go on a trip. What’s available?
You can check available trips by clicking Book Online at the top right of out homepage and then select the date you are interested in. If you don’t see the trip you are looking for or it appears Sold Out, call our office and we will try to accommodate you. We work on an open calendar, which means that we can usually offer any trip on any day of the year as long as your group meets the minimum number of required guests. If you are traveling by yourself or with one other person, then you can add you in to an existing group.
Do you rent kayaks, surfboards and other equipment?
We only offer guided trips. We do not rent equipment.
I need directions to my meeting spot. Where can I find my guide?
There should be a set of complete directions on your confirmation form. It is helpful to bring this form with you on the day of your trip. If you did not recieve a confirmation email, please call our office. We can give you directions over the phone or via fax. You can also view a map of our meeting spots by clicking this link Santa Barbara Adventure Meeting Spots.
Can I buy an Adventure Company hat or shirt?
Yes. You can buy gear directly at our Channel Islands Adventure Company storefront on Santa Cruz Island.
Channel Islands FAQs
What about food at the Channel Islands National Park?
The Channel Islands National Park does not permit any food service on the islands, so please bring your own lunch and snacks (please do not bring glass). There will be no where to purchase food once you are on the island. If you’d like a high-quality, prepped meal delivered to the harbor on the morning of your tour, we highly recommend Channel Islands Provisioners. However, our Painted Cave Tour does include breakfast and lunch as part of the charter boat ride to the islands.
Is there drinkable water on the island?
Yes, there is potable water in the Scorpion Ranch campground on Santa Cruz Island and the Water Canyon campground on Santa Rosa Island, but we recommend that you bring enough drinking water for the whole day. There is no water available on Anacapa Island.
How long is the boat ride across the Channel?
About 1.25 hours for most trips and 2hrs for Painted Cave Trips.
Do you arrange our transportation to the Channel Islands?
Yes, we can make your charter boat reservations to the Channel Islands – you can add on ferry tickets at checkout in addition to your tour. If you’d prefer, you can make ferry reservations separately through Island Packers, the ferry company.
What if I already made boat reservations with Island Packers?
That is perfectly fine. There is a section in your booking where you will include your ferry departure and return times.
I have never been to the Channel Islands, what should I bring?
The Channel Islands National Park is a remote destination. There are no services (medical, food or other) on the island. It is important to plan accordingly for your trip. There is basic information on planning for your day on your confirmation form. Additional information can be downloaded from our website. Channel Islands Day Trip Information
Can you provide me with Channel Islands camping information?
Yes. If you are camping on the island you will need to pack your camping gear for charter boat transportation. Channel Islands Camping Information
What is the difference between Scorpion Ranch and Painted Cave Kayaking?
This is a great question. We devoted an entire blog posting to answer this question. Read the differences between Scorpion Ranch and Painted Cave Kayaking.
What if the weather looks bad for the day of my tour?
In case of unfavorable weather or sea conditions, we may need to cancel. Should the trip not run, we are able to offer a holding credit (no expiration), switch to a different date, or a full refund. Be aware that in most cases we do not cancel due to rain alone.
My booked separately. How do I make sure we are put in the same kayak group?
If your group booked separately, please indicate who would like to kayak with in the comments section of your booking.
Wine Country Tours FAQs
Can we add someone to our tour at the last minute?
Usually it isn’t a problem to add someone to your group at the last minute. However, it is best to give us accurate numbers at least several days in advance. Sometimes we have limited space in our vehicle and can not accommodate last minute add ins. We also like to make sure everyone has a lunch.
Can we pick our own wineries?
If you have booked a private wine tour and want to pick your own wineries then we are happy to arrange that for you. Public tours are subject to a slight price increase as the wine fees may be more expensive and the logistics can be more difficult to coordinate. We go to 12 different wineries, and schedule your tastings depending on availability, time of year, and size of the group. We visit wonderful wineries in the Santa Ynez valley and get excellent feedback from our guests. Please let us know if you have a specific request.
Where do we meet for wine tours?
We will pick you up in Santa Barbara or Santa Ynez, and that is included in the cost of the tour. We can pick you up at other locations for an additional cost.
What is for lunch?
Our wine tours include a delicious deli style lunch. We try to find a scenic and comfortable spot for your group to enjoy lunch, usually at a picnic area at one of the wineries that we are visiting. Lunch will usually include several sandwich options, an assortment of deli meats and cheeses, fresh fruit, chips, cookies and drink options. On occasion, for smaller groups we will bring already made deli sandwiches or wraps. If you have a food allergy or diet restrictions, please let us know. Our guides are very good at accommodating everyone. Deli lunch photo
How many wineries will we visit on our tour?
Our wine tours include visits to 3 wineries and tastings at each. This allows for a relaxed pace and plenty of wine drinking. Generally each wine tasting includes samples of 6 or more wines.
