*You may need to click twice on the question link to get to the corresponding answer.*
Frequently Asked Questions for all Trips
Do you rent kayaks, surfboards and other equipment?
I want to go on a trip. What’s available?
I need directions to my meeting spot. Where can I find my guide?
What if I have to cancel or can’t make it at the last minute? What is the Cancellation Policy?
Can we bring pets on a tour? What about service animals?
Can I buy a Gift Certificate?
Is this activity suitable for beginners? Will more experienced participants be equally entertained?
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 the weather looks bad for the day of my tour?
Can my party join an existing group if we don’t meet the minimum number of required participants?
What’s the maximum group size Santa Barbara Adventure Company can accommodate?
Channel Islands FAQs:
I have never been to the Channel Islands, what should I bring?
Is there drinkable water on the island?
How long is the boat ride across the Channel? Are ferry tickets included in our kayak tour?
What if I already made boat reservations with Island Packers?
Planning a camping trip to the Channel Islands – can you provide more information?
My group booked separately. How do I make sure we are put in the 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?
Frequently Asked Questions For All Trips
Do you rent kayaks, surfboards and other equipment? We only offer guided trips. We do not rent equipment.
I want to go on a trip. What’s available? You can check available trips by clicking Book Online at the top right of our 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 in to an existing group.
I need directions to my meeting spot. Where can I find my guide? There should be a set of complete directions in your confirmation email. It is helpful to bring this form with you on the day of your trip. If you did not receive 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.
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. Date changes are available up to 7 days prior to your trip for a 15% change of date fee. 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.
Can we bring pets on a tour? What about service animals? We are unable to accommodate pets on our tours. Service animals are welcome. For Channel Islands trips specifically, there is a detailed process required by the National Park Service to bring animals along. More information may be found here: Santa Barbara Adventure Company Service Animal Policy
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 Certificates using our online reservation system. Buy Gift Certificates Online Now.
Is this activity suitable for beginners? Will more experienced participants be equally entertained? 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. You may read more about the recommended eligibility requirements for kayaking here.
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. The views on our trips are so compelling and the cultural information is so fascinating you can’t help but have a good time!
Is it possible to do a private trip? Absolutely. We’re flexible and happy to customize our itinerary to your needs. Please contact us via email at letsgo@sbadventureco.com or via phone at (805) 884-9283 for details. Private tours are also available for online booking by selecting “Book Online.”
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. Same-day reservations are rarely possible. If you have a large group (10 or more participants) we encourage you to make your reservations at least 2 weeks to 2 months 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.
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)
Snorkeling: 10 years old
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
Wine Country: 21 if they are going to be tasting (Children 12+ can accompany a parent)
Rope Course: 7 years old 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 the weather looks bad for the day of my tour? 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. Should a trip not run do to other weather or sea conditions, we are able to offer a holding credit (no expiration), switch to a different date, or a full refund.
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.
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. Back To Top
Channel Islands FAQs
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
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.
How long is the boat ride across the Channel? About 1.5 hours for most trips.
Are ferry tickets included in our kayak tour? Ferry tickets are not included as part of your tour, however, 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.
Planning a camping trip to the Channel Islands – can you provide more information? If you are camping on the island you will need to pack your camping gear for charter boat transportation. Channel Islands Camping Information
My group members all 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.
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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? We partner with 12 different wineries, and schedule your tastings depending on availability, time of year, and size of the group. If you have booked a private wine tour and want to pick your own wineries then we are happy to arrange that for you. Custom wineries on 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 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 chips, cookies, drinks, and your choice of item from the lunch menu, which is sent to you in your booking confirmation – it’s a deli-style menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches. We try to find a scenic and comfortable spot for your group to enjoy lunch, usually at one of the wineries that we are visiting. If you have a food allergy or diet restrictions, please let us know.
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 5 or more wines. Read our blog about the wine tour itinerary
