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We will kick-off the San Juan Islands adventure in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island at 1pm. Your Chicas Abroad tour leader will be waiting for you at the Ferry Terminal in Friday Harbor and will be easily identifiable with a large Chicas Abroad sign to greet you! Once everyone is together, we will drop off our luggage at the hotel and then go back to the harbor to seek out the famous orcas!
The 3-4 hour whale-watching tour provides fantastic opportunities to see all the San Juans have to offer. Our on-board Marine Naturalist will provide a glimpse into the local wildlife, ecology, and geology as well as answering all your questions. We will be in search of orcas, eagles, seals, and more!
Following our exhilarating tour of the waters around the San Juan’s, we’ll have time to settle into our Friday Harbor hotel before our welcome dinner at a lovely local restaurant.
Accommodations: Hotel, Friday Harbor
Meals: Welcome Dinner
It’s your first big day on the open water! You’ll be paired up into kayaking teams of two and loaded down with a share of the camping gear, food, and your personal items in your expedition style sea kayaks. Your guides will review kayaking techniques, safety, and navigation before you set out for Stuart Island.
We embark from a San Juan Island beach and paddle north, kayaking along the picturesque Haro Strait with views of the Canadian Gulf Islands to the west. You’ll want to keep an eye out for whales and other wildlife chasing the Fraser River bound salmon. After paddling for a couple of hours along the rocky, tidally rich coastlines of the San Juan and Henry Islands, we’ll stop for lunch prepared by your guide and chef. After refueling, we’ll cross the Spieden Channel to Stuart Island.
Our destination for the night is Reid Harbor on Stuart Island, which is only accessible by private boat. The campsites are nestled in a forest of red barked madronas, cedar, and Douglas fir trees. After camp is set up you can relax while your guide prepares a hearty dinner. Life doesn’t get much better than sitting at a scenic, secluded waterfront campsite, sipping a glass of wine, and eating gourmet appetizers, after a hearty day of paddling. The short, easy hike to catch the sunset will be worth it.
Paddling: Approximately 5 hours and 7-10 miles
Accommodations: Backcountry camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
With our basecamp established, we will check out some of the neighboring islands, including lunch and more details about the beauty and uniqueness of the area. You’ll have plenty of kayaking time, hiking time, and relaxation time over the course of the day. Don’t be surprised to catch a glimpse of the seals sunning on the rocks, the orcas looking for their next meal, or the eagles surveying the area.
Back at camp you can take a hike or relax while your guide prepares another gourmet meal. You’ll finish your evening by the campfire and under the light of the stars enjoying the time with your newfound friends. If we’re lucky, our guides will test us with some of their best riddles.
Paddling and Hiking: Varies, but a full day mix of both!
Accommodations: Backcountry Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
In the morning we’ll pack up our little backcountry home and load up our kayaks to paddle back to Roche Harbor. By this time, you’re a pro at sea kayaking and paddling is second nature. We’ll make our way back across the Spieden Channel still keeping our eyes peeled for seals basking in the sun on rocks and enjoying one last artfully prepared lunch before completing your trip.
Once back to Friday Harbor, you might have the chance to grab a quick shower at the marina before departing to Anacortes (it depends on how fast we paddle if there is time for showers). Here we must hug it out and say, “See you later!” Plan to depart the island around 3:30pm.
Paddling: Approximately 5 hours and 7-10 miles
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks
Thursday night we will be staying in a beautiful hotel in the heart of Friday Harbor that’s within walking distance of the ferry terminal. The rooms are double occupancy with 2 queen beds. If you are traveling alone, we will pair you with another Chica to share a room.
Friday and Saturday night we will be backcountry camping on Stuart Island. There will be 2 people per tent and sleeping bags and sleeping mats are included, unless you’d like to bring your own. Again, you will be paired with another Chica if you are traveling alone. You can even choose to sleep outside under the stars to get the full camping experience!
Meals are included as outlined in the itinerary. Water and other non-alcoholic beverages will be included with all meals. You will be able to purchase additional drinks or alcohol at our welcome dinner. Wine is included with dinners during our kayaking tour.
Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate. Be prepared to supplement the included meals with your favorite snacks.
Days 2 and 4 of paddling will be strenuous and our experienced kayaking guide will make sure everyone is comfortable prior to hitting the water. If you have the opportunity prior to the trip, borrow or rent a kayak to get some practice in. You do not need to be an expert kayaker to partake in this adventure, but being familiar with kayaking is helpful.
A detailed packing list will provided upon registration. For this trip you won't need to go out and buy a bunch of gear, basically just shoes/sandals that you can wear in the kayak, and appropriate clothing. The kayaking and camping gear will all be provided!
● 1 day/1 night at a hotel in Downtown Friday Harbor with 2 people per room
● 3 days/2 nights backcountry camping with shared tents – 2 per tent (Includes shared tents, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad)
● Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-3, L-3, D-3)
● Wine to be enjoyed at dinners during the kayaking portion of the trip
● Guided Whale Watching tour
● 3 days of guided sea kayaking, including instruction and safety gear
● All tips for included meals and local guides
● A local guide throughout the 3-day kayak adventure trained in kayak and open water safety
● An experienced Chicas Abroad tour leader ensuring your trip is seamless and sensational!
● Commemorative Chicas Abroad swag (so you’ll never forget us!)
● A detailed travel guide with everything you need to know for your trip
● Freedom to enjoy your vacation and mindlessly wander!
Price increases to $2150 on June 1
Non-refundable deposit of $500 due at booking
Final payment due June 8, 2024
Limited to 10 Chicas!
Chicas Abroad, LLC
info@chicasabroad.com
Copyright © 2024 Chicas Abroad - All Rights Reserved.
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