Kayak Sucia Island

It may be daunting to figure out how to kayak in the San Juan Islands.

If you're a beginner/intermediate kayaker, this is the trip for you.

First, you'll want to plan ahead and reserve a kayak for Sucia Island. We used Outer Island Expeditions which was nice because they make it pretty easy for you.

Day 1:

Once you have your reservation set, start to make your way to Anacortes to catch a ferry to Orcas Island. You can either bring your car over to Orcas or leave it at the ferry station on Anacortes. But once you get to Orcas Island, you'll have to either drive to a kayak rental spot or hitchhike there (we learned that hitchhiking is pretty common on the island).

For us, we hitchhiked to Outer Island Expeditions from the ferry and they put us on a water taxi to Sucia Island. When we got off the water taxi, our kayaks and paddles were waiting for us.

Now you're on your own! There are certain spots on the island that they recommend sticking to because of low tides. If you're an expert kayaker, you can make your way to those high tide areas and get adventurous.

We kayaked 1 mile around the outside of the island.

If you're staying on the island, make sure to grab your campsite before it gets too dark. They are first-come, first-serve, cost around $15 and can fill up depending on the season.

Be wary of mice in the nighttime. As long as you keep your food outside and away from your tent, you should have no problems.

Day 2:

We woke up and kayaked another mile around the island, sticking to the low tide spots. This is when we saw seals basking in the sunlight.

You will make your way back at Sucia Island's dock to catch the water taxi back to Orcas Island. From there, either drive or hitchhike back to the ferry, which will take you back to Anacortes.