Age Requirements

Parents and guardians are responsible for assessing their child’s comfort in open water environments and variable coastal conditions. All participants must be confident swimmers.

  • Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied on the water by a parent or legal guardian.

  • Children must be 5 years of age or older to participate in guided tours.

Kayak Tours

  • Children aged 5–11 will paddle in the bow (front) of a double kayak, accompanied by a parent or guardian.

  • Youth aged 12 and above may be permitted to paddle a single kayak, subject to their size, comfort, and demonstrated paddling capability.

SUP Tours

  • Children aged 5–7 may ride on the same board as a parent or guardian.

  • Children aged 8 and above may be permitted to paddle independently, provided they can demonstrate:

    • Strong swimming ability

    • Comfort falling in and remounting

    • Sufficient strength and control to manage the board.

We reserve the right to assess participant suitability and make final decisions regarding kayak or SUP placement and participation for safety reasons.

Booking & Payment

Availability can be limited, particularly during peak season. We recommend booking early to secure your preferred date.

  • A valid credit card is required to book all guided tours.

  • Reservations are confirmed only once full payment has been received and a confirmation email has been issued.

  • Please ensure guest names and contact details are accurate at the time of booking.

  • Tours booked less than 5 hours in advance may not be accommodated. Please contact us directly by phone or text in this situation.

Rescheduling

If you need to adjust your reservation, please contact us as early as possible.

  • Rescheduling requests made more than 24 hours prior to the tour start time will be accommodated where availability allows.

  • Requests made less than 24 hours before the scheduled start time may not be accommodated and are subject to the cancellation policy.

  • Rescheduling is subject to availability.

Cancellation & Refunds (Guest-Initiated)

  • Full refunds are available if cancellation is made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled tour start time.

  • Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the tour start time are non-refundable, but may be eligible for a credit at the discretion of Cortes Kayaks.

  • No-shows will be charged 100% of the booking cost.

  • Guests who arrive late may forfeit participation, particularly if they miss the mandatory safety briefing or the tour has already departed, and will not be refunded.

  • Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing through our booking system.

  • Cancellation timelines are calculated from the scheduled tour start time.

We strongly encourage guests to consider purchasing travel or booking insurance to protect against unexpected changes.

Cancellation by Cortes Kayaks (Weather & Other Circumstances)

  • Safety is our highest priority. Tours operate in a variety of weather conditions but may be impacted by high winds, unsafe sea state, lightning, wildfire smoke, or other adverse conditions.

  • We reserve the right to cancel, modify, or reschedule tours due to:

    • Unsafe weather or marine conditions

    • Safety concerns

    • Insufficient bookings

    • Guide illness

    • Other unforeseen circumstances

  • If we cancel a tour prior to departure, guests will be offered the choice of rescheduling or receiving a full refund.

  • Light rain, cloud cover, or mild seasonal wind does not typically warrant cancellation unless conditions are deemed unsafe.

  • Once a tour has commenced, refunds will not be issued due to changing weather conditions.

  • All weather-related decisions are made at the discretion of Cortes Kayaks in the interest of guest safety.

Participation, Waivers & Safety Requirements

  • All guests must sign a liability waiver prior to the start of the tour.

  • All guests are required to wear provided Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) while on the water.

  • Participants must follow all safety briefings and guide instructions.

  • Alcohol or recreational drug use before or during tours is strictly prohibited.

  • We reserve the right to refuse participation to any guest who appears intoxicated, unprepared, or unable to safely participate.