Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour

Overview

The El Cat, built right here in Moss Landing, is a fully electric, 32 passenger, Coast Guard-certified vessel. This is a custom 37’ catamaran built and designed especially for the waters of our very own Elkhorn Slough.

City: Monterey & Carmel

Wed 30 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $45.00

Make a reservation

Wed 30 Apr

Starting at $45.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Tour Guide

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

Join us on a one-of-a-kind, electric-powered catamaran ride for a wildlife tour along one of California's largest tidal waterways. Enjoy a narrated cruise along the Elkhorn Slough, a vibrant and lively wetland located on Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey in Moss Landing. Scan for otters, sea lions, birds and beyond during a cruise through these peaceful waters.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (325)

SeaOtterSavvy

Feb 2021

Monterey Bay Eco Tours has been certified under the Community Active Wildlife Stewards (CAWS) for the high level of wildlife stewardship consistently demonstrated by their owner, staff, and business practices. Captain Wendy and her crew demonstrate extensive knowledge of the local wildlife and Elkhorn Slough. Their electric catamaran, the El Cat, allows nearly silent exploration of the home of sea otters and many other species, and great care is always taken to avoid disturbance to wildlife during the tour. The crew shows knowledge about the sea otters and other wildlife that live in Elkhorn Slough, and adopt practices that maximize the health, survival, and well-being of wildlife. Great care and attention was taken during our tour to avoid disturbing any of the slough's wildlife and preserve the serenity of the estuary. Guests touring with Monterey Bay Eco Tour will have quiet and intimate tour of the waters of Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough, learn information about the natural history and conservation of the habitat and its residents, and share in the infectious enthusiasm for nature of Wendy and her crew. Guests can feel assured that they are traveling with a company that cares about protecting wildlife and preserving this important sea otter habitat.

Response from Host

Feb 2021

We are so proud to be certified as Wildlife Stewards. We think it is so important to protect our environment and have as little impact as possible on the wildlife while we are sharing their home.

G6239UQpeterl

Jan 2021

Wendy and Helena were absolutely wonderful! It’s is a great escape especially during this pandemic! Their electric boat was super clean and quiet, while cursing up and down the river checking out all the awesome species. They were very informative about the species and the eco system, best part was that we saw so many sea otters and pups! They’re super cute to watch! It’s a five star tour for me! Cant wait to go back! Thank you!

Response from Host

Feb 2021

So glad you came out with us! Starting a business in Covid has been difficult but we so appreciate the wonderful people we get to meet and share this incredible experience with. Thank you!

Amy C

Oct 2020

Oh my gosh, if you are in the Monterey area, you MUST do this tour. Captain Wendy and her naturalist showed us SO MUCH wildlife! Dozens of sea otters, seals hauled out on the shore, jellyfish, aquatic and wading birds. If any of those is on your bucket list, this is the tour to do! When we saw an otter eating a crab, we felt like we were watching a nature documentary! We are planning to go back at different times of the year, so we can see migratory waterfowl, sea otter pups, and other wildlife. As we were told, the "El Cat" is a boat specifically designed to tour quiet waters like Elkhorn Slough. It is stable, and every seat provides excellent viewing. The best thing about it: it is electric, so it runs very quiet and doesn't disturb the wildlife; and also doesn't leave an oil slick on the water. Oh, and there is free parking and a bathroom adjacent to the dock where you board the boat...very convenient.