Sea Kayak Camping in the Pacific Northwest

Have you always wanted to try out sea kayaking? There's no better place to try than the world-class San Juan Islands located in the Puget Sound of Washington State.

IMPORTANT: The total trip cost per participant is $525.00. We are only requiring a 50% deposit up front to secure your spot, but you will be expected to pay the second half no later than July 2nd, 2024 (one month before the trip). We are a small nonprofit that operates on an extremely slim margin, and we cannot offer refunds.

The Pacific Northwest VetEx team is partnering with their local sea kayak guide company to offer a private guided trip for veterans. This will be a 3-day overnight camping trip where we will paddle by day and camp for two nights on beaches only accessible by boat. This trip does not require that you have any previous sea kayaking experience or equipment, but please see our list of other requirements at the bottom.

We will launch from Anacortes (about a 2 hour drive north from Seattle) on Friday, paddle to Guemes Island, then cross the Bellingham Channel to Cypress Island where we will make our camp. Cypress Island is the largest undeveloped island in the San Juan Islands and there is no ferry access (5th largest island in all of the San Juans). Surveyors on Cypress Island have identified 142 species of birds (plus 50 sighted, but undocumented bird species) and over 264 plant species! Then of course there's all of the marine plant and animal life we can see like porpoise, orca whales, jellyfish, sea anemones, crabs, and all sorts of fun things! We will camp on Cypress Island both nights, and by day use our kayaks to explore neighboring areas like Strawberry Island and use our legs to hike up to island overlooks like Eagle Cliff. This is a super fun trip and we know you will love it!

By signing up for this trip, you will be provided with:

• Sea kayak (tandem), paddle, spray skirt, and bilge pump
• Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
• Dry bags to keep your clothing and gear dry
• All meals (including morning coffee and tea) provided and cooked for you! 
• All camping fees and permits
• Detailed packing list and logistical information
• Awesome kayak guides to keep you safe and informed on the water, share their local knowledge and expertise of the beautiful areas we explore
• All of the above will be provided at a minimum, but VetEx can also provide camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc.) so you don't need to worry about bringing yours, if you prefer. Please coordinate with the VetEx leader below to make sure we can cover what you need and what you intend to bring on your own.

Requirements: Our multi-day sea kayaking tours are best suited for folks in reasonably good shape as we often can paddle 8-12 miles in a day. Although extremely rare, in case of an accidental capsize, it is best if you are able to tread water and do not have a heart condition as the water can be extremely cold. All our guides are  trained professionally on rescues and although proficient in the task, for safety we need to know you will be able to help assist your guide in re-entering your boat by following their instructions with a good bill of health and moderate strength. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions regarding any requirements. All guests will sign a liability waiver and health form prior to multi-day trips. Helping guides move boats sometimes is necessary and we thank you in advance in assisting if you are willing and able to do so. 

Have any questions? Email the trip leader at natebrown@vetexpeditions.com