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Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour: Eco-Friendly Catamaran Experience
4.9
352 Ratings
Moss Landing
The El Cat, constructed in Moss Landing, is a completely electric, Coast Guard-certified boat that can carry 32 passengers. It’s a customized 37’ catamaran, specifically designed for navigating the waters of our beloved Elkhorn Slough.
The El Cat, constructed in Moss Landing, is a completely electric, Coast Guard-certified boat that can carry 32 passengers. It’s a customized 37’ catamaran, specifically designed for navigating the waters of our beloved Elkhorn Slough.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 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,…
- 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.

What's Included
- Expert local tour guide
- Expert local tour guide
Location
Monterey Bay Eco Tours - Elkhorn Slough Eco Nature Tour
Clam Way
Monterey Bay Eco Tours is located at 10932 Clam Way with plenty of free parking available on site and easy to find. Check in at the booth in the parking lot.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(352 Ratings)
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1 star
Fran
Jun 11, 2025
Seal the deal and take this “wild” ride - It’s not a view you’ll get anywhere else. It was a delightful cruise through the slough and the guides KNOW their stuff which made the trip educational and interesting. We highly recommend you bring binoculars to see the animals up close! We saw some otter babies on our trip. You won’t want to miss it. Altogether wonderful smooth experience on a brand new catamaran. Very professional and kind guides. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cherylmd5642ld
Jun 10, 2025
Naturalist Information - Arron was our naturalist guide. He was very informative. My only complaint was about Joey, our captain who was also a naturalist and therefore I'm sure very well informed. I'm sure he was doing his best to answer questions put to him by other passengers on the boat, but he was speaking so loudly that it interfered with what Aaron was saying. He should have kept his conversation with the one or two passengers he was engaged with at a noise level that didn't overpower the information being presented by the "official" spokesperson. Perhaps they should have "tag-teamed" and shared their knowledge with us all
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D1650hesusanl
Jun 9, 2025
The Elkhorn Slough is a Gem! - This location is amazing, and the tour is fantastic! Joey drove the Electric Catamaran, and Aaron served as the naturalist. Both were excellent, with Aaron really unlocking some of the little-known facts about the birds, sea mammals (Sea Otters, Sea Lions, Harbor Seals), as well as the fishes that inhabit the Elkhorn Slough. The adults were engrossed in his presentation, but even the kids enjoyed the sights and sounds. This experience is unforgettable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sidney_g
Jun 5, 2025
Lovely and informative trip. - Excellent trip! We have done several other tours of the Elkhorn Slough and it is always a bit different. But this was the best because of the superb guide who was a treasure trove of interestung information. He even leaned over the side and scooped up a small Valella valella ("By-the-wind sailor") jellyfish and showed it to us. We saw lots of otters, seals, and sea lions and although it was not the right season for many bird species, we also saw many types of birds unique to that environment.
Review provided by Viator
Dana_c
May 30, 2025
This was a wonderful... - This was a wonderful experience. The guides were exceptional. We saw seals, otters, brown and white pelicans and a plethora of other birds. We learned about the slough ecosystem. It was entertaining and educational. I highly recommended this for all people. Easy for little children and seniors. Please treat yourself to this wonderful experience.
Review provided by Viator
Vedanth_v
May 28, 2025
Lots of animals and very... - Lots of animals and very insightful guides (especially Erin). You’ll definitely learn something new and cool!
Review provided by Viator
Sarahl8484hv
May 26, 2025
So many animal sightings - So many animals sightings!! Aaron was great, incredibly knowledgeable and answered all the questions. What a great experience. I can’t wait to come back
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris
May 25, 2025
Wonderful close up experience. - Enjoyed the close experience with the creatures. Our guide was very knowledgeable teaching about the creatures, their habitat and answering any questions from the group.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angel_f
May 25, 2025
Great Experience - We had a fun experience! The tour guides were very informative and made it interesting. Adding on, it was very environmentally friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Linda_j
May 20, 2025
Beautiful day on the slough! - Monterey Bay eco tours provided a wonderful, quiet float on the slough in their new all electric open air vessel. The ride was comfortable and stable, allowing us to move around the boat for viewing. Our guide, Aaron, was very knowledgeable and welcomed questions. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator