+ How long are the tours?
Tours are an hour and a half to two hours long.
+ Where do guests check in prior to departure?
In 2019 we moved our office/gift shop closer to the harbor and have changed our check-in process as follows:
Please check in with your naturalist 30 minutes prior to the departure time, at our Office/Gift Shop located at 7981 MOSS LANDING ROAD, Ste. E, at the CORNER OF SANDHOLDT RD. The naturalist on duty will get you checked in and tell you where to go from there. It’s a short, 1 minute to walk from our Office/Gift Shop to our boat in the harbor.
+ How should I dress for the tour?
Dress in layers. Even on warm days it can get chilly on the water. Be prepared so you stay warm and comfortable. We recommend comfortable, closed toed shoes. Hats, sunglases, and sunscreen are also a good idea.
+ Is there a bathroom on board.
There is no bathroom on the boat, but there's a restroom at our Gift Shop where you'll be checking in, and there are public restrooms in the Moss Landing Harbor parking lot as well.
+ Is there a minimum age for passengers?
Yes. We do not take children under the age of 3 on our tours.
+ How is seating determined aboard the vessel?
All passenger seating is determined entirely at the discretion of the vessel’s Captain. The Captain is responsible for proper weight distribution, accommodation of special needs (i.e. hearing impairment, mobility issues, etc..,) and arrangement of various party sizes to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone aboard. Your cooperation in this process is expected and appreciated.
+ Are passengers allowed to bring food and drinks on tours?
No, but bottled water is fine.
+ Do you have special accomodations for photographers?
We do. The back bench on the port side of the boat is generally considered the most desireable for photography, as it it affords access to both sides of the boat and there are no passengers seated across from, or behind it. This bench normally seats two passengers, but you may pay for two seats at the reduced rate of $74 to comfortably accomodate you and your gear. Booking the Photographer's Special will guarentee you this seat.
Alternatively, you can inform us that you are interested in having the back seat for photography, and if nobody else pays for the Photographer's Special or requests the back bench before you, we will do our best to accomodate you.
+ Are you wheelchair accessible?
While we may not technically be wheelchair accessible, we regularly accomodate people who require the use of a wheelchair. We ask anyone using a wheelchair to come accompanied by someone strong enough to assist them down the ramp leading to our vessel. As this ramp can be a bit steep at extreme low tides. We recommend calling our office to book your reservation so we can try to schedule you on a tour with a moderate tide to make boarding easier.
Collapsable wheelchairs can usually be stowed aboard the vessel for the duration of the tour. We cannot accomodate electric wheelchairs due to their weight. Electric wheelchairs may be used for transport to the vessel, but cannot come aboard and must be stowed in the vehicle it came in for the duration of the tour.
+ Do you allow pets on your tours?
Only service animals are allowed on our tours.
+ What is your cancellation policy
To cancel a reservation and receive a full refund you must call our office and speak with a reservationist. Your cancellation policy varies based on the size of your party.
For parties of 5 or less, Elkhorn Slough Safari offers a convenient, 24-hour cancellation policy for reservations on our regular public tours. With at least 24 hours notice, customers have the option to receive a full refund, reschedule for another tour, or have their purchase transferred to a gift certificate.
For parties of 6 or more passengers, please call 3 or more days before the day your tour is scheduled to depart to receive a full refund, reschedule to another tour, or have your purchase transferred to a gift certificate.
For private charters:
You must call one week before the day your tour is scheduled to depart.
Reservations cancelled inside of your policy are not refundable, but can be rescheduled for a fee of $10 per reserved seat, or transferred to a gift certificate (minus the $10 per seat fee).
All guests 18+ are required to fill out an industry standard waiver form before departure. Refusal to do so will be considered a last minute cancellation, and no refund will be issued.
If you are booking on behalf of other adults, we kindly ask that you make them aware of our policies by forwarding this info to them, or directing them to our website.
SCHEDULED TOURS WILL NOT DEPART WITH FEWER THAN SIX PASSENGERS. There are rare instances when we do not receive our required minimum of six reservations for a given tour. In these instances, the tour will be cancelled at least two hours in advance of the scheduled departure time, and we will reschedule you free of charge or refund you. If you are concerned about the status of your tour as the date approaches, feel free to call our office at (831) 633-5555 to speak with a representative.
CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER: Tours will depart at the discretion of the Captain, who will use all tools available to discern if conditions are suitable. As a policy, we err on the side of caution and will not subject our guests to unsafe or unreasonably uncomfortable conditions. We will not go out in heavy rain or wind, but light drizzle and mist is not grounds for us to cancel, and can actually offer exceptional wildlife viewing. Under such conditions we will provide tarps, blankets, and/or umbrellas to make our guests as comfortable as possible. If we cancel due to weather, we will reschedule you free of charge or refund you.
If the Captain decides that conditions are suitable and we depart as scheduled, you are bound by the original cancellation policy agreed upon when you made your reservation. If you are adamantly opposed to the Captain's decision, you may reschedule for a fee of $10 per reserved seat, or have the value of your reservation transferred to a gift certificate (minus the $10 per seat fee), but you will not be eligible for a refund.
When weather forecasts suggest unsuitable conditions for morning tours scheduled to depart before 11AM, a decision to cancel will be made the afternoon before to accomodate guests who would have to begin their travels too early the next morning to be reached. In this event, every effort will be made to reach each person who has made a reservation for the cancelled tour by 4PM the day before. For this reason it is very important that you provide us with a phone number and e-mail address that you will be attentive to. We will not be held responsible for inconveniences caused by unanswered phone calls and unchecked e-mails and voicemails. If you do not receive a phone call or e-mail within two hours of your scheduled departure time, assume that your tour is departing as scheduled.
