Kayaking the Cape

With miles of estuaries and countless kettle ponds to explore, Cape Cod is a kayaker's paradise. And with so much of Eastham set within the protected boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore, it's the place where those in the know know to go for the best kayaking around. 

Guided Tours 
If you're new to kayaking on Cape Cod, or simply prefer a little company out on the water, Great Marsh Kayak Tours is a smart option. Their expert guides know every nook and cranny of the Eastham coast. They also provide everything you need including a kayak and paddles, life jacket and dry bag. Great Marsh Kayak Tours recently expanded their options to now include the bayside of Orleans. They run multiple tours per day through Labor Day, and then just a couple per day until mid-September, when they close up for the season. Each tour lasts about three hours. Newer on the guided tour scene is Paddle Cape Cod, which offers daily tours of Nauset Marsh and has an outpost at Nickerson State Park which is loaded with kettle ponds. They also supply all of the needed equipment.

Rentals from the Goose Hummock Shops

Goose Hummock Shops is one of the oldest and largest kayak rental operations on the Cape. Situated on Town Cove in Orleans, with their own dock, getting geared up and into the water is a breeze. Reserve your kayak or paddle board online, show up and start paddling. You can explore Town Cove (above) or head north and you'll be in Nauset Inlet and the aforementioned estuaries of Eastham in no time. Keep heading north and hugging the coast and you'll be in for miles of protected paddling. Their knowledgeable staff will get you going in the right direction. Goose Hummock will also deliver equipment to your hotel (that'd be us!). 

Put in at Hemonway Landing in Eastham

This place, Hemonway Landing, is basically the beginning of kayaking nirvana in Eastham. As the name implies, it is in fact a "landing," meaning it's designed specifically to launch a boat. Granted, a kayak isn't much of a boat, but being able to drive down to water's edge to unload your gear will save energy you'd much rather expend paddling. No matter which way you head, you will be in protected waters and surrounded by beauty. This is basically foolproof kayaking; seriously, even a fool couldn't go wrong at Hemonway. A number of rental operations will drop equipment here, including Goose Hummock and Paddle Cape Cod.