Laguna Beach Guided Tours

From Stand-Up Paddling to Snorkeling to public art and culinary classics, guides are available to take visitors on insider tours of some of Laguna's hidden gems

Get Your Feet Wet

Laguna Ethos is a one-stop shop for water-sport lessons and tours for private excursions and groups. Options include surf lessons and kayak tours, electric bike tours, and guided hikes in our 20,000 acres of open space. They also offer luxury picnicadditions to any excursion. 

La Vida Laguna, another tour company offers transformational group and corporate arts sessions in yoga, mindfulness, breath-work, and more are offered as corporate wellness initiatives as well. They also offer, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) tours at Fisherman's Cove, which is protected by a reef, making the water calmer.

Underwater Adventures

Local diver David "D.J." Mansfield, a top-rated diving instructor and director of operations at Laguna Sea Sports in Laguna Beach, has an impressive background. With master's degrees in business and marketing, he also spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now retired from the military, he devotes his time to diving and snorkeling, having traveled to nearly 30 different countries. "My absolute favorite dive site in all of those adventures has been Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach". Mansfield says "I have more interaction with the ocean life, seen more stuff and even enjoyed days of excellent visibility there." (Photo courtesy of beachcitiesscuba.com).

Whale Watching 

Want to see more sea life? Motorboats are not allowed in Laguna Beach's waters, but just a short drive north up the coastline to Davey's Locker Newport Landing Whale Watching, or south to Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari or Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, enables you to hop aboard to view dolphins and whales up close throughout the year. 

Into the Garden

Established in 1959, the 2.5 acre Hortense Miller Garden on the upper slopes of Boat Canyon demonstrates the range of plants that can be grown in Southern California coastal zones. The vertical, pesticide-free garden was built by namesake, Hortense Miller, an environmentalist and author who created one of the best private gardens in the country and whose knowledge of plants was sought by leading horticulturists. The garden and mid-century home is open for tours most Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:45am to noon by reservation only. (949-497-0779; hortensemillergarden.org)