Tours

Daily Guided Tours

We offer guided tours every day of the season, from May through October. Our boathouse is built on the shore of a protected bay on the Lower Prospect peninsula, and is custom built for launching kayaking tours. Our large wharf and specialized floats make it easy to choose the right boat and head out on your way without any fear of tipping over. We are fortunate to be located in an area which offers a myriad of pristine islands, beaches, sheltered inlets and incredible rock formations. The wildlife is amazing—last season’s trips featured sightings of seals, porpoises, whales, eagles, and even a school of breaching tuna. We offer several guided tours every day: choose from a half day, full day, or sunset tour. The details are below. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. Group sizes these tours range from two to six people (for larger groups, see our Group Tours).

Half Day Sea Kayaking Tour

Choose from either a morning (9 am) or afternoon (1:30 pm) half-day tour. Explore protected bays, secluded beaches, and the rugged coastline at a comfortable pace with a skilled guide. Half way through your trip you will stop on one of the many pristine islands to stretch your legs, have a snack and relax. Add a Lobster Feast on the wharf at the end of your trip for a truly unforgettable experience.

Full Day Sea Kayaking Tour

Join us for a full day on the water—it will surely be a highlight of your summer.

Your tour will leave from our sheltered cove on the Lower Prospect peninsula, and explore incredible bays, inlets, islands and shorelines such as Cub Basin, Rogues Roost, Betty’s Island, or the Terence Bay Wilderness Protected Area. You’ll stop for lunch at one of the many pristine islands in the area, and have a chance to stretch your legs, walk around, and relax on the shore. We are happy to provide a tasty lunch for you, or you can bring your own picnic if you would prefer.

Our full day tours run daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Please call at least 24hrs in advance to book.

Sunset Sea Kayaking Tour

(with optional BBQ)

Our sunset paddling tours are a lovely way to spend the evening. Sunsets in Lower Prospect are spectacular, and seeing them by kayak is a real treat. Like all of our tours, no experience is required. Complete the evening with an optional BBQ on our wharf, and it will be an evening to remember.

Things to bring:

Customized Tours

Marriage proposal on a private tour (she said yes).

Private Tours

If you would like to book a private tour for the day, we are happy to accommodate you. Private tours depart from our base in Lower Prospect, and can take place at any time of day. Several itineraries and food options are available. Contact us, and we’ll customize a private tour just for you.

Pricing varies based on itinerary and food. Contact us.

Off-site Kayaking Clinics & Guiding Services

We come to you. Whether you would like to arrange for a kayak safety clinic at your cottage, a navigation workshop for your club, or a professional guide on your next trip, we will work with your schedule at a location you choose.

Multi-day

If you would like to spend more time exploring our coastline, we are happy to customize a multi-day trip for you. Combine kayaking and hiking activities, and choose from a variety of menu options. Camp on remote islands or stay at a seaside B&B. We will work with you to design the itinerary that meets your needs, and then we’ll take it from there.

Group Tours

Kayaking is a great activity for any group—whether it’s a staff party, a group of friends, a corporate event, or a wedding party. Follow your tour with a BBQ on the wharf or live music and it will be an event to remember. Our location is stunning and the paddling is world-class. Let us guide you through sheltered inlets and channels along the rocky coastline. For the more adventuresome, the open ocean is never far away! If there are people in your group who would rather not paddle, we also offer a hiking option. No experience is necessary as our guides will teach you everything you need to know. We are happy to host groups of up to 35 people and have a number of different options available.

Tour Options

You and your group will arrive at the boathouse and be greeted by our guides and friendly base staff. After registering in the office (registration forms will be distributed ahead of time), your group will be outfitted with kayaks and equipment which suit the needs of each individual. We have both single and double kayaks to choose from, and have boats for all shapes and sizes. No paddling experience is required on any of our trips- we teach you everything you need to know.

Your group will depart from our base which is located in a sheltered cove and, after a brief yet thorough safety overview, explore some of the area’s beautiful bays and inlets. Lucky groups will be treated to sightings of seals, whales, and other incredible wild-life. After your paddle, you will return to the Boathouse and meet up with the rest of the group to enjoy a BBQ, lobster boil, live music, or whatever else you have arranged.

Group Tour beach BBQ

Pricing is based on the length of the tour and any extras such as food, entertainment, and transportation.

Non-paddling options*

Coastal Hiking
If some of your group would rather not paddle, we are pleased to offer a lovely light hike along a pristine coastal barrens located adjacent to our base. The group will be accompanied by one of our guides who is knowledgeable about this fascinating and beautiful eco-system. We serve a light snack along the way, and will visit a rugged overlook with panoramic views of the open Atlantic Ocean.

Lobster Boat Ride
We are pleased to work with local fishermen to offer a boat ride option for your group. Join us for a relaxing tour of the areas in the comfort of a large and stable cape islander.

*Pricing for these options is the same as the paddling tours. Participants on the non-paddling tours will meet up with the rest of the group at the Boathouse to enjoy the after-tour food and entertainment.

If none of the options fit your needs let us know and ECO will work with you to customize a group package. We’re more than willing to adapt trips to individual and group needs. Simply tell us what you want—and ECO will make it happen.

McGinty on the wharf

Live Music
Live music can be arranged for an additional fee. Our wharf has a stage built into it, and is perfect for dancing or just enjoying local music at sunset.

Transportation
Transportation can be arranged for any group size, and is priced based on the number of people to be transported and location of pick-up.

Booking & Cancellation Policy

A 50 % deposit is required to book a group tour (major credit cards are welcomed). To book a tour within 7 days of tour date, full payment is required. Balance is due prior to trip departure, and can be paid with cash, check, credit card, or Interac. We know that when organizing a group tour, an exact numbers of participants is difficult to estimate. We are happy to calculate the deposit based on your best guess, but require that you give us final numbers of participants at least 48 hours before the trip. If you’re numbers increase after this time, we will do our best to accommodate the extra participants and will adjust the final invoice to reflect the change. If the numbers drop at the last minute, you will still be charged for the final number given to us 48 hours prior to the trip.

If you need to cancel your trip, we will refund your deposit in full if given 7 days notice, minus a 25% administration fee. If a tour is canceled within 7 days of the tour date, the full deposit will be forfeited. If this tour was booked within the 7 day window, 50% of the total tour cost will be refunded. If we cancel the trip due to weather-related reasons, the deposit will be refunded in full, or the trip can be re-scheduled.

Finally, we recognize that organizing a group is a lot of work, so as the organizer, your trip is FREE.

Cruise Ship Shore Excursions

Visiting Nova Scotia by cruise ship? Let us be your hosts. We work with many of the cruise lines to provide their kayaking shore excursions, so check with your ship first to see if there is a paddling excursion that meets your needs and book directly with them.* If not, we offer several shore excursion options to help you make the most of your visit. Our base is a short drive from the cruise ship pier, and we are happy to arrange for transportation on any trip. Choose from one of the excursions below, or let us customize a tour for you.

*note: By booking through the ship, most cruise lines will guarantee that the ship will not leave without you. Booking a shore excursion directly with an operator carries no such guarantee.

Private Guided Sea Kayaking Tour

Escape the crowds of the cruise ship and enjoy a private tour of scenic coastal bays, rocky shores, and sandy beaches at a comfortable pace with a professional guide. No experience is necessary, as every trip begins with a brief yet thorough safety and skills overview. Add an island lunch or a lobster feast on the wharf and it will be a highlight of your vacation.

Private Coastal Hike

Join one of our knowledgeable guides for a hike along the breathtaking coastline of the Lower Prospect peninsula. Walk through a mix of terrain from smooth granite rock faces to boreal wetland while learning about coastal plain plant species and marine ecology. Treat yourself to wild strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries. Enjoy a light snack while enjoying a panoramic view of the open Atlantic Ocean, while lobster boats check traps and cormorants and gulls circle the sky above.

Private Paddle & Hike Excursion

Can’t decide whether to paddle or hike? Do both. This multi-sport excursion combines a private guided kayaking tour with a guided coastal hike, with a tasty lunch in between. Experience the best of Nova Scotia- by land and by sea.

Group Shore Excursion

If you are travelling with a group of 6 to 35, we are happy to arrange a private group excursion for you. The length of the tour is flexible, based on the ship’s schedule. Transportation to and from the ship is available and will be priced based on the size of the group. We have several food options to choose from- ranging from a snack on the water to a lobster feast on the wharf. If some of your group would prefer not to paddle, we have non-paddling options such as hiking, a lobster boat tour, and even a golf course located just up the road. Contact us and we will customize a shore excursion that is perfect for your group. Pricing will be based on length of trip, itinerary, transportation needs, and food options.

Things to bring: