Why the Water Is LA’s Best-Kept Secret
Most people think of LA as freeways, film studios, and rooftop bars. But spend one morning gliding through the glassy channels of Marina del Rey or catching a sunset from the deck of a 40-foot sailboat, and your whole picture of this city changes. The water here is alive — with wildlife, with light, with community, and with possibility. These twelve experiences are here to prove it.
1. Guided Marina Discovery Paddle Tour
This is the one that surprises people most. A guided stand-up paddleboard tour through the channels of Marina del Rey puts you right in the middle of one of the most active, beautiful, and wildlife-rich harbors in America. You’ll paddle past superyachts, spot herons and sea lions, and learn real SUP skills along the way — all with a professional coach guiding the experience. It’s equal parts adventure, sightseeing, and skill-building. This is our number-one recommended first experience on the water, and it’s available year-round. Explore our paddleboard tours →
2. Sunset Discovery Paddle
There is nothing quite like watching the Los Angeles skyline and the Santa Monica Mountains turn gold from the surface of the water on a paddleboard. Our Sunset Discovery Paddle is a guided tour timed to the magic hour, and it never gets old. The calm evening water, the warm light, the reflection below your board — this is the kind of experience people talk about for years.
3. SUP and Sail — The Only One in Los Angeles
Here’s one that genuinely does not exist anywhere else in LA County: our SUP and Sail adventure. You start on a stand-up paddleboard, getting comfortable on the water and building real skills in the marina. Then you transition to a beautiful sailing vessel and head out onto the open water. Two completely different ways to experience the ocean — in one unforgettable outing. It’s the ultimate water day, and at $300 per person, it’s one of the most unique things you can do in Southern California, full stop.
4. Discover Sunset Sailing on a 40-Foot Blue Water Cruiser
Our Discover Sailing series runs on Wednesday evenings at sunset aboard a 40-foot ocean-going cruiser, skippered by an OUPV-licensed captain with decades of experience — including years teaching sailing for the American Sailing Academy. You get behind the wheel. You hoist a sail. You learn real seamanship. This is not a booze cruise — it’s an actual introduction to the art of sailing, and it’s unlike anything else on the LA waterfront.
5. Self-Guided SUP Exploration
Once you’ve got your paddling legs under you, renting a board and setting your own course through the marina is one of the most freeing things you can do in LA. Paddle at your own pace, stop to watch the wildlife, find your own rhythm. Our rentals start at just $30 for an hour, and the marina is endlessly explorable. See rental options and tour details →
6. Paddle with Sea Lions (Yes, Really)
Southern California’s marine wildlife doesn’t stay at a polite distance. Sea lions, dolphins, pelicans, and even the occasional whale are part of the paddling experience out here. One of the most common reactions from first-timers is total disbelief — they had no idea you could get this close to wild animals in the middle of LA. It happens regularly, and it never stops being magical.
7. Paddle Party for Your Group
Forget the escape room. Forget the wine-and-paint night. If you want an experience your group will actually remember — a bachelorette party, a birthday celebration, a friend group reunion — a Paddle Party on the water delivers. Groups of 8 or more get guided instruction, time on the water, and memories that are impossible to replicate anywhere else. At $65 per person, it’s also genuinely great value for a group event in LA.
8. Corporate Team Building on the Water
There is something about being on a paddleboard — slightly out of your comfort zone, working on balance, laughing with colleagues — that breaks down walls faster than any conference room activity ever could. Our corporate team-building paddles are custom-designed for groups and have become one of the most popular team experiences in the LA area.
9. Moonlight or Night Paddle
The marina takes on a completely different character after dark. With the city lights reflecting off the water and the stillness that settles over the channels in the evening, a night paddle is one of those experiences that feels genuinely otherworldly. Ask us about our evening sessions — they book up fast.
10. Learn to Navigate the Surf Zone on a SUP
Most people think of paddleboarding as a flat-water activity. But learning to time your way through the surf zone and eventually catching waves on a SUP is one of the most rewarding progressions in all of water sports. We’re one of the only operators in LA County with access to the North Channel Jetty — the ideal location for learning this skill in a controlled, comfortable environment before heading to the open coast.
11. Coastal Paddle to Malibu or Palos Verdes
Once you’ve built your skills in the marina, the entire LA coastline opens up. Paddling along the cliffs of Palos Verdes or out to Paradise Cove in Malibu is the kind of experience that reminds you why people from all over the world dream of living in Southern California. The water is clear, the views are extraordinary, and the feeling of moving through it all under your own power is something you carry with you long after you’re back on land.
12. Discover SUP — Your First Time on a Board
The most unusual thing of all? That so many people live in LA their entire lives and never try stand-up paddleboarding. Our Discover SUP session is the perfect starting point — just $55 per person, no experience needed, and designed specifically to get you comfortable, confident, and genuinely hooked on life on the water. Thousands of people have started here since 2010. You could be next.
Ready to Live Life on the Water?
Los Angeles has been hiding one of its greatest assets in plain sight. The water is here, the conditions are world-class, and the experiences are waiting. Whether you’re booking for yourself, a partner, a group of friends, or your whole company, Paddle Method has been turning people into paddlers since 2010 — and we’d love to do the same for you.
Looking for something more? Check out our guide on the 15 Best Things to do in Marina del Rey for 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience to try paddleboarding in Los Angeles?
Not at all. Our Discover SUP session and Marina Discovery Paddle are both designed for complete beginners. Our professional coaches have guided thousands of first-timers since 2010, and our step-by-step approach makes getting on the water comfortable and genuinely fun from your very first session.
What is the SUP and Sail experience and where is it available?
The SUP and Sail is a unique combination adventure where you paddleboard through the marina first, then transition to a sailing vessel for an open-water sail. It’s the only experience of its kind in Los Angeles County, offered exclusively through Paddle Method at Marina del Rey. It’s $300 per person and one of the most memorable things you can do on the water in Southern California.
What are the best paddleboard tours in Marina del Rey?
Our Marina Discovery Paddle is our most popular and highly recommended tour — it’s guided, available year-round, suitable for all levels, and takes you through one of the most scenic and wildlife-rich harbors in America. We also offer a Sunset Discovery Paddle for an evening experience with breathtaking golden-hour light on the water.
Can I book a paddleboard party or group event in Los Angeles?
Absolutely. Our Paddle Party is designed for groups of 8 or more and is perfect for bachelorette parties, birthdays, corporate team-building, and any celebration that deserves something truly memorable. It’s $65 per person and includes guided instruction and time on the water. Visit our group events page to learn more and book.
Where exactly does Paddle Method operate in LA?
We operate across the greater Los Angeles area including Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu, and Palos Verdes. Our primary home base is at Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey — one of the best flat-water, beginner-friendly paddleboarding locations in all of Southern California.
