The 15 Best Boat Tours in Los Angeles

1.Swan Boat Rental in Echo Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,049 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $13Our pick

Rent a private swan pedal boat at Echo Park Lake for about an hour. Choose a daytime or evening departure, wear the required life vest, and pedal past lotus beds and the fountain with Los Angeles buildings in view. Boats have shaded canopies and room for a passenger to sit back. Bring your own food and drinks.

“Arrive earlier than your appointment to give you time to find parking, use the facilities before boarding as well and make sure to pedal to the metal and if you want your boat to light up your appointment must be after 7:36”

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2.Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 488 reviews · 2h 30m · from $45

Spend about 150 minutes on a Harbor Breeze catamaran, scanning the Pacific for whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds. Aquarium of the Pacific educators explain the wildlife, while the crew follows responsible viewing practices. Choose a Long Beach or San Pedro departure, depending on the option you book. Bring warm layers: it can feel cold and windy offshore.

“Weather was good and clear. Flat seas. Whales and dolphins were very cooperative and in abundance. Entire family enjoyed the day.”

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3.Swan Boat Rental at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 405 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $13

Rent a swan pedal boat from Wheel Fun Rentals at Rainbow Lagoon in Downtown Long Beach. Your one-hour ride circles grassy islands near Shoreline Drive and the Convention Center. Choose a daytime or sunset slot, wear the supplied life vest, and ask ahead when LED-lit night rides begin.

“Very cool for such a good price. It’s super fun to do and you spend such a nice time with whoever you’re with.”

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4.Echo Park Lake: Swan Pedal Boat Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 312 reviews · 1 hour · from $13

Take a one-hour swan pedal boat ride on Echo Park Lake with Wheel Fun Rentals. You’ll get a brief safety orientation, a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, shade from a canopy and a QR code for a phone-based trivia game. Look for the fountain, lotus beds, birds, turtles and downtown LA views as you pedal.

“It was so much fun. It made for a great Valentines Day date. But make sure you go at night so you can see all the pretty lights on the water.”

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5.Swan Boat Night Ride at Echo Park Lake

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 189 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $13

At Echo Park Lake in central Los Angeles, rent an LED-lit swan boat and pedal past the fountain as the city lights come on. The rental includes a Coast Guard-approved life vest and operating instructions. Choose a departure time, bring snacks if you like, and plan for possible check-in lines and difficult parking.

“Be prepared to wait in line even with a reservation. The boat ride was fun and good exercise. My child was kind of bored as she wanted to pedal but was too small.”

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6.City Cruises Champagne Brunch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 133 reviews · 2 hours · from $100

Board City Cruises at Fisherman’s Village for a two-hour Marina del Rey brunch cruise. You’ll have a reserved table, a chef-prepared buffet, live entertainment, and unlimited champagne and sparkling cider, with views from the indoor dining areas or open-air roof deck. The route can include Balboa Peninsula and Mariner’s Mile, though wind may affect sailing.

“I appreciate the anniversary shout-out! the staff was very friendly and excited for us to have a good time.”

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7.City Tour of Los Angeles from Long Beach and San Pedro Cruise Terminals

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 128 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $152

Start at the San Pedro or Long Beach cruise terminal, then spend about seven to eight hours seeing Los Angeles landmarks by bus and on foot. Stops include the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory and Venice Beach, with lunch at Mel’s Drive-In. Guides have included Alberto, Gabriel, Gio, Roberto, Eduardo and John; your guide may vary. LAX drop-off is available.

“We found that the tour was very good especially the morning we enjoyed the observatory and Hollywood including Mels Diner, we would like to have known who lived in some of the Beverly hills properties and also a stop in Rodeo Drive rather than Venice beach”

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8.Luxury Cruise with Wine, Cheese & Sea Lions

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 116 reviews · 2 hours · from $119

Spend two hours aboard a quiet, fully electric Duffy boat in Marina del Rey, Los Angeles’ largest marina. Your English-speaking captain guides you past yachts and boathouses, with chances to spot sea lions and birds. The fare includes two glasses of red or white wine per person and a charcuterie board. Captains have included Tyler, Patricio, Shaun and Ilya.

“Awesome experience beyond our expectations We can’t wait to book it again soon”

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9.City Cruises Los Angeles Brunch Cruise from Marina del Rey

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 104 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $100

Board City Cruises California at Fisherman’s Village in Marina del Rey for a two-hour brunch cruise with a buffet, unlimited mimosas, Champagne, and sparkling cider, plus live entertainment. Expect marina and coastal views, friendly table service, and a relaxed meal on the water. The boat can carry up to 150 people.

“My mom and I were visiting California from New Jersey, and while we were looking for something to do on one of our free days, we decided to do a boat-ride brunch and what a great decision that was. The atmosphere on the boat was fantastic. The food was good, and the people were so much fun. Oh, and I can't forget about the very talented guitar player who provided the entertainment. All and all, it was a great day, and we were both so glad we made the decision to do the brunch. We will definitely do it again.”

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10.Romantic Cruise, Dinner Charcuterie or Sushi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $129Top rated

Cruise Marina del Rey aboard a fully electric Duffy boat with a captain who points out marina sights and helps with photos. The one-to-two-hour outing may include sea lions and, if you are lucky, dolphins. Choose a scenic ride or add wine, charcuterie, sushi or dinner. Confirm exactly what your booking includes before you pay.

“5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Our boat tour booked through Get Your Guide was truly unforgettable, and that’s largely because of Captain Shaun, our incredible tour guide. From start to finish, he went above and beyond in ways that words can hardly capture. This experience was especially meaningful because it was our very first Valentine’s Day together…and Shaun made it feel nothing short of magical. His energy, professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail transformed what would have already been a beautiful day on the water into a once-in-a-lifetime memory. He didn’t just guide the tour.. he created an experience. He was knowledgeable, engaging, patient, and genuinely invested in making…”

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11.Long Beach Harbor 45-Minute Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 97 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $15

Cruise Long Beach Harbor for about 45 minutes with live English narration. You’ll pass the Queen Mary, the Carnival terminal, cargo ships, THUMS oil islands, and the downtown waterfront. There’s indoor seating, outside seating, restrooms, and a cash snack bar. At $15 per person, it’s a short, low-cost way to see the port from the water.

“We had a great time. We got lucky and saw a small pod of dolphins! The weather was nice and the captain was informative.”

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12.Swan Boat Rental at Rainbow Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 95 reviews · 1 hour · from $13

Rent a swan-shaped pedal boat for one hour on Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach. You can look for the whale mural at the Convention Center, see yachts near Parker’s Lighthouse, and choose an LED-lit evening ride. A Bimini top provides shade, and you may bring food and non-alcoholic drinks. Life jackets are provided.

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13.City Highlights Tour with Cruise Terminal Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 91 reviews · 8 hours · from $149

Start at the Long Beach or San Pedro cruise terminal at 9:00 am, luggage in tow, and spend the day visiting the Coliseum, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice Beach. An English-speaking guide leads the tour by air-conditioned van. Guides have included Alberto, Gabriel and John. Lunch is not included; drop-off options include LAX, hotels and the cruise terminals.

“Excellent day great value seen all the main attractions in la”

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14.City Cruises Champagne & Brunch Buffet Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 88 reviews · 2 hours · from $99

City Cruises California runs a two-hour brunch cruise from Mariner’s Mile Marina in Newport Beach. You’ll have a reserved table, a chef-prepared buffet, unlimited champagne and sparkling cider, and live entertainment. The boat passes Balboa Island, the Fun Zone, The Wedge, Corona del Mar State Beach, and other harbor sights, with views from the indoor decks or open-air roof deck.

“The catered brunch was delicious and of a high quality and there were many different protein, vegetable and dessert options. The cruise although raining outside was a nice tour of the Balboa Peninsula. My one complaint is that the music was way too loud. Although the music was great, the volume made speaking difficult.”

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15.2-Hour Private Group Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 76 reviews · 2 hours

You and up to five companions get a private two-hour cruise aboard a 42-foot motor yacht from Rainbow Harbor. Expect views of the Queen Mary, Long Beach Port, and the coast, with a possible swim near Island White. Captain Ryan is often at the helm and takes professional photos. Bring your own picnic and drinks, but leave red wine at home.

“We had booked this for our marriage anniversary. It was super nice, Ryan himself is a very professional person. He goes above and beyond helping us make it more memorable. Moreover he took some of the best pictures of our LA trip with his professional camera, I would like to come here again next time I’m visiting La.”

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