Perched along North America’s Pacific Coast sits one of the country’s most prized gems – San Diego. Nicknamed “America’s Finest City,” San Diego has sunshine and warm weather all year round, making it one of the USA’s most popular touring destinations.
San Diego has endless activities and attractions to look forward to, including some fantastic high-speed boat tours in the San Diego Harbour. Below are the top ones for you to take a look at.
Highlights:
- Sights of the San Diego Bay
- Enjoy San Diego’s skyline from a different angle
- Spot some of the area’s sealife
Know before you book:
- A weight limit of around 450 lbs (205 kg) applies to most boat rides in San Diego
- The minimum age to drive a speed boat in San Diego is 18
- This activity is not suitable for people prone to seasickness
San Diego is located in the stunning “Golden State” of California. It’s best-known for its gorgeous golden sand beaches, parks, and the San Diego Zoo. Along with this, it’s also home to a World War II aircraft carrier, USS Midway, and countless art galleries and museums.
San Diego is also one of the sunniest places in America, enjoying an average of 266 days of sunshine. It’s little wonder this perfect year-round destination is popular with many travelers.
There are many ways in which you could explore this amazing city. A speed boat tour in San Diego is one of the best ways to see the city. This thrilling adventure is not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re an adrenaline junky, then this is the activity for you.
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Speed Boat Adventures, San Diego Prices 2024
The cost of the San Diego speed boat tours starts at roughly $35 and can go up to about $146, depending on the type of tour. The duration of the tour also affects the price of tickets.
Compare prices across the ticket providers below:
Times of Speed Boat Adventures in San Diego
Most speed boat rides in San Diego start bright and early at 9 am. However, there are other options at later times, such as 11 am and 12:30 pm, and run throughout the day up until 4:30 pm.
Some tours run daily, but it is important to mention that there are operators that only offer tours over the weekends, so be sure to look out for this when booking your tickets. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before your tours for all safety briefings.
Best Time to Go on a San Diego Speed Boat Tour
There isn’t ever a bad time to visit San Diego, mainly because the weather is fantastic all year round. However, in the summer months (June – August), it does get quite busy as many travelers flock to San Diego for vacation.
The best time to go would be between March and May and September to November when it’s quieter and slightly more relaxed. The best times to go on a speed boat tour are early morning and later in the afternoon when it’s not as hot.
Speed Boat Tours San Diego
San Diego offers a range of speed boat tours, sometimes combined with other activities. These tours are suitable for most people. Here’s a look at the top speed boat tours you can look forward to.
Speed Boat San Diego: 2- Hour Self-Drive Boat Tour
If you have an adventurous spirit and are keen on being the captain of your own boat, then this tour is for you. This thrilling 2-hour self-drive boat ride takes you around the beautiful San Diego Bay.
While you might be the captain of your own boat, you won’t have to miss out on all the essential bits of information you would expect on a guided tour, as this one comes with a guide.
All the information you’ll need to know will be communicated via a 2-way communication system on board. Your witty guide will keep you entertained with knowledgeable narration, highlighting points of interest such as the iconic USS Midway and San Diego Maritime Museum.
You’ll also get to discover the history of San Diego and even spot some sea lions, which the city is famous for.
What we liked: Great for those who have an adventurous spirit and want to explore the harbor independently while not missing out on important facts and information.
- Mini speed boat
- Professional guide via a 2-way communication system
- US Coast Guard approved life jacket
- Taxes, fees, and handling charges
- Safety briefing and instructions
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Gratuities
- Meals & Drinks
Explore all of San Diego’s gems on this self-drive speed boat tour and the gorgeous San Diego skyline from the water. The best part is that this tour comes with live narration while you handle the boat.
Know before you book:
- You need to be at least 18 to participate in this tour
- The weight limit is 450lbs per boat
- This tour is not suitable for children under three
- This tour is not suitable for pregnant women and people with motion sickness
San Diego Jet Boat: Patriot Jet Boat Ride
Get ready for this tour’s turbo-charged thrill ride and adventure of a lifetime. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, we highly recommend this tour. This is one of the most popular speed boat rides in San Diego.
It will take you past the downtown San Diego Skyline, under the Coronado Bridge, and past iconic sights such as the North Island Naval Station and USS Midway.
This 30-minute ride on an open-air jet boat reaches speeds of up to 50 miles per hour while pumping rock music. The Patriot Jet Boats promises nothing less than a good time for all.
What we liked: This is a short ride, great if you have limited time on your itinerary.
- Experienced captain
- A rain poncho
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Food & Drinks
This tour promises loads of screams, thrills, and the occasional splash. While it’s not for the faint-hearted and those prone to seasickness, it’s still one of our top options.
While it is short, it completely delivers adventure and unrivaled views of the San Diego Harbour.
Know before you book:
- You need to be at least 48 inches (122 cm) to participate in this tour
- Not suitable for people who experience seasickness
- Children under three are not allowed
- People with heart and back problems are encouraged not to participate
San Diego Harbour Speed Boat Adventure
This high-speed boat tour of San Diego is another self-driven tour that promises a thrilling journey. Once again, you get to be the captain of the boat while also enjoying some informative narration from a guide.
It’s the best of both worlds, as you can live out your dreams of being a captain while still getting all the benefits of a guided tour. This tour will take you around the harbor, where you’ll stop at the cruise terminal, the Star of India ship, seaport village, and many more attractions.
This is one of the most exciting USA tours you can look forward to and provides plenty of photo opportunities.
What we liked: Great for travelers who enjoy independent tours.
- Safety orientation
- Life jacket
- F13 mini speed boat
- Taxes and handling fees
- 2-hour guided tour
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
Once you arrive at the harbor, your guide will teach you how to handle the boat. You’ll learn about hand signals and boating rules as well. From there, you will be good to go and enjoy a lovely tour of the San Diego harbor and all its wonderful highlights.
Know before you book:
- You must be 18 and older to operate the boat
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- There is a weight limit of 425lbs (205 kgs)
GoCar & Speed Boat Tour of San Diego
This tour gives you the best of both worlds, allowing you to explore San Diego on land and sea. If you enjoy discovering new places alone or with a friend, this tour is excellent for you.
This particular tour comes with a GPS guide and recorded commentary. So while you have the freedom of exploring on your own, you won’t get lost along the way or miss out on important and interesting facts about San Diego.
On land, you’ll go past the famous San Diego Zoo, Gaslamp Quarter, and historical hub of Balboa Park in a mini GoCar. After visiting some incredible places on land, it’s then time to hit the sea in an F13 mini speed boat.
A guided narration tour will take you past some of San Diego Harbour’s main attractions.
What we liked: Explore San Diego on land and sea at your own pace.
- Recorded tour
- Life jacket
- F13 mini speed boat
- Taxes and handling fees
- GoCar rider
- Orientation for both speed boat and GoCar
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Gratuities
- Foot and drinks
Aside from being able to explore San Diego on both land and sea, one of the greatest perks about this tour is you can split it up over two days. So, you can take your time exploring all of San Diego’s exciting land sights in one day, and dedicate the next day to the sight of the harbor.
This allows you more time to take some great photos as well.
Know before you book:
- The maximum combined weight of the car and boat is 450lbs (205 kg) for two travelers.
- You need to be at least 21 with a valid driver’s license to drive the GoCar
- You need to be at least 18 to drive the speed boat.
Self-Guided Speed Boat Adventure & iRider Scooter Tour San Diego
Another great way to discover San Diego independently is through this combined scooter and speed boat tour.
Start on land by hopping onto an iRide scooter with a guided GPS tour of the city. You’ll pass by some of San Diego’s highlights, such as the Old Town and more. Then it’s time to hop aboard a mini speed boat and where you’ll learn more about the city from the water.
What we liked: Explore San Diego on land and sea at your own pace.
- Recorded tour
- Life jacket
- F13 mini speed boat
- Taxes and handling fees
- iRide scooter
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Gratuities
- Foot and drinks
Know before you book:
- You need to be at least 15 to drive the scooter
- You need to be at least 18 to drive the speed boat.
Specification: Speed Boat Tours San Diego | 5 Thrilling Water Adventures 2024
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Salvador_M –
Such an amazing team. Definitely recommend it for anyone who likes adrenaline! We got to see various sites and had a blast overall!
Salvador_M –
Such an amazing team. Definitely recommend it for anyone who likes adrenaline! We got to see various sites and had a blast overall!