Toronto 
One of the things that you might not associate with ‘The Six’, is the prevalence of water sports! Water-based experiences are everywhere in Toronto. You’d be forgiven for not realizing that it lies on the shores of Lake Ontario. But as it does lie on the shores of Lake Ontario, there is ample opportunity for waterborne adventures.
City Cruises Toronto
We’ve compiled a list of these adventures for your enjoyment to help you get the most out of summer in Toronto and explore life on the water in a big city.
Boat Tours/Cruises and Boat Rentals
There are several options available to you if you want to take a boat tour of the Toronto Harbour, seeing the sights of the city from the water gives you a whole different perspective.
City Cruises Toronto
Toronto is a city of life and fine dining is especially enjoyed on the waters surrounding the city. This is where City Cruises Toronto comes in – they offer a fantastic dining experience aboard one of their vessels. They also offer sightseeing cruises. Book for either lunch or dinner cruise and watch the sun go down while enjoying the cuisine of their hired chefs!
Address: 207 Queens Quay W, Toronto
Phone: 647-560-1647
Cost: Varies with types of cruise, starts at $17.
City Experiences
Pirate Life Toronto
If you’ve got kids, the Pirate Life Toronto is sure to be one of your stops on your journey through Toronto. Get them sailing aboard a pirate ship and treated like a pirate too, and you’ll have them talking about it for months on end! Pirate Life is also a theatre company, providing enjoyable theatre to all who come aboard!
Address: 585 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto
Cost: $35
Empire Sandy Cruises
Sail aboard Canada’s largest tall ship and a fixture of Tall Ship Festivals, the Empire Sandy, moored in the Toronto Harbour! From public cruise offerings – complete with dinner and a cash bar, this three hour dining adventure features some of Toronto’s best food and most enjoyable scenery. They also offer private cruises for a variety of functions – from corporate events to weddings and school groups. If you’re looking for an enjoyable cruise aboard Canada’s most beautiful tall ship, look no further.
Empire Sandy
Address: 539 Marina Quay West, Toronto
Phone: 416-364-3244
Toronto Harbour Tours
These one-hour tours operated by Toronto Harbour Tours offer a unique view of the city, cruising the Toronto shoreline, your guide will have a pile of interesting facts and knowledge about the various landmarks of the city. The tour departs every hour, for a fifty minute tour of the city by boat.
Toronto Harbour Tours Inc.
Address: 145 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Phone: 416-203-6994
Cost: $30.00 for adults, $26.55 for seniors and students, children between the ages of 3 and 12 go for $22.00.
The Tall Ship Kajama
The Kajama is a tall-ship boat moored in the Toronto Harbour. This boat is used for sightseeing tours during the day and at sunset. This 165-foot long, 3 sail longboat is the perfect touring vessel for those who want the experience of sailing in a different way. It’s a beautiful way to experience Lake Ontario and get a tour of Toronto from the water.
Address: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto
Phone: (416) 203-2322
Cost: $35.00 for adults, $31.00 for seniors and $25.00 for children between the ages of 3 and 16.
Yankee Lady Cruises & Yacht Charter
If you’re hosting an event in Toronto, or are planning on getting married in the Six this summer, and want an unforgettable wedding or event experience on the water, then look no further than Yankee Lady Cruises!
Contact Yankee Lady for their pricing, tailored to your event! However, Yankee Lady offers a fully customizable menu with a chef onboard, along with custom decor to match the occasion. Whatever you need to make your event special, Yankee Lady will provide.
Jubilee Queen Cruise Lines
If you’re looking for another cruising option in Toronto, there are the Jubilee Queen Cruise Lines. Jubilee Queen offers a premiere cruising experience to those who charter their vessels. They have several options for different public cruises, including the Toronto Air Show, and various themed cruises. They also offer cruises for different events on your calendar! No matter what your cruising needs, Jubilee Queen is only too happy to help.
The Harbourfront Centre Sailing – Rentals
If you’ve wanted to charter a sail around the Toronto Harbour, then look no further than the Harbourfront Centre – these guys offer sailing, powerboating and yacht rentals, alongside offering courses on how to operate a sailboat – for those who’re interested in learning the literal ropes.
Phone: 416-203-3000
Gone Sailing Adventures – Rentals
If you have always wanted to go sailing in the Greater Toronto Area – now is your chance! Gone Sailing Adventures offers some of the best sailing in the GTA, with harbour cruises, sunset sails, catered events and more! Visit Gone Sailing Adventures’ website to learn more.
Phone: 416-240-0202
Canoe/Kayak Guided Tours & Rentals
Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre – Guided Tours, Rentals & Lessons
Your first port of call along the Toronto Harbour when it comes to canoe and kayak rentals has to be Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak. These guys offer a guided tour in either a Voyageur canoe or a tandem kayak. If you’re interested in pursuing lessons, those are also on offer.
Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre
There is also a variety of solo, social paddles throughout the summer, where lovers of kayaks and canoes descend on Toronto’s harbour to enjoy the city views from Lake Ontario.
Address: Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre, 283 Queens Quay W, Toronto
Phone: 416-203-2277
Guided Tandem Kayak Tour: $75 & up
Guided Big Voyageur Canoe Tour: $40-$50
Classes, lessons (including kids camps) and rentals: Varies
Humber River Paddling – Guided Tours, Rentals & Fun Events
Humber River Paddling offers some of the best-guided canoeing tours in the city! A gentle paddle down the Humber River in a Voyageur canoe is available to you, as well as several paddling day trip offerings on various rivers in the GTA.
Humber River Paddling Centre
There are also fun public events like Full moon paddle, Comedy on the River, Music on the River and more!
You can also rent a canoe or kayak from Humber River Paddling. Prices range from $35.00 to $70.00, depending on whether you’re renting a canoe, kayak, tandem kayak, or a stand-up paddleboard.
Humber River Paddling Centre also offer glow-in-the-dark guided SUP tours.
Address: Humber River Paddling Centre, 9 Old Mill Rd, Etobicoke
iPaddle Adventures – Sunset & Glow Night Group SUP Tours, SUP Rentals
Offering sunset and sunrise tours, iPaddle Adventures is a great way to get introduced to the stand-up paddleboard community in the GTA. They also offer stand-up paddleboarding lessons, rentals and more!
Rentals: $30 & up
Address: Ashbridges Bay (Woodbine Beach), Toronto
Phone: 416-553-4067
Toronto Island SUP – Guided Tours, Rentals
Toronto Island is a great place that most people who visit Toronto never get to explore! If you do happen to come over to the Island (and you really should), you should check out Toronto Island SUP.
They have SUP and kayak, rentals and lessons.
You can also join for a guided paddling birding tour, SUP Yoga, Sunset tours and more!
Address: Ward Island, Toronto Islands
Phone: (416) 899-1668
Rentals & Tours- Waterbike, Jet Ski, Pedal Boat, Glow-in-the-Dark Kayak
Where Can I Rent a Waterbike:
If you’re an on-land cyclist and want to try something new and different – consider renting one of Toronto’s Hydro Bikes! This rental service gives you an opportunity to ride on the water, bring a swimsuit and your best cycling legs for this completely new take on two-wheeled life.
Another option is Toronto Water Bikes, offering single and tandem rides on the calmer waters of Lake Ontario near the Toronto Harbour. TWB pricing is $70.00/person for one hour of riding. Tandem bikes are $140.00 for an hour of riding.
- Toronto Water Bikes — Ph: (416) 371 7333
- Hydro-Bikes
Where Can I Rent a Jet Ski/Tour:
If you’re into the high-flying action of jet skiing, Toronto has several options for you to rent a jet-ski that you can tear around the Toronto Harbour. There’s Toronto Marine Rentals, and Rent Our Sky. 416 Navy also provides jetski tours.
- Toronto Marine Rentals, Ph: 4166177145 — Cost: $150 per hour rental, includes fuel
- Rent Our Ski: 370 Queens Quay West,Toronto; Ph: (416) 500-1325 — Cost: $134.97 per hour
- 416 Navy: 955 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto — Cost: $224.87 for a guided tour
Where Can I Rent a Pedal Boat:
If you’ve got kids that you’re bringing out to experience the water of the Greater Toronto Area, then renting a pedal boat for them is a great option. Lake Shore Rentals and Toronto Island’s “The Boat House” are your go-to places for pedal boat rentals in the region, to allow your kids to enjoy the water just as much as you!
- Lake Shore Rentals: West Island of Ontario Place. $25 per hour and up
- The Boat House: 9 Avenue, Toronto Islands, Open only on weekends
Where Can I Rent A Glow-in-the-Dark Kayak:
Glow-in-the-dark kayaking is a perfect first date or a birthday party! There are two options in Toronto: Lite-and-Glo Kayaks and Illuminated Escapes.
You’ll need to book online, well in advance of your date of expected fun, just so you ensure you’ll get your spot! They fill up fast!
- Lite-and-Glo Kayaks: 2001 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Toronto. Phone: 647-218-3856
- Illuminated Escapes (Toronto Kayaks): 2 locations: Humber Bay & Brampton.
