Kayaking
Kayaking can take place all year round and the experience can be just as great – albeit different. Is there anything nicer than cruising across the water in a kayak on a summer morning? The sun is softly warm, the sea is like a mirror, and it's completely silent. During the day there's a vibrant sea life in the inner archipelago. The other seasons offer an incredible calm and silence here. You also don't have to get up very early, or stay out very late, to experience the sunrise or sunset.
Kayaking is great: you're close to the nature and you can start as soon as you got the basics. It's a fantastic way to experience the archipelago. You'll find three rental places close to the Pearl Cottage. If you want to come close to the outer archipelago, but still stay in the Cottage overnight, we recommend Östra Lagnö. If you want "very calm water", do kayaking on the Långhundraleden (the Viking Tour).
For your own and others' safety on the water, it is important that you know the rules that apply when you're going to kayak. Also, if the water is cold (somewhere below 15–18 C) and you're a beginner, do kayaking with a guide.
The Swedish “right of public access” applies both on land and on water.
On Resarö
At the Skärgårdens Kanotcenter (the Archipelago's Centre of Canoeing), only 3 km from the Pearl Cottage, you can rent kayaks and canoes to go off by yourself or with a guide. It will take about
4–6 hours to get around Resarö. The Centre offers different guided tours during any season. If you’re new into kayaking, a tour is a nice way to start (so you can feel relaxed and enjoy the experience).
On Eriksö – almost in Vaxholm
You find the Vaxholms Kanotsällskap (the Vaxholm Canoe Club Society) about 5 km from the Pearl Cottage. The atmosphere here is very relaxed and you can’t see that the club is one of Sweden's most successful clubs during the 2000s on the competition circuit both nationally and internationally (World Championships and Olympics). You can rent kayaks, SUP, or canoes from May to September. If you’re a beginner, start at the Skärgårdens Kanotcenter with a guided tour. Then, you can explore other islands from here such as kayaking around the island Vaxön or Kullön. Keep in mind during the high season the boat life in Vaxholm is very busy.
In Vaxholm
In Vaxholm, close to Hembygdsgården (the Homestead Farm), you’ll find a Kayakomat. Here, you can rent a SUP or a kayak any time you want. For beginners, this is an easy way to try SUP or kayaking and at the same time stay close to shore. During the high season the boat life in Vaxholm is very busy. Thus, if you’re a beginner it’s good to kayaking in the opposite direction of the Vaxholm’s Citadel (to the left with the jetty behind you).