Muir Woods and Sausalito Half-Day Tour

On our Muir Woods and Sausalito tour, you’ll wander through the ancient groves of coastal redwoods in Muir Woods National Monument and walk along the quaint sidewalks of Downtown Sausalito. Muir Woods is an example of an old-growth redwood forest located only about 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco. You will have an hour and a half to roam through this ‘living museum’ where you can get a glimpse of the towering trees that used to dominate the west coast from Santa Barbara to Washington.

After exploring Muir Woods you will get a 15-20 minute narrated tour through the beautiful seaside Mediterranean-style town of Sausalito and a chance to explore (approx 45 minutes total) before returning to the city across the Golden Gate Bridge. To complete your San Francisco Bay experience, perhaps you’d like to hop off the vehicle in this lovely town and add on a picturesque ferry ride (must be booked in advance) back to San Francisco!

Ferry return is subject to availability at the time of booking. Some tours may be moved to a preferred partner operator or larger vehicle to best accommodate our guests.

Take the ferry back to San Francisco!

Explore Sausalito for a longer time and take the ferry back across the Bay back to the iconic San Francisco ferry building! Only $11 extra added to the price of your tour.

The ferry from Sausalito departs approximately every hour and a half, from 11:30am to 9:00pm daily.

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ABOUT YOUR ALCATRAZ TOUR

Alcatraz is a must-see for any traveler visiting San Francisco.

You’ll take the ferry out to the island, with amazing views of the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, and Angel Island.

Upon arrival, you’ll learn a brief history of “The Rock” and then head up to the prison. You’ll be equipped with an audio tour titled “Doing Time”, in which you’ll hear interviews from former inmates and learn more history about Alcatraz. You may explore for as long as you want (the ferry departs for the mainland approximately every 30-40 minutes).

The tour generally takes people about two and a half hours. Don’t forget your jacket – it can get chilly out on the bay!

Alcatraz Info:

• For security purposes, a government-issued photo ID is required for all guests to board the Alcatraz ferry
• Alcatraz audio tour is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Mandarin, Portuguese and Korean
• You may leave Alcatraz Island at any time; ferries depart every 30 to 40 minutes; the last departing ferry is usually 6:30pm

Alcatraz tickets are subject to limited availability, so book your tickets today!

Located on the historic San Francisco waterfront at PIER 39, the Aquarium is home to more than 20,000 marine animals including sharks and rays, octopus, jellyfish, anchovies, frolicking river otters, and many more.

A variety of San Francisco Bay living habitats house the diverse animal collection, including walk-through tunnel exhibits, and transparent touchpools. Nature enthusiasts have the opportunity to learn about the most important environmental challenges of the day like climate change, plastic pollution in the oceans, and habitat loss.

The Aquarium is a Smithsonian Affiliate, accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and certified as a Green Business by the city of San Francisco.

The Aquarium of the Bay is located at Pier 39 on the Embarcadero. Please make sure you bring a printed confirmation/voucher as proof-of-purchase. Simply bring this and your valid ID with you to the front entrance of the Aquarium to gain entrance!

General Hours of Operation —
Mon–Sun: 10am – 6pm (Except Major Holidays & Private Events)
(To Call the Aquarium for hours. Phone: 415.623.5300)

Day One – Alcatraz Island

When it’s time for your Alcatraz Cruise, make your way to Pier 33 in Fisherman’s Wharf to pick up your Alcatraz tickets from the Group Services Window and meet the ferry. You may pick up your tickets any time the day of your tour, but they MUST be claimed no later than 30 minutes prior to the tour departure. You will need a valid ID and your paid voucher to pick up the tickets.

DEPARTING FOR ALCATRAZ

Board your ferry and ride across the San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz Island. See the San Francisco Skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Angel Island from the ferry! Depart the ferry at Alcatraz and follow your guide up into the prison.

ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND

Enjoy the audio tour “Doing Time” with commentary from inmates and guards that experienced the prison when it was operational. You may take as much time as you’d like on the island; the ferries return to SF approximately every 30-40 minutes.

Day Two – Muir Woods National Monument and Sausalito

7:15-9:00am Pick up from Hilton Union Square Hotel (333 O’Farrell St, San Francisco) exact start time varies by day – check the booking calendar for exact departures.

Cross the Bridge: the day begins with a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, which offers sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, and the skyline of San Francisco. We wind our way through the coastal mountains of the Marin Headlands, along the base of Mt. Tamalpais (the highest point in the North Bay region) on our way to Muir Woods National Monument where you will have 1-1 1/2 hrs to walk around.

See the Trees: Arrive at Muir Woods National Monument. The coastal redwood is the tallest tree species in the world. These trees only thrive in Northern California and Oregon, due to the thick fog that blankets the west coast in the summer months. In 1908, Senator William Kent and his wife donated their land to the state and President Theodore Roosevelt designated it as a federally protected area. Muir Woods is the only surviving stand of old-growth forest in the Bay Area. Wandering amongst these towering giants, the sights, sounds and smells of this living museum are sure to reconnect you with a natural world that was almost lost forever.

Free Time in Sausalito: From Muir Woods it’s a short drive to Sausalito, a picturesque town that starts with hilltop mansions and spills down to boutique shops and cafes along the waterfront. The pier offers a panoramic view of the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge, and Angel Island. Take it all in with a 15 minute in-coach narrated tour and about 30 minutes to explore* on foot! Then, loop around for the return trip to San Francisco.

*You can also choose to hop off the coach and linger at one of the sidewalk cafes, shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs, or sample freshly caught seafood before taking the ferry back to the city (choose the PLUS FERRY option at check-out). Ferry is subject to availability.

Home Again: Arrive back to the Marriott, where you can get lunch, shop, and explore the Union Square area.

**Sample Itineraries: Please note that due to conditions outside of our control (special events, traffic), it is sometimes necessary to alter your itinerary to best suit the needs of the group. While we guarantee that we’ll do our best to provide you with all of the highlights within this itinerary (conditions permitting), we do not guarantee them in this specific order. Depending on our passenger numbers and guest needs, your tour may be moved to a larger vehicle, or operated by a preferred partner company. In this case, there may be slight differences to the itinerary and times listed above. We will communicate exact details to you in your confirmation.