*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Alaska related questions directly!
My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State. For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska. Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars! I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates. To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) and NordVPN to stay safe when surfing the web. For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier. Getting to Halibut Cove & Where to Stay
Getting to Halibut Cove is fairly easy, if you have your own boat you can easily take it across the bay as long as you know where to go. If you don't, then you'll have to book your water taxi ride across Kachemak Bay. I've taken the water taxi twice now and have always booked through Mako's, however there's plenty of other options in town as well. The ride takes about 30 minutes, and depending on how busy they are that day you might make a few stops along the way for other passengers.
There are a number of resorts and stays in the Halibut Cove area, from a lighthouse rental to various resorts. On my most recent visit to the area I stayed at Coho Cabana - a luxurious private stay with included kayaks and a paddle board. The fact that my husband and I could see otters right from the front porch entirely blew us away, and the views were unbeatable. It was the perfect, private getaway from Anchorage.
Before you visit Halibut Cove, there's a few things you'll want to keep in mind as you plan your stay. The most important being that generally speaking, all the local businesses in Halibut Cove close down during the weekend of Labor Day - so if you hope to visit the local restaurant or floating oyster farm, then it's best to go during peak summer months.
Depending on where you stay, you might also need to bring your groceries and food as you make your way from Homer to Halibut Cove. In addition to all the food you plan to eat, you'll also want to bring over bear spray if you plan to hike (packaged properly for your boat ride), lots of layers (rain can come in quickly and unexpectedly in this area), and firewood if you plan to have a fire. Lastly, the tide in this area changes quite significantly - so it's important to take into consideration the low and high tides as you navigate around the area and plan your activities. You can check the local tide here.
My Favorite Tours near Homer :
- Glacier & Waterfalls Tour - Brooks Falls Bear Viewing - Grewingk Glacier Hike Best Things to Do in Halibut Cove
1. Kachemak Bay State Park
Located right along the edge of Halibut Cove is Kachemak Bay State Park, Alaska's first state designated "State Park." With over 25 miles of hiking trails, there's plenty to do with incredible views overlooking Kachemak Bay. There's also plenty of boating opportunities and yurts you can stay at in the park! If you kayak over and plan to do some hiking, it's important to tie up your kayak and stay aware of the vastly changing tide levels.
2. Grewingk Glacier & Glacier Lake
Inside Kachemak Bay State Park you'll find Grewingk Glacier & the Glacier Lake. If you begin on the Saddle Trail, it's a short but steep 3 mile roundtrip hike to the glacier lake, and most of the 400 foot incline is right at the beginning of the hike. I recommend bringing a picnic or drink to enjoy with some glacial ice once you get to the lake! The gnats can be nasty, but the views are worth it on a sunny day. 
3. Kayaking
Since Halibut Cove is located right on Kachemak Bay, there's plenty of kayaking to do in the area. On my most recent visit there was plenty of jelly fish around to make me a bit nervous, but luckily I never tipped and even had a few encounters with the local wildlife. Sea otters, seals, eagles - they were all seen from the comfort of my kayak! Plus, this is one of the best ways to explore Halibut Cove - just beware of the low sea levels at low tide, which might make you portage over a few areas of high, muddy ground. 
4. Take the Water Taxi
Unless you have your own boat, chances are you might have taken the water taxi over to Halibut Cove on your way out. If for some reason you didn't, I recommend calling the local water taxi's (try Mako's or Alan's Water Taxis) to go on a little sight seeing tour! From what I've seen, prices average about $100 per person, and if you're able to I would ask to get taken out to Jakolof Bay - a beautiful blue bay with plenty of sea otters! You might even get lucky and see some orcas on your way!
5. Visit the Floating Post Office
As one of the only floating post offices in the entire United States, this unique stop is one of the places in Halibut Cove you won't want to miss. Although it sounds like the location can vary, when I visited it was tied up right at the main dock in the main city of Halibut Cove. 
6. Have a Coffee or Bite to Eat
Located right at the other end of the main dock in Halibut Cove, you can find the local Coffee Shop - conveniently called the "Halibut Cove Coffee House" - where you can grab coffee and some treats to go. Further in town, you can find The Saltry Restaurant which serves farm to table favorites like chowder, oysters, and pickled fish - all with an amazing view. 
7. The Floating Oyster Farm
Another unique find in Halibut Cove are the unique floating oyster farms! You can see these as you kayak or boat from Halibut Cove to the Kachemak Bay State Park area - they will look like a blue floating ring in the safe waters. You can also visit the Floating Stand that sells fresh oysters and shellfish that you can bring home (or to your rental) and enjoy - they'll be some of the freshest you'll ever have!
8. Tidepooling
The tidal change in this area of Alaska can be quite extreme, and at low tide (the more negative the number on the tide chart the better) you'll have some excellent tide pooling! If you're lucky you'll be able to find jellyfish, starfish, mussels, and who knows what else!
9. Art Galleries
Halibut Cove has a collection of local artists, and therefore, local art galleries to visit during your stay in Halibut Cove. As you explore, you can find all kinds of local artwork and pieces to take home with you!
Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in :
-> Best Things to Do in Homer, Alaska -> One Day in Seldovia
Pin this Guide to Halibut Cove for Later!
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I'm Deborah👋🏼
In 2021 my husband Tyler convinced me to move to Alaska. After living there for a year (then leaving to take a year long world trip) we realized there was no place we loved more. So now we're back - and I'm here to share all my best tips and hidden gems to make Your Alaskan Adventures the best they can be. My favorite travel & outdoor gear is available right here! Use this link to shop all my favorite Alaska necessities! 
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