Nightly Bioluminescent Kayaking Tours Near Orlando & Cocoa Beach at Florida’s Bio Bay!

Get ready to spend a magical evening on this nighttime bioluminescent kayaking tour with BK Adventure.  See the water light up as luminous sea life surrounds your kayak.  This tour is often called “the best thing to do on Florida vacation.”  See this natural nighttime spectacle as you paddle around the warm waters of the Indian River Lagoon.

Where is Florida’s Bioluminescence: There are a few good places to find glowing algae around the State of Florida. The Indian River Lagoon is the best one!  Two rivers are fed by the lagoon: The Banana River and the Indian River.  We paddle on both for our summer night tours.  We affectionately call this Florida’s “Bioluminescent Bay.”

About this Night Kayaking Tour

Duration: 90 minutes
Price: $55 per person
Includes: pfd, guides, fun, kayak and paddle.
Age range: 5+
Weight Limit: 300 lbs for Single Kayak & 600 lbs total for 2-Person Kayak
What You Should Bring: Sunblock, insect repellent, towel and water bottle

Where to Meet – There are 2 launch site for this tour so check your confirmation carefully! 

• For Wildlife Refuge Bio Tour (Titusville, FL)

  Get directions to Haulover Canal here.  Haulover Canal is on the Indian River Lagoon.  This is one of the most beautiful night kayaking experiences.  Get views of Milky Way, Space Launch Pad, and lots of wildlife! This is about 1 hour, 15 minutes east of Orlando.

• For Kelly Park Bio Tour (Cocoa, FL)

  Get directions to Kelly Park, Brevard County here -This launch site is the closest bioluminescence tour to Orlando and Cocoa Beach.  Kelly Park can be windy, and there are some fun waves on this paddle.  Dinoflagellate bio is awesome! This tour is about 55 minutes east of Orlando, and 20 minutes NW of Cocoa Beach.

When to go: We do this tour year ’round.  In warm weather, you will see glowing plankton.  In colder months, you will see comb jellies.

Tours depart nightly: In summer months there are 3-4 departures per night between 8:30pm to midnight.  In winter there is one departure every night.  Book early for July/August weekends as tours often sell out.

Where we take you:  In winter, the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge (at Haulover Canal) is where we find comb jellies (glowing orbs in the water). Our summer kayak launch site at Kelly Park near Port Canaveral is the closest bio tour to Orlando and Cocoa Beach. The Banana River is part of the Indian River Lagoon Eco-system. The glow here is the brightest you will find outside of the Caribbean.

How to book:  Simply click on the orange “book now” button on this page, and follow the prompts.  For same day bookings, or special options, just give us a call (407-519-8711).  We are happy to help you, and often last minute bookings can be arranged.

Note: This tour is in tandem kayak only due to restrictions of the number of boats allowed on the water in the areas we kayak.

Moon Notice: Moonlight effects this tour and how brightly you will see bioluminescence.  Please check the Moon Calendar before booking.

Best Time of Year for Bioluminescence in Florida

May – November is time for bioluminescent Dinoflagellates (phytoplankton) – this is the most popular!

Dinoflagellate plankton are naturally glowing organisms that light up the waters of the Indian River Lagoon as you paddle through the canals and kayak trails of this unique estuary.

In the early days of summer the bioluminescent algae begin to show, and by the height of summer it shines and sparkles bright when it is stirred with your kayak paddle, hand, or even the myriad of Mullet fish flying around.

As if the lighted warm water was not enough, on these dark summer nights – look up!  The sky is filled with it’s own light show of millions of sparkling stars!  Because there is no light pollution on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, the night skies are spectacular.

Peak season is June – October.  In other months, bioluminescence will be present, but may be more like sparkles than glowing water.

For Summer 2018 – Join us for Clear Kayaking Bio Bay Tours and Bioluminescent Rafting with our 10 person raft!  The rafts are great for kids and those who want someone to paddle for them.

November – May is glowing jellies season! 

Bioluminescent jellyfish are really just jellies (NOT jelly fish – they do not sting). These pre-historic sea creatures, called Comb Jellies, have been on the planet for over 500 million years.   As the waters of the Indian River Lagoon cool down, the Comb Jellies move in.

Comb Jellies protect themselves by giving off a greenish-blue glow.  They think it will scare any predators that might come their way… just like cavemen used fire at night to keep animals at bay, the jelly lights up at night when touched.

Join us for this evening tour of the magic waters of the Indian River Lagoon.  In cooler weather there are more comb jellies – this is so amazing because you can touch them! 

Why do these bio luminous sea creatures glow?

The light emitted by luminous creatures is a protective mechanism for both the plankton and the jellies.  It is meant to deter predators.  However, the fish are not easily fooled and one of the highlights of this tour is watching the mullets race through the glowing water causing streaks of blue as they swim past your kayak!

Guest get surprised on Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour – Night launch at the Space Center! – Watch here.

What makes this tour so special?

Many kayaking companies in the area get as many people out on the water as possible.  At BK Adventure Eco Tours, we like to keep our groups smaller to give you a more intimate feel with the nature around us.  We think this creates a better outdoor experience.  Join us for an exploration of the Indian River Lagoon at night in one of Florida’s most eco-diverse rivers.  On very dark nights, the water glows with each stroke of your kayak paddle.

BK Adventure has many guides who are trained biologist who specialize in Florida ecology.  They love to answer your questions about marine life, birds and nature.  In summer, our tour at Kelly Park (Merritt Island, Florida) is the closest and most convenient kayak launch for Bio Bay tour near Orlando and Cape Canaveral.  It is just 5 minutes from Port Canaveral Cruises and 45 minutes from Disney and Universal area

Important Information about your tour

• Read Our Refund Policy Here
• What happens if it’s raining? – Our tours rarely cancel due to weather.  If it is raining the day of the tour, chances are, with Florida weather, it will clear up by the time your tour starts.  Sometimes we will hold the tour by 30 minutes for the weather to clear.  In the case of lightning, high winds, or some other reason that we cannot paddle, we will re-schedule all guests to the very next tour available, or at a convenient time for you.  Rainchecks are valid for 1 year.
• We use tandem kayaks for this tour.  Because of wildlife and environmental protection we have a limited number of kayaks we can launch at one time.  So, we use 2 person tandem kayaks in order to get all of our guests out to see the bioluminescence on the dates they want.  That does not mean you will be in a large group.  Only 8 boats go out with 2 guide boats at one time.
• What about small children?  Our recommend age for paddling is 5+ years old.  Each tandem kayak, has a small middle seat, that a younger child could sit in.  Price is per person regardless of age, or number in kayak.   We recommend only for small children who are able to sit still for at least 90 minutes.
• What about dogs? Lots of people who love kayaking with their dog have asked about this tour.  We do not recommend this one for dogs, as it is a night kayaking tour.  Maybe chose the manatee tour or the monkey tour instead of bioluminescent kayaking if you want to have a great experience with your favorite pooch!
• How close is Bioluminescent Kayaking launch to Orlando or Miami? This depends on your launch site: either Kelly Park is near Port Canaveral right off of Hwy. 528 (about 45 mins from Orlando), or in peak-season also,Haulover Canal in Titusville, Florida (1 hr; 15 mins from Orlando).  Kelly Park near Cocoa Beach is the closer launch site to Miami.
• Will the bioluminescence be bright? We like to think so, but we cannot guarantee it.  Here are the best conditions for bioluminescence: hot weather, right after a rain storm, dark night.  Sometimes the night is dark even when the moon is supposed to be bright.  Sometimes a barely visible moon occurs on such a clear night, that even the slightest shine makes it seem bright.  So, there are many factors that make the bioluminescence more/less visible.  The BEST TIME for dinoflagellate bioluminescence (plankton) brightness is usually July to October.  But we see it all year round, and in November, we see amazing flashing comb jellies!  So, don’t miss out because your vacation does not fall during the summer months.  Come on out, you will likely see bioluminescent creatures!
• What about groups? We can manage groups up to 50 people. We recommend you book weekend nights at least 45 days in advance for large groups.  Weekdays is best, as those are easier to find spaces for.  Please phone us for details, and we will be happy to get you and ALL your wonderful friends out for the tour!  See more about Group Tours here.
• Will there be mosquitos? Ram, the owner, likes to say, “You bring the spray, we’ll bring the mosquitos!” We cannot guarantee there will be mosquitos, but there is a 99% change there will be.  Some breezy nights have no mosquitoes. Some nights there are a lot.   The other pest is No-See-Ums.  The best way to keep them away is with Baby Oil.  So, consider slathering on a layer of Baby Oil to any exposed skin.  PLEASE BRING MOSQUITO SPRAY.
• What if I am not a good kayaker?  Some people are naturally athletic, and they pick up any kind of activity easily.  If that’s you, pick either launch location.  If you are a beginner, or not sure about kayaking abilities, or have small children, you may want to choose the Haulover Canal kayaking location.  You may also want to ask about our new rafting options where you join others in the raft for an easy paddle in a big boat.
• What is the weight limit? For our single kayaks, the weight limit is 275 lbs.  For the tandem kayaks it is 550 lbs. The night kayaking tours are done on tandem kayaks.
• What else is recommended? We recommend you do the “Sunset Tour” if you have time.  That way you get to see dolphins, and possibly manatees and all the amazing birds.  Then, take a break, and go out for the Bioluminescent Kayak Tour later.  It’s just $20 more and it’s an amazing tour! Click here to book that.
• Date night? Check out the Sunset-luminesence Kayaking Package – Click Here

More about the Indian River Wildlife and Bioluminescent creatures

The Indian River Lagoon is an estuary that is fed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean making it a unique natural habitat.  The high salt content in the water here makes it a perfect home for dinoflagellates which create a natural light to protect themselves.

Florida has more endangered or threatened species than any other state. The Indian River is home to 36 rare or endangered wildlife.  The West Indian Manatee is one of them.  Manatees love this river because of the abundance of seagrass beds.

Other rare wildlife you are likely to see are: Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Loggerhead Turtles, Blue Crabs, Seahorse, Otters, Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-Colored Heron and Bald Eagles.

BK Adventure tours are in Central Florida near Orlando, Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral, Disney Area, and Ocala.