Bioluminescent Kayaking

Nightly Bioluminescent Kayaking Tours Near Orlando & Cocoa Beach – see our Florida Bioluminescence 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: The Indian River and the Banana River both have glowing algae.  Both rivers are part of the Indian River Lagoon –  We affectionately call this Florida’s “Bioluminescent Bay.“

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 8:30 pm to midnight.  In winter there is one departure every night.  Book early for July/August weekends as tours often sell out.

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.  The less moonlight, the brighter the bio luminous sea creatures will appear.  Please check the Moon Calendar before booking.  New moons for 2018 are Jun 13, Jul 13, Aug 11, Sep 9, Oct 9, Nov 7, and Dec 7.

Bioluminescence Photos and Viewing:  Bioluminescence is very hard to photograph.  It can only be photographed in perfect conditions usually during July – Sep when there is a new moon (very dark).  This is when it appears bright, bright blue.  If you are not coming during that time, it may appear somewhat different, but it is still awesome! For more about viewing this phenomenon and what to expect read the description here. 

Best Time of Year for Bioluminescence in Florida

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. Bioluminescent comb jellies look like glowing orbs under the water.  They light up with you paddle through them.

Join us for this evening tour of the magic waters of the Indian River Lagoon.  In cooler weather there are more comb jellies to see! 

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.  The glowing plankton are amazing bright in July and August.  This is when our tours sell out nearly every night.  So, be sure to book early if that is when you plan to go.

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 other Bio Tours – 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.

Bioluminescence looks like this in months of May, June, and October. This was captured with a mobile phone.

What will the bio look like on your tour?

The photos used for bioluminescence must be taken in absolutely perfect condition.  Remember, bioluminescence is light created by living creatures.  Like anything in nature, it can be hard to capture.  Photos of bioluminescence are taken in perfect conditions at the height of the season.  Your tour may feature comb jellies, or plankton that are not as concentrated as the would be in mid- July to mid-September.  For more about seeing bioluminescence, read about it 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.

More about Bioluminescent Kayaking at Indian River Lagoon

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.  The lagoon is one of the most biodiverse eco-systems in North America, and has been the main source of research about bioluminescent dinoflagellates.

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.

How near is this tour to you:

According to Google Maps, this is the shortest distance in miles.