Bioluminescence Tour near Cocoa Beach
Kelly Park East - 2504-2526 N Banana River Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32952
Perfect time 9pm (first tour) – Easy Location!
Island Bioluminescent Kayaking Tours – See the magical Bioluminescent Waves!
SUMMER SPECIAL TOUR! This bioluminescent kayaking tour to the island is only available in summer – so don’t miss it! It’s the closest tour to Orlando (just 46 miles) and launch conveniently from Kelly Park East near Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. This is considered our “Bio Fun Tour” with tandem kayaks and a night ride into the glow. If you have not seen bioluminescence, this is your chance to get out there for a neon night of adventure.
This tour only happens on Dark Skies Nights and weekends — so space is limited, so book soon to get your spot! .
This is perfect for those who want to have a bioluminescent splash, and an easy evening on the water. We recommend wearing a bathing suit under your t-shirt/shorts. River sandals are recommended. The is a bioluminescence beach at the edge of the park that guests can swim in the glowing waters at the end of the tour. (Swimming is at your own risk and NOT part of this tour.)
This tour is available while summer bioluminescence lasts! Come see it tonight.
Private group, school, church or businesses tours are available upon request. Call for more information and rates.
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: $65 per person
Includes: pfd, guides, fun, tandem kayak and paddle.
Age range: 8+
What You Should Bring: Insect repellent, water bottle, towel
Meeting Point:
Kelly Park East, Merritt Island, Florida
More about this New Moon Bioluminescence Tour
What You’ll Experience:
Most nights in summer, the water lights up with glowing plankton (in summer) or illuminated comb jellies (in winter). The Indian River Lagoon is home to some of the brightest bioluminescence in the world, and this launch site gives you front-row access to nature’s most dazzling nighttime light show. We never guarantee any type of wildlife will be visible, but historically we have seen consistent bioluminescence here for the past decade. Please check our Facebook page for the latest conditions and updates.
Can I Take Photos of the Glow?
Bioluminescence is tricky to photograph and requires very dark skies and long-exposure settings. The best time to try is during the July–September new moon cycle. Otherwise, we recommend enjoying the moment and soaking in the glow with your own eyes – it’s even more magical that way!
Ready to Book?
Come experience why this is called one of the “Top Things To Do in Florida at Night!”
Spots fill up fast — especially weekends and new moon dates.
👉 Book Your Tour at Kelly Park East Now
About the Indian River Lagoon:
This incredible estuary is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America, home to manatees, dolphins, and thousands of glowing dinoflagellates. The unique saltwater environment here creates the perfect setting for natural light shows every night.
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 a diverse wildlife.
Florida has more endangered or threatened species than any other state, and 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, Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-Colored Heron and Bald Eagles.
What is included
- Kayak
This tour is in a 2-person tandem kayak. - PFD
- Guides
What you should bring
- Insect repellent
- Towel
- Flashlight
- Water bottle
How to prepare for your eco-tour
- Check for same day emails – updates
- Check directions – double check
- Wear quick-dry clothes
- Wear water/river shoes
- Bring insect spray
- Bring cash (tips optional)
- Call for questions
- Be ready for fun
Reviews
Write a review-
We went on the Manatee Kayak Tour and it was amazing! They swam under us and splashed us, we're active and we even saw a dolphin! This was great! We'll ...
Danielle Tijerina
We went on the Manatee Kayak Tour and it was amazing! They swam under us and splashed us, we're active and we even saw a dolphin! This was great! We'll do a new tour every time we come!
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Tuve una fantástica aventura en kayak con BK. Hicimos el viaje al atardecer seguido de la bioluminiscencia a mediados de octubre. Estábamos allí en un día muy frío, lo cual ...
Lisa E. (Peachy in Georgia)
Tuve una fantástica aventura en kayak con BK. Hicimos el viaje al atardecer seguido de la bioluminiscencia a mediados de octubre. Estábamos allí en un día muy frío, lo cual fue inesperado, ¡pero todos lo aprovechamos al máximo! Vimos muchas aves hermosas, manatíes e incluso delfines. ¡Mágico!
Todavía hay bioluminiscencia a mediados de octubre, pero no es tan abundante y brillante como lo que se ve a mediados del verano.
El equipo de BK estaba bien preparado y todo nuestro equipo y embarcaciones estaban en excelentes condiciones. Los kayaks son para dos personas, por lo que si vienes con un número impar en tu grupo, alguien se emparejará con un extraño.
Hay orinales portátiles en el lugar de entrega sin cita previa. Puedes ir antes de subir al barco, y en los tours dobles había un refrigerio y una bio-pausa en el medio.
Nuestro grupo familiar incluía a un adulto (ciertamente no en muy buena forma, jajaja), una persona mayor y tres adolescentes, y todos pudimos soportar el esfuerzo de remar durante tres horas.
Si llevas niños pequeños contigo y tienen miedo a la oscuridad, el tour nocturno no sería una buena opción. Hubo algunas partes del recorrido que se desarrollaron en áreas increíblemente oscuras del agua.
Me encantaría volver en verano y ver la bioluminiscencia cuando esté en su punto máximo. ¡Gracias BK por una velada agradable!
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Mis amigos y yo hicimos la excursión diurna en kayak con manatíes y delfines. ¡Nuestros guías turísticos Bri y Sebastian fueron increíbles! Súper amable y bien informado. Nos lo pasamos ...
Ernestina
Mis amigos y yo hicimos la excursión diurna en kayak con manatíes y delfines. ¡Nuestros guías turísticos Bri y Sebastian fueron increíbles! Súper amable y bien informado. Nos lo pasamos muy bien viendo tanta vida salvaje diferente en nuestro camino a la gira que vimos serpientes y una nutria. En nuestro recorrido, vimos algunas aves bonitas, un pequeño caimán y varios manatíes y sus lindas narices saliendo del agua. No vimos delfines en este recorrido, pero sí durante la hora del almuerzo junto al puente. Este viaje fue un regalo sorpresa de cumpleaños para mi amiga y la pasó increíble. Incluso le cantamos feliz cumpleaños en el agua. Gracias Bri y Sebastian por esta hermosa experiencia.
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We had a great experience with our sunset kayak and bioluminescent tour. Our tour guide, John, was pretty awesome and knowledgeable about the area. He gave us some pretty interesting ...
Mario Olalde
We had a great experience with our sunset kayak and bioluminescent tour. Our tour guide, John, was pretty awesome and knowledgeable about the area. He gave us some pretty interesting information about the river, allowed for us to move at our own pace, and was a pretty chill guy. He was fun to talk to, shared some stories about his time as a tour guide in the area and was generally fun to be around. We enjoyed a magnificent sunset, an ominous and entrancing full moon, saw some dolphins, and had a great night enjoying each other’s company and the beauty of the area.
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