Bioluminescent Kayaking in St. Augustine

Vilano Boat Ramp, St, Augustine, Florida

(52 reviews)

from $75

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Tour details

  • Approx. 1.5 hour
  • Age 8 and above
  • $75

Late Night Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour – St. Augustine

Experience the magic of Florida’s glowing waters on our Late Night Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour in St. Augustine. Launching at 10:30 PM, this tour is designed for guests who want to experience bioluminescence at its brightest under the darkest night skies.

As you paddle through the calm waters of St. Augustine, every stroke of your paddle creates brilliant trails of electric blue light caused by millions of naturally glowing microorganisms. Fish dart beneath your kayak leaving glowing wakes, while the peaceful nighttime surroundings create an unforgettable adventure unlike anything else in Florida.

Unlike our Sunset & Bioluminescence Tour, this experience focuses exclusively on the wonder of bioluminescence. By launching later in the evening, guests often enjoy darker skies and exceptional viewing conditions during peak bioluminescence season.

This guided kayak tour is perfect for nature lovers, photographers, adventure seekers, and anyone looking for one of the most unique things to do in St. Augustine. No kayaking experience is necessary—our friendly expert guides provide everything you need for a safe, relaxing, and memorable adventure.

Tour Highlights

  • 10:30 PM launch for a true nighttime adventure
  • Experience brilliant natural bioluminescence in St. Augustine
  • Small-group guided eco-tour
  • Beginner-friendly and family-friendly
  • High-quality kayaks, paddles, and safety equipment provided
  • Led by BK Adventure’s award-winning guides
  • One of Florida’s most unforgettable natural experiences

Whether you’re visiting St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Orlando, or Florida’s historic coast, the Late Night Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour offers an extraordinary opportunity to witness one of nature’s most spectacular light shows.

Reserve your adventure today and discover why BK Adventure has earned more than 2,500 five-star reviews for delivering world-class eco tours throughout Florida.

Bioluminescence ONLY Tour 

During the summer dark skies weeks, the Sunset and Bioluminescent kayaking tour sells out – so we will add a bioluminescence only tour starting at 10:30 pm.  Click the “Book Now” button to see if this time is available.  If the tour you want is sold out, we can put you on a waiting list.  Give us a call at 407-519-8711. 

More About St. Augustine Wildlife
The waters surrounding St. Augustine are part of a rich coastal ecosystem connected to the Atlantic Ocean.

This area supports a wide variety of marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles, and seasonal manatees, along with numerous coastal bird species.

You may also encounter fish, rays, and other marine life depending on conditions.
During warmer months, bioluminescence becomes more active—microscopic organisms that glow when disturbed, creating a natural light display beneath your kayak.

New Moon Bioluminescence FLorida

What is so special about this St. Augustine Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour

Join your expert BK Adventure Bioluminescence eco-tour guide for a sunset adventure to remember! 

BK Adventure is the world’s top bioluminescent adventure tour company with several locations around Florida.  This in the ONLY summer bioluminescence tour in St. Augustine! 

You get to see the best of St. Augustine from the beautiful view of the water at sunset. Then, you will experience the magic of bioluminescence along the backdrop of the Ancient City’s lit up monuments! Breath-taking! 

When to go: We launch this tour from the Vilano Beach Boat Ramp at sunset.  Hours vary throughout the year, so check the calendar and your confirmation email.  Be sure to arrive 20 minutes prior to departure.

 

What is included

  • Kayak
  • Paddle 
  • PFD
  • Guides

What you should bring

  • Insect repellent
  • Towel
  • Sunblock
  • Water bottle

How to prepare for your eco-tour

  • Check for emails
  • Check directions – double check
  • Wear quick-dry clothes
  • Wear water/river shoes
  • Bring cash (tips optional)
  • Call for questions
  • Be ready for fun

Weight Limit

550 lbs total for 2-Person Kayak (neither participant should weigh over 275); some participants may need to use the tandem kayak as a single person based on weight limits. Additional charge may apply.

What will the Bioluminescence Look Like? 

How Bright Will the Bioluminescence Be?

Check the Tour Conditions – Here is our Bioluminescence Glow Update:

https://www.bkadventure.com/florida-bioluminescence-report/

Reviews

Write a review
  • It was peaceful and beautiful out on the water! Jay & Roc (sorry if I spelled that wrong lol) were great guides and made it a very fun and pleasurable ...

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  • Un saludo a BK Tours y a los tres guías turísticos Dan, Brooke y yo creemos que se llamaba Nick. Lo siento mucho, ¡olvidamos su nombre! ¡Ellos fueron increíbles! ¡Tuvimos ...

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  • ¡Este viaje fue muy divertido y tranquilo! ¡Vimos tantas medusas peine y su bioluminiscencia fue tan fascinante! ¡John B, nuestro guía turístico, estaba tan informado sobre la vida marina! ¡Lo ...

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  • Our tour was with Terrance and Javier! We had an amazing time. They were full of information and always on the look out for wildlife. Even though it was January ...

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FAQ

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 See more about Group Tours.

We like to think so, but we cannot guarantee it.  Here are the best conditions: 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 glowing algae (dinoflagellates) 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.

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.

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!

Our recommended 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.

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.

BK Adventure's office is about 50 miles from Orlando, and just 15 minutes away from Kennedy Space Center.  Guest will meet at our Titusville office and then be driven to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge (about 10 miles away).

Because of the limited availability of our equipment, they tend to book up quickly.  Please call us if there is a time/day you would like that is not available for online booking.  We may be able to get you on.

This kayaking tour is not recommended for smaller children.  10+ is a good age for this tour.

Though we do not guarantee wildlife on any of our tours (Mother Nature makes no guarantees!), we usually see alligators, ospreys, herons, river otters and deer on this tour.

We can manage groups up to 15 people for this tour. We recommend you book weekends 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.

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, let your guide know when at the beginning of the tour.

Because of wildlife and environmental protection we have a limited number of boats we can launch at one time.  There will be 6-10 people in your raft depending on the size of the boat.

This tour is better for small children. We recommend only for small children who are able to sit still for at least 90 minutes.  Please bring USCG issued life vest for toddlers to be sure it is a good fit.  We do have child size life vests available for 3+.

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.

We can manage groups up to 22 people for rafting. We have 3 rafts to accommodate this. 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 our Group Tours here.

The weight limit for 1 raft is about 2400lbs.  We can accommodate people of varying sizes in our rafts.  Be sure you can get in and out of the raft on your own.

Because of the limited availability of our rafts and clear kayaks, they tend to book up quickly.  Please call us (407-519-8711) if there is a time/day you would like that is not available for online booking.  We may be able to get you on.  But, generally for bioluminescence tours it is best to book 30 days in advance for New Moon and Dark Skies weeks, and about 2 weeks in advance for all other tours.  This will help ensure you get the time and tour that you want.

Yes, especially in the summer months, bioluminescence is visible during the full moon.  But on the buffer seasons like spring or early fall, it may be hard to see bioluminescent plankton (dinoflagellates).  However, the comb jellies are usually visible during all moon phases. The less light that reflects on the water usually makes the bioluminescence appear brighter, but it is always still there.

Bioluminescence tours

Why book with us

  • Safety first
  • Sustainable tourism
  • Expert & professional local guides
  • Fair prices
  • Fair cancellation policy
  • We run our own trips
  • We're a passionate bunch
  • Rated 5-star on TripAdvisor
  • Guaranteed trips

Por qué reservar con nosotros

  • Seguridad primero
  • Turismo sostenible
  • Guías locales expertos y profesionales
  • Precios razonables
  • Política de cancelación justa
  • Realizamos nuestros propios tours
  • Nos apasiona lo que hacemos
  • Tenemos 5 estrellas en TripAdvisor
  • Tours garantizados
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