Clear Kayak Bioluminescence – Cocoa Beach
Kiwanis Island Park
Clear Kayak Bioluminescence – Cocoa Beach
This is the hottest nighttime event in Cocoa Beach! Join us for a magical evening as you see bioluminescence lighting up the waterways from your glass-like clear kayaks. This tour is just minutes away from Cocoa Beach at Kiwanis Park.
These tours sell out in summer, so if you don’t find the date you want here, try our Titusville location about 35 minutes to the north: Wildlife Refuge Clear Kayaks Bioluminescence.
Easy access to this tour is from: Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Orlando, Melbourne, Miami, Tampa, Clearwater, Saint Pete, South Florida, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Keys.
This is the closest bioluminescence tour to Miami and South Florida.
Where is the best place to see Bioluminescence near Cocoa Beach?
In the summer months both the Banana River and the Indian River glow bright with bioluminescence. Many people refer to this as the “Bioluminescent Bay” of Florida. The bioluminescence here is equally bright, if not more so, than what you will see in the bio bays of the Caribbean. The inland waterways make for the perfect conditions of high concentrations of bioluminescent plankton.
When to go: We do this tour at Kiwanis Island in summer months from May – September. We do year ’round clear kayak bioluminescence tours at the Merritt Island Wildlife refuge. Click here for that tour: Wildlife Refuge Clear Kayak Tour.
Tours depart nightly: In summer months there are 3-4 departures per night between 8:30 pm to midnight. Book early for July/August weekends as tours often sell out.
What type of kayak: This tour is in tandem kayak only due to restrictions of the number of boats allowed on the water in the areas we kayak. The clear kayaks are a canoe-kayak hybrid and have a maximum weight limit of 415 lbs, but it is recommended that both riders are under 200lbs.
Also See: Clear Kayak Bioluminiscencia en Florida
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
- Sunblock
Weight Limit
415 lbs total for 2-Person Kayak (neither participant should weigh over 250); some participants may need to use the clear kayak as a single person based on weight limits. Additional charge may apply.
Moon Notice
Moonlight effects this tour and how brightly you will see bioluminescence. The less moonlight, the brighter the bioluminescent sea creatures will appear. Please check the Moon Calendar before booking. Note that in July-August dinoflagellates appear so bright that almost any night is great!
How Bright Will the Bioluminescence Be?
Check the Tour Conditions – Here is our Bioluminescence Glow Update:
Meeting point
Kiwanis Island Park near Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral.
Reviews
Write a reviewWe had a great tour with leader Katy. She is professional, nice and kind-hearted. The team was pretty helpful during the trip, and their expertise and knowledge really help a ...
Yuan C
We had a great tour with leader Katy. She is professional, nice and kind-hearted. The team was pretty helpful during the trip, and their expertise and knowledge really help a lot during the tour. We did see many comb jellies and many other interesting things.
Wonderful experience! Hands down would recommend this activity! Jay, our lead tour guide is not only an expert kayak guide but an even better wildlife and nature enthusiast! He made ...
Tomoko
Wonderful experience! Hands down would recommend this activity! Jay, our lead tour guide is not only an expert kayak guide but an even better wildlife and nature enthusiast! He made this trip for me. His deep respect and love for nature was evident in all his teachings, especially while looking out for the well being of each animal encounter 💕 Baby manatee (and mom), alligator, screech owl 🦉, wood peckers, comb jellies etc! Callum, his teammate was very good as well. He clearly loves what he does and made sure everyone was having fun, he will make a great lead guide! Antwan was quite and somewhat shy but made sure we were all safe!
If you want to expierence the Bioluminescent Tour, this is the place and the team to maximize your experience! 💕 5 star!
The sunset tour was amazing. Saw so many manatees up close. Such majestic creatures. The kids loved the bioluminescent tour and especially holding and catching the jellyfish. Norman and Rock ...
Francine Darrow
The sunset tour was amazing. Saw so many manatees up close. Such majestic creatures. The kids loved the bioluminescent tour and especially holding and catching the jellyfish. Norman and Rock were so knowledgeable about the wildlife and bioluminescent creatures. They were awesome!!
BK was able to accommodate us last minute as the other company we booked didn't even show up. Our trip date was 5/16/26 Alec took my boyfriend and I out ...
Rebecca K
BK was able to accommodate us last minute as the other company we booked didn't even show up. Our trip date was 5/16/26
Alec took my boyfriend and I out and it was a gorgeous day. The water was choppy and windy but the group managed. There was one other couple so it was pretty intimate.
Alec took us around and kept providing details about landscape and animals in the area. We saw loads of birds and even though the water was really murky, we got to see quite a few manatees. I was so thrilled, specifically came out to this area because the chance to see them here was greater than in the springs at this time. No dolphins or gators but hey, thats nature, it does what it wants. We did see Mullet leaping out several times.
Make sure you bring bug spray! We got attacked as soon as we pulled up! There aren't showers here so make sure you are accessible to a shower afterwards because the water was really brackish.
Thanks again Alec!
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.
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!
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.
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.
Check other tours
View all tours
Bioluminescence Rafting Tour – Cocoa Beach
Join this Family Friendly Bioluminescence tour! This tour launches from Kiwanis Island park just 5 miles from Cocoa Beach. This is a perfect way to spend an evening after your day at the beach. See the magical glow of bioluminescence in one of Florida’s best vacation destinations – world famous Cocoa Beach. BK Adventure is […]
Clear Kayak Bioluminescence – Wildlife Refuge – Titusville
BEST BIOLUMINESCENCE - MAY 2026
MOST POPULAR TOUR! Clear Kayaking (see-through kayaks) is a spectacular way to experience Florida's bioluminescent waters. We take you to the glowing Indian River lagoon where bioluminescence shines bright with each stroke of your paddle. THIS IS THE MOST CONSISTENT BRIGHT BIOLUMINESCENCE - YEAR ROUND!