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: $69 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 reviewThis tour was amazing! Our guide, Dan, was extremely informative and kind. There was never a dull moment between laughs, wildlife, and of course bioluminescent creatures! The sunset was incredible. ...
Haley Romjue
This tour was amazing! Our guide, Dan,
was extremely informative and kind. There was never a dull moment between laughs, wildlife, and of course bioluminescent creatures! The sunset was incredible. We saw loads of manatee and not just from a distance, all sorts of native birds, and bioluminescent jellies and plankton, If you get to the area an hour early, you can check out the manatee observation area as well as take a walk around the cove as the area is beautiful! We were lucky enough to see dolphins in the area before the tour. I can’t recommend this experience enough and specifically at this location. My fiancé and I now have a beautiful memory to look back on.
(I don’t have photos of the wildlife to share as we were trying to take it all in and pay attention)
Thank you so much BK! 😊
- Haley & Kevin from Rhode Island April 2023Had a terrific kayak adventure with BK. We did the sunset trip followed by bioluminescence in mid October. We happened to be there on a very chilly day, which was ...
Lisa E. (Peachy in Georgia)
Had a terrific kayak adventure with BK. We did the sunset trip followed by bioluminescence in mid October. We happened to be there on a very chilly day, which was unexpected, but we all made the best of it! We saw a lot of gorgeous birds, manatees, and even dolphins. Magical!
There is still bioluminescence in mid-October, but it’s not as plentiful and bright as what you see mid-summer.
The BK team were well-prepared and all of our equipment and boats were in great condition. The kayaks are for two people, so if you come with an uneven number in your party, someone will get paired up with a stranger.
There are porta potties at the drop-in location. You can go before you get on the boat, and with the double tours there was a snack and bio-break in the middle.
Our family group included one adult (admittedly in not great shape, lol) one senior citizen, and three teenagers and all of us were able to manage the exertion of paddling around for three hours.
If you have little children with you, and they are afraid of the dark, the night time tour would not be a good choice. There were some parts of the tour that were in incredibly dark areas of the water.
I’d love to come back in the summer and see the bioluminescence when it’s at its peak. Thanks BK for an enjoyable evening!
Bioluminescence rafting tour was great. Out guide Garrett was perfect. Full of information and fun. Knew about the area and water. We saw lot of comb jellys lighting up the ...
Jerrel M
Bioluminescence rafting tour was great. Out guide Garrett was perfect. Full of information and fun. Knew about the area and water. We saw lot of comb jellys lighting up the water.
Satellites 🛰 zooming over head. A manatee jump up and swam off. Even found a note in a bottle from 2013.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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