Bioluminescence Tours in St. Augustine, near Jacksonville and North Florida
Sunset and Bioluminescence in St. Augustine
Experience the best sunset and bioluminescence kayak tour in St. Augustine, Florida. See Florida's famous sunset, glowing water and the monuments of St. Augustine lit up at night! This is the only tour of its kind - you see the sights of the Oldest City in America from the point of view of the first settlers to arrive on these shores, Florida wildlife like dolphins and manatees, and bioluminescence.
BRAND NEW TOUR - ALREADY A STAFF FAVORITE!
Price $75for Approx. 2 hours
Join BK Adventure for the best views of the city on our St. Augustine Bioluminescence tours!
This tour launches from Vilano Boat ramp, just 1-2 miles from the historic district of St. Augustine. This is a perfect way to spend an evening getting stunning views of monuments like the Castillo de San Marcos, the Great Cross and the St. Augustine Light House from the water – and to top it off – this is the best place in North Florida to see bioluminescence! See the magical glow of bioluminescence in one of Florida’s best vacation destinations – world famous St. Augustine. BK Adventure is the only tour company offering summer bioluminescence tours in the Ancient City!
Who would love this: This is great for groups who want to experience Florida’s amazing bioluminescence but do not want to drive to Titusville or Cocoa Beach. It’s great for families, couples, and groups who want a truly unique experience in Florida. The guides are fun, and remind you of days gone by as they help you paddle through the glowing bioluminescent water.
When to go: For comb jellies – Nov – May; for dinoflagellates or plankton bioluminescence May – October are the best times for this tour. Since space on tours is limited, please book in advance. BK’s Bioluminescent tours tend to sell out, book early! For last minute bookings call us – 407-519-8711.
What is included
Kayak/Paddle
PFD
Guides
What you should bring
Insect repellent
Towel
Flashlight
Water bottle
St. Augustine – Bioluminescence Glow Update – Week of May 12
We are seeing 3/5 glow for bioluminescent comb jellies! Guests said “looks like a see of stars!” Wildlife spotted: Dolphins, herons, manatee
New Moon Notice
These are the Dark Skies weeks for Summer 2026:
May 15-24 (16 new Moon)
Jun 10-19 (14 new Moon)
Jul 10-19 (14 new Moon)
Aug 8-16 (12 new Moon)
The less moonlight, the brighter the bioluminescent sea creatures will appear. Please check the Moon Calendar before booking.Biolumines
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 bioluminescence tour so special?
This is the only bioluminescent kayaking tour with views of the historic city of St. Augustine. You have the chance to get stunning photos of the ancient monuments, plus experience the magic of Florida bioluminescence! See the water glow at night and the city shining bright!
What type of Florida wildlife will I see?
On this this eco-tour we often see manatees, dolphins, rays, roseate spoonbills, herons, pelicans, many types of fish (as they glow in the bioluminescence), comb jellies, and dinoflagellates.
Which cities is this bioluminescence tour nearest to?
near Jacksonville – 40 miles
near Ponte Vedra – 25 miles
near St. Augustine Beach – 7 miles
near Crescent Beach – 12 miles
near Gainesville – 74 miles
near Savannah – 174 miles (this is the closest Florida bioluminescence tour to Gerogia and the South East)
What is the best time to do a bioluminescence tour in St. Augustine?
Because Florida has both winter bioluminescence and summer bioluminescence, you can do a tour almost any time of the year. BK Adventure posts bioluminescence brightness ratings on their website and social media daily, so check out @bkadventure on your favorite platform, or call us for an update at 407-519-8711. The brightest bioluminescence is determined by the darkness of the skies and the warmth or coolness of the water. Check out our Dark Skies – New Moon Calendar here.
Meeting Point
St. Augustine Bioluminescent Kayaking Tours meet at Vilano Boat Ramp – Saint Augustine, Florida
Meet your guide at Vilano Boat ramp just 1.5 miles from the historic district of St. Augustine, Florida. Please be at least 15 minutes early for your tour so we can start on time.
For Sunset – Bioluminescence Tours: You are the first tour of the evening, so help your guide start on time by being early!
For Nighttime Bioluminescent Kayaking – If your guides are not at the boat ramp, they may be on the water, please wait near the BK Adventure van for your guide to start the tour.
People Also Ask ... FAQ About this St. Augustine Bioluminescence Tour
Where is the best place to see bioluminescence in Florida?
The Mosquito Lagoon is considered to have the best bioluminescence in the entire world! However, we think this bioluminescent kayaking experience in St. Augustine is the best tour overall because you not only get to see great bioluminescence, you also get magnificent nighttime views of the city! This is a truly unique bioluminescence tour that you will not find anywhere else.
Why is this considered one of the most unique things to do in St. Augustine, Florida?
There is no other tour in Florida where you can see America’s oldest monuments – Fountain of Youth and Castillo de San Marcos, planet earth’s oldest living creatures – bioluminescent comb jellies (540 million years old), and Florida’s best wildlife – manatees, dolphins and more all at the same time!
Do I need to know how to kayak to do a bioluminescence tour?
No. We will give you some instruction before you go out, and paddling is easy for most people.
What do I need to bring on this night kayaking tour?
We recommend a dry bag or something waterproof you can put your valuables in that has a carabiner or tie on, a bottle of water., and insect repellant,
What should I wear for this tour?
Wear quick dry clothes, river sandals or water shoes (old sneakers are fine). We do not recommend wearing bikinis or any loose clothing as this will be an uncomfortable paddling experience.
What do I do if it’s raining?
This tour departs in light rain. If you are unsure, call our office and we will let you know if we think the weather will clear up. If you would like, you can can request a raincheck before the departure of the tour, and book another time at no extra fee.
Is this tour suitable for children?
This is a great tour for kids 8+ as we use tandem kayaks and the child can sit up front and help an adult parent paddle. For younger children, it would depend – call out office if you have questions. It is not suitable for children under 5 years old. ( We would recommend out bioluminescent rafting tour.)
What a way to spend our 29th Anniversary!! Thanks guys for making it fun. Though we would have liked some engines on the kayaks we had a great time! We ...
What a way to spend our 29th Anniversary!! Thanks guys for making it fun. Though we would have liked some engines on the kayaks we had a great time! We will most definitely do it again when we have friends and family coming to visit us. Thanks Leo and Jimmy. You both were very informative and personal interest in everyone in your group. Both of you were also very safety conscious making sure we were all together. Thanks again hope to see you again.
Highly recommend! Was the experience we had hoped for, had a great time and good for groups. Jay & Jimmy were experts on the area and despite the warning that ...
Highly recommend! Was the experience we had hoped for, had a great time and good for groups. Jay & Jimmy were experts on the area and despite the warning that you never know what you might see due to daily conditions, they made sure that we got to experience all the night had to offer. Gave great info on what we saw and made sure everyone in the group got an up-close experience with the bioluminescent creatures. Side note, these guys made it feel very safe and inclusive so that was nice. I would recommend wearing flip flops and bring a spare pair of shorts since your bottom side will likely get 'damp'.
Christopher L
We came down from East Tennessee and Ram made our trip as easy as it could have been. The guiding was great and fun. We saw dolphins and manatees as ...
We came down from East Tennessee and Ram made our trip as easy as it could have been. The guiding was great and fun. We saw dolphins and manatees as well as a large assortment of birds. I would honestly have rather booked two tours with BK after having somewhat of a disappointing experience at Disney. For two adults in their early 30s with out kids sea kayaking was way better than any park experience could have been. 10/10 would book again and would repeat the same trip all over. Thanks guys!!
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 ...
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.
More BK Adventure Florida Bioluminescence Tours
BK Adventure is the world’s largest bioluminescence tour company – featuring many locations and bioluminescent kayaking, rafting or clear kayaking – check out the following links for more options.
Florida Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour – Wildlife Refuge – Titusville
BEST BIOLUMINESCENCE - MAY 2026 Join our Bioluminescent Kayaking Tours just 1 hour from Orlando. Departs nightly throughout the year. See the amazing glowing waters of Florida's own "Bioluminescent Bay" on the Indian River Lagoon. New Moon Tours Sell Out, So Book Early - This is the #1 Bioluminescence Tour in Florida!
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!
Price $79for Approx. 1.5 hour
Bioluminescence Rafting Tour – Wildlife Refuge
Florida Bioluminescence Rafting! The only bioluminescent tour in Florida that is NOT in a kayak. Family friendly and for those who want to see the magic neon glowing waters from the comfort of a paddle raft. Close to Orlando and Cocoa Beach.. This is great adventure for kid or groups of 6-8, Raft guide in each boat.
Sunset Kayaking - See Manatees, Dolphins, Flamingoes and More!
On this AMAZING tour, we visit Manatee Central, where you see manatees in their natural habitat. As the sun goes down, the dolphins like to play. In summer you will see bioluminescent sea life glowing after dark. Makes a fun, romantic date! STAFF PICK - BEST TOUR!
Price $85for Approx. 3 hours
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