Congress Avenue Bat Bridge Kayak Tour in Austin

Overview

Experience the world’s largest urban bat colony emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge! This colony made up of 1.5 million Mexican free tailed bats is an amazing sight to see and hear. From the meeting point, join your professional guide where you will paddle and observe one of nature’s wonders and learn about how these nocturnal creatures help create a better ecosystem for everyone. The tour lasts 2 hours and food and drinks are not included.

City: Austin

Mon 21 Jul

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $50.00

Make a reservation

Mon 21 Jul

Starting at $50.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Paddle lesson and safety instructions

Professional guide

Life jacket

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Recommend you wear swimsuit, windbreaker jacket, or lightly layered synthetic clothing
Bring sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, waterproof camera, bottle water, bug repellent, towel, and extra change of clothes

What To Expect

Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching

You will see the world's largest urban bat colony that peaks at around 2 million bats during the peak of the season. The bats take off around sunset and always head towards the eastern part of downtown.

Austin

You will see a number of buildings on the Austin Skyline including the Hotel Van Zandt, The Austonian Tower, and a multitude of residential and commercial buildings.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (199)

Departure623933

Mar 2023

Great fun with a great team! Conner went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time! He was very knowledgeable and had some great advice about kayaking and Austin

Response from Host

Apr 2023

Thanks so much for joining us out on the water! We hope you will come visit us again in the future!

Rebecca_S

Mar 2023

Great fun kayaking to the bridge to see the bats! Conner was full of information and very entertaining! He was also very helpful. Justice and McKenna were also quick to understand our needs! Thanks!!!

Response from Host

Apr 2023

Thanks so much for coming out on the water with us! We hope you'll come join us again in the future!

debbierI6018VF

Oct 2022

DON’T BELIEVE THEM THERE ARE NO BATS!!! After the bats have migrated in September, they should call it an evening kayak tour of Ladybird Lake. It would be nice to have real guides that have interesting information that is presented in a professional way. Not two guys anxiously spewing random info that NO ONE cares about. We already know the two or three streets that tourists should visit—seriously—we should go to Congress Street! And on the way back please don’t say I hope you didn’t come just to see the bats. Our friend called to see if they were booking a tour for tomorrow and asked if there were bats last night (the night we went) and the person booking the tour said yes, normally there are 1.5 million, but now we’re down to a few hundred thousand. We saw two! They are liars and cheats. Don’t book your tour after September! Shame on them!

Response from Host

Oct 2022

So I'm not sure where you got this information because if you search Austin bat rescue which monitors the bats year round you can see they're in the bridge year round. It includes a full schedule of detailed flight patterns through 2021 and 2022. Here is the link if you'd like to read it: https://austinbatrefuge.org/congress-ave-bridge/ Additionally, if you search Mexican Free Tailed Bat Migration Patterns you'll see the first response is Texas Parks and Wildlife. They state that the bats species is typically there through the end of October. Again if you'd like to read about the correct information here it is: https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/keep-texas-wild/hanging-around-with-bats/a-year-in-the-life-of-a-mexican-free-tailed-bat Additionally, you did just miss the bats unfortunately! On the night of the 30th the bats took off at 7:10 pm roughly and y'all did not arrive on the 29th to the bridge until 7:40 pm. We saw the bats around that time on the 28th, but we got a freakishly early take off time on your tour date. Additionally, if you look at how long we offer the bat tour it does stop in November well before the bats officially typically migrate. Lastly, you spoke to a receptionist who did not go out on the tour, and does not speak to the tour guides on their previous experience from day to day typically. When you called you should also mention you were pretending to be a new booking and the receptionist clarified that the tour wouldn't be like the videos you had said you watched online. If you wanted to you could of also gone out on another tour to see them instead of harassing a small business online and threatening them in private messages and phone calls.