Sunset Bioluminescence Tour

Overview

Sunset is a magical time on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. There is movement everywhere. Dolphins are rounding up their dinner, manatees are moving into the shallows to find a comfortable spot to spend the night. As the light fades and the sky ignites with dynamics color, “Mullethead Island,” a federally protected rookery, buzzes with activity as many of the refuge’s 358 unique bird species flock above you to their protected nests for the night. Typical species to expect include Ibis, herons, egrets, pelicans, cormorants, and roseate spoonbills, all set to the backdrop of rocket launch pads and iconic NASA landscape. Launch into your escape.

City: Cocoa Beach

Mon 23 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $75.00

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Dec

Starting at $75.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Kayak

Professional guide

PFD

Paddle

2 hour kayak tour

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What to bring:
Clothes you don’t mind getting a little wet. Towel (left in car)
Water Shoes – sandals or Crocs that can be worn in the water
Bring an extra change of clothes just in case
Camera & Dry bag (optional) These are fairly useless to capture bioluminescence, but great for capturing people.
Bottled water, Snacks
Any special personal paddling gear if you like
You may bring a flashlight, though we will provide a safety light.

What To Expect

A Day Away Kayak Tours

Kayak to an island with a very diverse bird population before they settle in for the night, right next to a beautiful sunset on the horizon. Then, paddle to a nearby location to see various types of bioluminescence - one of only a few places in the world to see it.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (66)

Bryce C

Aug 2019

This tour was so much better than I could have ever imagined! We had an amazing tour guide, Bob, who was very knowledgeable and funny the whole time. With him leading our tour we were able to see dolphins, alligators, and even pet some manatees! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who would love to see some native wildlife as the kayak out to the bird island allows you to see some amazing birds and the sanctuary that they live in. The scenery was amazing but once again I have to reiterate that this tour wouldn’t have been nearly as amazing without our wonderful guide Bob.

ellisisland21

Aug 2019

We were a bit nervous about heading out onto the open water, but our tour guide Bob was excellent. He made us comfortable and showed us one of the greatest times we’ve ever had. We got to pet manatees, see dolphins, and visit Bird Island. I would recommend this experience to anyone. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience!

PMWJFW

Apr 2018

We went on the sunset tour, which started with getting close up and personal with manatees, then we kayaked out to Mullet Island to see the birds swoop in to roost, watch the sunset, then do some star gazing. The whole thing was utterly brilliant. Bob was our guide, and he was informative and let us set the pace. We ended up having a private tour for just the two of us. When I got home I discovered an email asking me to contact the company as they had too few people to run the tour. It says something about the company that Bob did not even mention this and just took us out. One manatee just wanted to play, repeatedly nudging the kayaks, rolling over like a dog wanting a belly rub, and putting his flippers on the boat. You couldn’t get any closer or more interactive. Mullet Island is the roost site for thousands of spoonbills, cormorants, pelicans and herons, and it was great watching them glide in. Overall this was a truly fabulous wildlife experience. I am sure that we will do the nighttime bioluminescent tour at the right time of year.