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

Thu 24 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $75.00

Make a reservation

Thu 24 Oct

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)

Gracie C

Aug 2021

We had a great time with our tour guide Logan. He was really good about keeping the group together, and he did well answering the questions of the young boy in our group. He gave a lot of insight of the area, and ensure we saw all the wildlife we could see. It was a beautiful night and an incredible experience. Our group was various in age, and the pacing was suitable to all. Everyone had a good time, regardless of whether they were Florida natives or visitors.

RafalGacek

Aug 2021

The tour had a bad start. The tour was delayed by our tour guide not showing up. The 7PM tour, left at 7:45PM. Did this impact actual tour or place we had to go to?? not sure We ended up joining another group already on tour. Guess what, now the group was twice as big, and it was hard to stay close to the tour guide to hear everything she was saying. At this point, the tour became more of a race to stay close to the guide, beating out other kayaks. We asked for single kayaks for 3 of our kids, but we only received one since we had odd number in the family. No bonus points here. We absorbed both problems and enjoyed the tour. We listened to to the tour guide, but our best guide was Philip. Philip was one of the 2 workers that was covering the back of the group to make sure everyone is safe and in the group. We stayed last in the group in the canal and Philip gave us advice on how to get the best out of bioluminescence, information about the wildlife, fish, things to see during different seasons and space launches. He was very good at interacting with the tourists. We will request him as a private tour guide for our future trips. Philip saved the trip.

Finius_Lyn

Aug 2021

Sunny (sp?) was our tour guide and she was amazing! She was super optimistic, educational, and encouraging around everyone's involvement with ecotourism, making sure that we were all aware of the positive impact and low carbon footprint of our involvement with the tour. She really connected with all of the people on the tour, and purposefully kept the group small (only 8 were allowed). As a note, some of the other groups we saw had dozens of people and seemed to be much more "corporate" and sterile. This tour felt like a very personal guided tour led by someone who's heart and passion was aligned with what they were doing with and for the group and the environment. We went to three different areas and saw manatees, dolphins, fish, a variety of birds, alligators, and GLOWING WATER! How amazing! Well, glowing plankton specifically, but the effect is the same. It was magical and educational and thoroughly enjoyable. If you want to go on a kayak your, definitely check with this place and ask for sunny specifically.