Book online using the calendar below.
What You Should Know
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PEAK SEASON: June – September with sightings as late as January
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LAUNCH SITE: Haulover Canal, Titusville
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TRIP LENGTH: 90 MINS
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COST PER PERSON: $60
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INCLUDED: KAYAK, PFD, PADDLES AND HAPPY GUIDES
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MAX WEIGHT: 300LBS FOR A SINGLE, AND 600LBS FOR A TANDEM
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AGE RANGE: 5+
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SUGGESTIONS TO BRING: AQUATIC FOOTWEAR, BUG SPRAY, TOWEL,
SUNSCREEN, CASH FOR TIPS (optional), AND A WATER BOTTLE -
LOCATION: Haulover Canal, Titusville
Florida bioluminescence is the #1 kayaking trip in the Orlando, Cocoa Beach area. We are located about an hour from Universal Studios and The Walt Disney world area theme parks. Our “tourist tours or “visitor tours”, as the locals would call them, are ideal for a romantic evening on the water or an expedition in the name of science with the little ones (as long as they are over 5yrs of age). Our tour guides will guide you through the Indian River lagoon and show you something truly magical as we make our way through mangrove trails and the shallow flats of the lagoon.
This tandem kayak tour will spend a leisurely 90 mins on the water during this tour. You may want to leave the camera at home for this excursion, as the bioluminescence is very hard to photograph unless you have professional equipment.
The Bioluminescence Phenomenon | How it works
Florida Bioluminescence Kayaking is a bucket list entry for Eco-adventurers of all ages and all kayaking experience levels. This is an outdoor adventure eco-tour that will be limited in number as to provide an intimate outdoor experience. There is just no way to get close to wildlife with 60 tourists, in a group, on the water, (yeah let that mental image sink in lol).
Our tours will launch on the Indian River Lagoon, which has been dubbed by the more senior outfits as “Florida’s Bioluminescence Bay”, in the belly of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge or Kiwanis Island on the Banana River in Merritt Island (Your confirmation follow up email will have a directional link provided for the launch site of your kayak tour).
There is no light pollution on the Refuge, so the bioluminescence, as well as the MILKY-WAY GALAXY above, are extremely bright on moonless nights. Milky-Way season coinsides with our Bioluminescence season! What that means is that from March to October we (those of us in the northern hemisphere) are able to see into the center of the galaxy. Annnd what that means is that we are able to see the bands of our Milky-Way galaxy (which is shaped like a spiral or like a hurricane) over our heads at night, in stunning detail!
The dinoflagellate bioluminescence, when disturbed, is bright enough to light up a cove of trees Neon Blue from a distance, so visibility on a Sit On Top Kayak is not an issue.
Our bioluminescence season opens officially on Memorial weekend! Technically the season lasts from June thru October, but we’ve seen sightings as late as January. The darker the evening the brighter the bioluminescence will be.
The water comes to life at night with a magical glow everywhere it is touched by your hand, paddle, kayak, a mullet jumping, fish swimming, or even the waves lapping gently. If scooped into your hand the water will sparkle as you hold it and as it runs down your arm. Many people compare this phenomenon with being in the movie Avatar. This phenomenon is made possible by naturally occurring dinoflagellate plankton that light up the water of the river. They can be observed in these waters May through October with sightings as late as January, but are brightest during the peak season of July through September.
No two adventures will be the same as nature is constantly on the move. No cheesy rehearsed scripts here just guides well versed in their environment.
Note: During the full moon phases bioluminescence does not appear as bright as when it is very dark