Merritt Island: Bioluminescent Clear Kayak & Paddleboard Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★

4.90

(116 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We slid our clear-bottom kayaks into the Indian River just after sunset, not really sure what to expect. The air was thick and warm—Florida in summer is like that—and I could hear frogs somewhere in the mangroves. Our guide, Jamie, handed out dry bags and made a joke about “no shoes in the clear boats unless you want to see your own footprints all night.” I laughed, but honestly, I was already nervous about tipping over. It felt like we were floating on glass.

The first few minutes were mostly quiet paddling and awkward splashes (I’m not exactly graceful with a paddle). Then Jamie pointed at the water and said, “Watch this.” He dipped his hand in and suddenly there was this faint blue shimmer swirling around his fingers. I didn’t think it would be that bright—tiny sparks everywhere as we moved. It’s called bioluminescence, he explained, from plankton called dinoflagellates that glow when disturbed. The main keyword for this tour is bioluminescent kayaking, but honestly it just felt kind of magical and weirdly peaceful. Sometimes a fish would dart by and leave a trail of light behind it—I still think about that view.

At one point we stopped paddling and let ourselves drift. There was this hush except for someone’s paddle knocking against their kayak (oops, that was me). Jamie told us how the season changes what you see—sometimes it’s glowing jellies instead of plankton, depending on when you come. He also said if you’re lucky you can spot dolphins at dusk but no luck for us tonight. Still, just seeing our hands light up underwater was enough. I tried saying “bioluminescence” in Spanish to impress my friend Li; she just rolled her eyes at my accent.

By the time we headed back to shore my legs were a little stiff and my hands smelled like river water (not bad though). If you’re thinking about a day trip for bioluminescent kayaking from Orlando or Cocoa Beach, it’s worth it—even if you’re not usually outdoorsy. Just remember: no shoes in the clear kayaks unless you want Jamie to make fun of your socks.