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Merritt Island Tours
Florida Bioluminescence Clear Kayak Tour | Cocoa Beach (Kiwanis Island)
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Florida Bioluminescence Clear Kayak Tour | Cocoa Beach (Kiwanis Island)

By Florida Adventurer Inc
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Ages 5-101, max of 20 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • P.F.D., paddle, whistle, flashlight, glow stick.


Start:
  • Florida Adventurer: Bioluminescent Kayaking Cocoa Beach, 951 Kiwanis Island Park Rd, Merritt Island, FL 32952, USA
    Once you arrive at the end of the gravel road, look for a white van and or a big black box truck that says “Florida-Adventurer” on the side. Please arrive 30 mins prior to your tour time for check-in. If you are late for orientation, you cannot go on the tour. There are no refunds for this tour.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 86301P8

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • Most travellers can participate
    • We do offer another bioluminescent activity with kayaks that have a higher weight tolerance. Please see our list of activities.
    • This activity has a weight limit of 215lbs per passenger. A total weight limit of 430lbs, MAX.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 86301P8

    From
    ₹7,095.08
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Florida Adventurer Inc
      900
      Titusville, United States
      Joined in January 2018
    • Navigator32820301916
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Absolutely loved the experience
      We really had a wonderful experience and the team was really helpful throughout. One of our senior family member was not able to manage kayaking and the team helped tieing our kayak with their and got them through the entire tour. We didn't know what to expect so our teenagers were not prepared enough and had difficulties due to that. Our lessons learned is wear water resistant full hand top and pant and a jacket with hoodie. Mosquito repellent is must. Get a towel for each member, change of clothes. Since it's a night time tour, be prepared to drive in the one way lane road with no lights on for about 5 miles and no paved road for about 1.5 miles. It was little intimidating but we all got back home safe. Again kudos to the team for going above and beyond in taking care of everyone and bringing everyone back safe.
      Written 29 December 2024
    • moshem119
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Magical Nighttime Kayak Adventure
      Our family had an incredible nighttime kayak experience! The serene atmosphere and beautiful night sky made it unforgettable. Paddling was magical, and the calm waters were perfect for all ages. The guides were knowledgeable and
      Written 24 December 2024
    • angiea201
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Never seen anything like it - must do!
      Had an amazing time on the bioluminescence kayak trip! Have never seen anything like it - so cool! Terrence was an amazing guide, knowledgeable and kept us safe on our trip. Definitely book this - you won’t regret it!
      Written 21 December 2024
    • W1173LIaw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Don’t hesitate to book!!
      So glad we chose to do this! although we did this tour during december which is the off-peak for the bioluminescence, the trip was still amazing. The stars were super and our guide Brian let us hold the glowing comb jellies in our hands. Although it was a 1.5h trip, Brian extended it to about 2h because we spotted some dolphins at the end. Knowledgable guide and a highly recommended experience, even in the winter. Even if it’s forecasted for rain, the trip should still continue unless there is lightning.
      Written 19 December 2024
    • J4857XTelianas
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      An absolute must!! Favorite activity of our vacation
      This was the most unbelievable experience ever. Brian’s knowledge and passion is contagious and made the experience unforgettable. He helped us catch bioluminescent comb jellies and taught us how to hold them in our hands. He also brought a jar so we could examine them up close. If you’re looking to learn about animals while having the most fun ever, this is a must. We’ll definitely be back soon. Thank you so much Brian!
      Written 16 December 2024
    • Travel181864
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Experience!
      The evening was calm, and the sky was gorgeous and full of stars. It was just perfect for a paddle with Brian, who was an information and professional tour guide. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about the Indian River eco system and wildlife, while skimming along on the water.
      Written 6 December 2024
    • jessicasT8161FE
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful kayak trip!
      Javier was an excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable, friendly, and a very enthusiastic guide. I would recommend this experience for a family trip. You get to see dolphins, manatees, and maybe sting rays! We also got to see some flamingos.
      Written 30 November 2024
    • Erahelms
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience!
      This was a last minute addition to our trip and it exceeded our expectations. The price was low compared to others in the area but this wasn't reflected in the quality of the experience. Brian was knowledgeable and easy to spend an afternoon with. He knew some great spots to see wildlife (we saw manatees, dolphins, many birds and an alligator). Our youngest doesn't have much experience with kayaks and he did fine in a tandem kayak. Even without much kayak experience, this could be an easy trip for most to do. We definitely recommend this to others!
      Written 30 November 2024
    • jessicasT8161FE
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The best bioluminescent kayak trip!
      Terrence was an excellent guide! He was very knowledgeable about the wild life and very thoughtful making sure we got to see the bioluminescence in the water, comb jellies, manatees and alligators! I love the fact that they are giving a portion back to the Merritt sanctuary!
      Written 29 November 2024
    • N3831GAjenniferc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great guide and amazing experience
      We had so much fun on our manatee and dolphin tour with Brian as our guide. He was so knowledgeable and his passion for nature and conservation really shined through. We saw wildlife at every turn and got to spend a peaceful beautiful day up close enjoying the manatees, dolphins, and various other animals in their natural habitat. We would highly recommend this tour!
      Written 17 November 2024
    • Sherpa09568789794
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Unique Experience
      Our guide, Brian, was amazing. He is personable, knowledgeable, and passionate. He was able to give us a tour of our own, getting close (respectfully) to both manatee and dolphins in their habitat. This is a worthwhile experience for family and friends from novice to experienced kayakers. Highly recommend if you are in the area of Brevard county and/or Orlando.
      Written 16 November 2024
    • christinej418
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome tour!
      Javier was an awesome guide and I would highly recommend him as a guide! We saw a lot of natural wild life up close and had a great time!
      Written 15 November 2024
    • 921gwynethd
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best kayak tour you will go on
      We have been on hundreds of kayaking tours around the world, yet by far this was the best. Our guide was knowledgeable and kind. He had the best spots ready to show us. I have never seen so many manatees close up, let alone dolphins.
      Written 15 November 2024
    • jlukasko2
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      excellent
      A great experience..The tour guide was prepared and very knowledgeable..We saw manatees, jumping fish and cone fish..The under water bioluminescence was awesome
      Written 8 November 2024
    • catlikemeows
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Informative, Great Communication, Super Fun!
      Our guides Terrance and Seth (hopefully my spelling is correct!) were amazing. Informative and kind, Terrance was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about the local area! I saw some previous reviews about people running late/the group leaving without them but from my experience, these are false. 1.) They went out of their way to e-mail and call us to give directions when one of the bridges was closed. 2.) Two groups notified them that they were running late and they went out of their way to wait for them to come, after making sure that the rest of us were okay with it. They had great communication regarding the booking and they also caught some comb jellies for us to hold! Super fun, and would love to try to day time tours in the future as well. Terrance also went out of his way to take pictures for us, which was very kind. HIGHLY recommend!!
      Written 3 November 2024
    See all 900 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.0
    4.0 of 5 bubbles28 reviews
    Excellent
    16
    Very good
    3
    Average
    1
    Poor
    3
    Terrible
    5

    Excursion726427
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022 • Family
    Erin was THE GREATEST!!
    We’ve learned so much with her about conservation of the ecosystem and all the wildlife.
    We need more persons like Erin, she’s so knowledgeable about the area and the biodiversity of cocoa beach.
    We need more people like Erin to save our planet!
    Thanks so much!
    Written 22 February 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Bee K
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022 • Couples
    My husband and I took this tour with Freedom and Conner and they were great. They were funny and made sure we were safe and knew what we were doing. It was relaxing and magical. I literally had dreams that night of the comb jellies. Freedom spent time finding them for us while Conner showed us around a bit. The only suggestion I have for the company is either to provide a really good bug spray or recommend which one to use on the "things to bring" section. As we used bug spray because it was recommended but apparently we used the wrong one lol. We don't have the same problems in AZ! Haha. Thank you guys so much.
    Written 28 May 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    kw0412
    Satellite Beach, FL35 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    The bioluminescence was amazing and we went on an evening where there was no moon, so they were super bright and awesome....however......we were not told they were all tandem boats until we arrived which was not what we had signed up for. They are more canoes than kayaks. The guides (Freedom and another girl) were not very friendly and bordered on rude a few times. I understand you want everyone to be safe and cautious but it can be done without being impolite and condescending. I live in the area and have taken family and guests on other tours with other companies and when compared I am sorry to say this tour fell short. After the tour I approached the two female guides with a tip (knowing they rely on tips) and thanked them for their time. Not one of them said thank you or even uttered a work for that matter. They shoved the cash in their pockets and turned to the new guests that had arrived.

    Oh and on a side note, your confirmation email for the tours is full of typos.
    Written 25 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hey thx for your review.. Since you saw all the typos, you should've seen that all these tours are done in tandem, so there should have been no suprise. Since we have tip jars on the tables, our guides know not to put cash in thier pockets out of respect for the other guides. We've had plenty of people on the water that night and I must say and not a single person has corroborated your review. We could say we've had better guests too, no? That's not very kind however. You see we've been doing these tours long enough to know when someone arrives talking about single kayaks and how they've been misled, it's lack of due diligence on thier part, because WE DO NOT EVEN OFFER SINGLE KAYAKS. Then they figure a rude review will coherse us into to begging them to take down the review in exchange for a full refund.. If you'd read the website you would have seen the clear kayaks offered and noticed they are not a typical kayak. Again, due diligence would have has you to mail or call to confirm, no? No such thing is happening here. Freedom and the other girl (Lili) are the sweetest most soft spoken guides we have. For you to come out the gate saying that they, of all people, were rude to you, is a flat-out fabrication. I don't need to have been there, I know these guides very well, and I will not stand by and have you slander them by name. Suggestion, next time read the website so you don't arrive to something YOU weren't expecting and take it out on our guides 😊 My name is Josh, I am the Operations manager. You are welcome to leave another review w/my name on it. Thank you for paddling out w/us
    Written 26 July 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Ashley C
    5 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022 • Friends
    The information on the website is EXTREMELY misleading. A group of us went last night and unfortunately, had an unpleasant surprise that this is out of season with bioluminescence at a "1". Aka the guide will scoop up a couple jellys for you to look at in a jar. At first I thought I missed some sort of fine print but the other two groups with us said the same thing...they felt misled. The steep $75 (not including tip) is not a fair price tag for this experience. You're night kayaking, and that's it. Please be more up front on your website. Also, consider changing your price in the off season. Erin was super nice and passionate about the environment. Not her fault the company sets them up for failure.
    Written 20 February 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Ashley, as explained on the phone 5 mins ago, the seasons are well identified on the website. These "jellies" as you put it, are in fact bioluminescent comb jellyfish. This is our cooler weather bioluminescence tour for the cooler months in Florida. We will see the comb jelly-fish light up neon teal as we disturb them. Then we will catch them and pass them around for the guests and the little ones to view and see the optical illusion that they present for us as we explain why they're called comb jelly-fish. We even provide a video or 2 of this on the page you booked on. If this isn't your cup of tea we respect that, but please do not insinuate that we are intentionally misleading our patrons. Please do your due diligence and read the page of the activity you're booking, Instead of blindly assuming all bioluminescence is the same. As for price, we feel that the price is competitive with the other tour companies that you had the option to book this type tour with. As the bioluminescent tours can only been seen in East coast of Florida, these tours are very popular and therefore command a higher price range that that of a dolphin or manatee tour. We suggest reading all the material we provide for any tour and also consider watching the videos of the tour that you may possibly reserve as these are provided for all toir activities. This will prevent any surprises when you arrive. Also our "guides" are not set up for failure. Aerin is a master naturalist and has earned that distinction thru educational courses . We pay for the these classes so the guests get an actual education aside from just visual stimulation. This also comes in handy as we cannot predict nature, and even in the middle of peak season may have a dark night and can not provide the "glow". It is our job to provide an experience. In fact just look at review right beneath this one as a case in point of why we train our guides as we do. As you will also find on our website we do not guarantee nature, no one can. We hope this reply has put some of your concerns to rest. Thanks for paddling out with us!
    Written 21 February 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Pamela D
    Melbourne Beach, FL1 contribution
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022 • Couples
    Was disappointed to go on a bioluminescence tour and unable to see any of it because it’s the end of season..They should either tell you this in advance or change promotion of it. I wish we had been aware of the optimal time of year to see it as well instead of being told it’s the end if season for it during the tour. We were not interested in a basic kayak tour in the river in complete darkness with nothing to see, not even wildlife. Definitely not worth $75pp. A total waste of time for us and a few other disappointed customers there as well.
    Written 27 October 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Good day, Thank you for your review😊 You'll be happy to know there are whole pages dedicay d to the bioluminescence and when is the best time to see each type we offer. This time of yr is the end of the dinoflagellate season and it says so on the website. We also have bioluminescent Comb-jellyfish season that were currently in, as mentioned in the website . We've been seeing Comb-jellyfish for months now. It's always a shame when people are on vacation and pressed for time, the smallest things go unoticed. We also have phone that can be called 18hrs a day to offer any assistance we can, we mention that on the website as well. At this point, if you're booking a bioluminescent tour to see dinoflagellate plankton, you've not done any research at all, and just booked the tour at your own discretion. We appreciate you, we would suggest putting as much time into gathering information for your recreational activities as you do belittling companies for your own oversights. Thx for paddling with us, hope to see you again soon😊
    Written 2 November 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    kathleen stout
    Cumming, GA1 contribution
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    The guides did a great job. However he started by telling us that this is nature and he could not promise we would see anything and we didn’t. He explained the season is just starting and August is the peak. At that time you can pull over off the bridge in see it. This should be stated in the advertisement, not after I paid to kayak in the dark and hear about the 3 types of mangrove trees and manatees that I can’t see. We would have paid for a day time tour instead. Disappointed
    Written 9 April 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, We clearly state the seasons, the peaks season of our bioluminescence. You're at the end of 1 season and the beginning of a another. Neither will be in peak season, however, if you book during a moon phase that is strong enough to over power the bioluminescence, which we talk about on the website, you wouldn't see anything then either. All of this information is stated on our website. We cannot guarantee nature, but we do guarantee a great time. You should try giving the office a call. We look forward to speaking with you soon 😊
    Written 9 April 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Allison V
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023 • Couples
    I’ve lived in Florida most of my life and this is one of my favorite things I’ve done! I took my boyfriend out for his birthday and we loved this tour. Our tour guides were Zac and Brennan and they were excellent, very knowledgeable about the lagoon and the wildlife and took us to the best spots to see the bioluminescent areas. We were in a fairly small group so he let us take a lot of extra time in dark spots to see the glowing dinoflagellate the best. We booked this based on the date so will absolutely come back based off the moon next time as some spots were hard to see from the moons ambient lighting. 10/10 recommend if you are in the Cocoa area. Thanks Zac!
    Written 28 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    cwolfe
    Emlenton, PA1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Groupon had incorrect information: wrong address of launch listed, incorrect time of launch, and more. Upon arrival the female worker said that “this happens a lot” and contacted her boss who said that he could get us on a later launch for an up charge. I then spoke to the owner personally and he said that it is not his fault that the information was incorrect on Groupon, that a third party vendor he sells to listed it. I asked if he was still getting paid by them and he stated yes. I said then it is your issue since it is your company and the information is incorrect. I asked for a refund and he would not issue it. He took absolutely ZERO responsibility for the incorrect ad, time, location, and information. I took screenshots and opened a claim with Groupon and a claim with my credit card company. Horrible way to do business. We were in the area visiting family who are local to the area, who will also pass along our experience thankfully. Buyers beware.
    Written 18 August 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello again Ms Wolfe, As we stated to you that evening, when you were late to your tour, we can move you to a different tour, as we don't have any other tours booked for the option you were late to. Unfortunately the only opening we had were the clear kayaks, which is an up charge. We supply Viator/TripAdvisor our information as an affiliate. Who they dispense that information to is out of our control. Clearly we have the correct emails going out, as we have over 1k guests a week from TripAdvisor alone. Also worth mentioning, you made it to the launch site, people who didn't get the right directions, don't make it to the launch site to still catch the guide on shore before 9pm... When guests arrive late, it is typically not an issue with directions as much as it is poor planning. We do not refund for that, under any circumstance. We will not take responsibility for your lack of planning your trip in a timely manner, as opposed to reading the email, presumably, on your way to the launch site. You have the option to dispute the charge, and we will fight that dispute. Thanks for paddling with us😊
    Written 19 August 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Michael B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2022 • Couples
    Of all the tour guides in the area, this one was perfect. Our guide Faith was fantastic. A relaxing “stroll” around the mangroves with a spectacular display of bioluminescence. You always wonder if these types of activities will be as good as you think. Sometimes they exceed your expectations. This was the exception. It will maintain as an enjoyable recollection of past events.
    Written 4 September 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Chris W
    1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023 • Family
    Had a scheduled tour near Cocoa Beach and it got canceled due to bad weather. No complaints about that EXCEPT they will not issue a refund, only a "non expiring voucher"....because I go there all the time...thanks. what a waste of money....
    Written 22 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Bless your heart 🤗 It is an industry standard cancelation policy. If Disney gets rained out they do not refund the park, they give their guests vouchers to return at any date of their choosing, we are no different , EXCEPT, we allow you to gift them to the same family members you were here to visit if you decide to never return. So really, it's only a "waste" if you allow it to be. You still have a raincheck w/us good until you use it😊
    Written 28 June 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Showing results 1-10 of 28
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Florida Bioluminescence Clear Kayak Tour | Cocoa Beach (Kiwanis Island) provided by Florida Adventurer Inc

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