You can also opt to book a kayak tour. Its due to chemical reactions in their bodies. Of course, catching a glimpse of a friendly dolphin as it joyfully flips about around your kayak is always a distinct possibility. The bioluminescent kayaking tour is usually 1.5 to 2 hours. Because they live on dry land, we have all seen and are familiar with fireflies. Its still very possible to see some comb jellies malingering around, but they just arent as abundant as they are in January-March. Best Places To Go Bioluminescent Kayaking In Florida. Laguna Grande isn't so much a bioluminescent bay but a lagoon where you can rent a glass-bottomed kayak, paddle through an eerie canal, and enjoy the light show through the bottom of your boat. When paddling here (especially in the warm summer weather), you are likely to see algae, seaweed, marine life but the epitome of this adventure is how these marine animals and fish glow when swimming close to your kayak. Lets get started! This tour is great for couples as well as families and small and large groups alike. Reservations are required. It usually occurs mid-May to October. Bioluminescence is the light that is created by living creatures such as fireflies, comb jellies, and tiny plankton called "dinoflagellates"'. $75 Approx. Privacy Policy This is sometimes called the blue wave. That said, if you cant change the date and happen to be visiting during the full moon, you can still get to see it. Florida bioluminescence is the #1 kayaking trip in the Orlando, Cocoa Beach area. Thats where the magic comes in. Looking for a magical and unique experience? Whats really cool though is that each of these locations offers an experience that is specifically unique. Location: North Shore, Salt River. That doesnt mean that there arent any. As its name implies, Fishlips offers casual waterfront dining downstairs plus a covered patio, indoor sports bar, and sun deck with a tiki bar upstairs. Tampa is the third largest city in the state of Florida and is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. When an enormous manatee glides by, lit up like a Christmas tree; or a school of fish looks like bright blue bottle rockets going off under the water; or you go for a swim and turn into a fairytale creature, youll understand what I mean. For those with a sweet tooth, I recommend the Pineapple Creme Brulee. This incredibly beautiful stretch of river takes you through a delightful wilderness where all sorts of birds and wildlife can easily be seen, so dont forget to keep that camera handy. The chances of stepping on sharp twigs or rocks is great, so attempting this barefoot, or in shoes that will get destroyed by waterespecially if it happens to be salt water-would be bad. For something less touristy than Coconuts and more lively than Pompano Grill, Fishlips Waterfront Bar and Grill is for you. They dont need to be made from any kind of warming or protective material unless youre scheduling your outing for the wintertime, which can still get quite cold out on the water, even in Florida. Indian River Lagoon is on Floridas Atlantic Coast, sandwiched right in between Merritt Island and Vero Beach. . First, underwater species of bioluminescent creatures are often super small. Situated against the Atlantic near the state's midsection, the area includes destinations like Cocoa Beach, Titusville, and Port and Cape Canaveral. Wear the right clothes. By doing this, you get a local guide who knows exactly where to go and can explain everything about what youre seeing and whats causing it. Check availability. This is one of the best kayaking experiences you will have in your life. Clear Kayaking (see-through kayaks) is a spectacular way to experience Florida's bioluminescent waters. Feature image credit: A Day Away Kayak Tours, This article originally appeared on our sister publication, Orlando Date Night Guide. Launch: We plan to launch at 7:30 PM. The entire place is magical. The options that are available to a novice bioluminescence kayaker are abundant in Titusville. Not far from St. Petersburg. Florida Bioluminescent Kayaking Tours. Kayaking with us is a unique experience you won't get with other companies. The comb jellies are active from November through March. The second image is an extreme closeup of a red snapping shrimp. Be sure to check out the other entertainment options inside this place while you are here. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Bioluminescence is a stunning natural phenomenon. When the water is disturbed, the non-toxic dinoflagellates emit a blue light that ripples through the water, much like fire flies on land. These organisms, which are found in all kinds of environments, including fresh and salt water, produce light as a result of a chemical reaction that takes place within their cells. Florida is an attraction for all walks of where is best place for seniors to live. For a kitschy vibe, consider Guest Cottage at Cocoa Beachlocated in downtown Cocoa Beach across the street from Slater Way Beach Access. We are so happy to have you as part of our Florida Vacationers community! Instead, when you touch them, they emit a soft bluish glow that looks like they are being backlit by soft LEDs. A little further north, up Floridas Atlantic Coast is Cape Canaveral. Back down south a little on the East coast of the peninsula is Merritt Island and the National Wildlife Refuge. Bioluminescence Kayaking in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. You can mainly find the plankton and their magical lights on Florida's Space Coast. The guides here are the most knowledgeable and experienced of the bunch, and will teach you more about the area, the phenomenon, its science, and its history, than pretty much anyplace else. One of three bioluminescent bays found along Puerto Rico's coastline, the bay's glowing effect is made possible by micro-organisms called dinoflagellates, which emit a short burst of light . During the summer season, billions (with a b, that wasnt a typo) of dinoflagellates (plankton) are visible. As these dinoflagellates detect the gentle motion of your kayak through the water, the sea will start to light up around you. St Pete Pier Glow Nights. More than anything, and especially if you arent an experienced night swimmer or kayaker, its recommended that you seek out a good, reputable company and book a guided kayak tour to guide you to and through your best bioluminescence kayaking adventure. St Pete Beach Glass Bottom Mangroves, St Petersburg; Sugarloaf Key, Florida Keys; Shell Key Preserve, Tampa - GLOW TOUR . Kayaking Bioluminescent Bay St. Croix | BushTribe Eco Adventures Most Popular Bioluminescent Kayak Trip See the many different forms of bioluminescent life: comb jellies, dinoflagellates, and glow worms! Mosquito lagoon, together with Indian River Lagoon and Banana Lagoon make up Floridas Space Coast. Disclaimer Most dont even live close to North America. | Contact Us. Outfitted with only a glow stick or a small battery-operated flashlight attached to your life vest, the first stroke of your paddle that lights up the water will undoubtedly elicit a feeling of glee. April-May: If there is any time of the year that can be called the off-season, for bioluminescent kayaking, this is it. Bioluminescent Kayaking In Tampa. (River Lagoon, Cocoa Beach & Merritt Island) There are other locations in the US where you can see bioluminescence while paddling. Just as City Trails offers biking and pedestrian trails, St. Pete's Blueways offer miles of paddling trails that can be accessed by canoe, kayak, or standup paddleboard. Dip your hand into the river and when you take it out youll see dancing blue water spots slip away from your hand, as if youre holding magic. Come join us on St Pete's best guided kayak tour to Shell Key! You'll get the finest kayaking experience around the Shell Key preserve mangroves from a Clear transparent kayak or from one of our traditional Coastal kayaks. 727-580-2164. call now. Then, after dark, when things like waves, boats, swimmers, rocks, and you guessed it, kayaks, disturb the water around them, these little animals activate their luciferins as defense mechanism. This lagoon is part of the Space Coast that also comprises the Indian River Lagoon and the Banana Lagoon. While Bioluminescence in Florida is rare, it does exist. Beeloved City is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon .com As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Wrapping Up. Like everywhere else on these excursions, if you decide to take advantage of one of the many professionally guided tours, the guides know exactly where to go and when. Its recommended to book a guided kayak tour for this. Eco Kayaking Tour 28 St Pete Beach Island Kayak Adventures from islandkayaktours.com Night kayaking st pete beach. The boat launch is out of the way, in the middle of a preserve.and that's the best place for it. Bioluminescent kayaking is a popular activity in the area, and most companies will offer tours. The cost is $55 per person for traditional kayaks and $75 per person for clear kayaks. In terms of safety, its always better to opt for a tour when you are kayaking at night but its also the best way to make sure you dont miss out on anything! It is safe and secured by the federal and quite near the NASA space programme's launch site. These tiny aquatic animals spend all day soaking up that notorious Florida sunshine, effectively charging their chemical batteries (The Luciferins,) through photosynthesis yes, exactly the same way plants gain their nutrients from the sun. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. Bookmark this blog as your go to place for all things Florida related. Suppose you are afraid of darkness or have a history of anxiety, claustrophobia or something else, sorry to break your heart. It might not be as vivid as some of the other locations here (such as the Space Coast: Banana River, Mosquito Lagoon, and Indian River) but you can still see planktons and millions of dinoflagellates glow with every stroke your paddle makes in the water. You can experience the waters of the area while being guided by a professional. Dolphins love to splash and play in the glowing waters at night, making beautiful blue-colored waves as they swim beneath your kayak. However, kayaks provide a unique advantage because they leave you so close to the water and are highly maneuverable, even in groups. There are a total of five islands that make up the Fort De Soto Park chain. We are centrally located on 54th Ave N and 64th Way in St. Petersburg, and offer a huge selection of items; anything from kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards (SUP), and Gheenoes, to motors, trailers, paddles, PFDs, Engel coolers, rod holders, rudders, and various other outfitting needs for fishing and paddling alike. After a trip with Sea Thru Kayaks VI, you'll see St. Croix in a different light! Book Now Ocean Kayak One Ticket Per Person $ 50 Clear Kayak One Ticket Per Person $ 60 Quick Details Duration: 2 hours Occupancy: 2 people Kayaking may seem easy but it is actually a pretty good workout. New Years Eve Fireworks in Tampa Clearwater St Pete! Bioluminescent clear kayaking in Florida is one of the coolest things you can do near Daytona or Orlando. Clear Kayaking (see-through kayaks) is a spectacular way to experience Florida's bioluminescent waters. (8 Reviews ) Paddle through the glowing waters of the Salish Sea on this 3-hour Bioluminescent Adventure in Griffin Bay off San Juan Island! 10 Best Wineries in Florida (And Vineyards!) Each Blueway trail has parking, designated landings, and shorelines that are open to the public. North of St. Augustine in Ponte Vedra Beach, a destination synonymous with golf, youll find North Guana Outpost on Mickler Road. It is a very surreal feeling as you glide across the water in darkness with only the blue reaction in the water and the stars providing light. Titusville is the home to NASAs main headquarters, several wildlife refuges, and more than a few beautiful spots where you set off for some stellar bioluminescence kayaking. Thats because each species of bioluminescent life has their own seasonal cycle for when they are most active, and each geographic area of Florida has its own indigenous species that call it home. Item #: WAT-SEA-0043. Most of these animals can control when they light up by regulating their bodies depending on the circumstances and situations they find themselves in. If you're local you can go yourself if you're familiar with the area and have your own gear, but doing a tour is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Next, the areas where you will go to see the bioluminescent light show, also happen to be notorious mosquito havens. If you love everything that has to do with space and rockets, thats the perfect place to visit. 10 Best Places to Go Bioluminescence Kayaking in Florida, Best places to go swimming with Dolphins in Florida. Its pretty unique and places like Jervis Bay, in Australia or Florida, in the USA are particularly famous for it. Recommended by 96% of travellers. Hidden Gems in Florida 15 Awesome Secret Spots From a Local. Epic Divers, Grand Cayman: See 393 reviews, articles, and 221 photos of Epic Divers, ranked No.154 on Tripadvisor among 154 attractions in Grand Cayman. Grab your friends for this sunset/illuminated kayak adventure to the St Pete Pier explore the water At NIGHT! All in all, its a great place to visit if you want to discover what unspoilt Florida truly looks like. Merritt Island is a large barrier island and is home to thousands of unique species of birds, fish and mammals. Thats why you must not forget to bring plenty of insect repellantthat is, enough to cover every exposed part of your body at least 3 times. Some scientists also believe that the flashing lights might be meant to attract secondary predators to the scene. Secondly, the areas where you will go are all known for being home to many mosquitoes. Large groups often experience even more bio as there . Planktons are unusually many during June through October. Because of those factors, you want to make sure that you wear long sleeves and long pants. Remember, you are in their playground. That can vary, so keep your expectations in check while bioluminescent kayaking in Florida. There is a kayak launch at the marina. Page Not Found Please verify that you are entering the correct URL " My sister and I were nervous but Mac and Suzanne were awesome! Most of the bioluminescent organisms are fish, jellies and plankton. These are tiny marine life forms that are capable of producing light through a chemical reaction, often in response to movement or stress. Home Kayak & Paddleboard Bicycles Electric Bikes Blog Contact About Bike Shop Mad Beach Paddle Sports. Whether you will be using a company to tour this area or on your own, you are in for an amazing treat. During the summer, the light of these glowing creatures . Although bioluminescence is year-round in Grand Cayman, the best time to view it depends on the cycle of the moon. Florida is home to several species of bioluminescent sea creatures including dinoflagellates (plankton), comb jellyfish, snapping shrimps and fireflies. Planktons are in abundance here and they create a wonderful glow whenever you coast through them. There are five islands in Fort De Soto Park and each one has a waterfront and a beautiful beach from where you can launch your kayak to enjoy the bioluminescence adventure. Also, these hideously intimidating creatures, known as Anglerfish, could potentially spoil anybodys, relaxing evening swim. People call this tour "breath-taking!" Try magnificent all see-through clear kayaking with us. Bioluminescence is a chemical reaction used by marine planktoncalled dinoflagellatesas a defense mechanism to ward off predators. In the warm and dark lagoon waters on the Space Coast of Florida lies a natural phenomenon of glowing blue waters alive with activity called bioluminescence. The Animal Kingdom adventure of Avatar features bioluminescent plants, marine life, alien life forms, levitating mountains, and countless other features, all presented in a way that only Disney could manufacture. This is one of the spots where bioluminescence can be seen year-round like we showed you earlier, thats plankton in the summer months and those beautiful comb jellies in the winter. Kayak launching is done at the Haulover Canal in Merritt Wildlife Refuge. The light doesnt reflect on the water so you get to see the beautiful blue light much better. These lights illuminate the water all around you, creating an ideal "window into the sea." Don't miss out. Titusville is the home to NASA (an attraction by itself), wildlife refuges, and beautiful spots where your family can engage in bioluminescence kayaking. Bioluminescence is light produced and emitted by living things. It boasts direct access to the Guana River and is only a short stroll to the beach at Micklers Landing, about two miles from the Intracoastal Waterway. Firstly, you need to remember that it will be at night which means it will be a bit chillier than during the day. In the midst of nature with no light pollution, each tour is a little different. Kayak tours. Ages 18+. What is bioluminescence kayaking? You will be with a local guide who knows exactly where to go. Even dressing defensively isnt going to protect every part of your body from those pesky flying critters that call us dinner. Extremely amazing sightseeing, Fyn trivia and an experience you Will never forget. SPECIAL - BOOK ONLINE WITH CODE 'CHEWY10' TO SAVE 10% . There are definitely more options for places to go bioluminescent kayaking in Florida during the summer months of July and August. You can rent a kayak on the lagoon if you decide not to bring yours for the trip. If you're not directly located near the East Coast near Central Florida, you will be in for a drive. Be sure to apply it generously before even getting out of the car. Cocoa Beach is located just south of Merritt Island, also on Floridas Atlantic Coast. At long last, what youve been waiting for, the list of the best places in Florida to go bioluminescent kayaking! You will be heading to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge which is an area of protected wetlands. We flew into San Juan the day before sailing and we took a night kayaking tour to one of the bioluminescent bays. It sits almost due West of Kissimmee and is well known for its exceptional beaches and all kinds of sand and water sports. If youre looking for a Florida experience that is both enchanting, exciting, and something that relatively few people ever actually do, you should consider bioluminescent kayaking. 1.5 hours Bioluminescence Rafting Tour - Cocoa Beach Some of the most famous bioluminescent kayaking in Florida is done at Merritt Island NWR. If you're an experienced kayaker with good navigational skills, check out the winding maze called 17 Runs on the Hillsborough River. Because this secluded lagoon is isolated, the bioluminescence here is extraordinary because there are not a lot of other factors disturbing the water. Manatee and alligator sightings are common, especially during the day. Immerse yourself in nature and experience the beauty of Tampa Bay on a guided kayak tour. Obviously, you need as little light as possible to see the bioluminescence so your adventure will have to be at night. There are a multitude of ways to experience these areas, so youre sure to find the tour thats just right for youwhether youre looking for the most spectacular lights, an easy paddle, or something once-in-a-lifetime, like a swim in the bioluminescence. Besides great hiking, there is also the Great Florida Birding Trail to experience while in town. A second bioluminescent event occurs in Florida during the colder months, from November through May, when Comb Jellies flaunt their vivid colors. As you may have gathered by now, this area is where you will find the most bioluminescence in Florida and therefore, you will have a lot of options. The Naples Kayak Company offers the only bioluminescent paddling tour in southwest Florida, and its a doozy. Explore mangrove islands, watch for dolphins, or catch a beautiful sunset in the Shell Key Preserve. Once youre there, the locals (and the tour guides if you opted to take advantage of a guided tour) will help you navigate to the best specific spots to experience the bioluminescence. A Day Away Kayak Tours, 321-268-2655 ( website) BK Adventure, 407-519-8711 ( website) Get Up and Go Kayaking, 407-212-7306 ( website) Category: Articles, Conservation, Paddling Tag: Cocoa, Featured Articles, Florida's Space Coast, Indian River Lagoon, Merritt Island NWR, Mosquito Lagoon, Titusville. Bioluminescent kayaking is a fantastic experience, and it's one that you can only find in a few places around the world. Classified as the production and emission of light by living organisms, bioluminescence illuminates the environment in which it occurs. For a truly unique night-paddling experience, you won't . Bioluminescence in Florida happens pretty much all year round, just with different species. Southern favorites like grilled scrapple, shrimp and grits and corned beef hash will take you back to your childhood if you grew up in the south. In Florida, the species that live and that we encounter when we go bioluminescent kayaking are: dinoflagellates (plankton), snapping shrimp, red squid, fireflies, and comb jellies. Almost equidistant between Titusville to the north and Melbourne to the south, Merritt Island is conveniently located between many other bioluminescent hot spots. We take you to the glowing Indian River lagoon in the warm summer months when the dinoflagellate bioluminescence shines bright with each stroke of your paddle. Discovered on the south western tip of Puerto Rico, La Parguera is just a two-hour drive from San Juan. The Best Australia Quiz: 163 Australian Questions and Answers for your trivia night. Right here in our back yard. Whether you want an early tour and a later dinner or a late tour and an earlier dinner, plan to enjoy a special meal with your date on the coast. You will find planktons, and at night when they are disturbed by other marine life (dolphins, manatees, or alligators) they glow beautifully. Kind of like when you first met your new love. Bioluminescent kayaking is a popular, year-round activity on Costa Rica's west coast. Your kayak tour guide will provide everything you need; the kayak, life vest and glow stick/flashlight. VISIT FLORIDA is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. The height of the bioluminescence kayaking season is during the summer when there's a new moon. It is absolutely one of the best places in the state to experience bioluminescence. There are local guides to direct you to where you can see the glowing fish and believe us, they are in abundance!