Overview
2 hours
Mobile ticket
In the warm and dark lagoon waters lies a natural phenomenon of glowing blue waters alive with activity. The swirling of your hand, every paddle stroke, and the rolling wake off of your kayak all sparkle throughout the darkness. Not only do fish leave trails, dolphins look like torpedoes, and manatees a slow and graceful submarine. Many guests compare the experience to Pandora of “Avatar.” Some even recall the bioluminescence scene in “Life of Pi” as the gentle plankton leave a trickling glow when you hold it in your hands and let it trickle down your arm. Though some may jokingly blame this on NASA runoff, it is actually the biological response of microscopic algae called a dinoflagellate. The perfectly natural and harmless concentration of organisms produces light before your very eyes, often existing in millions per liter of water. Your tour will include a ton of information about these rare and exotic creatures with the most experienced guides in the area
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
Bioluminescent Kayak Tours - Summer Bioluminescence: Dinoflagellate (cloudy bluegreen glow) - peak season May to early November - Winter Bioluminescence: Comb Jelly (Individual glowing jellies) - peak season late November to April - During the warm summer months the waters of Florida's Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon come alive with single-celled microorganisms called dinoflagellates. - In the cooler Florida months, bioluminescent Comb Jellies congregate in the protected waters of the Indian River Lagoon. Living in the most bio-diverse estuary in North America, Comb Jellies are clear, glob-like creatures that, despite their name, do not sting! So as you paddle the calm waters laced with mangroves and palm trees, you can catch and hold these gentle glowing creatures. They're right at your fingertips while having a safe, awe-inspiring kayak adventure with those who share your enthusiasm for new and unique experiences.
Options
Tour
Bioluminescent Kayak Tour
What‘s Included
Kayak
Professional guide
PFD
Paddle
2 hour kayak tour
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
881 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
10/10 must do!
supriyabera,Jun 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My initial booking was for a sunset and bioluminescence tour form Kiwanis Island. I was offered a change of location to Haulover Canal. Our guide, Ashton, was great, we got to see some birds and dolphins before the winds started picking up and the tour was cancelled. After another cancelled rebooking, we were finally able to rebook for just a bioluminescence tour a week later, and it was definitely worth the wait. Our group was the only group scheduled, so we basically had a private tour. Our guide, Anthony, did a fantastic job. We spent 2hrs out on the water, and it was so calm and clear, we got to see fish, a family of dolphins, and tons of comb jellies, but of course the best part was how incredibly bright the bioluminescence was! For ~$80 per person, it was definitely worth it. Just keep an eye on the weather when booking!
DO ITTT!!
morganhQ7542KC,Jun 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide was Anthony (Ant) he was amazing! He was super helpful getting in & out of the kayaks, explained instructions clearly, and had a great personality! He was full of great wildlife info and told A+ dad jokes. The tour was a good length, beautiful, & SOOOO WORTH IT!!
Bioluminescence tour was Lit!
waxgirl2000,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour was nothing short of amazing! Despite being worried about finding the kayak launch site- it was quite easy via Google Maps. Ashton was our guide and he made us feel welcomed, safe and secure. His thorough knowledge of the area and habitat added great value to the whole experience. He told us what to expect and do if each situation arose which took out any trepidation I had, as I was going with my 16 yr old daughter. He knew all the best spots to go, to see the most amazing bioluminescence as well as showed us moon jelly! He took our picture at sunset which was great as I kept my phone in the car. I would highly recommend A Day Away tours. Ashton was the best and guided us to a very memorable experience.
Awesome Experience!
loritA5184MW,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Seeing the bioluminescent sea life was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. The 2 hour time frame was perfect for us and gave us time to get acclimated to the kayak and time to experience the beautiful surroundings. Our tour guide, Ant, was knowledgeable, helpful, and super nice. We would definitely recommend this experience to friends and family visiting the area.
Too much fun
jenniferfX8772SF,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such a fun experience. My first time in a kayak and I loved it! Our guides Andrew, Jason and Evie were awesome. Super knowledgeable and a lot of fun. 10/10 would recommend. Hope to do it again .
Excellent experience
jenniferlY4738TZ,Jun 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was Sean Paul, he was excellent! I was very unsure about going out in a strangle place in the dark With someone we didn’t know but the moment We meet him I felt much better about the situation. He was very knowledgeable about the wild Life around. Very friendly, we had a great time. We loved the Comb Jellies! Thanks for the great experience! Definitely would come back!
Extremely Disappointing
176barbs,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00A Day Away Kayak Tours, I am writing to share my review of the "Clear Kayak Bioluminescence Tour" that I took on May 23, 2026. The experience was unfortunately very disappointing. We saw no bioluminescence, which was frustrating given that we were told other tour operators warned their guests they might not see much. While we followed your specific instructions to cover ourselves in baby oil and DEET to prevent bugs, we saw no bugs either. Furthermore, the equipment was poor quality; the kayak had no foot pedals and felt more like a rowboat without seats, making it incredibly difficult to kayak the long distance in the wind. It appears that bioluminescent viewing is not ideal until mid-summer, yet "A Day Away Kayak Tours", still had approximately 50 people signed up and charged $80 per person for a tour where guests saw nothing. I expected more transparency regarding the conditions.
Great experience!
Julie C,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Renata was great! We were the only ones signed up for the 10:45 tour, so we had a private tour. She took us out to multiple areas where the bioluminescence was stronger. We even detoured to look for manatees and mullets on our return. No manatee sightings, but we did hear them come up for air. She shared fun stories with wildlife and didn’t rush us back.
Go see it if you’ve never been before!
wcasaus,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great kayaking experience. Matthew was a very knowledgeable guide and knew exactly where to go. Water was perfect and weather was too. Would recommend for all ages who are able to handle a kayak.
DO NOT BOOK. Complete no-show. Possible scam.
창현 윤,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00I booked the Bioluminescence Kayak Tour and traveled all the way from New York City to Orlando specifically for this experience. I arrived at the designated meeting point, Kelly Park East, more than one hour before the scheduled time and waited until 11:00 PM. Not a single staff member, guide, or representative from A Day Away Kayak Tours ever showed up. I called multiple times. I sent text messages. Every call went unanswered. Every message was ignored. No cancellation notice, no explanation, nothing. This operator took my money, gave me a confirmed booking, and simply vanished. That is not a scheduling issue. That is not a miscommunication. That is fraud. Do not book this tour.
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Operated by A Day Away Kayak Tours