Florida Bioluminescent Kayak & Paddle Board Adventure
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Orlando, USA
- 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the Indian River Lagoon's dazzling bioluminescence, just steps from Orlando, on this small-group tour. Paddleboard or kayak under the stars surrounded by glowing dinoflagellates, creating a mesmerizing natural light show with each stroke. Look out for Comb Jellies, native to the lagoon, which light up upon contact. Equipped with nets, gently scoop up these jellies for a close-up view as they illuminate the night, offering an unforgettable adventure in nature's wonder.
- Choose between a stand-up paddleboard or a kayak
- Bug spray is provided so no need to bring
- Easily to find departure point
- Keep costs down by booking with this small group
What's Included
- Photos of your excursion are inlcuded
- Gratuities not included in booking price
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 951 Kiwanis Island Park Rd, Merritt Island, FL 32952, USA
If Bio levels drop we may use an alternate launch location at parish park 30 minutes north. Please make sure to check you message center for any updates on the day of your scheduled tour. Sometimes schedules changes are made day of, to ensure best possible conditions for our guests.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- For all amendments, please contact us directly before making any amendments to ensure availability for your selected time. in the event an amendment is made without contacting us directly, we may not be able to accomadate your change, and we will not have space for you to participate.
- It is the guests responsabilty to provide adaquite and up to date contact info in case changes or updates to your tour, if using an international number and we cannot get ahold of you with location changes or cancelations refunds will not be provided. We are not able to call internatinal numbers, updates will be sent via viator messege center. Updates on weather and potential location changes will be sent via the messenger app. Please be sure to check these messages the day of your tour.
- This event is rain or shine. As long as no thunder, Lightning, or heavy winds in the area and conditions are safe the tours will commence
- In the event of severe weather we may go on a 30 minute weather hold. After 30 minutes if it is safe to go out we will start the excursion if not a refund will be provided.
- this activity is a physical activity and requires people to paddle and operate their own water craft
- Your ticket will have instructions to our daily updates page with the most current lanch site and weather conditions
- This excursion requires a minimum number of travelers to operate. In the very rare event a minimum is not met you may be asked to move to a different launch time
- Our equipment has a max weight of 285lbs if you exceed this please contact us directly for acomadtions before booking
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jessica_F
It was so much fun for our entire family. We ranged from 11-43. We loved this experience! We loved Jeff as our guide. He was funny, knowledgeable, and very kind with all of us. Since we were a large family he took extra time with our kids helping them and explaining everything to us! Highly recommended experience! Best part is he took pictures for us of our family time together!
Reviews
4.8
based on 188 reviews
suzy_l, May 2026
The weather was beautiful a little windy, but it was so fun to kayak at night time on boats that light up. We drove two hours just to do the excursion however it would’ve been nice to know that we were out of season for the bio luminescence so we did not get to see any. Our guide was terrific and we learned a lot about mangrove trees.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for joining us and for the kind words about your guide! We’re really glad you still enjoyed the nighttime paddle experience and learning about the lagoon ecosystem.
You visited during one of our seasonal transition periods between winter comb jelly season and summer dinoflagellates season. During these times, conditions can vary significantly night to night depending on rainfall, temperature, salinity, and weather patterns. Sometimes nature simply doesn’t cooperate the way we hope, and we truly understand how disappointing that can be after making the drive.
Because the lagoon is constantly shifting throughout the year and no two nights are ever exactly the same, we do our best to clearly outline these seasonal changes and set expectations within our Viator listing and on our website at www.apaddleinparadise.com
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We truly appreciate the feedback, and we’d absolutely love to have you back out during peak summer dinoflagellates season. We’d also be happy to offer you a return guest discount for another adventure on the water!
Jorge_C, Apr 2026
Jeff was very knowledgeable and friendly. He took some great pics and made us feel at ease. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of bioluminescence tonight. It might be best to come in July or August.
Nikoel_C, Apr 2026
Fun experience but we assumed based on the fact that it was advertised as bioluminescence that we would see then or the tour wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t the time of year for it. So we were disappointed we saw no comb jellies
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for joining us and for the feedback! We’re glad you still had a fun experience out on the water, though we completely understand the disappointment when bioluminescence activity isn’t as visible as hoped.
Because the lagoon is a natural ecosystem, conditions can vary significantly throughout the year — especially during seasonal transition periods between winter comb jelly season and peak summer dinoflagellates season. While tours still run during these times due to favorable weather, wildlife activity, and the overall nighttime paddling experience, the type of bioluminescence you may see can shift night tonight dramatically and can sometimes be limited or absent depending on current environmental conditions outside of our control.
We do our best to clearly outline these seasonal patterns and expectations within our Viator listing and on our website www.apaddleinparadise.com so guests can choose the experience and season that best fits what they’re hoping to see.
We truly appreciate you coming out with us and would love the opportunity to have you back during peak summer bioluminescence season and would be happy to offer an additional discount for a future tour! You can always call or text for bio updates too!
Angela_S, Apr 2026
We had a great experience with A Paddle in Paradise, which we booked through Viator. Jess was our tour guide and she was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun and exciting even though we did not get to see any of the comb jellies or the bioluminescent plankton. The kayaks were very comfortable and were even equipped with lights along the underside to help see in the later. My kids ages 13-18 also enjoyed the tour. Very doable for beginners!
Jessica_F, Mar 2026
It was so much fun for our entire family. We ranged from 11-43. We loved this experience! We loved Jeff as our guide. He was funny, knowledgeable, and very kind with all of us. Since we were a large family he took extra time with our kids helping them and explaining everything to us! Highly recommended experience! Best part is he took pictures for us of our family time together!
Tina_D, Mar 2026
Jeff was a great guide! Very laid back and full of information. Our group was surprised with the number of comb jellies we caught. Would definitely go again!
Katelynn_A, Mar 2026
JEFF WAS PHENOMENAL!!!!!! we were on our honeymoon and this tour was my absolute favorite thing out of all we did!! we caught SOOOO many jellies!! and he took amazing pictures that were FREE!!!!! THE BEST TIME!!! WILL BE RETURNING!!!
denisse_a, Mar 2026
We had an awesome experience with Jeff. He was funny and took amazing pics, the hour and a half felt like 20 min.
Noah_B, Jan 2026
Took the wife and had 0 idea of what to expect. It was a very beautiful tranquil experience catching jellies and enjoying the night Florida starry sky.
Merilu_H, Jan 2026
We had an incredible evening with Jess as our guide! From start to finish, everything was perfect. Jess called ahead of time to give us clear directions on where to meet, which made finding the location stress-free.
The night itself was spectacular - conditions were ideal for seeing the bioluminescence. Jess was knowledgeable and made sure we knew exactly what to look for. We easily spotted jellyfish glowing in the water, and as an unexpected bonus, we even saw dolphins swimming nearby before we headed back in!
Jess also took some amazing photos of our group, which we’ll treasure. She was friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what she does. This was a highlight of our Florida trip and something our whole family will remember. We would love to come back in the summer to see the plankton!
Highly recommend booking this experience - and request Jess if you can!
John_S, Dec 2025
I didn't know what I was expecting to see at first but once I saw the bioluminescent jellyfish it was worth it they were mesmerizing to look at super cool creatures
Mary_F, Dec 2025
Jeff was a great tour guide. Very informative and made sure we all had a great experience. I would highly recommend doing his tour. We had such a wonderful time.
Paige_H, Dec 2025
Jeff was very informative about the native plants and wildlife in this area of Florida! He made the experience entertaining and very fun! We would definitely go again!
Ruchi_B, Nov 2025
The weather was perfect and our guide, Jeff, was really knowledgeable and patient. I absolutely loved kayaking under the night sky!
Dilmarys_G, Nov 2025
This was absolutely amazing! Our tour guide Jeff was awesome , super informative and such a pleasure to be around . If you love nature, this is definitely the place for you
Isabell_B, Nov 2025
It was a wonderful evening lots of fun and educated. Our guide was informative. Provided us with showing us the cone jellyfish. Notice small group enjoyed the paddle/kayak craft. Easy directions provided to get to the meeting point
Diana_C, Nov 2025
Sadly got cancelled due to bad weather but got a heads up early by the instructor who was very polite and will be receiving a full refund due to the situation. So sad not being able to experience it but will look forward to the opportunity in the future.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and understanding that Mother Nature has a mind of her own! We’re always disappointed when we can’t get out on the water — cancellations are truly a last resort — but with the high winds and cold front, safety has to come first.
We’ve notated your account about the weather cancellation and added an extra discount for any future tour you book. Winter brings our glowing comb jellies, and summer brings our bioluminescent dinoflagellates — both use the same natural chemicals to glow and are equally magical in different ways. There’s no expiration on your note; just mention the same phone number you originally booked with when you call, and I'll make sure you’re taken care of. You can text or call us when you're ready to come back out at 407-923-5685, or visit www.apaddleinparadise.com
Thanks again for being so understanding, Diana. We can’t wait to paddle with you under clearer, calmer, and hopefully warmer skies! 🌊✨
– Nate, Owner
A Paddle in Paradise
andy_p, Sep 2025
There was also jellyfish hunting which we didn't know about! It was an awesome surprise!even got to hear/partially see some dolphins
Juliana_Y, Sep 2025
Such an amazing experience. Most comfortable kayak I’ve sat in and the guide was awesome. The view is beautiful and it’s very relaxing. The guide provided everything we needed, even water-proof pouches for our phones. It started raining unexpectedly, but it made it 10x better.
Shaina_U, Sep 2025
The paddleboards/kayaks were very nice. We were unable to see any biolilluminescence, unfortunately. I understand that weather and seasons all play a role, but the guides also know the conditions, as they are out there regularly. If they see that its not great sightings, I think the trips should be canceled or postponed. The cost paid was not worth the trip. We did have a couple in our group that was afraid of gators and lightening and wanted to turn around, and the guide did as they asked and turned around and kept our entire group close to the launch point. That was very disappointing for our group. We did get to see a lot of cone jellies, which I was not expecting at all. They were cool, but there are separate tours for cone jellies and that is not the tour I wanted to attend. I will try again, but Ill aim to book earlier in the season and hope for better results. The guide we had was not super friendly. He was kind of stern for a tour guide and we kept worrying we were gonna get in trouble for something. If I booked with the same company, I'd definitely get a different guide.
Mekselina_H, Sep 2025
Amazing! The guide truly loved what he does. From the facts and information about the jelly fish and the algae to information about Florida. He took his time with the tour and talked to us all individually. He encouraged us to explore on our own and to be as interactive as possible. Would recommend this to anybody!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
This makes me so happy to read — thank you! Sharing the glow and the little details about Florida’s ecosystem is one of my favorite parts of guiding, so it means a lot to hear that came through. I love keeping the tours interactive and giving everyone space to explore at their own pace — that’s when the real magic happens. Appreciate the recommendation, it was ab absolute pleasure having yall out on the water!
-Nate
Benjamin_L, Sep 2025
A great tour. The operator was very friendly, very knowledgeable, and it was an incredible experience. I highly recommend it.
Jennifer_D, Sep 2025
We had a wonderful time with Nate checking out all the plankton and glowing jellyfish.
He was informative, kind and perfectly funny!
He did take some pictures of us and looked forward to receiving them, but haven’t yet. Hopefully they will still arrive in my email.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
I’m so glad you had a wonderful time out on the water — the glowing plankton and jellies are always such a treat to share! 🌊✨ Thanks also for the kind words, that means a lot.
To access your photos go to www.apaddleinparadise.com
→ just click on the Memories tab. Sometimes there’s a little disconnect between Viator bookings and our system, so if you’re having any trouble at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at 407-923-5685 and I’ll get you sorted out right away. I definitely don’t want you to miss those memories!
-Nate
Betty_T, Sep 2025
I went on this adventure solo and was a little hesitant at first, but it turned out to be absolutely perfect. The experience was peaceful and relaxing, and everyone on the tour was welcoming and kind. Nate was an excellent guide, sharing not only details about the tour itself but also rich historical context about the region. As an archaeologist and historian, I always appreciate opportunities to learn, and I came away with even more knowledge than I expected.
What stood out most was the freedom to explore... drifting into different pockets and simply floating along at a comfortable pace. In contrast, some of the other groups on the water seemed rushed, with guides shouting directions and hurrying through the experience. This tour felt thoughtful and unhurried, which made it all the more enjoyable.
If you’re considering a bioluminescent tour, I would absolutely recommend this one. One note of advice: even with bug spray, the mosquitoes managed to get at me. I’d suggest applying repellent generously before getting dressed to stay comfortable throughout the evening.
Angela_C, Aug 2025
We had a wonderful time! We drove an hour from Orlando to kayak and it did not disappoint! Nate was great! And he’s doggie Flinn came along too and was a wonderful co- tour guide ! Nate has hybrid kayak/ paddle boards which were way more
Comfortable than a really kayak. 100/10 recommend !
Lesley_P, Aug 2025
It was a beautiful evening on the water. I went with my children and their grandparents. Nate was quite patient and we all felt safe. It was all the adults first time kayaking but we managed and it was an enjoyable experience. We got some nice family photos as well.
Ryan_C, Aug 2025
Nate was a fantastic guide. He was knowledgeable and safety minded. Seeing the bioluminescent water was thrilling. The mosquitoes were terrible when we got there but Nate gave us some bug spray and we were fine for the entire trip.
Geri_K, Aug 2025
It was a lot of fun! My granddaughters and I agreed that Nate was a very knowledgeable and fun guide. Only disappointment was that the phytoplankton do not appear like in the picture in the ad but we felt it was still a good time.
Sean_H, Aug 2025
Our guide was awesome, a true nature lover, happy to be out there and shared a ton of local water way and biodiversity and eco-tourism knowledge with us. Very enjoyable
Michael_H, Aug 2025
Be prepared for rain! However, Nate is running a one man ship and showed great hospitality. We were tourists coming from Texas and Nate was very kind as we geared up for the light tour.
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