Beautiful Wildlife Experience Night Kayaking in Key West

Being on the water is an essential part of enjoying a Florida Keys vacation, and night kayaking in Key West is one of the coolest ways to do that. Everyone knows that sunset in Mallory Square is a nice was to end the day or that kayaking through the mangroves in the daytime is a different sort of Key West experience, but I think that Night Kayak Key West takes the cake for interesting and magical fun. There are a few options for enjoying a night kayaking trip, each with clear bottom kayaks for seeing wildlife, and you’ll love it!

You may have see a few different night kayaking tours as you drive into Key West at sunset, but my favorite is Night Kayak Key West through Key West Paddle, as it’s a little different than the other option offered. I’ve got the full scoop on what to expect as you get on the water and explore the quiet darkness of the island. If you have any questions about night kayaking or visiting Key West, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help YOU explore the Keys.

Highlights of Night Kayaking in Key West

When it comes to kayaking, there aren’t a ton of different types of experiences you can have in the Florida Keys, as you’re either paddling the flats or through the mangroves mostly, which are all beautiful and full of wildlife, but when you’re doing Night Kayaking in Key West you’re doing it in the dark when wildlife is still active and not expecting humans, so the wildlife experience is awesome.

Yes, there are mangrove tunnels to go through, which I always love, but the highlight truly is the wildlife encounters. The lights on the underside of the kayaks are perfect for seeing all kinds of creatures, and the guides are awesome. If you’ve been out on any boat through the waters of Key West you know that the clarity is incredible in most areas, but when you’re out on the water in the daytime there is always such a glare from the sun and the clouds no matter how good of polarized sunglasses you have. At night the lights from the kayaks are only underwater and there are no lights above creating a glare. This makes it look like you’re kayaking on glass with unbelievable visibility. Amazing.

Note: there are two types of kayaks used for this, the fully clear kayaks (Key West Boat & Jet Ski uses these) or the Caribe plexi-glass bottom kayaks. I prefer the Caribe style kayaks, which Key West Paddle uses for their Night Kayak Key West Tour and Ibis Bay Watersports also use for their night kayaking trip.

Photography Tips for Great Night Kayaking Pictures

I’m all about just enjoying an experience, but also I think being able to capture great photos is a big part of the fun for me. Night Kayaking in Key West is very unique when it comes to taking pictures while you’re kayaking. You need to understand your camera settings and features to get good pics. For example, since you’re moving, albeit very slowly at times, a very long exposure time (think night-sight) often won’t work for capturing enough light and getting clear images, so here’s the trick: focus on the brightest thing in the frame and move with it, capturing a nice balance of movement and static objects in the frame.

Using a focused long exposure can also create a cool picture. When it comes to photographing the wildlife underwater, you’ll be able to take photos through the bottom of your kayak very easily with plenty of light. For other underwater images, make sure you’ve got a waterproof case that’s quality and then you should be able to capture pictures within a few feet of the kayak lights. The nurse sharks tend to swim pretty fast, so are difficult to capture, but the sea stars, sea hares, turtles and barracuda all are pretty easy to snap pictures of.

Being Prepared for Mosquitoes in Key West

While I don’t tend to think of Key West as a mosquito destination when you are out at night in the protected areas of the mangroves you’ll find that the mosquitoes like it here too. Not always, but I have had both buzzing and mosquito-free kayaking trips through the route Night Kayak Key West uses. Use your bug spray in advance and do a thorough job with it. DO NOT APPLY IT IN THE KAYAK.

The other way to prevent being irritated by mosquitoes, which are much worse in the summer months, is to wear lightweight full length pants and a long sleeve shirt. This may sound awful for being in Key West, but it’s actually super smart and not bad at night. There’s usually a soft breeze and the temperature tends to drop significantly when the sun goes down, so you’ll be fine.

You’ll still need to do bug repellant on your feet as you have to leave your shoes back on the dock, but everyone will do that before getting into their kayaks. Night Kayak Key West (Key West Paddle) and the other tour operators have a great process and want everyone to enjoy their time, so you’ll be able to get all squared away with your bug protection before you’re paddling through the backwaters.

Parking for Night Kayaking in Key West

Night Kayak Key West with Key West Paddle departs from the dock at the Beachside Key West Resort (formerly the Key West Marriott Beachside). You’ll park in the garage on property (complimentary) and then walk along the outside to the dock. You’ll see the kayaks and guides, so you won’t get lost. If you’re staying at one of the other Roosevelt Blvd hotels, like the Gates Hotel or Havana Cabana, you can walk here or ride a bike, but driving is fine too and there’s usually plenty of parking.

The night kayaking tour with Key West Boat & Jetski Adventures departs from Hurricane Hole just over the bridge from the proper island. There is plenty of parking in the lot, especially at night as this is mostly a daytime spot for hanging out or boat departures, such as the Sandbar and Paddle with Lazy Dog Adventures (next door to this tour operator).

Ibis Bay Watersports operates out of the Ibis Bay Resort on Roosevelt Blvd, so there is plenty of parking onsite at the hotel. This is a short Uber ride away from both historic district hotels and other resorts on Roosevelt Blvd, such as the Laureate Hotel or 24 North.