15 Evening Experiences near Orlando Worth the Drive

1.Bioluminescence Night Kayaking Tour of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 605 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75Top choice

Meet your guide at Haulover Canal for a 90-minute evening paddle through the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Your kayak, paddle, and life jacket are included. The guide leads a small group to look for glowing comb jellyfish and other wildlife, with past guides including Faith, Brea, Seven, Leslie, and Leo.

“Getting to see the bioluminescence and the peacefulness of kayaking at night under the stars. Our guide Seven did a really nice job of sharing information about the location and the wildlife within it.”

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2.Cocoa Beach Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 278 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $47Top marks from travellers

Set out from Sunset Waterfront Bar & Grill for a roughly 90-minute cruise through Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands and onto the Banana River for sunset. The crew plays music, and may point out dolphins, manatees and birds. Guides such as Diane and Pat have shared local wildlife and area details, but formal narration is not included.

“Our Captians Steve and Rick were great. Very knowledgeable and saw lots of dolphins and manatees. The sunset was beautiful as well. Well worth the money.”

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3.Riverboat Sunset Cruise in St Cloud

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 252 reviews · from $50

Board Toho Riverboat Adventures in St. Cloud for a 90-minute sunset cruise on East Lake Toho with a USCG Master Captain and crew. Expect lake views from a covered deck, music, board games, an onboard restroom, and snacks and drinks for purchase. The boat is wheelchair and powerchair accessible.

“The boat was quaint and quiet so we could enjoy the scenery. Captain was personable and friendly. Not really snacks but some candy bars were available.”

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4.Sunset Tour Mangrove, Dolphins, Manatee #1 Rated in Cocoa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 201 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $60

Spend about two hours kayaking Cocoa Beach’s mangrove channels with a guide who teaches basic paddling and points out local wildlife. You’ll use a tandem kayak by default, with limited single kayaks available on request. Dolphins and manatees may appear, but sightings are not guaranteed. Complimentary photos and parking are included.

“We had the most amazing beginner friendly kayak ride through the mangroves and saw a beautiful sunset. Jordan is super knowledgeable about the area, and we say dolphins and manatees close up! 10/10”

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5.Clear Kayak Sunset Tour through The Winter Park Chain of Lakes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 198 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $80

Set out from 410 Ollie Ave in Winter Park for an approximately two-hour clear-kayak paddle through narrow, Venetian-style canals and connected lakes. Your guide leads the way, shares local history and stories about the grand lakeside homes, and helps you look for birds and fish as the light softens toward sunset. Kayak, life jacket, and whistle are included.

“We had a wonderful time kayaking the Winter Park lakes. The weather was perfect. Chad was our guide and he was very personable and helpful on our tour. He gave us local history and guided us through all the canals. That was the best part and the sunset!!”

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6.Manatees/Sunset/Bioluminescence Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 189 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

From Haulover Canal on Merritt Island, paddle with a guide through local waters in search of manatees, dolphins and birds. The roughly three-hour outing includes just under two hours on the water, sunset views and, in season, a chance to see bioluminescence. Kayaks, paddles and life vests are provided. Amanda is one guide named for her wildlife explanations.

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7.Sunset Catamaran Sail in Cocoa Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 176 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $56

Set sail for about two hours from Merritt Island through the Banana River Lagoon and Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands. You’ll get sunset views, a chance to spot dolphins, manatees, turtles, and coastal birds, and a crew that may include captains Andrew, Kris, or Don. Soda and water are included; bring snacks and check the alcohol arrangements before departure.

“So wonderful! It was a beautiful night! Our tour guides/captains were phenomenal- so sweet and friendly and funny, and really informative and knowledgeable about the beautiful area!! Highly recommend this tour!”

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8.1-Hour Sunset Airboat Ride near Orlando

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 155 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $79

Set out from Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures near Kissimmee for an approximately one-hour sunset ride through Florida wetlands. Your captain pilots the boat and may point out alligators, birds and other wildlife. Captains Brandon, Andy, Patrick and Wayne have been praised for friendly, informative guiding. Hearing protection and safety vests are provided.

“the experience of riding on an airboat and seeing the everglades was fun. Beautiful birds and plants. Not much alligator action which was a little disappointing. The requirement to arrive 1 hour early was excessive. We had to sit in the heat with nothing to do for a whole hour, Why?”

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9.Thousand Islands Mangrove Tunnel & Bio Comb Jelly Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 104 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $172

In a small group of up to 14, paddle a supplied kayak across Cocoa Beach’s lagoon and through mangrove tunnels as sunset gives way to darkness. Your guide may spot dolphins, manatees and birds, then hands out fish nets for possible bioluminescent comb jellies. Tours last about two hours, and photos are emailed within 48 hours.

“Beautiful evening on the water! Paddled with my teen son. The weather was great once the sun went down! The bioluminescence was so bright! Lots of bugs so wear bug spray!”

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10.Sunset Bioluminescence Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Join A Day Away Kayak Tours at Haulover Canal for a two-hour guided paddle in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Visit a bird-filled island at sunset, then look for bioluminescence nearby. Kayak, paddle, and PFD are provided. Bring water shoes, clothes you can get wet, and insect repellent.

“This was such a fun excursion but the mosquitoes were awful. Guides definitely need to hand out bug spray before and during the tour. Otherwise we saw tons of wildlife and bioluminescence. Worth every penny.”

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11.1-Hour Evening Airboat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 93 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $84

Meet at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures in Kissimmee for a one-hour nighttime ride across grassy water. Your captain uses a miner’s cap to help spot alligator eyes and shares facts about the local ecosystem. Boats carry up to 17 passengers and provide life jackets and hearing protection. Dress warmly, arrive an hour early, and remember that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“We had a great time on our sunset airboat ride!!!! We saw a bunch of alligators and our crew was super knowledgeable and funny. If you can, sit in the front! Make sure to wear a hoodie- it gets a bit chilly on the water. I would recommend light pants too if you get chilled easily. What a wonderful experience!”

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12.Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 88 reviews · 1h 30m · from $47

Board at Sunset Waterfront Bar & Grill for a 90-minute cruise through Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands and the Banana River. The captain and skipper play music, point out wildlife, and take you toward sunset views. Dolphins and manatees are possible, not guaranteed. Drinks are sold onboard, but coolers are not allowed.

“Lovely cruise with a beautiful sunset. Saw a variety of birds and a dolphin as well.”

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13.Boggy Creek Sunset Airboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 86 reviews · from $76

Ride a captain-piloted airboat across the wetlands near Kissimmee as daylight fades. The one-hour tour may bring sightings of alligators, turtles, and birds, though wildlife and sunset views depend on conditions. Hearing protection and life jackets are included. Check in at the pavilion behind the Boggy Creek restaurant, and allow extra time to reach the meeting point.

“An excellent activity, so much fun! Saw many gators and the most beautiful sunset. It was timed to perfection. If you are travelling down from Orlando please allow lots of time! We expected less than an hour but this turned into over 2 and we only just made the boat! There are so many new developments en route and traffic was horrendous just prior the turn off to Boggy Creek. We phoned ahead and the Captain literally held off until the last minute which we truly appreciated. Worth every cent!”

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14.Plantation’s Kings Bay Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $35

Cruise Kings Bay from Plantation Adventure Center with a USCG-licensed captain pointing out the springs, local ecology, and wildlife. Manatees, dolphins, birds, and other animals may appear, but sightings are never guaranteed. The covered boat allows drinks and snacks. Captains Mark, Ryan, and Kyle have led past trips, though your crew may differ.

“The guide and driver of the boat were both very cool and fun. The guide was very knowledgeable about all of the conservation efforts going on in Crystal Springs and we got to see several areas and lots of wildlife.”

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15.King’s Bay Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Depart from Paddletail Waterfront Lodge’s private docks for a roughly 90-minute Kings Bay cruise. Your captain spends about an hour looking for manatees and other local wildlife, sharing stories about the bay, then takes a slow route back as the sun sets. Captains Glenn, Phil, Mark, Andrew, Chaz, Guy Morgan, and Tom have led trips.

“Captain was knowledgeable about the area and pointed out several highlights as we drove around the bay. Made it fun and safe for all ages!”

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