Kayaking Aruba: Glass-Bottom Night Paddle with LED Lights

See the reef light up after dark from inside your kayak

Night kayaking in Aruba means paddling glass-bottom kayaks off Arashi Beach with an experienced guide, using LED floodlights to watch coral and fish come alive in the dark water. You'll start with a safety briefing and paddle out in time for sunset, then switch on the lights to glide over reefs and a shallow shipwreck before heading back to shore under the stars.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening glass kayak tour at Arashi Beach

• Meet at Arashi Beach
• Review safety basics and kayak paddling
• Watch sunset over the horizon
• Turn on LED lights to view marine life
• Glide over coral reefs and spot fish
• Visit shallow shipwreck reef
• Observe night sky stars
• Return to shore and return gear

The experience

The paddle lasts about two hours and starts in the late afternoon so you're on the water when the sun drops. After a quick safety rundown and paddling lesson at Arashi Beach, you'll head out and watch the sky turn gold and orange as the light fades. Once darkness settles, the LED lights mounted on your kayak flip on, and the reef beneath you transforms: coral beds glow, blue parrot fish dart through rocky hideouts, and the shallow shipwreck shows how nature has reclaimed it as a new reef.

Your guide leads you through the marine life and stays with you the whole time, offering commentary in English, Spanish or Dutch. The double kayak keeps you stable and gives you a clear view through the glass bottom. You'll have time to wait for stars to appear before paddling back to shore, where you return your gear and end the night.

Snacks, fruit and water are provided throughout. The activity requires at least a moderate fitness level and a minimum age of 17. Children under 12 cannot join. Public transportation reaches the beach, though pickup and drop-off can be arranged for an extra charge.

What’s included

• Use of a double glass-bottom kayak with LED lights.
• safety briefing and paddling instruction.
• guided night paddle with live commentary in English, Spanish and Dutch.
• snacks, fruit and water.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 20 Jan 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (17 to 65 years) · Under 17: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Clear Kayak Aruba

Is this one for you?This works best for small groups or couples who want a guided evening on the water and don't mind being on a kayak for two hours. The glass bottom and LED lights do the work of showing you the reef. You're paddling, not snorkeling, so it suits anyone who wants to see marine life without entering the water.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Dutch.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What do you actually see through the glass bottom of the kayak at night?

The LED lights illuminate vibrant coral beds, blue parrot fish moving in and out of rocky crevices, and a shallow shipwreck that has become a reef. The lights make the marine life visible in the darkness, though the exact visibility depends on water conditions and how the light reflects off the seabed.

Do you need kayaking experience to paddle in Aruba at night?

No experience is necessary. You'll receive a safety briefing and paddling instruction at Arashi Beach before heading out, and your guide stays with you throughout the paddle to help with technique and navigation.

What time does the kayaking start and when do you get back?

The paddle departs in the late afternoon so you're on the water for sunset, then continues for about two hours total. You'll return to shore after the stars come out, so plan for an evening activity that ends after dark.

Is the glass-bottom kayak stable enough for someone nervous on the water?

The kayak is a double model designed for stability. That said, the activity is not recommended for travelers prone to seasickness or those with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or weight over 200 lbs, as these factors can affect comfort and safety on the water.