Night Kayak Tour St. Thomas: Glow Kayaks & Marine Life

Paddle through bioluminescence and watch nocturnal fish hunt below you

A night kayak tour from the Westin Frenchman's Reef in St. Thomas using 100% clear kayaks fitted with custom LED lights to view nocturnal marine life including tarpon, rays, and turtles. The tour includes glow paint before departure, a live English-speaking guide sharing facts about the island and its nocturnal wildlife, and all kayak equipment. Swimmers aged 3 and up can participate; maximum weight per person is 250 lbs.

The Experience

The tour departs from the Westin Frenchman's Reef dock, so there's no transport to arrange—you show up and get started. Before you paddle out, the guides apply glow paint so you're lit up along with the kayaks. The clear hulls mean you're looking straight down into the water the whole time, and the LED lights mounted around the kayak illuminate what's moving below: tarpon that look prehistoric, rays gliding past, turtles, and whatever else is hunting in the dark. A guide leads the group and points out what's happening in the bay while sharing facts about how these animals behave at night and what makes the island's waters special.

The whole experience runs about an hour. You'll paddle at a pace the group can handle, and the guides manage the route so everyone stays together. The kayaks are stable enough for families—kids as young as 3 can go—and the setup is built so you don't need any kayaking experience. You do need to be able to swim, and the weight limits are 250 lbs per person and 400 lbs per two-person kayak. Everything you need comes with it: the kayak, paddle, and a universal life jacket.

What’s included

• Clear kayak with paddle and universal life jacket.
• glow paint applied before departure.
• live English-speaking guide sharing facts about nocturnal marine life and the island.
• all equipment needed to paddle.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by NIght Kayak, LLC

Is this one for you?If you're staying at or near the Westin Frenchman's Reef and want to see what the bay looks like after dark without organizing a boat or a guide yourself, the clear kayaks and LED lights do the work—you just paddle and watch the animals hunt below you.

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Top questions

What exactly do you see when you paddle a clear kayak at night in St. Thomas?

The clear hull lets you watch nocturnal marine life hunting directly below—tarpon, stingrays, turtles, and smaller fish moving through the water. The LED lights on the kayak illuminate the bay floor and the animals' movement, so you're seeing behavior you wouldn't catch during the day.

Do I need kayaking experience to do this tour?

No. The tour is designed for all fitness levels and all ages from 3 up. You do need to be able to swim, and the guides manage the pace and route so the group stays together.

What's included in the night kayak tour price?

The kayak, paddle, universal life jacket, glow paint before departure, and a live guide in English who shares facts about the nocturnal wildlife and the island are all included. You just bring yourself and a swimsuit.

Where does the tour depart from, and do I need to arrange transportation?

The tour departs from the Westin Frenchman's Reef dock in St. Thomas, so if you're staying at the resort or nearby, you walk to the dock. Public transportation options are available in the area if you need to get there from elsewhere.

How long is the night kayak tour?

The tour runs about an hour on the water. Plan for a bit of time before departure for the glow paint application and gear setup.