A Day Away Kayak Tours

I wasn’t sure what to expect on this tour that started at 6:00 PM and was supposed to last for 3 1/2 hours. I thought it would be a simple tour to witness bioluminescence, but it turned out to be much more rewarding than that.

We drove along a dirt road in this remote and stunning area until we met our guide, Chili, from A Day Away Kayak Tours. It was going to be just Chili, myself, a friend, and a family of four. Chili is an ecologist who was incredibly knowledgeable about these waters and the wildlife that thrived in this ecosystem. From the moment we set off, I had a feeling this tour was going to be amazing, and it definitely surpassed my expectations.

As luck would have it, we were in the area during manatee mating season. While we kept a safe distance from them, they remained curious and seemed to be interested in the tow rope attached to my kayak.

We covered a lot of ground, and Chili acted as our cruise director, ensuring we stayed on schedule and engaged while pointing out numerous things that even surprised me, a former marine biologist.

With enough time, we pursued both the sunset and my adventurous friend, Wendy, who was charging toward Bird Island. We successfully navigated the choppy waters and circumnavigated the island. Wow! I have never seen such a diverse range of marine birds on a single piece of land before. It was a paradise for ornithologists, although being on the leeward side of the island meant enduring the pungent ammonia scent from centuries of bird droppings. Nevertheless, it was worth every minute. There was a tree that I initially mistook for being in bloom, only to realize it was filled with Roseate Spoonbills.

We quickly made our way back across the open water from Bird Island just as the sun was setting. We entered the canal where we started and arrived in time to witness dolphins feeding alongside the shrimp boats. As we sat patiently in our kayaks, the dolphins began breaching alongside us, moving silently yet with breathtaking beauty. Then thorough the pitch of darkness, We cracked our glow sticks and like a dotted line of phosphorus, we snaked our way along the mangroves to seek out the bioluminescence. Chili, along with the plankton (dinoflagellates) did not disappoint–Chili pulling off the perfect Texas Hat Trick of four events: Manatee, Marine Birds, Dolphin & Bioluminescence.

Happy 12th Birthday Caulen!