A St. Croix kayak tour is one of the most fun and memorable experiences. It’s also the best way to explore the beautiful and historic Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve.
In this article, we’ll share the best kayak tours in St. Croix, including the iconic bioluminescent bay tour, a daytime tour, and a self-guided adventure.
Where to kayak in St. Croix?
The most popular place for kayaking in St. Croix is Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve. Salt River Bay is a preserved natural area with over 2,000 years of history. It’s also home to one of only ten studied super glow biobays, which means it glows year-round.
The Best Kayak Tours in St. Croix
Virgin Kayak Tours leads guided biobay, sunset, and daytime tours. You can also rent a kayak for a self-guided trip around the bay.
Bioluminescence Kayak Tour
The Bioluminescence Kayak Tour is the most popular in St. Croix. Spend an evening touring Salt River Bay and experiencing a rare and magical underwater glow.
On a Bioluminescence Kayak Tour, you’ll kayak around the beautiful bay, learning about five different bioluminescent organisms that can be seen in the area. Virgin Kayak Tours offers nets, so you can agitate the water and see the bioluminescent glow.
Various factors affect the concentration of the bio and brightness, including how bright the moon is, so it’s best to book a guided tour to ensure you go at the right time.
Sunset & Moonlight Tour
When the bioluminescence isn’t shining as bright, you can take a Sunset & Moonlight Tour to experience the Salt River Bay at night.
During the Sunset & Moonlight Tour, you’ll enjoy the peaceful bay and its natural beauty. You’ll also learn about Salt River Bay’s history and explore some of its most fascinating ecological features, including the red mangrove tree, the night sky, and constellations.
You’ll also learn about the bioluminescent organisms, and there's a chance you'll see a glimpse of the glowing bioluminescence, even on the Sunset & Moonlight Tour.
Historical & Ecological Day Tour
The Historical & Ecological Day Tour is one of St. Croix’s most fun and memorable daytime activities. Appreciate the warm weather, St. Croix’s history and ecology, and beautiful scenery.
During your Historical & Ecological Day Tour, you can spend a relaxing morning kayaking and learning about the Mangrove Estuary’s ecology, the Indigenous Peoples of St. Croix, migratory birds, and Christopher Columbus’ expedition.
Self-Guided Kayak Tour
To explore St. Croix’s Salt River Bay on your own, you can take a self-guided kayak tour. Virgin Kayak Tours offers half and full-day kayak rentals.
With the self-guided tour, you'll get a map and helpful information about the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve. From there, you can enjoy a kayaking adventure on your own terms.
Virgin Kayak Tours in St Croix
If you book a tour with Virgin Kayak Tours, you’ll get to explore the Salt River Bay in the Hobie Mirage Pedal Kayak. We’ve been leading kayak tours for over 25 years and have found these to be the most comfortable and efficient way to enjoy a fun kayaking adventure.
The Hobie Mirage Pedal Kayak is spacious, unlike many other kayak options. It’s also sturdy, comfortably holding up to 260 pounds. It’s even stable in strong winds and currents, offering a pleasant experience no matter what.
The pedals allow you to easily maneuver your kayak with a simple back-and-forth motion, offering a great experience whether you’ve never kayaked before or you’ve been doing it for years. The foot drive also frees up your hands so you can take pictures, enjoy a beverage, or agitate the water to see the biobay glow.
Check out how to Hobie Mirage Pedal Kayak works:
Kayak Tours in St. Croix: FAQs
Make the most of your kayaking experience with answers to common questions.
Are see-through kayaks better?
While some people enjoy see-through kayaks, many find the foot-pedal kayaks to be the best way to explore Salt River Bay. They're sturdy, spacious, and comfortable, unlike see-through kayaks.
With the Hobie Mirage Pedal Kayak, you don’t have to worry about using paddles to move across the water. It’s also easier to see the bioluminescence glow from the pedal kayak because you can use your hands or the net provided by Virgin Kayak Tours to agitate the water.
What is the best time to see the bioluminescence?
Although St. Croix’s Salt River Bay glows year-round, for about ten days leading up to the full moon each month, the extra brightness in the sky diminishes viewing conditions. During this time, you can take the Sunset & Moonlight Tour instead and can usually still see some bio glow.
Can anyone take a kayak tour in St. Croix?
Just about anyone can enjoy kayaking the Salt River. Most kayak tours require you to be at least six years old and under 260 pounds. Virgin Kayak Tours’ pedal kayaks are also suitable for all levels, beginner to pro.
Book a Kayak Tour in St. Croix
We hope this guide to the best kayak tours in St. Croix has inspired you to enjoy kayaking the beautiful Salt River Bay in the comfortable Hobie Mirage Pedal Kayak. Whether you take a guided biobay, sunset & moonlight, or daytime tour, you'll have a memorable experience. The self-guided tour is a fun adventure, too.
Virgin Kayak Tours has been sharing St. Croix’s beauty and history with locals and visitors since 1998 with various tours and rentals. We hope to see you on the water soon!
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