↠ ABOUT THE TOURS ↞
Take an unforgettable clear kayak tour of Cooper’s Bayou in Clearwater, Florida! Paddle through winding mangrove tunnels, explore a protected tidal estuary, and discover Tampa Bay’s incredible coastal wildlife — all from a 100% clear kayak that lets you see straight into the water beneath you.
Wildlife at Cooper’s Bayou is most active in the evening hours. On every tour, look for great blue herons standing motionless in the shallows, snowy egrets picking through the mangrove roots, brown pelicans coasting overhead, and stingrays gliding across the sandy flats. While we can’t guarantee specific sightings, our experienced guides know this waterway and will make the most of every paddle.
For a one-of-a-kind evening experience, choose from two tours:
- Sunset Tour: Launch before sunset and paddle through Cooper’s Bayou as the sun sets over the water. The golden hour light on this casts an incredible backdrop on the mangroves, perfect for photo ops.
- Glow Tour: Launch after dark in a clear kayak lit with color-changing LED lights. On the right nights, bioluminescent organisms in the water add their own natural glow to every paddle stroke. Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon and not guaranteed, but the experience is exceptional either way.
Cooper’s Bayou kayak tours launch from Clearwater, FL and just a short drive from Tampa. This is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts in the Tampa Bay area. Book your clear kayak tour today!
↠ COOPER’S BAYOU | CLEARWATER, FLORIDA ↞
Located in Clearwater along the Pinellas County coastline, Cooper’s Bayou is a shallow, protected estuary within the greater Tampa Bay system. Lined with red and black mangroves and accessible only by water, this hidden waterway is home to a remarkable variety of coastal and marine life — and most people who live in the area have never seen it.
With its calm tidal channels and wildlife-rich shoreline, Cooper’s Bayou is an ideal setting for evening kayaking. Minimal boat traffic, glassy water conditions, and the kind of undisturbed ecosystem that rewards slow, quiet movement on the water.
Whether you’re visiting from Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Safety Harbor, or anywhere across the Tampa Bay area, Cooper’s Bayou is one of those Florida places that surprises people every single time.
TOP-RATED
From the local team that has been named Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2026
GIVING BACK
We’re passionate about the outdoors and conservation. We believe in being good stewards of the environment, which is why we donate a portion of every booking to Keep Pinellas Beautiful.
SMALL GROUPS
Our max group size is 10 paddlers — the perfect size to hear your guide and enjoy the experience without the crowd.
BEST GUIDES
Soak up the sights and the knowledge. Our guides share unique facts about the local waterways, wildlife, and ecosystem throughout the paddle.
GREAT VIEWS
Don’t let a normal kayak block your view. Our clear kayaks are the absolute best way to see the water — and the wildlife beneath it — and there are plenty of opportunities to capture it on video.
↠ OUR CLEARWATER STICKER ↞
Collect the exclusive Clearwater Cooper’s Bayou sticker on the day of your tour from your guide! Collecting more location stickers can unlock some great rewards. Learn more about our loyalty program.
↠ MEET OUR TEAM ↞
Our passion for the environment meets your adventure on the water. Explore the hidden beauty of Cooper’s Bayou with our team of expert eco-tour guides who bring this estuary to life on every single tour.
Each guide brings their own background and expertise to the water — from marine biology and ecology to local history and storytelling. What they share: a genuine love for this waterway and a commitment to making your tour something you’ll talk about long after you’re back on dry land.
↠ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ↞
-
All Sales Final: Once booked, all sales are final, and no cancellations are permitted unless specified otherwise.
Unsafe Weather: In the event of unsafe weather, we offer the option to reschedule, receive a gift card, or provide a full refund.
Trip Protection: Purchasing Trip Protection allows guests to cancel or reschedule their initial tour at any time for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled tour time. Guests will be reimbursed for the full ticket amount, less the cost of Trip Protection and any booking fees.
If Trip Protection is not purchased, all sales are final.
-
Our weight limit is no more than 250 pounds per person and no more than 425 pounds per 2 people that are in the same kayak. All of our kayaks are double kayaks. Unfortunately our kayak manufacturer has given us this strict limit of 250 pounds per person and we cannot exceed this limit.
-
Each of our kayaks are tandem (made for 2 paddlers). However, the seats are removable and if you have an odd number of paddlers in your party we are able to accommodate the kayak as a single.
Keep in mind, the same 250 pound PER person weight limit still applies even if taking a kayak out as a single.
-
Tips are greatly appreciated. We like to say, “If you enjoyed your ride, tip your guide!”
Standard US gratuity is 20%!
A mandatory gratuity of 20% will be added for groups 11 or more.
-
Alcohol is not allowed on any of our tours.
-
The Sunset Tour departs before sunset and focuses on the estuary at golden hour — wildlife, mangroves, and the light on the water as the sun sets. The Glow Tour departs after dark, and adds color-changing LED lights in your kayak plus the possibility of bioluminescence. Both tours run approximately one hour through Cooper’s Bayou with a maximum of 10 guests.
-
No. Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon produced by microscopic organisms in the water. It varies by season, water temperature, and moon phase and cannot be guaranteed on any given night. Your guide will give you an honest read on current conditions before you launch.
-
Both the Sunset Tour and Glow Tour are open to guests 12 years old and up.
-
No experience is necessary. Your guide will walk you through paddling basics and safety before you launch.
-
Quick-dry clothing and easy to remove water shoes. Expect to get a little bit wet. Long sleeves and bug spray are recommended and must be applied before getting into the kayak.
-
Yes — all tours use our 100% clear kayaks. The transparent hull lets you watch stingrays, fish, and marine life moving beneath you.
-
Free parking is available at our launch area Cooper’s Bayou park, located at 709 N Bayshore Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33759
-
Restrooms are not available at the launch site or on the tour. Please plan ahead.
↠ GET IN TOUCH ↞
Send Us a Message
Call or Text Us
(727) 472-8954
(Available from 8:00am – 5:00pm)