Downtown Austin Kayak Tour: Sunset Bat Viewing

Experience the magic of downtown Austin on a 2.5-hour kayak tour. Paddle along the skyline at golden hour, watch the sunset, and witness the incredible bat flight. Stay to explore the illuminated cityscape at night.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching - The Congress Ave bridge is home to 1.5 Million Mexican Free Tailed Bats. Come watch them from the best vantage point in the city - on a kayak in the middle of the river!
  • Austin - The entire kayak experience is paddling along the river going through downtown Austin. You can see the rapidly changing…
What's Included
  • Kayak, paddles, life jackets, and lights provided
  • High-quality photos taken and sent post-tour
Additional Information

Welcome to the most sought-after experience in Austin.
This magical 2.5-hour kayak journey through the city center begins with a paddle along the length of the Austin skyline during the golden hour, followed by a pause to enjoy the sunset.
We then position ourselves for prime bat viewing and deliver a talk about the bats just before they take flight….

Location
5 East Ave
East Avenue
This link has the info you need including a google maps link, a video tour of where to park and meet me UNDER THE BRIDGE and more. The exact start time changes with the sunset so contact us if you need further assistance.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(169 Ratings)
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Wyliee1
Oct 1, 2025
Great family activity, best way to see the bats - Excellent guide, very knowledgeable and helpful. Relaxed trip. It was an easy paddle and well worth it. You can see so much more from down on the water. It was a small group and there was a chill vibe, you could go at your own pace, with no pressure. They even took photos. The best place to see the bats is from the water, and this was a great group to do it with.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Larry_j
Sep 28, 2025
Great experience and great guides - This was my first time kayaking and I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the guide giving an explanation on the history of the bats and the city
Review provided by Viator
F2888scericc
Sep 27, 2025
Awesome experience - It was a very pleasant experience, our guides were very helpful and make our experience much more enjoyable. Our teenage kids loved it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Camihub
Sep 20, 2025
Book this now! - What an awesome experience! Aaron and his crew were great. We felt safe and taken care of. They took us to the perfect spot for viewing the bats take flight. They took great pictures of our group so we could enjoy the scenery. We did the party paddle board as a group of four and had so much fun. Two hours felt great, so we weren’t racing to get there. It was a nice, leisurely pace. Highly, highly recommend Boats and Bats with Aaron and his crew. A perfect way to end the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passenger49748772804
Sep 19, 2025
Awesome - It was such a beautiful and super relaxing experience. Great for date night. We recommend very much going with boats and bats. They are very patient and a lot of fun. Would definitely go again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolynpgh
Sep 18, 2025
Wonderful experience - Very enjoyable kayaking experience. Excellent communications about the tour location and expectations. Good tour guides. Seeing the bats come out of the bridge was truly spectacular!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Global703202
Sep 16, 2025
One of the best nights of our trip - Wonderful way to spend the evening. Being on the water is the best way to view the beautiful bats!! Quiet and peaceful with a different view of downtown. Our guide Channing was personable & full of wonderful facts & information that made the experience even more special.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeannette_l
Sep 15, 2025
Great experience! Great memories! - My husband and I wanted to do something different and booked this kayak experience. Everything was ready, explained well, loved that they took pictures of us, were detailed in explaining the history of the bats at the congress bridge and just made everything so enjoyable! We will definitely be coming back!
Review provided by Viator
Jameslg121qz
Sep 13, 2025
Outstanding couples outing with 1.5 million bats. - An outstanding outing to see an ecological marvel centered in Austin Texas. Well worth the sweat equity. Definitely recommend to those who love outdoor activities with a significant other.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Monica_o
Sep 10, 2025
Interesting - This experience was pretty cool in so many was, from the welcoming tour guides, watching groups of rowers, seeing pontoon boat tours, the beautiful city skyline lit up at night, and of course learning some history about the bats, as they fly all around. My only tip is to wear none slip shoes. Trust me lesson learned lol…
Review provided by Viator
From $59
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).