Capital Cruises Bat Watching and Sightseeing Tours

Capital Cruises is home to the largest electric paddlewheel boat in the country and the now famous Sunset Bat Watching excursion that offers a spectacular view of the Congress Bridge Bats as they fly out overhead where the contrast against the evening skyline helps them stand out. This tour fills up nearly every night during bat season sometimes a few days in advance.

Capital Cruises’ Internationally Famous Bat Watching Tour
Public nightly bat watching tours depart approximately 30 minutes before sunset and lasts roughly one hour in length. Bat Watching Tours available March through early-November.

Rates for the Sunset Bat Watching tour:

• $12.00 for adults
• $9.00 for seniors
• $7.00 for kids 3 to 12.

A Typical Emergence
Good viewing of the bat emergence happens consistently March through mid-May; more inconsistent viewing of emergences happen mid-May – June (birthing time); BEST viewing is July-September/October.

REMINDER — bats are wild animals and can be unpredictable at any time of year for a variety of factors. We do our best to put you in the right place at the right time to view the emergence based on current patterns and give a great tour of the area. We cannot guarantee a good or great emergence. If you have questions about what the emergences have been like prior to purchasing tickets, give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss what we have been seeing.

Sunset/Sightseeing tours available November through February, (weather permitting) excluding holidays.

Rates for the Sunset/Sightseeing tours:

• $10.00 for adults
• $8.00 for seniors
• $5.00 for kids 3 to 12.

The Anne W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is the home of the largest urban bat colony in the world.  Austin’s bridge bats are Mexican free-tailed bats. They migrate each spring from central Mexico and return to Mexico in early Fall. Our cruises provide the best possible viewing for one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in the world! Bat viewing is available on a public tour nightly March through mid-November or you can customize a private excursion with dinner, cocktails, and more. Please see the dinner cruise and party boat pricing for rates.

November through February (weather permitting) we now offer a nightly sunset tour for those who want to just get out on the lake and view the sunset. Though most of the bats are gone at this time, some do stay around but viewing is limited. This tour is just to get out on the water at the perfect time – sunset! Bring a jacket, some snacks, and a beverage of your choice and enjoy the scenery!