This Hidden Cave With Translucent Emerald Water Is Just an Hour Outside Las Vegas — and You Can See It on a Top-rated Kayak Tour

There's a different way to experience the glow of hitting the jackpot. Viator's half-day tour from Las Vegas takes visitors on a kayaking trip to Emerald Cove, an Arizona grotto with shallow water, where, when the sun shines at the top of the canyon, the algae-tinted water glows green.

The stunning excursion was voted one of the top experiences in the United States, snatching the No. 6 spot in the recent 2022 Viator Experience Awards.

Perhaps the most spectacular part is just how easy it is to go from the indoor excitement of the Las Vegas casinos to the gorgeous outdoor phenomenon on the four-to-five-hour trip with pickup options from The Venetian, Bellagio, or MGM Grand hotels. Visitors can also meet directly at the Willow Beach Marina in Arizona, about an hour away from Vegas.

From there, guests can take a one- or two-person kayak for the four-mile journey on the Colorado River. Along the way, there will be stops to spot wildlife, like bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and big horn sheep. There will also be the opportunity to go on a 15-minute hike, or for a swim in the river.

But of course, the highlight is Emerald Cove (which some also refer to as Emerald Cave) and the 24-feet deep water that creates such an amazing natural glow.

The trip includes snacks and bottled water, as well as use of a life jacket, and is not recommended for those with back or heart problems, in wheelchairs, or with certain other medical conditions. The experience is open to kids age 6 and older, though if they are younger than 14, they'll need to be in a tandem kayak with an adult.

Learn more about the top-rated kayaking experience and book your tour here.