You may or may not know that I am a lover of outdoor adventures as much as I love big city travels. Honestly, I’m up for anything, any time, and pretty much anywhere! So, when we decided on a trip to Puerto Rico, I didn’t know that much about the island, nor about the Bioluminescent Bays in Puerto Rico.
Luckily, I’m a quick studier and it doesn’t take me any time to agree to a new and unusual experience.
We spent a week traveling in Puerto Rico and one of the biggest highlights was swimming in a bioluminescent bay. Picture it; Under the moon and the stars, surrounded by mangroves, all with my favorite people! Here, I share a bit about what bio bays are, and how to (and why you should) add one to your Puerto Rico Itinerary.
What is a Bioluminescent Bay?
Bodies of water, like oceans and bays, have microscopic organisms growing in them just as part of their natural environment. When certain conditions create a larger than usual concentration of these dinoflagellates, then humans can observe their bioluminescence. They literally glow in the dark and light up with a turquoise sparkle.
This phenomenon occurs when the microorganisms are stimulated and moved around. A chemical, luciferin, combined with oxygen, makes for a light show. So that means if you splash around or move through the water in a boat, then you can see the magic for yourself.
I have seen this exciting magic in fireflies while growing up on the east coast, and in a glow worm cave in New Zealand, but never before had I gone swimming in a star studded bay.
Here’s the info if you want to try it for yourself.
Where Are the Puerto Rico Bio Bays?
I’ve learned that there are many bioluminescent bays around the world but a limited number of ecosystems that support their occurrence. From California to Taiwan, and Mexico to Australia, and Vietnam to Japan, if you look, you can find these hidden gems.
Puerto Rico is a special island with three bio bays!
Mosquito Bay
The most famous of the three bio bays in PR is Mosquito Bay in Vieques. Vieques is near Ceiba on the east coast of Puerto Rico. This bay is surrounded by mangrove swamps that supply the plankton or dinoflagellates with their food. Mosquito Bay is known for its unusually high concentration of dinoflagellates, which actually doubled after Hurricane Maria. It’s estimated that there are an average of 1,000,000 to 2,100,000 dinoflagellates per gallon of water in Mosquito Bay. Also, the Bay is set within a natural reserve with very little light pollution, making the night viewing of the bioluminescence extra bright.
To get to Mosquito Bay, you need to take a 45-minute ferry boat from Cieba. A few tour companies operate out of Mosquito Bay. You are only allowed to access the bay in kayaks and are not allowed to swim in it.
Laguna Grande
The most popular of the three bio bays in PR is Laguna Grande. It is the most visited because it is so close to San Juan in the town of Fajardo, just over an hour from San Juan. This bio bay is more of a canal than a bay. In the lagoon, you will experience bioluminescence in kayaks. No swimming is allowed in Laguna Grande.
La Parguera
The only bio bay in PR that allows swimming is La Parguera in Lajas. Lajas is about two hours and 15 minutes from San Juan on the west coast of Puerto Rico. It’s also about one hour south of Rincon, a west coast town known for its spectacular beaches and surfing culture.
I can tell you all about La Parguera because it’s the bay we swam in! We were spending a few days in Ricon and had a transport drive us one evening to Lajas for our bio bay tour and then drove us back to Rincon when we were done. This was the perfect excursion and I highly recommend this plan. There are full day tours from San Juan to La Parguera as well.
A few permitted motor boat tours are allowed into the mangrove swamps surrounding the bay, and people on these tours are allowed to swim in the bay and make the plankton move around and light up. It’s difficult to describe how special and exciting it is to be splashing around in fluorescent water under a warm and dark night sky.
A Puerto Rico Bio Bay – Tips For Success
Pay online ahead of time to complete the waiver forms and to select the type of empanadillas you want on the boat.
Plan on a two-hour excursion plus drive time on either end (one hour each way from Rincon). Paradise Scuba is $60 p/person + tax
What to Expect on your Puerto Rico Bio Bay Tour
On your tour, you can expect a number of different perks and luxuries. Before the tour, you’ll meet your driver in front of your hotel. They’ll also take you back to your hotel at the end of your tour. You’ll check in at the Paradise Scuba office at 5:30 p.m., the tour begins at 6 p.m.
The tour guide will pick you up at the office and walk you to the boat dock. There were eight adults and two children on our boat, plus the two guides. Our guides, one the captain and a guide, were awesome, very knowledgeable and helpful.
Lifevests and snorkels will be provided, so you don’t need to bring your own. However, it’s important to bring your bathing suit, a towel, and a jacket or sweater for once the sun goes down. There are restrooms at the office to use before boarding the boat.
Empanadillas and a selection of beer and non-alcoholic beverages are provided on the boat. The boat departs at 6 p.m. and cruises to a shallow bay where you are allowed to wade in the warm water and enjoy your empanadillas and a drink while waiting for the sun to go down. As the sun sets, the boat drives through the mangroves as you learn about the history of the area and the science of bioluminescence.
Once the sun goes down, you’ll finally hop into the water. You’ll stay close to the boat and splash around, squealing and marveling at the sight of the fluorescent water. After 30 minutes of fun in the water, you’ll climb aboard the boat and will be taken back to the dock.
Before you leave, remember it’s important to tip your tour guide. If you don’t have cash, they do take Venmo!
Is Swimming in this Puerto Rico Bio Bay Safe?
Yes, this is a very safe activity. I was surprised how many people commented that I must be so brave to do this, or that it looked scary. Quite the opposite! This is a very low-key adventure. The boat ride is slow and short, the water is very warm, and you are wearing a life vest as you doggy paddle close to the boat with two highly trained professional tour boat operators.
Apparently there are some places in the world in which bioluminescence is caused by a red tide or more toxic and is potentially harmful to humans. This is not one of those! La Parguera is completely safe to swim in.
Visiting Bioluminescent Bay in Puerto Rico
Visiting La Parguera’s bioluminescent bay is a magical experience that left me in awe of nature’s wonders. This activity will absolutely exceed your expectations! The combination of the gentle warm water, illuminated by a world of microscopic organisms, is an otherworldly scene.
This phenomenon is a must-see if you’re interested in checking off a bucket list item. They say that La Parguera isn’t just a destination; it’s a journey into the extraordinary!
