Bio Bay Night Kayaking With Transport From San Juan

The description says it’s approx 2 hours but forgot to mention that it’s 1.5/2hrs to get there! It’s hard not impossible and so fun. We got picked up at 6:15pm and did not return until 11:00/11:30pm

It was a great experience. We had a lot of moonlight, so visibility was limited, but the tour guides provided tarps to help block out the light. There is a lot of paddling!!

So...the experience is not what you're expecting. The kayaking to the lagoon was fun, however, you don't see any of the bioluminescence. You don't see it until you are stopped on the lagoon, hiding from the light under a tarp, swirling your wrist in the water seeing little sparks. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful to see, but if you are expecting a glowing wake of water, you'll be disappointed.

Great experience and great trip! The transport, the staff and the guides we very professional, helpful and fun! WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND this trip to everyone!

The experience was ok. The guides were kind however, it was not organized. I had to call several times to figure out my pick up place. There’s a lot of confusion at the launch place mostly because it’s so dark and you can’t really understand what the process is getting out into the water. Basically you’re a group kayaking in amongst other groups and they want you to stay together in a single line kayaking in the pitch black with only a glow stick on the boat in front of you to figure out where to go. You have to have some kayaking knowledge or you can get into the trees, literally. The bioluminescence is pretty and we were able to see it without any problems. I like the explanation from the guys about why this phenomenon occurs. Snacks? It’s a bag of chips and some water out of a water cooler. I would’ve appreciated a water bottle or here’s a great tip: bring a bottle of water with you because you will be thirsty. They tell you to bring a change of clothes, but the changing room is a dirty bathroom with only three stalls and there’s hundreds of people trying to get changed. As I said, not organized.

Went with my 13yo son. We enjoyed it. Felt safe and prepared. They could safely store stuff we didn't want to get wet. We had realistic expectations. It wasn't the strong glowing liquid in the images. It was more like when it's dark and you can see the sparks of static electricity. We thought it was really cool. The only problem was that I booked 6pm and arrived for 6pm to be told they texted me that it was 8pm start time (I was meeting at the Kayak Village instead of getting picked up in San Juan). I had messaged them through Trip Advisor asking that and gotten no response. So we had to wait around for 2 hours. The name on the Trip Advisory booking didn't match the name on their office in Kayak Village so that was also confusing and I initially went to the wrong office.

Great time! Be prepared to get wet. The guides covered us with tarps to ensure we could see the organisms light up. Joe was a great guide!

Our experience with Emily Nitshy was truly outstanding. From start to finish, she was incredibly professional, caring, and attentive. She went above and beyond to make our tour not just smooth, but genuinely enjoyable. When we were struggling to paddle in the dark, we asked Emily if she could hook her kayak to ours — and without hesitation, she did. She pulled us the entire way, ensuring we were safe and comfortable. Her kindness and dedication were remarkable. On top of that, Emily has a fantastic sense of humor, which made the whole experience even more memorable and fun. Guides like her are rare — she made us feel supported, relaxed, and well taken care of. We highly recommend Emily for anyone looking for an unforgettable and well-guided tour. She’s simply the best!

This was a wonderful experience! Rupert (our driver) was great at communicating when and where he would pick us up and got us there and back safely. The guides were so nice and informative teaching us about the trees and the Laguna as we went out. We were a little slow so our guide Joe tied us to his kayak making our navigation of the canal easier. He taught us all about the amazing island. Then they put tarps over us to see the bioluminescence because the moon was full and it was so cool! Then we got to hold a jellyfish too. The whole crew was educated, focused on safety, organized and did everything they could to help us have the best experience possible. Thank you for making my 43rd birthday so special!

This kayaking tour was so much fun! All the tour guides were wonderful and my family had an awesome time. Although the moon was a little bright we did see the bioluminescence in the darkest areas of the mangrove closest to the outlet of the bay. They also gave us tarps to see the bioluminescence when we were in the bay. All-in-all this was a great tour and I recommend it if you are looking for a fun kayaking experience to see the bioluminescence in the bay.

We barely saw anything. It was pretty much kayaking in the dark bumping into things. The trip was disappointing. After kayaking we went under a tarp & waved our hands in the water & saw a slight glow

The staff was very friendly. And I did like that they provided transportation to and from. However it was not luminescent at all. And rather crowded going through MonGrove. We all had to huddled together in our kayaks and throw tarps over our heads just to see a little bit of light in the water with our hands. Could not even get a light from the paddle. And was not what I expected. I was disappointed.Also we were never told how to find our picture until someone asked. They were out of toilet paper in the bathrooms.

Transportation makes the most sense because of location; it's hard to get there. This is not that much fun if this is 1st time in a canoe. Be prepared to get wet, and to do some work. The bay itself was not impressive. This tour is overpriced but staff is nice.

It was all so much fun! The hotel pick up was right on time and very organized. Our kayak guide, David, was amazing. He really made an effort to take care of everyone in our group. Beyond seeing the bioluminescent plankton, kayaking in the dark, through the canal and at the lagoon was quite an adventure!

Seeing the bioluminescent water was great. Be prepared to work those paddles. Good experience for families and couples.

The bio bay night kayak was the one thing my husband and I really wanted to do in Puerto Rico and we read soooo many reviews. I’m really glad we did, because we definitely choose the right tour group for us! We checked the moon and then choose a night closest to the new moon (we were only a few days off and newsflash- it has to be dark out to see anything glow.) Our guides were wonderful and very attentive as we kayaked through the mangroves. A lot of the people in our group had never kayaked before and several people were hesitant because it was late and dark and you can barely see where you’re going. The guides were there helping everyone. There were 18 people in our group, 2 per kayak, and 3 guides so one guide for every 6 people, or 3 kayaks. That’s a lot of help! We loved every second! It was like being on another planet. You have to do the latest tour on the darkest night to get the full experience, and it’s totally worth it. Check the phase of the moon and then book!!

Our instructor Pedro was amazing he knew I was scared and attached our kayak to his with a broken wrist all the way back ! Extremely grateful

Peniel Access Eco Tours was absolutely amazing! Our tour guides John and Indio were so funny and welcoming and informative about the adventure we went on. They coached my 6 year old out of fear and into having the time of his life. I highly recommend this tour!

The kayaking was fun and the kids really enjoyed it ( ages 9,10,&11), However we were extremely disappointed with the actual Bio Bay illuminescent. It is nothing like the what was described in the advertisement. Half of our party did not even see the “glowing”organisms, and the rest of us that did were not impressed. Definitely not worth the $100 each price tag . For an awesome family adventure I would suggest the rainforest hiking tour which includes jumping of cliffs, ropes swings , and waterslides... all for $50 each.

Having the transportation from our hotel in San Juan was huge!! It was an hour n half drive to and from. There was a lot of traffic going to Farajo . Our driver Frankie was great and informative. The night kayaking was a cool experience. It was pitch dark going through the mangroves. Unfortunately when we got to the bay itself it was well lit by the moon and stars which was beautiful. But because if all the natural light we were unable able to really see the bio luminescent. Our guide Brian provided us with a tarp to put over our kayaks so we were in complete darkness and the we were able to see the bio lit up when we splashed the water. So that was a little disappointing. Overall cool experience!

Really amazing experience. I’m so glad we got to do it! My husband and I took five kids, ages 6-16. We all loved it! Thanks.

We went on the night kayaking tour. I have a disability, and the staff were so helpful, accommodating and kind. Not only did I love the tour, but also I did not feel one bit out of place! Can’t say enough good things about the tour and their hospitality!

We went on the second run kayaking tour with transportation included. Everybody was very nice and took extra steps to make sure that my daughter and I were able to navigate the kayak and have a good time. Special shout out to Donatello for entertaining my 9-year-old when she wasn't up for paddling anymore! Thanks everyone! So fun to do such as peaceful night time experience.

Staff was really good and enthusiastic, but.. They were too much light because of full moon. We had to put a black tarp at top of our head during 4 minutes to see a little bit of bioluminescence, which absolutely does not worth the cost ...

Scheduled the 8 pm through our concierge. Told to arrive at 7:40. Arrived early and was told check in would be at 8:30. My significant and 2 adult children were in doubles kayaks. Arrived in the Bio bay and someone noticed my kids kayak taking on water. The guides had no clue what to do. The kayak eventually capsized and my kids were in the water. Again, no idea what to do. Finally decided to get the kayak to shore and try to “fix” it. Long story bunt son gave his glasses to one of the guides. The guide list his glasses. No offer to replace them. My kids kayak was finally “fixed” so that it didn’t take on water after my son was in the water about 30 minutes and was attached to another kayak and they raced back to the start of the trip. No one checked to see if they were okay or offered them towels, refreshments, etc. Be aware these guides are not professional and have little if any training. Besides my kids having a terrible experience my trip was also ruined as I was worried about them. When I asked the guide, I was told “ those aren’t your kids”. So unprofessional! Don’t take your family in this trip!

The guides were very friendly and informative. When we first arrived we had to sit around for over 45 minutes. Then kayak off shore in the pitch black. Navigating through the mangroves was the most interesting and fun part of the tour, even despite one of the guides screaming intermittently and hitting the trees with his ore for dramatic effect. Seriously lower your expectations for the lagoon, the bioluminescent plankton are tiny and faint (and I was there on a night with NO moonlight). It’s very serene on the lagoon and I’m sure on a clear night the stars would’ve been breathtaking. This experience should be billed as a “night kayaking trip” and not even mention the bioluminescence.

The tour guides were helpful and gave clear direction for beginners. They also helped anyone who needed it during the tour and made sure everyone had a fun and safe experience. We learned a lot about the bioluminescent microorganisms and enjoyed seeing them in the water. Overall it was a really cool experience. The drive to and from the bay from San Juan was long but we had fun on the tour bus so it was OK.

We were initially apprehensive about the tour. We had limited experience kayaking, and were worried about the limited visibility, but our tour guides were AMAZING! They gave us an excellent tutorial and helped us through each step of the process. Chris was our tour guide and went above and beyond! When we experienced choppy waters getting out of the bay, he hooked his boat to ours and towed us until we got to calmer waters in the mangroves. Once we were in the mangroves, the waters were calm and we were able to drift slowly through the narrow channel. We were surrounded by dense foliage and our only light source was the beauty of the stars and night sky. It felt like we were transported into another world! Once we reached the open bio bay, we were able to experience the bioluminescence. Because we were in a kayak, we were able to put our hands into the water and see the emission of light right before our eyes! It was simply magical! Kayaking back against the current took some effort, but it was all worth it. Our guides made all of it possible. They were attentive, and made sure everyone was safe and having a great time! Thank you Chris!

If you are taking this tour because you want to see waves that "glow in the dark", stop now, because you won't. If you want to have a really cool experience and get to see a phenomenon that only occurs in five places in the entire world, then please proceed. Sitting in the middle of an inky dark (calm) bay in the middle of night with no lights except the moon and lights on the distant hillsides is NOT something Erin and I would typically do. With that said, we are glad we did. To see the bio-luminescence that naturally takes place in this bay is really quite something. To be clear, the kayak trip to get to the bay is fun, but a little eerie as you wind your way through a channel that cuts under an umbrella of mangroves. The only light is from the moon or the occasional head lamp shine from one of the guides (who are plentiful and excellent at their jobs). Its a "twisty, turny" trip to get to the bay, but once there, you will be happy you made the trip. The luminescence will not "blow your mind", it is not a "glow in the dark bay" but it is a really awesome thing to see. Your hand or your kayak paddle will look like a sparkler when you churn them under the water. Twisting your paddle deep in the water created a really cool effect. Be aware: Kayaking back from the bay is harder as you will be going against the current. This makes is seem longer than it is, but you will make it! Tip 1: Check the phases of the moon and try to schedule your trip on a night that has the least amount of moonlight. Tip 2: You'll probably arrive at your launch site, get checked in and then be told that you have 30 or 45 minutes before the tour begins. You will be encouraged to visit the local shops or eateries that are across the park from the launch area. We found a very small, open air eatery called De Paseo that served fresh made empenadas. I got chicken ($2) and Erin got shrimp ($3), but they have other varieties available as well. Because they are made fresh, it takes a couple minutes to be made. They are served piping hot in small paper sacks and they are AWESOME! If I knew how good they would be, I would have ordered two! Tip 3: The park has public restrooms, but they are a little sketchy, not from a scary standpoint, but from a kinda dirty, no lock on the ladies stalls and no toilet paper in the ladies room standpoint. We were with another couple, so the girls visited together and then used hand sanitizer. The van ride from our hotel (El San Juan Hotel) was very nice. The van was clean and comfortable (air conditioned). Our driver, Adam, was very friendly and answered all of our questions and gave us good information about Puerto Rico. His stories of his experience during and after Hurricane Maria are fascinating. Our kayak trip guides, which were all excellent, included Kenny, Emelee and Donatel and were friendly, informative, helpful and engaging. Overall, it was a fun and unique experience. To see something that is so rare is really cool.