Our famous two-hour bio bay kayak tour includes interesting interpretations of the reserve’s fragile ecology, star constellations, and a fascinating encounter with billions of bioluminescent organisms. Watch how every stroke of your paddle leaves behind a glowing swirl of blue light and fish light up their path like shooting stars in the water. The adventure to Laguna Grande can only be described as magical, creating memories that will last a lifetime! In order to best appreciate the bioluminescent phenomena, our tours run at sunset and early evening and it can get quite dark in the mangrove canal. Please be aware of this if you are afraid of darkness, a first-time kayaker, or have small kids. Please keep in mind that this tour takes place in a natural environment and that the bioluminescent phenomenon, although rare, can be seen year-round. The intensity of brightness is unpredictable and can vary.
Night kayaking was a new and great experience. The guides were great. The bioluminescent portion of the program was nonexistent for us. The description of the tour stated that we may not see any bioluminescent elements. Enjoy the kayaking and hope for the best.
Great fun to kayak through the Mangroves to the bay. Tour guides were excellent and made the experience a lot of fun and safe.
My 15 year old daughter and I did this trip. Our tour guides were funny and informative. The paddle out was pleasant. At the lagoon, we learned about the bioluminescence, learned about the constellations, and finally put a tarp over our kayaks and saw the bioluminescence. My daughter said that it was a bucket-list level experience. I agree. Thank you!!
Such a fun experience! The guides were so engaging and informative! The mangroves were really cool. And of course, the light up plankton rocked. I only want better snacks. Everything else was awesome. Props to the bus driver. 10/10 playlist, nothing but bops. Louder for the people in the back.
It was lot of fun. Kayaking at night is more difficult but our guide Zaer (name probably spelled wrong) was very helpful. He steered our kayaks both directions. Even though we had gone on a no moon night - we saw very faint light while kayaking. Once they covered us with a tarp we really saw the luminosity. We could see sparkles while kayaking but saw real bright luminous water when covered with tarp.
Impressive company. The presence of a full moon during our visit to observe the bioluminescence may have made it difficult to detect any changes in the water, but this company thought ahead and provided a tarp to shield the group, ensuring that we could fully enjoy the experience we came for.
Had rough time with the person for the transportation. We did not like the ride, we were first ones to pick and last ones to drop
This was a great experience. The guides made sure everyone had fun and were able to see the glowing water even if the conditions weren’t ideal. Definitely would do it again.
The activity itself wasn’t bad however communication wasn’t the best (I texted and asked about proper attire, told there was no specifics just to end up having to remove what I was wearing). At the end of the trip my bus wasn’t allowed to move due to someone not paying causing me to lose money on other planned activities
Amazing crew! The tour guides were great. The bus was very comfortable. They brought bug spray and snacks which was very kind. We were able to see the bioluminescents!
You couldn't see much of the bioluminescence when we went, but that was out of our control. The moon was almost full. Regardless, our tour guide did everything he could to get us to see it, and we could still see the sparkles after putting a tarp across our kayaks and playing with the water. The kayaking was fun. Heading out to the lagoon was easy (I have experience kayaking) but heading back to base was challenging. The current was against us. If you are up for the challenge and understanding of nature, it is still a great experience. Our toue guides were hilarious and knowledgeable. We had a great time.
If the moon is out don’t expect to see anything. Our tour guide had a tarp for us to put over our kayak to see but still not good.
The smell of seaweed was awful! Your body will smell the same at the end. There is a very good chance that you will not see anything! Check the moon cycle and avoid the nights with half to full moon. The channel to get to the lagoon is extremely dark. Do not do this if you do not have kayak experience. Not as easy as it sounds.
The guides were great and this adventure was well organized. We did not see bioluminescence!!! They put a tarp over our heads and then I saw 1 little spark. I know Mother Nature can be unpredictable but the price was a bit steep for a maybe” tour.”
Awesome tour. The guides were great very knowledgeable and helpful. I would definitely check this tour out.
My husband and I booked a tour earlier in the day and were supposed to be picked up at my hotel at 330pm and returned by 9pm. At 10:30am the day of the tour, they contacted me saying they didn't have the minimum number of people necessary to do the tour at the time we opted for. They offered to pick us up at 5:50pm for a tour that started at 8pm but that did not work for our schedule. They refunded us all of our money but we never ended up doing the trip. Leaving this review just to let others know that it is very possible that your tour will get cancelled if they don't have enough people so beware it is a thing. Luckily they will refund you if the alternate time doesn't work for you.
This was a really nice experience—one of those things that’s hard to truly capture on camera because it’s something you just have to experience in person. I went solo and ended up partnering with someone from the tour group, which was great, but we did struggle a bit with the kayaking since it was high tide when we started. Coming back was much easier, so I imagine going a little later in the day might have been more relaxed. That said, the tour itself was well-organized, and the surroundings were beautiful. They also provided snacks, and there was a spot nearby to grab food after, which was a nice bonus. I’d say don’t worry too much about bringing a phone or camera—you’ll be focused on being in the moment anyway. Overall, a memorable and peaceful experience, just know that the tide and timing can affect how easy the kayaking part feels.
Very fun experience, kayaking at night and seeing the luminescent plankton. Guides were friendly, informative and attentive. Great experience for families.
Great tour guides! Carlos was awesome! Super fun experience! We really enjoyed paddling through the mangroves.
A good experience, but not much water glow and a bit disorganized. We booked a tour that would pick us up at the hotel at 3:30pm. We were there 10 minutes earlier because the site said they only wait for 5 minutes, so we didn't want to be late. We waited for 25 minutes and then decided to call the company to understand why they weren't there yet. The woman told me that "for some reason" the pickup spot and the time of the pickup was changed. It would be at 4:20pm in another hotel. We had to wait for 1 hour and out visit to San Juan was short. After that, the second problem was the air conditioner inside the bus, it was freezing cold. Specially in the return, when we were still a bit wet from the lagun water. They don't provide any food or water during the drive or the tour, and there also no place to buy it. At the end they give you a really small bottle of water and a mini snack. So before you go, I advise you to drink a lot of water and eat well because the return is late and depending on the day there won't be a lot of open restaurants when you get back. The bioluminescence was very low as well, and we went on a new moon with clear sky. Besides those things, it is a very different adventure and fun activity, the tour guides and bus drivers are very pleasant and nice! Nice jokes along the way and explanations will be provided. Overall, different and expensive, but ok to do once in a lifetime.
Overall good experience. A crowded area with too many kayaks but the tour operator and the staff were great. They picked us up from our hotel, had good instructions, and equipment.Had to use tarp as it was a full moon night.
You will get wet up to waist but the water is warm. Very friendly guides. If you're on a trip that leaves before dark, seeing the mangroves themselves is very interesting. There is a bathroom to change clothes in but would be nice if their were changing stalls elsewhere besides bathroom. The guides were very knowledgeable and noticed they helped those that hasn't much experience with kayaking
Really enjoyed this experience. We got picked up at our hotel in Luquillo at around 6pm and then it was a short trip to Laguna Grande on a comfortable shuttle bus. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The kayaking in the dark was cool especially navigating through the mangroves but the bioluminescent experience was a bit underwhelming as the only time we saw microorganisms glowing was when we swished our hands in the water. It also took some patience because some of the folks on the tour were not experienced kayakers and kept guiding the line into the trees.
We did this tour on January 30, 2025. This tour was a bit underwhelming. If you have never kayaked before it can be difficult to learn on your first try and keep up. You basically are kayaking 1.5 miles each way to get to the lagoon. Once at the lagoon you are asked to put your kayak side by side with your group. They will hand you jellyfish that light up in your hand with a gentle squeeze or splashing it with water which is cool. However, the actual light in the water is very hard to see. They had to put a tarp over us to actually see it, and all it looks like is sparks when splashing water. It doesn’t happen every time you splash the water but you will see a spark. So it was a bit underwhelming. Your guides were good, just wasn’t worth the money.
We scheduled for a pickup at our hotel for 3:30. About noon, we received an email that the pickup was rescheduled for 5:30. The van finally arrived close to 6:30. We had an orientation and set off for the channel to the bay. It was a moonless night and very dark. We could not see a thing in the curvy channel and lost the boat in front of us. We crashed into the mangos and had to be towed out by one of the guides. We met a party boat in the channel and was almost run over by it. We finally reached the bay where the experience was finally enjoyed. We wondered why head lamps are not used during the paddle to the bay? It seemed dangerous to be in that channel in the darkness especially when we came upon the party boat. It seems Viator is run by inexperienced, incompetent people with no concern given to your customers' schedules, or abilities to paddle kayaks through a dark canal. Safety is not addressed although we were required to wear a life jacket. I woulde not recommend Viator to anyone.
The staff was great but there were so many companies that it got a little confusing. They provided mosquito repellent but we still got eaten alive. That being said, the company was great with their communications ahead of time. They explained that the bioluminescence is a natural phenomena and they have not control over it. However, it was beautiful to watch the water sparkle with every paddle and splash. I would definitely recommend this experience but use the strongest mosquito repellent you can buy.
We aren’t great kayakers s but guides helped us! Drive from San Juan is long but worth it. We enjoyed.
According to our guide, the brightness was at 5%. In reality, it was probably less than that. Riding a van for over 2 hours and saw nothing bioluminescent was a waste of time
Great experience. Especially kayaking through a pitch dark mangrove is unique. Guides were very accommodative and knowledgeable.
Didn’t see any bioluminescence:/ Guides said it was due to rain and clouds. Disappointing, but understand can’t control nature. Would have been nice to know we wouldn’t see anything before we went. We would have chosen to do something else instead of spending 6 total hours (including travel) to kayak in the dark for a couple hours.
You canceled my birthday kayak tour because agent hadn’t set up proper pickup service for me. I waited hr with no driver. Very disgusted.
Wonderful and informative. I was due to come with my partner but had to go alone at the last minute and they were so lovely to me I felt very at ease and really enjoyed it. Wear bug spray - I was eaten alive, but it was worth it
Felix and Manuela were amazing!! What a great experience! They were funny as well as informative. Will absolutely do again!!
Monolo and Felix were awesome guides. The glowing glittery waters are truely mesmerizing. The best was when you scoop your hand up and see your hand glow and sparkle. Highly recommend!!
Our experience was excellent. You do not need to be an expert kayaker they will help you. The best part was the awesome views.
I really enjoyed it. The bay was beautiful. Would highly recommend even if you’re a beginning at kayaking
Paddling through the bay as jumping tarpons stirred up the bioluminescence was something I will never forget. The guides were amazing and added to the overall experience. Highly recommend.
It was not the best experience. 1) if you select the half day option, expect to drive for an hour, meet up with another group, then wait 60 minutes while the other group finishes dinner. Then, you drive for another 40 minutes and finally get to the bay. 2) the kayaking is fun, however, the return trip is in complete darkness through a narrow channel with no guiding lights and hundreds of other kayakers (multiple companies at the same time are in the water). The channel is PITCH black upon return and most kayakers are good people who have no idea what they are doing, which means the end up ramming you and crashing you into the shore. 3) you spend 20 minutes actually at the bay enjoying the bio-life and nearly 60-90 minutes kayaking to and from. 4) staff was nice though.
Our bus driver George was awesome in every way. We were delayed due to a car accident on the road, but he was determined to get us to our destination. The whole crew ensured that we have a great experience while being safe . It was a great time seeing nature at its best.
excellent time! do the earlier tour so you can see the beauty in the day and watch transition into the night! met great people too.
Beautiful scenery as we kayaked to the bay. Once we got there it was amazing. I wouldn't visit the island without seeing this!
Manolo and team were absolutely fantastic and tried their best to make the trip memorable. The sad truth is that is just underwhelming after seeing the pictures on the website . You basically kayak in the dark for an hour and put your hand in the water . I wanted it to be great and like I said the guides were fantastic
Seeing the bioluminescence of the Laguna Grande is an incredible experience; it looks like a scene out of Avatar. Manolo, EJ and the rest of the team did a great job guiding us through the mangrove canal to reach the bay, where we got to experience this natural phenomenon. My only critique is the trip back to "port" is a little disorganized given the tight fit and kayakers' varying degrees of experience (which can result in low-key chaos), but this is a small price to pay for the ability to see this awesome scene.
My friends and I had a lot of fun with Manolo and his group of guides! The bioluminescence is absolute magic. Well worth the challenging kayak journey to the bay (the way back is much easier as you're rowing with the tide).
This trip was simply amazing! The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. I hadn't been in a kayak in 20+ years, but they gave us plenty of instruction, and I felt perfectly safe. The bioluminescence is out of this world. This trip is a must!
Oh boy it was a challenge rowing both my daughter and myself but we made it. The reward of the bioluminescence in the bay was worth it. An adventure I’d say. A core memory for sure.
Everyone loved the tour. Tandem kayaks were great for groups with anyone who can’t handle a kayak alone.
Me and my friend were bumping into everything , thankfully the tour guides were very helpful jariel and Pablo they were very helpful. Wish we could’ve gotten their socials to thank them again !
Such an awesome experience & definitely recommend doing this excursion if visiting PR!! Keep in mind, the kayaking trip to the bioluminescent bay is a good distance so if you’re not very active or don’t enjoy physical activities I’m not sure if you would enjoy this. Tour guides are very helpful and informative as well!
Kayaking through the bioluminescent waters of Puerto Rico at night was an extraordinary experience that left me in awe of nature's wonders. Our guide was not only knowledgeable but also injected a contagious enthusiasm that made the adventure even more enjoyable. Despite the darkness, I felt completely safe under their guidance. Witnessing the bioluminescent organisms light up the water around us was truly mesmerizing. The photos I took, while beautiful, fail to capture the full extent of the magic we witnessed. It's one of those experiences that you have to see with your own eyes to truly appreciate. Overall, this kayaking excursion was an unforgettable journey into the beauty of the natural world. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Puerto Rico. It's a unique opportunity to connect with nature in a way that few experiences can match.
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