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Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure from San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Bioluminescent Bay Glass Bottom Kayak Tour from San Juan

Likely to Sell Out

From $110.00

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

5 hours 30 minutes
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Join a nighttime adventure into the waters of Laguna Grande as you visit the area’s amazing bioluminescent bay during this half-day excursion. Hop aboard a kayak as you paddle through the dense mangrove forests, heading to the area where the microscopic plankton puts on its surreal aquatic light show when you glide through the water. Your professional guide also tells you more about this fragile ecosystem and how visitors can help protect it.

Nighttime kayaking excursion to bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico
Paddle your way through the waters in a kayak
Marvel at the glowing plankton in the water
Learn about this fragile and unique eco-system from the guide
Get picked up and dropped off at your hotel (in the San Juan area)

What's Included

Complimentary pickup and drop-off in selected areas of San Juan (Old San Juan, Condado and Isla Verde locations and touristic zones). Locations outside of San Juan are subject to additional pick up fee.
Maximum weight to participate is 240 lbs (108 kg) per person
Quality kayaking gear and equipment (small size for children)
Kayaking orientation and instructions
Commentary of the surrounding area and its flora and fauna
Bottles of water

Gratuities
Pickup in: Dorado, Rio Grande, Fajardo, Humacao. Meeting point option available.

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Complimentary pick up only in selected areas of San Juan: Old San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde, Miramar, Ocean Park and Calle Loiza. Meeting point available by PR-3 in Rio Grade, Luquillo and Fajardo. Exact pick up time will be provided the day prior to the tour.

What To Expect

Laguna Grande

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Maximum weight to participate: 240 pounds (108 kg) per person. Not combined, no exceptions.
Due to the strict weight restriction all participants are subject to be weighted prior to beginning the tour. No cancellations or refunds will be issued if a person neglects to inform correct weight, and is not able to participate of the tour.
Each participant must be capable of paddling on their own on a 2 person kayak, and be able to sit on the same position for about 2 hours.
You will get wet, it is recommended that you wear bathing suit underneath, bring a towel and extra clothes for after the tour.
Pregnant women, persons with recent surgeries, past injuries or back problems, heart complaints or other serious medical conditions cannot participate on this tour.
This tour does not includes a stop to eat.
The bio bay is an unpredictable natural phenomenon that may be influenced by multiple factors. Bioluminoscity level can vary from very visible to minimum or none without any previous notice. Full Moon phase may also affect the visibility. In the event of this happening alternate methods such as the use of a tarp will be incorporated in order to appreciate it.
Please travel light and only bring the necessary to the tour. Leave behind electronic devices, any important documentation like passport, large sums of cash or credit cards. Cell phones require waterproof case. Bespoke Lifestyle Management will not be responsible for lost or stolen belongings. No luggage allowed on the buses.

Reservations made for the 6pm tour (second run) have a probability of being rescheduled to the first run if minimum is not met, or first run still has spaces available.
Minimum age to participate is 7 years.
Participants cannot be afraid of the dark as you will be kayaking thru pitch black areas.
Failure to provide correct weight or hotel/lodging/cruise information upon booking may result in bus not being able to pick you at your location or close to it. No refunds will be issued due to this.
Bus will wait only 5 minutes after your assigned pick up time. No refunds will be issued if you miss your pick up.
This tour operates under rain and other weather conditions. Guide will determine to call it off when thunderstorms or other serious conditions happens.
Total estimate duration of 5 hours includes: 2 to 2.5 hours driving time and 2 hours at tour site
Published starting time is only an estimate. Exact pick up time will be provided the DAY PRIOR to your tour.
Bespoke LM Reserves the Right of Admission - If a person appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not following instructions or being disruptive the Guide has the right to Cancel their reservation at any moment, and No Refunds will be issued due to this.
Persons with the previously listed health restrictions cannot participate on the tour. No refunds will be authorized if a person neglects to read complete description and does not meet the safety requirements and limitations on the day of the tour.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Filter by:

Q:What causes the bioluminescence that we see during the Bioluminescent Bay Glass Bottom Kayak Tour from San Juan?

A:The luminescence is caused by our glowing friends, the Pyrodinium Bahamense, microscopic planktons capable of producing natural light at the touch of your hand!

Feb 2021

Q:Is there a weight limit to use the kayak during the Bioluminescent Bay Glass Bottom Kayak Tour from San Juan?

A:The weight limit for glass-bottom kayaks is 185-190 lbs (84-86 kg) per person. Height will also influence, even if not reaching the weight limit. If any guests weigh 190-260 lbs, please let us know in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout.

Feb 2021

Q:Do you provide life jackets on the Bioluminescent Bay Glass Bottom Kayak Tour from San Juan?

A:Yes, and the use of lifejackets is mandatory during water-related activities.

Feb 2021

Q:Can pregnant women participate in the Bioluminescent Bay Glass Bottom Kayak Tour from San Juan?

A:Due to safety concerns, Pregnant ladies past their first trimester are not permitted to ride.

Feb 2021

Q:Can I bring my children on the Bioluminescent Bay Glass Bottom Kayak Tour from San Juan?

A:Children must be 7 years or older to participate.

Feb 2021

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Simon_C

My friends and I had a great experience with the kayak tour! We would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen the bioluminescent bay yet.

Reviews

4.0

329 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 329 reviews

This was a really great...

Katherine_H, May 2024

This was a really great experience, once it started…they made us wait in a parking lot for 45 mins before we could go on the kayaks. This needs better planning.

Good tour - too expensive for what it was.

ladyuzma, May 2024

I was a little upset that everyone else was picked up at the hotel except for my husband and i. we were told to meet them in a location even tho we paid the exact same amount as everyone else.... Bioluminescance was cool to see. But it was very dark and chaos at the kayak place. The canal is very narrow and there are way too many companies taking over to enjoy the tour. Overall not worth $110 pp

Seeing the glow in the...

Thembeka_M, Apr 2024

Seeing the glow in the water and me and my partner kept crashing to the trees and bushes. But it was a great experience.

It was alright

Bobbypolley, Apr 2024

Not the most enjoyable experience. Make sure you check the body weight parameters. Also make sure you know how to paddle.

Awesome night paddle

Barry_B, Apr 2024

The night paddling was enjoyable- experiencing the ‘glow’ in the dark water we were floating on was awesome. Just would have appreciated a much smaller group.

Magical Experience

jt88svknkh, Apr 2024

The bay was magical. Manalo, our lead guide, provided great instructions and was funny too. I would definitely do it again.

Professional and Awesome

Carol_H, Apr 2024

The staff were super professional and had great equipment including radios etc. they were beyond helpful as it rained The only suggestion I have is to put in description to bring bug spray although they did have some and perhaps the illuminated rings on both ends of Kayak. Was awesome

Amazing Experience

Michelle_S, Apr 2024

Our family had such an amazing experience. The staff is awesome! We will remember this trip forever!

Do it

Monica_G, Apr 2024

It was amazing. Our night was cloudy so it was extra dark. It was especially dark in the mangroves. In the open bay, we could see fish disturbing the water and lighting up. The team that took us was great, they have workers throughout the line up guiding all the kayaks. It is difficult to photograph unless you change camera settings while taking the pictures.

Dangerous but fun

Kristen_K, Mar 2024

Beautiful experience kayaking at night and stargazing but the tour operator (BeSpoke) was very unorganized and we did not feel safe at all. It was pure luck that no one in our group took an oar to the head with the way they and the 5 other tour operators sharing the water packed too many kayaks into too tight a space, especially with the number of novice kayakers. If this is your first time kayaking I would strongly recommend you do not make it this experience in the pitch dark. The people on our tour who had never kayaked before were openly petrified. Bespoke was also very difficult to communicate with leading up to the event. After 4 attempts with no response, I had to reach out to Viator who then asked Bespoke to contact me and it still took another whole day and another prompt from me to Viator to finally get a response about our pick up time and location (3 days total).

Twinkling Bay

Constance_C, Mar 2024

Being on the bay in a kayak and seeing the luminescence ! The kayaking itself was not pleasant due to the traffic. Way too many boats for the area we traveled . I also felt the guides - some at least need better people skills.

😟

Anne_B, Mar 2024

We thought the lights weren’t visible enough And I thought they would know more about the biology of plankton I was disappointed

Must to do in Puerto Rico

cathy_w, Mar 2024

Great experience a must to do if you’re in Puerto Rico. Very interesting and fun. Guides were very detailed with safety

Sadly not enough bioluminescence

Shelly_K, Mar 2024

- bioluminescence is very faint, unlike the pictures used to advertise; we went on a half moon night - tour was not properly executed; not given enough information before it started on what to expect - kayaking through the forest in pitch dark was quite an adventure but not enough guidance or assistance provided by the four tour guides who accompanied us

A bit magical

stevetreistman, Mar 2024

The kayak part of the trip was simply fantastic. The only reason I gave 4 and not 5 stars was the incredibly unsafe van driving by our local trip provider. His phone was much more important than our safety. I messaged the local provider but no response.

mediocre experience

WorldTraveler, Mar 2024

bulk of the tour was spent on kayaking to the bay and not much to see/experience the "natural wonder" -- we witnessed some illumination after putting on the tarp to cover all the kayaks and lasted for few minutes. I am not sure what would be the experience like in "mosquito bay". The sky was fairly dark -- just stars and cloud/rain drops.

Family Kayaking Excursion

sarahtingley, Mar 2024

We did this excursion with our adult children. Overall, it was very nice and memorable. There are buildings near the bay and I think the lights from the buildings limit the viewing of the algae. The tour guide did provide a tarp for us to cover us so we could have total blackness. It was a clear night and the moon was not out. The travel to the bay via the waterway was relaxing and not too rigorous. However, if you don't have any kayaking experience, then this may be more challenging for you. My husband struggled initially because he never kayaked. However, on the return trip, he did much better with our daughter. The reason we did not give this tour 5 stars was that there was a lot of "down time". We were picked up from our hotel in San Juan (which was wonderful), and then we had to pick up another group. It was 2.5 hours or so before we even started the kayaking. Overall, all the people we encountered were very nice and knowledgeable. If you are looking for a fun few hours then this would be appropriate. It was a delightful experience kayaking in total darkness on the return trip. Just taper your expectations about how much bioluminescence you may view and you won't be disappointed with this excursion.

Fantastic!

Kelly_M, Mar 2024

Our tour guide. The beauty and the astronomy lesson . !!!!!!! It was great I highly recommend this !!

Night Kayak was Great!

Robert_G, Mar 2024

Kayaking through the mangrove tunnels was a great way to start the adventure, but getting out on the bay and seeing the bioluminescence was a unique experience. Also, being away from city lights and looking up at a sky full of stars was amazing!

Good biological phenomenon

Sharmila_R, Mar 2024

The biological phenomenon was excellent. However The guides were really poor and did not educate much about the biological phenomenon at all. They work on the assumption that the guest paddle kayaks everyday. Totally chaotic in the narrow parts of the mangroves with kayak jams in the pitch darkness

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