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Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Adventure Tour from San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico

6 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Kayak through the waters of Laguna Grande, a stunning bioluminescent lagoon, during this half-day tour from San Juan. Watch the glowing organisms in the water light up as your kayak slides through the water. Paddle through stands of mangrove trees and watch small fish dart through the water underneath your boat like shooting stars. Stop for a break with snacks and refreshments before heading back to your starting point. Use of all kayaking equipment and round-trip hotel transfers are included.

Kayak through the waters of Laguna Grande—a bioluminescent lagoon
Watch the glowing organisms in the water light up as your kayak slices through the water
Paddle through stands of mangrove trees and watch small fish dart through the water underneath your boat like shooting stars
Stop for a break with snacks and refreshments before heading back to your starting point

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off (within the San Juan area)
2-seater kayaks and equipment
Kayaking orientation and instructions
Commentary of the surrounding area and its Flora and Fauna.
Ice cold bottled water

Gratuities
Additional transfer fee to towns outside of San Juan/Metro area such as Rio Grande, Luquillo, Fajardo and Dorado will apply; please contact us for more information.

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

03:30 PM

Pickup details

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

What To Expect

Start your day with a pickup from your San Juan hotel before heading out to the bioluminescent waters of Laguna Grande for a kayaking adventure. When you reach the lagoon, listen to your guide provide an orientation and instructions on how to paddle and what to expect before hopping in your double-seater kayak to begin your journey.

Spend the next two hours paddling through the mangroves of the Laguna Grande's glowing waters, listening to commentary from your guide as you watch bioluminescent organisms illuminate the waters around you. Stop along the way for a snack and water break before paddling back to your launch point, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to San Juan.

Laguna Grande

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Maximum weight to participate is 240 pounds (108 kg) per person.
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
Pregnant women, persons with recent surgeries, past injuries or back problems cannot participate on this tour. Bear in mind each participant must be capable of paddling on their own and will be sitting on the same position for about 2 hours.
Minimum age to participate is 7 years. Participants cannot be afraid of the dark as you will be kayaking thru pitch black areas.
You will get wet, it is recommended that you wear bathing suit underneath, bring a towel and extra clothes for after the tour.
At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: contact phone number or email, ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time. No refunds will be authorized due to failure to communicate correct information.
Meeting time: Times might change depending the season and your hotel location. If so we will contact you in advance.
Please Note: During the months of November, December and January, bioluminescence may be poor due to cooler temperatures.

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 of the bioluminescence. In the event of this happening alternate methods such as the use of a tarp will be incorporated in order to appreciate it.
This tour does not includes a stop to eat.
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.
Published starting time is only an estimate. Exact pick up time will be provided the DAY PRIOR to your tour.
Bus will wait only 5 minutes after your assigned pick up time. No refunds will be issued if you miss your pick up.
Failure to provide correct weight or hotel/lodging/cruise information 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.
Tours will NOT be cancelled if it’s raining. It is still safe and the water will still glow under the rain. If the tour needs to be cancelled for severe weather conditions the Company will contact the client.
This tour has a small chance of having pick up rescheduled for 5:30-6:00pm. In the event of this happening you will be notified 24-48 hours prior to the tour.
Bespoke LM Reserves the Right of Admission - If a person appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not following COVID19 protocols or not dressed appropriately (due safety) 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 30 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.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Aashti_V

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).

Reviews

4.0

163 reviews

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

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 163 reviews

Incredible

Kelli_M, Apr 2024

Beautiful scenery as we kayaked to the bay. Once we got there it was amazing. I wouldn't visit the island without seeing this!

Well……it was OK

Donovan_T, Apr 2024

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

Fantasy meets reality in Fajardo

Mike_D, Apr 2024

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.

Magical like a Disney movie!

Aashti_V, Apr 2024

A must do!

Stephanie_H, Apr 2024

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!

Beautiful but challenging if your the only one rowing for both

Tamar_G, Apr 2024

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.

Worth it

Jessica_L, Mar 2024

Everyone loved the tour. Tandem kayaks were great for groups with anyone who can’t handle a kayak alone.

Fun one of a kind excursion in PR

Gianna_D, Mar 2024

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...

Cecilia_L, Mar 2024

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.

Great experience!

Christean_B, Feb 2024

Great experience! I'm so glad I experienced this with my son. You gotta do this if you do nothing else.

Magical

Lucy_R, Feb 2024

Good communication, on time pick up, great staff, the guides were very patient for several kayaks that had not Kayaked before, great experience going through the mangroves, and the Bioluminescence was magical! Challenge to paddle back in the dark but was an adventure!

Groups too big for uninvested guides.

Kevin_T, Feb 2024

The bioluminescence was good, the tour guides were practically non existent and not guiding much, but to their credit they were dealing with like half of the group that seemingly had never kayaked before. Reviews saying the kayaking in the dark is hard are right, but they have glow sticks on the kayaks and following their simple rules would make it fairly easy, but the majority of the other tour attendees were seemingly incapable of such a thing. This tour would benefit from being about half the size; even with 4 guides to 30 people it’s just hard to keep track of them all in the dark with other groups out and no identifying markers to distinguish. Also, don’t book during a full moon, we went on a new moon and the visibility was great, some people don’t seem to understand the basics of how bioluminescence works, but more light in the sky=less light in the water.

Wow. Must see

Bill_R, Jan 2024

This was An amazing experience seeing the fish in the water as the bioluminescent glow illuminated around them was astounding Our guides were awesome excellent extremely knowledgeable fun and caring

Great experience to see the bio bay

Julia_L, Jan 2024

Went with a family of 5, we had 2 pairs for double kayaks and they let us have a single kayak also. Viator says that tour pickup could be as early as 3:30, but we received a text at 9am the morning of that we would be picked up at 5:15pm. The bus was on time and we picked up a few more groups throughout San Juan before driving over. Upon arrival, we had to sign a waiver and they had bug spray for us to use (highly recommend, even using still got a few bites). We were told to leave everything (phones, keys, change of clothes, towels) on the bus. There is a small bathroom (3 stalls) where the bus parks. The kayak tour started at 7:45pm so we were paddling in the dark there and back. Be prepared to wade through the water (about knee high) to get to the kayaks. There was a line of single file kayaking through the sometimes narrow channel to reach the lagoon following the light of the kayak in front of you. It was especially tight with 2 way traffic when other groups were coming back from the lagoon. Even with some experience kayaking, my group found it hard to avoid low hanging trees and navigating all the turns in the dark. Would not recommend for anyone afraid of the dark or younger kids. As you paddle through the channel, we saw the luminescence as the paddle moves through the water. In the lagoon, our guide explained the luminescence and pointed out some star constellations. We had a few minutes of "free time" in the lagoon before paddling back as a group. We had a few minutes to change before driving back. Recommend wearing a swimsuit and athletic/quick dry clothes, lower half will get wet and top may get splashed so definitely bring a change of clothes. Overall good tour and guide, more advance notice of pick up time would be nice. The channel to the lagoon did get crowded with all the tour groups and it is very dark at some points with all the tree cover.

Fun and memorable!

Erica_G, Jan 2024

Seeing the lights in the water and luminescent fish - incredible sunset - and add-on astronomy lecture with full stars and crescent moon. Guides were mellow and very hands-on, ensuring everyone was safe and having fun. A memorable experience!

I am not an experienced...

Karen_M, Jan 2024

I am not an experienced kayaker but the guides were very patient and helpful! The bioluminescence was super cool and so were the stars and the sound of the coquis.

Great tour

Sydney_E, Jan 2024

We went during a new moon which helped reduce light pollution. Great option going from San Juan with smooth pickup options and (as far as I know) the closest bioluminescent bay. I have heard the other bays on the island are brighter and one of them you can swim in, but this kayaking tour was still super amazing and an incredible experience. Kayaking through the mangroves at night was a really cool activity and then once we made it to the bay the tour guides talked about the glowing and the stars. At the end they provided chips and water. Great tour!

Bioluminescent Bay Tour Fajardo PR

RobertC_D, Nov 2023

We initially had a problem with the date of our booking, which the agent quickly corrected and rescheduled. We were very grateful for their efficiency and courtesy. This is not our first bioluminescent bay tour so we had a standard to judge by. The principal concerns pertain to factors that are not necessarily controlled by the operators. Firstly, moon phase will make or break your tour. A waxing first quarter moon will completely destroy visibility in which case the guides will cover the kayaks with an oily canvas. You will smell the canvas as much as you will see the glowing water. This is not good if you want a thrilling and memorable experience. For the optimal experience you must go after the full moon through the first day or so of the waxing crescent moon. Then you will get full benefit of the bioluminescent bay. Also a downside of this experience is that you must navigate a two-person kayak in utter darkness along a narrow mangrove lined canal with some two-way traffic and some motor driven boats. The experience can be daunting, especially if you’re a single visitor and get placed in a kayak with an inexperienced person. In my case I got an inexperienced paddler who flailed with so much force that I had to counteract and steer constantly to control the zigzag motion. On arrival at the bay, I was thoroughly exhausted. I own two kayaks, use them often, generally find it exhilarating, but in this case, it wore me out. I cannot attribute any of this to the operators or the concession. Over all, the guides were pleasant, well informed and welcoming. Therefore, my review for the company that provides the tour is very Good, and perhaps less so for the experience itself. However, if you’re a good paddler who can see well in the dark and can pay attention to the moon phase, you may have a great time.

Viator's poor communication.

Charles_N, Aug 2023

We were unable to go due to Viator confirming pickup at 3:30 pm. Then the tour operator notifying us that morning of a 6:00 pm pickup.

Wao!!

Javier_R, Aug 2023

Excellent tourist and local experience in a full moon night. You can see El Yunque and the Sunsets. .

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