San Juan

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El Yunque Rainforest and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour

Badge of ExcellenceSan Juan, Puerto Rico

El Yunque Rainforest Nature Walk and Bioluminescent Bay Kayaking Combo Tour

12 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Spend an adventurous day exploring two of Puerto’s most incredible natural wonders on this full-day excursion to hike in the El Yunque Rainforest and kayak at the island’s famed Bioluminescent Bay. Start your morning with a hike in the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest system, enjoying incredible mountain views and an optional waterfall swim to cool off. Then continue with a nighttime kayaking trip to the magical Bioluminescent Bay, which features a unique variety of plankton that glow when the water is touched or moved. Your Puerto Rico outdoor adventure also includes round-trip hotel transport, professional guide, and national park fees.

Spend the day exploring two natural wonders of Puerto Rico
Hike through the El Yunque Rainforest and swim at a waterfalls
Enjoy a nighttime kayak through the illuminated Bioluminescent Bay
Tour is suitable for those who are in good physical condition

What's Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges
Certified Tour Guide
Bottled Water
First aid equipment
USCG certified lifejackets

Gratuity for tour guide not included, but greatly appreciated
Lunch
Additional fee for pick ups outside of San Juan will apply (Dorado, Bayamon, Rio Grande, Fajardo, Humacao)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

09:00 AM

Pickup details

Complimentary pick up only from selected areas of San Juan (Old San Juan, Miramar, Condado, Ocean Park, Isla Verde). Meeting point available in the town of Luquillo for persons staying in the towns of Rio Grande and Fajardo. Exact pick up time will be provided the day prior to the tour.

What To Expect

Meet your driver at a central location in San Juan and head to El Yunque National Forest. Start with a 25- to 30-minute hike down to the river, passing by waterfalls and lush foliage on the way. At the end of your hike, you'll reach a small waterfall with a pool and a rope swing, where you can take a refreshing dip.

Then head to a local restaurant, where you'll be able to grab lunch at your own experience. After lunch, continue to Laguna Grande, nicknamed the Bioluminescent Bay due to the presence of microorganism that shimmer when the water is agitated. Climb aboard a 2-person kayak and travel through mangroves for around half an hour until you reach the lagoon, where you’ll have time to stir up the water and ask questions from your guide before returning to shore.

El Yunque Hiking Area

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Laguna Grande

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a moderate to strenuous activity. Please dress appropriately.
Must wear hiking shoes or tennis with a good grip (closed toe). Please note: shoes will get wet and very muddy. Water shoes required for the Bio Bay portion (sandals with straps or flip flops work too- cannot be barefoot).
Participants must be physically capable of walking thru rocky, uneven and muddy surfaces without assistance and paddling a two person kayak in a coordinated matter .
Maximum weight to participate is is 250 lbs (113 kg) per person.
Failure to notify correctly may result in person(s) not being able to participate on bio bay tour, no refunds will be issued due to this.
Due to the strict weight restriction all participants are subject to be weighted upon arrival to the tour site. 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 back or knee problems, heart complaints, recent surgeries or injuries or other serious medical conditions cannot participate. Children must be 7 years or older to participate.
On Saturdays the hike is longer and more challenging since we depart from a different point.
Rainforest portion is subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
Due to safety reasons participants must be able to understand English or Spanish. Legally blind or deaf persons are not able to participate due to the same. An alternative for persons with certain limitations is to book a Private Rainforest tour. Please contact us prior to booking for more information.
Use of lifejacket and helmet is mandatory. $100 fee will apply for each piece of equipment if not returned.
Once you begin the Rainforest tour, you must finish it all the way up to the second stop and return back with the group.

You must have a good breakfast before departing on this tour
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.
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 and can be brought at your own risk..
Failure to provide hotel/lodging or 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 if you miss your pick up.
Bus will only wait 5 minutes after arriving to your pick up location, we will not be responsible if you miss to arrive on time.
Bio Bay portion of tour operates under rain and other weather conditions. Guide will determine to call it off when thunderstorms or other serious conditions happens.
Participants cannot be afraid of the dark as you will be kayaking thru pitch black areas during the Bio Bay portion of the tour.
Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to failure to provide correct weight, follow instructions to meet requirements to participate, failure to provide pick up location, late or non-arrival of participants.
Complimentary transportation available only in San Juan. Persons staying in Rio Grande, Luquillo or Fajardo must arrive to meeting point.
Estimated tour duration of 12 hours includes: 3.5-4 hours at the forest, 2 hrs at bio bay, 3.5-4 hrs combined of driving each way and lunch time.
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 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.
While the excursion explores the El Yunque region, it does not include a visit to the El Yunque National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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.

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Q:How strenuous is the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

A:Participants must be physically capable of walking thru steep, rocky, muddy trails, and have the balance to walk by uneven surfaces. Must be able to paddle on a two-person kayak, on a coordinated matter, and not be afraid of the dark.

Feb 2021

Q:Can pregnant women participate in the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

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

Feb 2021

Q:Can I bring my children on the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

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

Feb 2021

Q:What should I wear for the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

A:Wear a bathing suit and comfortable clothes. Bring a towel and an extra pair of clothing. Hiking and water shoes are strongly recommended, tennis with a good grip also work.

Feb 2021

Q:What should I bring to the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

A:Please travel light and only bring what is necessary for the tour. Leave behind electronic devices, any important documentation like a passport, large sums of cash, or credit cards. Cell phones require a waterproof case.

Feb 2021

Q:Should I eat before the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

A:Yes, be sure to have a good breakfast before we depart as we will be having a late lunch stop.

Feb 2021

Q:Do you provide life jackets on the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path and Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

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

Feb 2021

Q:What causes the bioluminescence that we see on the El Yunque Rainforest Off the Beaten Path & Bio Bay Kayaking Combo Tour?

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

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Gayle_S

Incredible experience. Wish the description gave more details on what to bring and wear. The van can be tight if it is a full group. The back is very bumpy! There are no changing facilities once you get to the parking area. Muddy, messy, great time! Hike is mostly moderate or slightly easy. There are 3 parts that are more challenging with mud and incline. Only bring and wear what you want to get wet. Wear shoes with good grips- I wouldn’t wear white! 2 creek crossings which can be knee deep or higher. The first swim area has rope swings and rock jumping. If you go past to the water slide, the hike is more challenging. Adrianna was our guide and was fantastic! She was knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend this adventure. Just come prepared!

Reviews

4.5

896 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 896 reviews

Lots of fun- come prepared!

Anna_H, May 2024

It was so fun! This is a long day with both together. Be prepared to be exhausted if you do both together. Bring a waterproof container for your phone for both the hike & the kayak. You need shoes that can get muddy & wet.

Must do

Chris_A, May 2024

Review is just Bio Bay Kayaking as the rainforest part was cancelled due to the weather. I would say Bio Bay is a must if in Peurto Rico. Well organised and a strange experience especially when the paddles of the kayak touched the water on the return to the starting point

Amazing journey to paradise!!!

Manivette_O, May 2024

Adriana was the best tour guide...We had an amazing time...Thank you so much!!!! The group was very together and fun.

A whole day full of adventure

Julie_V, Apr 2024

This was such a fun all-day experience for my sisters and I. It was very well planned out with ample time for each part. We especially enjoyed experiencing the bioluminescent bay, it was truly magical!! Our tour guides were all fantastic and very engaging and knowledgeable. I would recommend this to anyone, and I would do it again!

Best excursion we ever took!

Azure_S, Apr 2024

This is by far the best excursion we’ve done on any vacation. Our tour guides George and Mitchell were fantastic. The tour was so much fun for both adults and children. Rock water slide, cliff jumping and rope swing in the beautiful rain forest backdrop. We embraced the mud! The kayak tour through the mangrove forest and bio bay luminescence was awesome too. A long day but well worth it for these once in a lifetime experiences.

Super fun!

Madilyn_C, Apr 2024

I had the best time. The guides put your safety first and make sure you have a blast. Both tours were fun and the bio bay was like no other and is a must see if your in Puerto Rico.

Top 5 experiences in Puerto Rico!

Britney_W, Apr 2024

This excursion was amazing! Frankie was our tour guide and he did so well at providing us with info about the rainforest. There were a lot of complaints from the others as far as the physicality of the hike but it was honestly so worth it to get the experience we had! It rained pretty hard so we also got the "actual" rainforest feel. The lagoon was even more amazing ! Kayaking at night was not on the bucket list but it definitely topped some of those things on the list due to the bioluminescent waters! The fish were even lit up ! You have to experience this when going to Puerto Rico!

Fantastic. Exceeded all expectations

Jeff_S, Apr 2024

Frankie was an amazing and engaging guide for El Yunque and the bio bay was incredible- especially the winding path through the mangroves. Please know that you have to be physically able to do a lot of climbing on slippery and muddy surfaces - not appropriate for people who cannot handle fairly physically activity.

Jason was an amazing...

Kelli_K, Apr 2024

Jason was an amazing guide through the rainforest. He knew so much about the fauna and flora and was very kind and encouraging

Amazing tour with excellent guides.

Deepa_N, Apr 2024

The el-yunque hike was amazing with our guide Jason! He was very kind and friendly with us, took really good care during and after the adventure made sure we were comfortable while doing the water slides. He took lot of pictures and videos and air dropped immediately after the experience. Bio-luminicense tour was truly magical. 10/10 and definitely recommend.

Fun adventure

Vindhya_K, Apr 2024

Seeing the bio Bay and spending time in the rainforest is nice! Wouldn't recommend if you want more time in the forest.

Fabulous!!

Emma_B, Apr 2024

Hector our tour guide for El yunque rainforest, was the best. His knowledge and passion for the rainforest was outstanding, which made it an unforgettable experience. We really enjoyed the hike and the waterfalls and really appreciated the photos he took on our behalf. The kayaking tour was good. Loved seeing the bioluminescences.

Jungle and bioluminescent bay day!!

Ariel_C, Mar 2024

Seriously, the adventure of a lifetime times two for us. It was a long day, but an amazing one. Our kids didn’t complain or fight with each other at all, they were just captivated throughout. Really a must do. The tour guides were engaging and fun, and also patient and thoughtful. Please signup for both. You won’t regret it!!

Every bit as exciting as described!

Paulette_C, Mar 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed the El Junque rainforest adventure with Jason. His knowledge of the flora makes this even more interesting. Water and hiking was such fun and exciting! The Bio Bay kayaking was great. Loved seeing the bio luminescent sparkles in the water.

Excellent excursion

Shannon_C, Mar 2024

We had an amazing experience in the rainforest. The hike was not too strenuous but did require climbing over rocks. Our guides were Jason, Jay, and Tarzan. They were very knowledgeable, helpful with the climbing, and were a joy to be around. I'd recommend this excursion to anyone who is looking for a high adventure in the Puerto Rican jungle.

Must do in PR

Paula_M, Mar 2024

Our guides were the J&J family. They were completely amazing, caring, and funny. They made sure that we were safe throughout the entire time. At the time we were there the place was full of people, but they tactfully navigated the people so that we barely had to wait to do the activities. Our favorite activity was the cliff jump. Although we jumped off the highest cliff (15ft), there were multiple other options which accommodated all levels of comfort ability. This was the same for all other activities and even opting out was an option. This tour was definitely worth the money. I would encourage anyone traveling to puerto rico to book this tour.

Rainforest tour

Adriana_R, Mar 2024

Adriana and Elias were great guides! Very encouraging, kind, and patient with our group. They also had fun energy that made the trip even more enjoyable! Our kayaking excursion was canceled so the company offered a refund or reschedule; we chose to reschedule the kayaking part and although it was moved the company did a good job communicating and accommodating us.

Just do it!

Amy_M, Mar 2024

If you’re thinking about booking this trip, just do it. I’m always Leary about large group tours but Adriana and Jason were the best!

Adriana, our hike guide ,...

karen_d, Feb 2024

Adriana, our hike guide , was above and beyond! Bioluminescence kayak so very cool Everyone upbeat despite the rain

Best Day Trip in PR

jessy_h, Feb 2024

The day trip to El Yunque was fantastic. The tour guide for the Hike in El Yunque (I can't remember his name, but I included a photo of him) was amazing. First, the trip itself was so great because we were picked up from our hotel in San Juan and then driven to each of the locations. They provided us with helmets and life vests for our safety and very very informative throughout the hike. Secondly, our guide went above and beyond for our group and other people as well, offering to help them when they needed it and took photos for everyone (with his own phone, then airdropped or shared them with us at the end of the day) in our group and a few families we saw along the hike. He even collected random trash while we were in the rainforest to keep the area clean. Again, the hike and waterfalls itself would have been great - but he made it magical. The kayaking was good, but there were a lot of varying degrees of experience going through a narrow canal - which at times made it frustrating. Also, it isn't like the IG videos, but you are able to see something and that was pretty cool. Lastly, the kayak back in was horrible. While we were going back to the beach, other groups were going out. Som we had to stay to the right, in pitch back - again with varying degrees of experience and LOTS of mosquitos. It was a wreck; however, the entire day and then getting to see the bioluminescent bay easily made the day worth it. We even discussed that we would both do it again.

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