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La Parguera Glowing Bioluminescent Bay Boat Tour from San Juan

Badge of ExcellenceSan Juan, Puerto Rico

Viator VIP La Parguera Bioluminescent Bay

8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

See the bioluminescent bay at La Parguera during this 8-hour tour from San Juan. Learn about this natural phenomenon through your guide's informative commentary during a boat trip through the mangrove forests and cays on the way to the bay. See tiny, harmless dinoflagellates that light up with the disturbance of the water. Round-trip transportation from selected areas in San Juan is included.

8-hour small-group tour to the lesser-known La Parguera bioluminescent bay from San Juan
Learn about dinoflagellates, the tiny, harmless creatures that cause this natural phenomenon
Pickup and drop-off from most San Juan hotels included
Appetizers from a local restaurant included
Suitable for the entire family

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)
Certified Guide
Appetizers at La Parguera (vegetarian option available, please notify)
Bottles of water and local beer at the boat

Additional food and drinks
Gratuity

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

02:00 PM

Pickup details

Complimentary pick up only from selected areas of San Juan (Old San Juan, Miramar, Condado, Ocean Park, Isla Verde). Exact pick up time will be provided the day prior to the tour.

What To Expect

Begin your evening excursion with pickup at your San Juan hotel. Board a tour vehicle with your small group of fellow adventurers and travel to La Parguera, a small fishing village in southwestern Puerto Rico. You'll stop for appetizers at a local restaurant along the way.

Arrive in La Parguera and listen to a short introduction to the natural phenomenon by your local guide. After the sun sets, board a boat for the 25-minute ride through the mangrove swamps to the bioluminescent bay. See the dinoflagellates, microscopic creatures that give off a glowing light, creating an otherworldly effect. Spend 30 to 45 minutes marveling at this strange, lovely light show before heading back to the tour center.

Board your transportation back to San Juan for hotel drop-off.

La Parguera

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Minimum amount of 4 participants is required in order to operate. There is a possibility of cancellation after receiving instant confirmation if the minimum is not met. IN the event of this happening you will be offered an alternate date or full refund.
It is an approximately 2:20 hour drive from San Juan to La Parguera each way, depending on the time of day and traffic.
Not wheelchair accessible
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.
Service animals allowed
Tour not suitable for persons with mobility issues, using wheelchair, walker or cane as you must climb into the boat from a narrow pier. If you get in the water, you must be able to climb a small boat ladder.
Children must weight 50 lbs or more in order to participate on tour, and must be notified with anticipation in order to assign a car seat.

Complimentary car seats or booster seats available upon request (subject to availability).
Most travelers can participate
You are more than welcome to bring your own snorkeling equipment.
Published starting time is only an estimate. Exact pick up time will be provided the DAY PRIOR to your tour.
Total activity duration of 8 hours includes: 2:20 hr driving time each way, 2 hour tour, and stop for appetizers.
Bespoke LM Reserves the Right of Admission - If a person appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not following instructions or causing disruptions the Guide has the right to Cancel their reservation at any moment, and No Refunds will be issued due to this.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 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

Samantha_R

Julian our tour guide and driver were amazingly fun . Hotel pick up was right on time in a very comfortable Mercedes Van with coolers filled with beers and waters that are offered the second you get into van . Our guides arranged a good dinner that we ate after our swim in the Caribbean Sea and bio bay. Captain Hector, was very informative, nice boat also stocked with plenty of beer, soda and waters. The glowing water in the bay were so beautiful!!! It looked like sparklers on the water… BRING GOGGLES IT ENHANCES YOUR Experience 100%!!!! I highly recommend this tour and Please don’t forget to tip your guides they totally deserve it!! Can’t wait to do it again!!!

Reviews

4.5

208 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 208 reviews

Amazing experience!

Katherine_M, May 2024

The experience is amazing! The guía was so nice and friendly and helped with absolutely everything we needed. Going to the other side of the island is a must!

So worth it

Susan_B, May 2024

George our guide was exceptional. The boat and captain were great. In our bucket list and was not disappointed.

Wonderful experience!

Simmie_K, May 2024

An amazing experience! Jorge and Hector were amazing guides, they were funny, knowledgeable and despite the weather we had such a great time. Swimming in the bioluminescent bay was breathtaking and we were so so so glad that we didn't skip this on our trip!

Once in a lifetime, magical experience

Teresa_C, Apr 2024

George, our tour guide, was amazing! Very knowledgeable and engaging throughout the drive and boat tour. Hector, our boat guide, was also exceptional. The bay itself is a once in a lifetime experience. It can not be described in words or pictures - it’s simply magical. Be sure to bring a change of clothes and towels. There are jelly fish in the bay, but Hector provided acetone for the stings. The appetizers that are included is more like a full meal, but definitely have lunch before pick up so you’re not hungry during the drive.

Four hour ride

Coctrell_M, Mar 2024

The driver was prompt and entertaining. We had a good group of cruisers that made the trip fun. The provided meal was lack luster, it would have been nice to have more flavor and spice. The four hour ride was a bit much and if I had a choice I would not select this excursion. The experience of seeing the illumination was cool but not worth the cost and four hour ride.

Once in a lifetime experience!!!

Natalie_M, Mar 2024

My husband and I booked this trip for our last day of a week-long vacation. It could not have been a more perfect way to wrap up our trip! Our guide Jorge picked us up from our hotel in San Juan at the communicated time and the 2.5 hour ride in the air-conditioned van was beautiful. We did make a stop for gas and everyone had a chance to get out to stretch their legs and use the bathroom. We arrived in La Parguera and Jorge walked us into the restaurant, he had taken our orders ahead of time and they brought our food out quickly. Food was delicious and it was a full meal, not just appetizers! After eating we had a few minutes to walk around and explore, then we all got on the boat and went to a sand bay where we were able to get out and swim/explore. It was fun seeing the giant but harmless fish and getting to watch the sunset. Once it was dark, we got back on the boat and went into the bioluminescent area of the bay. It. Was. Magical. We were each given a floatie and just got to float around, look at the stars, and splash around to see the incredibly glittery-looking dinoflagellates. Pictures do not even come close to showing what it was really like, but Jorge did take pictures for us so we could leave our phones safely in the boat but still have some photos! After the tour, we walked to some bathrooms in the plaza to change back into our dry clothes for the ride home. Jorge had snacks and drinks waiting for us in the van. 15/10 experience, we both had an amazing time!! A couple of things that might be helpful to know: we both wore flip-flops and left them in the boat when we were in the water. Some had water shoes, but they weren't necessary. Definitely bring a towel because you'll want to keep warm on the boat after getting out of the water. Also, I was worried about being cold because it was February and in the 70s, but the bay water is warm!!

Swimming in the water is a sparkly, shimmering delight!

Kathleen_G, Feb 2024

Totally unique experience! Loved being in the water creating this mystifying phenomenon myself. It was a sparkly, shimmering delight! The starry sky was a bonus. Hanging out in the water for sunset was beautiful and relaxing. George was a fun and informative tour guide who helped to maximize the experience. Book it!

Awesome Bay Experience

Cheryl_L, Jan 2024

Felix was an amazing tour guide, who was extremely friendly and enthusiastic during both the long drive and the trip through the Bay. Swimming in the bay was a bucket list experience for us. Summing it up, book this now!

Amazing Bioluminescent Tour

Waheed_K, Jan 2024

The scenic ride from Isla Verde (my hotel) to La Parguera, the bioluminescent water, and the tour guide, George, were amazing. George is informative and has a great sense of humor (he calls the group "Fam" as in "family" and makes frequent witty remarks that made us laugh (like, when he said, "In Puerto Rico, we don't have seasons; we just have hot and more hot." Overall, this tour was the highlight of my trip to Puerto Rico (this was my first time). Thank you.

I highly recommend

Ally_L, Dec 2023

The drive up was incredibly beautiful and was one of my favorite parts. The bay itself was very cool to see, it didn’t capture well on camera so I didn’t get any pictures, but it was a very fun experience. Felix was a wonderful tour guide and made the experience even more fun. I would recommend this tour to everyone!

This is the ONE!

Krista_L, Dec 2023

I don't know which bioluminescent bay tours you've added to your Wishlist (probably the same ones I did) but you can safely delete those now. This is the one you want. The experience is indescribable. I could try but it wouldn't do it justice. You just have to experience it for yourself and Captain Luis and George are who you're going to want to experience it with. There are cheaper tours but this is definitely a case of "you get what you pay for" and this one was worth every penny.

Awesome

Ian_F, Sep 2023

Magical experience. Felix was tremendous host! Great to see the stars, marine life, and bioluminescent bay at night.

Incredible Guide and wonderful experience

Bradly_W, Aug 2023

Our driver, Felix, was one of the leading reasons our experience was so phenomenal. He went out of his way to make sure each of us were taken care of. It wasn't just going to the sand bar and the bioluminescent bay (which in and of themselves were wonderful), but him thinking of little things like juice for my boys, or snacks, fun jokes, and memorable phrases that made it. Also, the Fish Tacos are probably the best i've ever had. My 16 year old went on and on about how delicious they were. We went during the rainy season to the bio bay, it was still vibrant for us. It really was wonderful.

Magical Experience

Matthew_B, Jul 2023

This was my favorite thing I did in PR. Literally magical and a super unique activity. Everything was taken care of for us. We went on a day with a small crescent moon in July and in the water the light was clearly visible. Like swimming in the stars. Highly recommend but make sure you adhere to the suggestions of not using a lot of lotion, perfume, deodorant, sunscreen, bug spray etc before going on the trip as this can harm the dinoflagellates.

Wonderful!!!!

Monica_P, Jul 2023

Unique memorable experience. The drive from Isla verde was 2 hours but we were picked up in a very nice tour van which was very spacious and comfortable with great AC. We arrived first to a fishing village. Very cute. Lunch was delicious and included. We then walked the village for about 20 minutes before getting in the boat. We were taken to a sandbar. So fun! Beautiful clear water even with the sun going down. Then to the bioluscent area. What a cool and memorable experience. Our tour guide was Jorge. He was amazing!!! Funny, patient, and kept us informed. Our captain was Luis. Also very nice. I would definitely recommend this experience. We did it with our children and they loved it!!!

Great fun with friends and family

Diana_E, Jul 2023

Our group of 13 had an amazing time. Our guide and driver was George and our boat captain was Luis. Both went beyond to make the experience exceptional. Water, beer and sodas were provided throughout the experience. Delicious food at the town of La Parguera. Once in a lifetime experience!

Great tour

Sonia_V, Jul 2023

Bring something to eat! Great tour! I have done the other two bioluminescence in Puerto Rico. This was number three, and I hope I can do it again!

Do it!!

Karen_L, Jul 2023

We were picked up from our hotel in a nice van by our guide George. George had good energy and shared helpful bits of information about the different parts of PR that we were driving through. He was sure to point out the island's many ecosystems-- within minutes we passed through lush green forests and then through dry conditions with cactus. When we arrived to the fishing village, we enjoyed some time looking through small shops. When we got to the dock, our family got onto a boat with Hector who has been boating in PR since the age of 5. He was funny and delightful and knew a lot about the science of the bay. Getting into the water with the glowing dinoflagellates was a once in a lifetime experience. During the boat ride back, we enjoyed looking up at the stars and being in the warm night breeze. I really recommend!!!

Once in a lifetime!

Jennifer_A, Jun 2023

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, don't miss it. Felix was a kind, friendly, and knowledgeable tour guide. The "snack" is actually a meal which was a nice surprise. When you return from the bio bay, be aware that you have to walk back into town for a restroom in which to change your clothes (no one wants to be in a wet swimsuit on a bus for 2.5 hours!).

Unforgettable day and night!!

Thomas_O, May 2023

Jorge was a great guide and the Captain was well, a great Captain. The ride to and from Old San Juan was 2 hours plus—great scenery, but still a long ride. Be prepared!! We all agreed it was worth the travel time. We had a small crescent moon and we were concerned that it would be hard to see the bioluminescent effects. Luckily we were wrong. Once the sun set and we got into the water it was truly beautiful and a little like magic. The best way I can describe it is swimming in a snow globe! Sparkles on my hands and arms with every move. Kick your feet? Sparkles! Swim? Body sparkles! I had done the kayak tours, but this was by far the best biobay tour! We also stopped at a mangrove sandbar on the way out to the bay. Snorkeling was so much fun in waist deep water. Tarpon swimming all around. We also had some delicious chicken and fish tacos! This was a bucket list item for me! It was great!

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