Puerto Rico is a country known around the world for its pristine natural beauty, rich culture, and friendly locals. If you want to see all of Puerto Rico’s nature, there are plenty of tours to choose from.
However, if you want to see a part of Mother Nature that the majority of people don’t get to see, you need to check out one of the top Puerto Rico kayaking tours.
These tours will take you through the beautiful waters with bioluminescent organisms, assuring breathtaking sights and a great way to have fun in the fresh air. Let’s get started!
Be sure to see our reviews of Puerto Rico ATV tours, El Yunque Rainforest Tours and Puerto Rico Ziplining Adventures.
Best Bio-Luminescent Bay Puerto Rico Kayaking Tours
| Bio Bay Night Kayaking from San Juan | Fajardo Puerto Rico Bio Bay Kayak Tour | Fajardo Bioluminescent Lagoon Kayak Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Departure: | Pickup is included | Las Croabas Park, Fajardo | Road 987, Cabezas de San Juan, Fajardo |
| Start: | 5:30 PM | 8:30 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Duration: | 4 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Includes: | Round-trip transportation, guided tour, kayaking lesson, life jacket, use of kayaks | Kayak and paddles, US coastguard-approved life jackets, low-intensity nighttime navigation lights, training and safety instructions | Kayaks, paddles and leashes, life-jackets (PFD’s), insect repellent, CPR and First Aid certified guides |
Quick Answer: The 4 Best Bioluminescent Lagoon Kayak Tours From San Juan
- Bio Bay Night Kayaking with Transportation from San Juan
- Fajardo Puerto Rico Bio Bay Kayak Tour
- Fajardo Puerto Rico Bioluminescent Lagoon Kayak or Full Moon Kayak Tour
- Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Kayak Tour Reviews
1. Bio Bay Night Kayaking with Transportation from San Juan
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: Pickup is included
- Departure Time: 5:30 PM
- Includes: Round-trip transportation, guided tour, 101 kayaking lesson, life jacket, use of kayaks
The Bio Bay Night Kayaking with Transportation from San Juan is a great time for everyone – no matter the age or experience level of the participant! With patient, friendly, and knowledgeable staff, you can expect a great time. Not only that, but you’re going to be paddling about at night, where you’ll get a completely different perspective of San Juan.
This tour takes place in the Cabezas de San Juan, which is a bioluminescent lagoon, mangroves, coral reefs, dry forests, and beaches, all surrounded by headlands. This reserve is great for all kinds of outdoor activities, though the nighttime kayaking tours are a unique experience we highly recommend.
In fact, if you’re looking for some fun activities for kids, we know you’ll love this one as it’s very interactive and will keep their minds stimulated.
With hotel pickup and drop-off services offered, the 4 hours will be focused on making sure you’re well-prepared for the tour, and spend time valuably exploring the area by kayak. The “captains” will guide your small group of kayakers, ensuring they answer any questions and fill you in with any information you may want to know.
Now, kayaking through the mangrove forest at night, is cool. However, with the bioluminescent organisms that live in the water, it’s elevated to an out-of-this-world experience you’re sure to want to do again!
Each splash of your paddle looks like an eruption of stars in the water, and is a phenomenon most people don’t have the chance of seeing.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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2. Fajardo Puerto Rico Bio Bay Kayak Tour
- Duration: 2 hours
- Departure: Las Croabas Park, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
- Departure Time: 8:30 PM
- Includes: Kayak and paddles, US coastguard-approved life jackets, low-intensity nighttime navigation lights, training and safety instructions, insect repellent,KPR’s eco-interpretive guide, first aid and kayak towing equipment, storage for valuables, snacks at the tent, tour photos
Next up, we have the Fajardo: Bio Bay Kayak Tour. This 2-hour tour is a load of fun, and includes 4 guides to make sure everyone gets a personalized experience. In fact, you’ll be provided with information even before your trip to ensure everyone has a great time, too.
If you’ve never kayaked before, there’s no need to be worried as the guides will offer you instruction, safety precautions, and are there to answer any questions you may have. Of course, not everyone will 100% have the same exact experience as sky conditions will vary.
For example, if the moon is particularly bright on the night of your tour, you may not have the best visibility. However, they do a great job at making sure you still see them by using massive tarps and other tools.
You’ll start at the entrance of the bay, which is a red mangrove channel. This is a beautiful way to start out the tour, and as the water is shallow, it’s perfect for beginners to get their “sea legs”. You’ll follow the guides into the Laguna Grande, where you’ll paddle as the sun sets and the starts appear in the sky and in the water!
Once you’ve all been able to explore the glowing water and surrounding area, you’ll follow the guide back through the mangroves through the clicks and chirps of nature at night.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Search For San Juan Experiences You May Enjoy:
3. Fajardo Bioluminescent Lagoon Kayak or Full Moon Kayak Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Road 987, Cabezas de San Juan, Fajardo
- Departure Time: 6:00 PM
- Includes: Kayaks, paddles and leashes, life-jackets (PFD’s), insect repellent, CPR and First Aid certified guides, commentary of the area, snacks and bottled water
The Fajardo: Bioluminescent Lagoon Kayak or Full Moon Kayak Tour is an excellent experience. This tour will start in Las Croabas, which is a park used in both the day and night, and is a small fishing village as well. You’ll first meet up with your guide(s), where they’ll give you all necessary gear such as your double kayaks, paddles with leashes, lifejackets, and more.
We really appreciated how thorough and helpful the guides were, not only before, but throughout the entire tour. They provide a complete pre-tour training which goes through everything you may encounter and how to use their kayaks. Once everyone is on the same page, you’ll head through the mangrove channel and into the Laguna Grande.
This channel paddle lasts around 15 minutes, and you’ll make various stops so your guide can tell you about the ecosystem there, as well as any other interesting stories or commentary. If you’d like, you can select the full moon kayak eco-adventure, which is available only when a full moon is out. This tour is a bit more exclusive, with very few people partaking in them at one time.
The double kayaks are nice, because you’ll have a partner to experience everything with, and someone who will help with the paddling portion.
You’ll see the water naturally illuminated by the moon, along with the “stars” of the show: the bioluminescent organisms. Combine all that, with the sounds of the animals in the ecosystems surrounding you, and you have a fairytale-like adventure you’re sure to do again.
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo Puerto Rico
- Duration: 2 hours
- Departure: Carr. 987, Km 5.4, Fajardo
- Departure Time: Evening
- Includes: Life jacket, low-intensity night time navigation lights, snacks, insect repellent
Last but certainly not least, is the 2-hour Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo Puerto Rico. With the double kayaks including backrests, you can rest assured that you’ll be comfy and casual while exploring this amazing area. As you’re going to be covering quite a good distance, the double kayaks are a massive help and make this possible for those who aren’t already experienced kayakers.
Before you get started, your professional eco guides will offer a kayaking lesson and instructions on how to remain safe always. The water is quite shallow in most areas, which makes it more appealing for those a bit nervous about deep water.
Make sure you take advantage of their complimentary, eco-friendly insect repellent because you’ll certainly need it on the water at this time of night.
Paddle through the beautiful mangrove channels while heading to Laguna Grande. There, you’ll get to see the Pyrodinium Bahamense. These tiny plankton are able to produce natural light, especially when touched. It’s absolutely fascinating to experience this up close and personal!
Meanwhile, your guides will tell you all about them, the reserve’s history and current state, constellations, and much more.
Oh, and they do include some complimentary snacks so you’ll be fully taken care of and satisfied while you’re out adventuring around! You almost definitely are going to break a sweat, so you may get hungry from burning all those calories!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
FAQs About Bioluminescent Kayak Tours in Puerto Rico
Q: What are bioluminescent kayak tours and why are they so amazing?
A: Bioluminescent kayak tours are night-time adventures that take you to the glowing waters of Puerto Rico’s bio bays. These are rare natural phenomena where tiny organisms called dinoflagellates produce light when they are disturbed by movement. Imagine paddling through a sea of stars and creating sparkling trails with every stroke of your paddle. That’s what bioluminescent kayak tours are all about!
Q: Where can I find bioluminescent kayak tours in Puerto Rico?
A: Puerto Rico is blessed with three bioluminescent bays:
Laguna Grande in Fajardo: This is the most accessible and popular bio bay in Puerto Rico, located on the east coast of the island. You will kayak through a mangrove forest that feeds into a lagoon where the bioluminescence is more visible.
Mosquito Bay in Vieques: This is the brightest and most conserved bio bay in Puerto Rico, located on the island of Vieques, off the main island. You can kayak or boat on the bay and see the water sparkle like diamonds with every movement.
La Parguera in Lajas: While this is the least bright bio bay in Puerto Rico it is the most diverse. Located on the southwest coast of the island the green, blue and red bioluminescence here is amazing!
Q: How do I choose the best bioluminescent kayak tour for me?
A: If you are staying in San Juan, the easiest option is Laguna Grande in Fajardo. It’s a short drive away, an hour or less. You can also opt for a guided tour that includes transportation from San Juan for an extra fee.
If you are looking for the most spectacular bio bay in the world, you should visit Mosquito Bay in Vieques. This island off the east coast of Puerto Rico can only be reached by ferry and you will need to stay overnight.
If you want to swim in the bioluminescent water, you should go to La Parguera in Lajas. It’s located in the southwest of Puerto Rico. It’s about two hours from San Juan by car.
If you want to combine your bioluminescent kayak tour with other activities and attractions, you should check out the options available in each destination. For example, you can visit El Yunque National Forest or Luquillo Beach before or after your tour in Fajardo, explore the beaches and wildlife of Vieques Island.
Q: When should I do a bioluminescent kayak tour?
A: The darker the better so when the moon is not too bright. You can check the moon phases and weather forecast before booking your tour to make sure you get the best conditions possible. Generally, the best nights are around the new moon and the last quarter moon.
Q: What should I wear and bring for a bioluminescent kayak tour?
A: You should wear water shoes, swimsuit a dry type t-shirt or rash guard. I would also advise bringing a towel, insect repellent, a change of clothes and a waterproof camera. Most tours will provide you with life jackets, paddles, kayaks, and water bottles.
Q: How long does a bioluminescent kayak tour last?
A: Most tours are about two hours. There is a short safety briefing, and if need be a kayaking lesson. Tours are generally $55 to $65 per person.
Q: Do I need any experience or skills to go on a bioluminescent kayak tour?
A: No, you don’t need any experience or skills to go on a bioluminescent kayak tour. You will receive a short kayaking lesson from your guide before launching. The beginner kayaks are stable and easy to maneuver.
Q: Is there an age or weight limit for bioluminescent kayak tours?
A: Yes, there is an age limit and a weight limit for bioluminescent kayak tours. The minimum age is 6 years old, and the maximum weight is 200 lbs for the Fajardo Bio Bay Tour, and 290 lbs for the Bioluminescent Bay with Transportation from San Juan.
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The Bio Bay Night Kayaking from San Juan is our Editor's Choice for the best Puerto Rico kayaking tour
