Bioluminescent Bay Kayak Trip from Vieques

Posted By : Veronica_C
Wear quick drying clothing and shoes or be prepared to take shoes off! It was a wonderful way to view the biobay, and Gian Carlo was an excellent tour guide. A one in a lifetime experience with rich history!
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Posted On : 2024-05-30 07:24:49

Posted By : Erin_D
Harold was absolutely amazing, funny, and knowledgeable. This trip is worth every penny. Mosquito Bay is one of the most beautiful natural wonders I've ever seen and I highly recommend this group!
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Posted On : 2024-05-28 00:40:15

Posted By : Trip06656764118
We booked a 9:00 p.m. tour on Sunday, May 12, 2024. We were so excited! While we were at dinner, Abe's changed the tour time to 8:00 p.m. without our consent or knowledge. So, when we got to the meeting place at 9:00 p.m., no one was there from Abe's. When we checked our phones, they had changed our tour time to 8:00 p.m.! We missed it! A text was sent to us after 8:00 p.m. informing us of the change. Not cool. If we get a charge from them on our credit card bill, we will contest it. Pick a different outfit for the bio-bay experience. We wish we had.
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Posted On : 2024-05-27 14:14:43

Posted By : 650elyseh
We didnt have the luxury to plan a trip for new moon. If you are in the same boat, check the time of moon rise for the trip! Book a tour spot some time between sunset and moonrise! We did the 7pm tour and it was very dark until 920pm when the full moon rose.

I went with very low expectations based on some of the cranky reviews on the internet. I thought it was magical. Little dinoflagellates don’t light up unless agitated, so don’t expect the bay to be lit up like Disneyland. But the canoes light up pretty trails. While your partner paddles, slip your hand into the water and maneuver it around. It will light up and glow in a surreal way. If you pull your hand out of the water and let the sparkles drip down your arm, it looks super cool. You can see glowing ethereal fish dart and swim under the kayaks.

Sounds corny, but if you really look down into the water, I thought it looked like a galaxy twinkling right in reach. The stars were beautiful in the sky too. A lot of the tours will point out constellations.

I only have good things to say about the company. Through NO FAULT of their own, the bus (and like 3 other buses) got stuck in the world’s deepest mud pit on the road to the bay. We were unable to get the bus out. Instead of canceling the trip, they let us walk to the launch point (was only 10 minute walk, not sure why needed bus except for people with mobility considerations). As we walked to the kayak spot, they talked to us about native plants and wildlife! A free second tour! The jasmine was blooming and sweet. Frogs and crickets chirping up a storm. Fireflies everywhere. Tour guide (Lulu?) was funny af.

I wore long pants (quick dry hiking pants) and a tshirt. It’s called mosquito bay for a reason. I had no regrets with my outfit. We probably had more mosquito exposure than the average group since we had to hike/walk there. Don’t wear something cute. You can’t really take pictures there anyway and you will inevitably get wet. Bring bug wipes if you attract/hate mosquitoes.

Even numbers is best. Odd number will have to paddle with a stranger. Kayaks seat 2. Kind of uncomfortable seats, but whatever. That’s every kayak ever. I think back seat is more fun because you can see the sparkles from front seat paddler. Must be able to deal with a bossy front paddler though lol.

I would do this again. Glad I didn’t listen to the haters. Just have a positive attitude and enjoy life.
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Posted On : 2024-05-26 09:35:05

Posted By : Daydream20122805960
This was a highlight of our trip. Giancarlos (not sure how he spells it) was absolutely the best guide we could have hoped for. He had a fantastic blend of humor and while giving very clear directions. He put everyone at ease. We learned a lot about the bioluminescence and also some history of mosquito bay. It was a transcendent experience.

Also, he was a champ driving us there and back.
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Posted On : 2024-05-21 15:38:33

Posted By : hesteje
After reading the reviews- I wish I had gone with Lulu- might have felt less rushed or more welcoming? Our guide didn’t really seem interested. He was almost making condolences about the moon- although it was fine bc we were lucky with clouds. I felt personally insulted bc I had done the research and booked that night in particular! Great- can we enjoy it a sec? His explanation was decent but we wanted to know more- he wanted to rush us back- the guide following had to rein us in- which felt like I was a child being told to hurry up by mom.(I am a mom I can say that).

More time would have been beneficial- I saw no reason to rush especially as I was enjoying the wonder of this place. Vacations and wonders of the world are meant to enjoyed, not because we spent years of time working (capitalism at its finest here) to afford this luxury but we did, we really did. A change to slow down and experience something beautiful. Not to own it but to be in it for a little bit.

Possibly bc another tour was after us? The next group was mentioned- perhaps if you have to rush- another bus could be gained with the fees people pay? I mean by the looks of things it doesn’t take a huge amount to cram folks in and out and rush through something so magnificent to get to another group. It’s possible I do not understand how this tourism here works and I’m a jerk. It’s very possible someone behind me paid more and was more important? The bay is magnificent and the guides were fine. Maybe I’m just comparing them to the guide we had in El Yunque who was very wonderful, passionate about his country and very, so very engaged in his job and the humans who were there for a once in a lifetime experience Anyway- do your thing, you can see the bioluminescent boy real quick here.
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Posted On : 2024-05-20 23:40:47

Posted By : Sean_G
It was amazing, although the moon was out making it a little harder to see our guide lulu made it an experience my family will remember. She was bubbly and informative and overall just a great person. The bay was cool to see and left everyone in awe.
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Posted On : 2024-05-20 18:31:33

Posted By : Dana_P
Great experience. Tour guide Lulu was knowledgeable, friendly and fun. She explained everything in a fun way but had lots of info!
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Posted On : 2024-05-20 09:12:54

Posted By : Danielle_L
This is a really awesome experience! Our guide Lulu was excellent and had a lot of interesting information to share, all with a great sense of humor. I highly recommend! A few minor suggestions: (1) They do not use the transparent kayaks on this tour (others operators do). I don’t think it makes much of a difference, but good to know in advance (2) Our tour time was 9pm. We were asked to be there at 8:40, and we were prompt. As it turns out, the early meet time was just to make sure nobody was late. I would have preferred being informed that they would leave without us if we were late than waste our time waiting around. (3) No instructions were given to tell people to avoid using DEET bug repellant. We researched this ourselves, but in the interest of the environmental health of the bay and the phosphorescence, it would be great for the tour company to inform folks.
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Posted On : 2024-05-18 20:07:58

Posted By : ilayda_o
Lulu was a great guide and we enjoyed our time in the water. You spent around 30 min in the water and have a chance to see bioluminescences organisms. I’d definitely recommend.
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Posted On : 2024-05-17 10:06:01