First time kayaking We weren't sure about kayaking for the first time -- in the dark--among mangrove trees. We were cautioned that the bio bay was going through a transition and would only sparkle and not glow. We wanted to... read moreWe weren't sure about kayaking for the first time -- in the dark--among mangrove trees. We were cautioned that the bio bay was going through a transition and would only sparkle and not glow. We wanted to experience it anyway - we always enjoy making a wide variety of memories when we travel.
We were given kayaking instructions and safety rules before we left. The guides helped us in and out of the kayak and were patient with us when we got to zig-zagging from inexperience.
We were wet from the waist down and had dressed for it. I still don't even know how I got splashed in the face a couple times. I was glad to see the lights of the shoreline on our return trip.
There were probably 12 kayaks in our group and everyone was kind and had a good time. read less

Pretty neat experience The photos may seem magnificent and blue, but those photos are photoshopped. Anyway it was a peaceful journey through the lucious mangroves that encompass the path. I recommend to go early in the night because it is a timely trip.... read moreThe photos may seem magnificent and blue, but those photos are photoshopped. Anyway it was a peaceful journey through the lucious mangroves that encompass the path. I recommend to go early in the night because it is a timely trip. Please go, it’s very enjoyable! read less

Fun nighttime adventure! Staff did a good job getting all the kayaker through the mangrove tunnel in the pitch black, even with inexperienced kayakers. My wife and two daughters and I had a great time - we went on the later 800... read moreStaff did a good job getting all the kayaker through the mangrove tunnel in the pitch black, even with inexperienced kayakers. My wife and two daughters and I had a great time - we went on the later 800 pm tour, and I'd recommend the earlier 530 tour for inexperienced kayakers or small kids, who can get scared I. The dark. The adventure of kayaking through the mile long mangrove tunnel was as much fun as the bio bay itself, which was pretty cool, but not super spectacular, at least on the night we went. All said though, we had a great time and Island Kayaking Adventures did a very good job and had nice friendly guides. read less

Great experience altogether Everything from the booking process to the tour itself was excellent.

I booked it calling them directly, the lady gave me an excellent explanation of what to expect so we would be aware of how the experience was and we... read moreEverything from the booking process to the tour itself was excellent.

I booked it calling them directly, the lady gave me an excellent explanation of what to expect so we would be aware of how the experience was and we wouldn’t book something blindly. We decided to book with them and made it to the Croabas area where all of the bio bay companies situate themselves to offer the tours.

Once we made it there we had to sign a waiver and pay for our spots. They have a lock box where you can leave your belongings while you are out kayaking. There you get a quick demonstration on how to paddle and what to do while on the water. Then you get your life vest and off you go.

The paddling itself it’s a bit of a workout. You got to paddle for about 30 minutes while you go from the meeting point to the lagoon, most of the time you paddle thru a canal that’s surrounded by mangrove and vegetation. So be aware that you might accidentally steer towards them, or find low branches that might touch you. So sometimes you might have to duck.

Once you make it into the lagoon they take your picture, and then you get a scientific explanation of the dinoflagellates. It was very easy to follow along. Afterwards you get to play with the water while on the kayak, as you are not allowed into the water by governmental regulations. It was beautiful to see this tiny plankton light up. After about half an hour inside the lagoon you get to paddle back to shore.

People must be aware that this is a nature tour, meaning that there is really no control on how much of the luminescent effect you will see. It always varies because there’s so many different factors that affect visibility.

Our group was made of first time kayakers to moderately experience and we all had a great time with no major paddling issues. read less

Bio Bay The guides were excellent - organized, informative, and jovial. Kenny and a few other guides were more than kind and waited for nearly 30 minutes after the tour ended until our transportation arrived. Some novice kayakers had trouble managing... read moreThe guides were excellent - organized, informative, and jovial. Kenny and a few other guides were more than kind and waited for nearly 30 minutes after the tour ended until our transportation arrived. Some novice kayakers had trouble managing their boats in the dark, but it was not disruptive to the group. The bay ecosystem has suffered from the effects of Hurricane Maria. The bioluminescence was not as spectacular as we expected, but it was still amazing. On a moonless night, we could see every star in the sky. Truly a memorable experience. read less

So much fun Great adventure! Great staff! The team of three were super nice and knowledgeable. Will do it again.

Once in a Lifetime Experience Had a wonderful experience at Island Kayak. We have been to PR many times but heard about this Bio Bay experience. This is something I would not do again but highly recommend people do it once for the... read moreHad a wonderful experience at Island Kayak. We have been to PR many times but heard about this Bio Bay experience. This is something I would not do again but highly recommend people do it once for the experience. The staff were wonderful and ensure everyone is safe. read less

Fun experience! Worth it! Fun night kayak to Laguna Grande! Guides were great. Everything went smoothly. The bioluminescence was a little underwhelming but definitely glad we did it. (It’s seen better seen with a tarp over your heads but you can still see... read moreFun night kayak to Laguna Grande! Guides were great. Everything went smoothly. The bioluminescence was a little underwhelming but definitely glad we did it. (It’s seen better seen with a tarp over your heads but you can still see it a little without) The paddling through the channel in the dark to the bay was a very cool and different experience- we really enjoyed it! Kayaking up river against the current was a little tougher than I thought-wouldn’t recommend for younger children. read less

amazing experience The night kayaking tour on the Laguna Grande is just amazing!
I travel a lot and this was one of the most special things I`ve done. The Island Kayaking Adventure company was very professional and all the staff was great. Special... read moreThe night kayaking tour on the Laguna Grande is just amazing!
I travel a lot and this was one of the most special things I`ve done. The Island Kayaking Adventure company was very professional and all the staff was great. Special thanks to our guide Miguel who made all the difference. He was very nice, knowledgeable and patient with the people who weren`t very experienced with kayaking. read less

Very Interesting Kayak Trip at Night! We headed out to Las Croabas to meet up with Island Kayaking Adventures about 8:30 pm. We were told it would be a good night for this bio-bay kayak trip because the moon was new and not bright at all... read moreWe headed out to Las Croabas to meet up with Island Kayaking Adventures about 8:30 pm. We were told it would be a good night for this bio-bay kayak trip because the moon was new and not bright at all (you don't want a full or bright moon). After a quick talk from our guides, we were in our tandem kayaks (2 man) and out on the water. The group of us headed for a narrow channel of water covered by mangrove trees. It's quite dark out and in the channel it's pretty much complete darkness. My husband and I are experienced kayakers and good communicators with each other so we found it easier to work together, kayaking in the channel. Many in our group are not and this made it tricky when they don't stay in line or crash into you. You need to have a little patience and you finally make it into the bay where the water does illuminate with small micro organisms. Very cool! The guides take pictures of you, which is a nice keepsake ( go to their Facebook page and down load your pic). You then head back into the dark channel and back to shore. My husband and I loved it. The prices are great too. Take the adventure. read less

Bio-bay Tour 45$ p.P.
Tolles Erlebnis, magische effekte, aaaaaber:
Wir haben uns für diesen Preis und die angesetzte Zeit mehr erhofft. Das paddeln war Spaß und hat die Spannung aufgebaut ubd mit Sicherheit auch die Belohnung attraktiver gemacht, dennoch sind 10 Minuten Verweildauer im... read more45$ p.P.
Tolles Erlebnis, magische effekte, aaaaaber:
Wir haben uns für diesen Preis und die angesetzte Zeit mehr erhofft. Das paddeln war Spaß und hat die Spannung aufgebaut ubd mit Sicherheit auch die Belohnung attraktiver gemacht, dennoch sind 10 Minuten Verweildauer im Zentrum der bay mmn. Zu wenig. Daher nur 4/5 punkten.

Ansonsten absolut lohnendes naturhighlight. read less

great tour! We called at the last minute the day of (Mar14th) and were lucky because there was a cancellation for the first tour - we grabbed the last two spots! And were so glad we did. Miguel was our... read moreWe called at the last minute the day of (Mar14th) and were lucky because there was a cancellation for the first tour - we grabbed the last two spots! And were so glad we did. Miguel was our guide - great job explaining how to kayak and explanation when we were in the bay.

Fun time - just stay relaxed because there will inevitably be people who are horrible kayakers! There were two girls in our group who couldn't get the hang of it - they were having a blast and laughing, but were all over the place. The rest of just laughed along with them. read less

So much fun! This is was such a fun tour! The guides (Pedro, Kenneth, Belin, Celix, and Talia) were amazing. They were funny, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Some reviews have complained about darkness or running into trees, but it’s not nearly as precarious... read moreThis is was such a fun tour! The guides (Pedro, Kenneth, Belin, Celix, and Talia) were amazing. They were funny, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Some reviews have complained about darkness or running into trees, but it’s not nearly as precarious of a situation as they make it sound. There are lights on the boats, and once you get the hang of kayaking, you shouldn’t have any issues. read less

Great experience, but highly commercialized I’ve seen a lot of highly critical reviews of the tour with relevant points, so I wanted to provide a review based on what I had seen before. The kayaking experience was lovely and my partner listed it as his... read moreI’ve seen a lot of highly critical reviews of the tour with relevant points, so I wanted to provide a review based on what I had seen before. The kayaking experience was lovely and my partner listed it as his favorite part of our time in Puerto Rico. I really enjoyed the experience, but there were some things that I wish I knew going into the experience as far as managing expectations (These comments likely hold for any of the tours in Fajardo/ Laguna Grande, I just took the Island Kayaking Adventure tour.)

(1) First and foremost, the bioluminescence is pretty weak relative to past experiences I’ve had. Is it still magical? Absolutely. That said, it’s unlikely that you’ll see animals glowing under your kayak and you have to look pretty carefully to see the glow of the water as you paddle.

(2) Perhaps a little more frustrating for me, it felt as though our time actually in laguna grande was short and rushed relative to the length of the whole experience. It’s over a km kayak through the mangroves in the dark to get to laguna grande. If nighttime kayaking is your thing (as it was for my partner and I) then it was still a really enjoyable experience. However, if you are expecting 30 minutes or more with bioluminescence you are going to be disappointed. In our tour, it even seemed based on what I overheard the tour guides were saying to one another about the timing that they cut our experience in laguna grande short for timing purposes because it took our group too long to kayak to the bay.

(3) Relatedly, the entire experience was VERY commercialized. Large groups, many tour companies, and different tour groups running into one another. It created log jams as we kayaked into the bay that weren’t helped by countless folks with zero clue how to kayak.

(4) They had bug spray (the nice Off Clean Feel Kind 😊) so don’t worry about picking up your own prior to the tour (that said, there are enterprising local shops that do sell it for an upcharge if this turns out to be incorrect for your particular tour).

I mention all of these to help manage expectations. I genuinely still enjoyed my experience, and the tour group certainly did a great job and provided nice directions on where to park/go for the tour, but if you do have the time and ability I may try going to Vieques or somewhere just a tad less touristy. read less

Bioluminecense adventure My husband and I enjoyed this. The guides were knowledgeable and were great about explaining what to expect for the evening. The company does use kayaks that seat two so make sure you are paired with someone you like. Going... read moreMy husband and I enjoyed this. The guides were knowledgeable and were great about explaining what to expect for the evening. The company does use kayaks that seat two so make sure you are paired with someone you like. Going through the mangroves at night in the pitch dark was very interesting and the guides did a great job of keeping us together. The biolumenecense was beautiful but not as spectacular as I thought it would be. The return to shore was made a bit more challenging due to a complete downpour. I am glad we did it but probably would not go again. As an earlier reviewer said make sure to pick your kayak partner well - will definitely impact the quality of your experience. read less

Great value Found this place online and was able to call and text and get a great group rate for 13 of us. We got the second shift and so it was already dark as we drove to Fajardo. Streets are tough... read moreFound this place online and was able to call and text and get a great group rate for 13 of us. We got the second shift and so it was already dark as we drove to Fajardo. Streets are tough navigating and there is little to no parking in the park area. Then you have to walk around until you find a tent that might be the one you are looking for and ask. Hopefully you have a few minutes to run your wallet back to your car after you sign the waiver and pay. Leave everything in your car. They're not in a big hurry, so really it's no big deal. They do provide bug spray, but it wasn't bad our night. Remember to also stop before you get to town to go the bathroom because there is only one in the park and you have to pay. Mike was our guide who was quite enthusiastic and willing to answer all questions and was pretty knowledgeable (ALRIGHT GUYSS!). There were supposed to be a couple other guys with us and they may have gone by us during the trip, but didn't really help us stay together, just carried the tarp and camera. We seemed to get pretty spread out so that it was hard to get any directions from the front. Trip out is easier, as you can always stay to the right. Trip back in you need to stay right until you meet with an actual boat, which apparently needs to stay on that NW side and so you have to go left ("YOUR OTHER RIGHT!" they berate you from their boat). When you get close to the lagoon, it is almost better right there, still in the river, to see the bio lights in the water. We could see pretty well our night, but we still did the tent thing out in the lagoon and got pictures taken. Try to stay still so your pic is less blurry (good luck). Nice of them to post it on Facebook so it was easy to get my copy. Overall it was a good time and we all had fun for less than $50pp. read less

Awesome! Awesome adventure. It was fun.
Easy paddle and just enough distance/time to enjoy biobay.
The guides were very knowledgeable in answering our questions.
Do not pass this unique experience.

Awesome! Great experience. Friendly and helpful staff. Very knowledgeable and fun. Had a great time. Definitely recommend.

Great experience! The Biobay at Fajardo was a great experience even though it is not the brightest bioluminescence experience in PR. The staff were extremely helpful and attentive. As soon as we arrived (Uber from San Juan) the owner made a great... read moreThe Biobay at Fajardo was a great experience even though it is not the brightest bioluminescence experience in PR. The staff were extremely helpful and attentive. As soon as we arrived (Uber from San Juan) the owner made a great effort to help us secure transport back to San Juan for after the tour, with a local taxi driver (it is hard to get Ubers out of Fajardo) even though it was not part of the tour's offering. They provided bug spray (highly recommend using it or coming prepared).
The kayak tour itself was great, however I would recommend having some prior experience with kayaking (we were in a double kayak, and my friend had no prior experience so it was a struggle). One of the guides, Danny, was especially kind and helpful in hooking his kayak onto ours to tow us because we kept getting stuck in the mangroves and sand banks. The bioluminescence was very cool, but having visited other sites in past trips, I would recommend planning ahead and visiting one of the brighter and farther out bioluminescence sites in PR if you can. read less

Excellent experience! My husband and I used this company to go on a tour of the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo. We were picked up at our hotel and were driven about 45 minutes to the bay. The driver was very... read moreMy husband and I used this company to go on a tour of the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo. We were picked up at our hotel and were driven about 45 minutes to the bay. The driver was very knowledgeable and shared bit of Puerto Rican history with us during the ride. We had 5 kayak guides with us during the trip. At first, I was no a huge fan of kayaking in the pitch dark (through the mangroves) only following the little blue light on the boat ahead of me, but I got used to it. Once we got out to the bay, the guides spread a tarp over our kayaks so it was easier to see the bioluminescent glow. Through out the excursion, our guides were constantly informing us of obstacles in the path and when another tour group was coming in our direction. Yes, we all knocked into each other a few times, but it was not too bad and no one was moving fast. I recommend this company for the tour, but make sure you make reservations in advance to secure your slot! read less

Once in a lifetime experience! An absolutely breath taking and mesmerizing experience! Our tour guide's knowledge about the bay seemed unlimited and his passion for the lagoon was contagious! I went for my first time 9 months after Hurricane Maria and to be able to... read moreAn absolutely breath taking and mesmerizing experience! Our tour guide's knowledge about the bay seemed unlimited and his passion for the lagoon was contagious! I went for my first time 9 months after Hurricane Maria and to be able to come back four years later and see how much the lagoon has continued to prosper is truly amazing! We were blessed to have a night where the plankton were at the brightest they have been in a long time. Any time someone asks me about Puerto Rico, I always have to tell them about the bio-bay and there is no other company I would recommend to take you than Island Kayaking Adventures! Thank you for all of the beautiful memories! read less

Overall the kayaking experience was great. The illuminations were not great, but the science behind them was great. Guides were super friendly and made the experience fun. Thanks to Daniel & Abel. Abel was very helpful and guided my two granddaughters and me through the tour.

Bioluminescent night kayak Crew and leader Gary were great!!! The experience was fun for the adults and teens. Gary was patient and knowledgeable

Fabulous Experience!! We booked a tour with Island Kayaking Adventure. It was smooth checking in, very organized and on point. They even had plenty of bug spray for us to use and they store your stuff for free. They were on... read moreWe booked a tour with Island Kayaking Adventure. It was smooth checking in, very organized and on point. They even had plenty of bug spray for us to use and they store your stuff for free. They were on time, funny, very knowledgeable and safe. We never felt pressured to keep up and they were always nearby to help if we got stuck, which my son and I often did. Lol At the end of the trip they had snacks and we had full use of the facilities bathrooms and showers. This was mine and my sons first experience and we had soo much fun!! I was very thankful for the guides Daniel and Diego! My son and I kept getting stuck in the sand and the trees and they were great about towing us along and then encouraging us to try again on our own! They always stayed nearby and were helpful in telling us which way to paddle. The hardest part for me was remembering that if I wanted to go right, I needed to paddle left and vise versa. They Gave us plenty of time to enjoy the bioluminescent organisms in the water!! I had never seen the water glow like that! We would definitely do this again with them and would recommend them to everybody. read less

BioBay Kayaking is a mixed bag We did night Kayaking with Island Kayaking Adventure during our recent trip to Puerto Rico. It was near full moon and there was very little expectation of actually seeing anything spectacular.

The morning of the excursion, they told us that... read moreWe did night Kayaking with Island Kayaking Adventure during our recent trip to Puerto Rico. It was near full moon and there was very little expectation of actually seeing anything spectacular.

The morning of the excursion, they told us that the luminescence levels are a little low due to weather and moon, but still decent enough, but they still give us an option to cancel for full refund, or continue as planned for an additional 15% discount in price. I took the later option, as we wanted the experience anyway.

We reached the given address around 8 PM. Everything was very well organized. We were given our instructions, and the gear. We got into our kayaks, and started rowing. Most of use were in-experienced. Initially we tried to paddle our way through the winding narrow path through the mangroves, but it was very quickly clear that we needed help. So our 4 guides tied our kayaks together in groups and each guide dragged us through the waters.

After more than half an hour of rowing, we reached the open waters. We gathered in a group, were given tarps to put on our heads, (as there was too much light) and that's when we saw the bio luminescence.

So what we saw was just a very tiny amount of bright dots in water when you shake the water vigorously. That's all. It was good, but nothing spectacular.

Our tour guides were very professional. They stayed on top of things all along. They pulled us most of the way to the open waters, and all the way back to the shore. We had fun. read less

Great EXcursions This is a family owned and operated company. They run on island time and we loved every minute of it. We were never rushed or had to cut something short. If we started late we were able... read moreThis is a family owned and operated company. They run on island time and we loved every minute of it. We were never rushed or had to cut something short. If we started late we were able to stay late. The snacks they served between snorkeling the reef and snorkeling with the turtles was homemade and very tasty. We took kayaks out to a reef at Tamarindo Bay and our guides told us about the reef and fish and pointed out interesting animals we might otherwise have missed. They also took pictures of everyone and everything, which they let us download for free. Then we kayaked back to the beach and ate a snack of sandwhiches,drinks , and chips. We then snorkeled out to the turtle side of the bay and saw many turtles eating ,breathing and just being turtles. It is thier nesting season, so you can volunteer to help these animals out if you have time. They train you on what to do. This is an awesome company. read less

Biolumiescent kayak tour This is one of the coolest things I have ever done. This is an evening Bio Bay kayak tour. You kayak thru a mangrove channel and when it gets dark, you can see the bioluminescent organisms in... read moreThis is one of the coolest things I have ever done. This is an evening Bio Bay kayak tour. You kayak thru a mangrove channel and when it gets dark, you can see the bioluminescent organisms in the water. They look like diamonds in the water. Very Cool!! read less

Glowing Bay Adventure The experience advertises 2 hours but they ask you to arrive 30 minutes in advance to check in then spend another 30 giving an orientation on the use of a kayak later followed by getting on the kayaks and sending... read moreThe experience advertises 2 hours but they ask you to arrive 30 minutes in advance to check in then spend another 30 giving an orientation on the use of a kayak later followed by getting on the kayaks and sending us off. Each way is about 30ish minutes through the mangrove forest and some people don’t know how to use a kayak which makes it funny. The bio part of the tour is not rushed I would say like other reviews mentioned but it’s definitely short sweet and to the point. read less

Kayaking en Bio bay Son puntuales un gran servicio y atención. El recorrido es maravilloso. Tienen el cuidado de hacer sentir atendido a todos por igual. El equipo de trabajo es muy bueno y los Kayaks están en muy buen estado. Ofrecen meriendas y... read moreSon puntuales un gran servicio y atención. El recorrido es maravilloso. Tienen el cuidado de hacer sentir atendido a todos por igual. El equipo de trabajo es muy bueno y los Kayaks están en muy buen estado. Ofrecen meriendas y agua al terminar el recorrido. read less

Magical The bay exceeded my expectations and the float through the mangroves was magical. It was challenging paddling against the current on the return trip but the guides made us feel safe.