Reviews

An adventure like none other This was a great activity in Puerto Rico. We went out around 6:30pm and I recommend this time over the later time as there is still daylight when you head out in the kayaks through the mangroves. The... read moreThis was a great activity in Puerto Rico. We went out around 6:30pm and I recommend this time over the later time as there is still daylight when you head out in the kayaks through the mangroves. The guides provided an excellent, thorough instruction on how to kayak and the evenings plan, but it was very helpful to get the feel for the kayak and mangrove before you are in the pitch black of night. Be sure to bring your patience as several other kayakers in the group seemed to forget the instruction on how to stop their kayaks - so much so that it felt like bumper kayaks at times. Once through the mangroves and into the lagoon, the guides provided a tarp to put over the kayaks so you could see the bioluminescence better when you waved your hands through the water. This was really helpful, because as even though it was a dark night with minimal moonlight, the bioluminescence is not as bright as the pictures online (they are photoshopped) and making it extra dark made a huge difference in seeing the glow. Even with the bioluminescence not being as bright as it is online it was still really exciting to see what looked like little blue fireflies in the water. The guides took pictures of each kayak before heading back, and posted them on Facebook for free. Kayaking through the mangroves in the dark is a great adventure on its own that I definitely recommend, so the bioluminescence is just the magical cherry on the cake at that point. They provided bug spray and a small snack afterwards. Both were nice touches (and definitely use the bug spray!) 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

Amazing experience! Must do! We are so glad we chose island kayaking adventure over the others!! The staff are very courteous, the kayaking guides are excellent! First time kayaking but was super easy. It is not long or strenuous either. As compared to other... read moreWe are so glad we chose island kayaking adventure over the others!! The staff are very courteous, the kayaking guides are excellent! First time kayaking but was super easy. It is not long or strenuous either. As compared to other tour groups at the bay, the tour wasn’t crowded at all. Ended up being like a private excursion!! The guide spotted many giant iguanas in the mangrove forest, explained the bioluminescent creatures and let us explore!! Was beautiful! They also give you bug spray at the beginning and had plenty of sanitizer, soap and water to clean up after. Also had snacks and water at the end of the tour. Would highly recommend!! This is only tour company that accommodates 3 people (2 adults and a child). My 7 year old had a blast! read less

DARK Night Adventure The Bio-luminescent Kayaking Adventure was a lot of fun. There was work involved with two people per kayak and traveling through the pitch dark Mango groves. As long as the two of you work together as instructed it... read moreThe Bio-luminescent Kayaking Adventure was a lot of fun. There was work involved with two people per kayak and traveling through the pitch dark Mango groves. As long as the two of you work together as instructed it was not that difficult. My friend and I are 64 and 69 years old and we managed just fine. It was fun kayaking (our first time) through the darkness of the trees and challenging to follow the tiny blue light attached to the kayak in front of you. Lots of laughter and "I'm sorry" and you banged into each other and ran into the branches of the trees. When you put your hands into the water, it lights up all around your hand. In the bay, we even saw some falling stars. The guides were all extremely helpful, knowledgeable and very friendly. When we got back to base camp, we were given a light snack and bottled water. read less

Good unusual experience I was reading reviews and people complaining about group size. Yes, it was about 16 kayaks in one group and channel to the bay is pretty narrow but it didn't ruin our experience at all. The bay itself is pretty... read moreI was reading reviews and people complaining about group size. Yes, it was about 16 kayaks in one group and channel to the bay is pretty narrow but it didn't ruin our experience at all. The bay itself is pretty big and there is enough space for 5-6 big groups (or even more). Our guide gave us interesting info about the bay and why plankton is glowing. The night was pretty bright, moon was out. But they had а canopy to cover kayaks and we could see luminescence fine. Very unusual and cool. read less

Something you have to do in PR We had a pleasurable experience with this company. There are multiple companies doing the same thing at the same time so it can be overwhelming at times. Our group had 4 guides with 15 kayaks. We went at 6pm, but... read moreWe had a pleasurable experience with this company. There are multiple companies doing the same thing at the same time so it can be overwhelming at times. Our group had 4 guides with 15 kayaks. We went at 6pm, but the best time to go is the 8pm option because the darker the better.
Warning: this isn't a relaxing experience! You have to actively paddle your kayak (it's a double seater) for a solid 45 minutes (one way) in an extremely narrow canal in darkness. Each company's kayak has a colored light at the tail end so you can identify where your groups is. And with so many companies going at the same time, it gets chaotic, especially since you can't see anything. I was disappointed to see that there is a company with boats that go up and down the canal with the kayaks- very dangerous! Once we reached the lagoon, we all floated together holding on to each other's kayaks until it was dark enough to see the lights in the water.
The lights cannot be caught on camera, perhaps video. One of our group members lost his go pro so try not to bring anything! In order for the lights to show, you have to wiggle your hands/foot/paddle in the water. The way back would have been cool if we weren't stuck behind a boat with it's back light on, meaning the lights in the water couldn't be seen. This is something you had to do in Puerto Rico because I'm pretty sure its unique to this island, but I wasn't too impressed.
At the end of the tour, they have snacks and water. They take two pictures, which they post online for free.
You will get very wet so bring a change of clothes. The women's restroom only has 2 stalls (never any toilet paper) so be prepared for a long line. read less

Natural wonder This is one of those things you never forget. Truly amazing experience. There are 5 or 6 operators that do these tours and they all seem to have same equipment, same prices and same schedule. Island Kayaking Adventure is one... read moreThis is one of those things you never forget. Truly amazing experience. There are 5 or 6 operators that do these tours and they all seem to have same equipment, same prices and same schedule. Island Kayaking Adventure is one of them, I guess as good as any. Everything was well organized, on time, guides were informative, friendly and very helpful. My wife and second kid were having troubles paddling their kayak so one of the guides hooked them up to his boat and pretty much dragged them in and out all the way, which was great help. I strongly recommend the first tour so at least you have some light on your way in and don't have to bump into other boats that go in opposite direction. Return can be spooky for small kids because by then you would be paddling in almost complete darkness and bumping into trees branches and other boats. But considering how amazing this glowing water is - it's totally worth the money and effort. read less

Worth the trip, but regular kayakers will be frustrated! The bio bay itself is beautiful and certainly worth the dark and somewhat spooky trip to the lagoon. We took the later night tour on a sliver moon night, so it was definitely dark. There are a large... read moreThe bio bay itself is beautiful and certainly worth the dark and somewhat spooky trip to the lagoon. We took the later night tour on a sliver moon night, so it was definitely dark. There are a large number of kayaking outfitters for this trip, and it feels crowded as you go in. The frustrating part is the fact that many had no clue how to paddle or steer in a kayak and those rookies made it very frustrating as they rushed, bumped and hollered at each other while trying to navigate through the mangroves. The large lagoon and bioluminescent waters were gorgeous but I echo that we weren't in that area long enough. I would recommend that these companies split up the newcomers from those with some kayaking experience. And everyone should note that coming out of the bay is more work than going in, so if you're not fit for paddling, you may want to reconsider! Our 11- and 14-year old daughters enjoyed this very much, and we saw younger kids doing just fine and being wowed by the glowing water. Island Kayak Adventures did a good job taking our reservation, sending directions, welcoming us, explaining the tour, and helping those in need. read less

Awesome experience! Was a little skeptical of doing this because of some reviews that the water does not glow. We went on 3/20 and it was a waning crescent moon. It was a very cool experience to be kayaking in the dark... read moreWas a little skeptical of doing this because of some reviews that the water does not glow. We went on 3/20 and it was a waning crescent moon. It was a very cool experience to be kayaking in the dark under the stars through mangroves. Definitely a little bit of a work out and there are a lot kayaks from other tour groups so people do crash into each other but it never caused any crazy accident. Our guides Diego, Cristian, Gari, and Daniel were awesome. My parents couldn’t navigate the kayak well so they pulled them and I was very thankful for that because I was alone on my own kayak. The water in the Laguna definitely glows when you move your hand. It’s not anything super bright, but it makes you appreciate natural that much more. They put us under the tarp and that’s when we really saw it glowing. read less

Fantastic!! Don't miss this opportunity when you are in Puerto Rico. Beautiful, and fun. Guides are knowledgeable and funny. A true lifetime memory!!!

A lot of fun but you need stamina We enjoyed our kayak to Bio Bay. It is pretty well organised but it could be said that the group was too large with some inexperienced kayakers causing confusion. The guides are good and friendly and thye bay is well... read moreWe enjoyed our kayak to Bio Bay. It is pretty well organised but it could be said that the group was too large with some inexperienced kayakers causing confusion. The guides are good and friendly and thye bay is well worth visiting. However, most of your trip is spent paddling to and from the bay along a narrow canal with over-hanging mangrove trees. Not for the faint hearted! If you trust yourself in the water, take a camera (or take a water-proof one); the guide takes a photo of you but it is not great quality. read less

Frustrating Experience but Bio Bay was Worth Seeing Above all else - take the EARLIER tour!!

The bio bay is amazing. It's as if it could be something out of a movie. The sun was setting as we went into the mangrove channel, which is very narrow, and... read moreAbove all else - take the EARLIER tour!!

The bio bay is amazing. It's as if it could be something out of a movie. The sun was setting as we went into the mangrove channel, which is very narrow, and that was hard enough. It was frustrating because there are many people that have never kayaked before and therefore get in the way, hold people up, paddle in the wrong direction, cause chaos as they argue and disagree with each other, etc. It was completely dark on the way back. This was significantly harder not only because there was no light and it was hard to see, but because there were tours trying to go into the channel as we were coming out.

The bio bay was worth seeing, however, I would not do this again. read less

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

Laguna grande - fantastic - guides nice and informative Family of four loved this adventure. Kids Age 7 and 9.....no problems paddling or controlling kyacks. It is a long paddling adventure so be prepared as many others have written about bio bay experiences.

After reading so many reviews... read moreFamily of four loved this adventure. Kids Age 7 and 9.....no problems paddling or controlling kyacks. It is a long paddling adventure so be prepared as many others have written about bio bay experiences.

After reading so many reviews about the bio bay kyacking then doing it myself I believe the following....
1). People who have never done anything physical in their life try to get on a kyack for what is clearly advertised as a 2 hour tour then complain because nobody told them that they would actually need to paddle. Net result - if you want to be fat and lazy choose the electric boat not a kyack.

2). People complain they only got 5 minutes in the bay but they did say that the bulk of the kyacking through the mangroves gives the same experience of biobay and in some cases better since part do mangrove channel is darker than the bay. Island adventures guides pointed this out early in the trip out to the lagoon which was great....kids started playing immediately.

3). People complain about the kyacking in the mangroves.....this has nothing to do with the guide or tour company at all. Yes you need to paddle through a mangrove channel and yes it is dark. Island adventures did a great job of explaining the situation and tel,ling everyone what to do, how to follow each other, how to avoid hitting the trees what to do if you do hit a tree etc. ....absolutely perfect. Our group was pretty good at the whole kyack thing but there were a few that obviously did not listen to the guides.....I am sure they are the types of people that complain about guides not caring.

4). Suggest you do the early trip. It lets you see the mangroves that you kyack through on the way out to the lagoon then on the return trip it is totally dark at least you know what is around you.

5). Unfortunately the bulk of the experience has to do with the group of people you are with due to the kyacking itself. If you have a group of people who can barely walk on their own two feet then you probably will not get a good experience since they won't be able to control the kyack and your guides will need to hold the whole group up waiting for the slow people.

Overall island adventures did great for my family....friendly, good English, good information about the lagoon the reason the history etc, new life jackets, and in general we had a great time. read less

If you go to Puerto Rico, you can't miss this experience I went to bio bay and was an excellent experience, we have a lit of fun on the kayak the tour guys was so patient with all the people, explain every detail of how to use the paddles in the... read moreI went to bio bay and was an excellent experience, we have a lit of fun on the kayak the tour guys was so patient with all the people, explain every detail of how to use the paddles in the kayak, the water is awesome you can see how glow when you shake your hand inside, don't miss it very recommendable. read less

Awesome but ad is misleading One of the most interesting things I have ever experienced. Not for the out of shape or those afraid of the dark because there are times when you can barely see you own hand in front of you. The only... read moreOne of the most interesting things I have ever experienced. Not for the out of shape or those afraid of the dark because there are times when you can barely see you own hand in front of you. The only thing was that on all the flyers I was seeing it shows people swimming in the glowing water but they didn't let us do that read less

Highlight of our trip! I've never kayaked before, and was nervous from reading some reviews. It was SO EASY! Took absolutely no strength at all. The water was so calm and smooth, we just coasted along. The pitch dark mangrove was so... read moreI've never kayaked before, and was nervous from reading some reviews. It was SO EASY! Took absolutely no strength at all. The water was so calm and smooth, we just coasted along. The pitch dark mangrove was so peaceful, and you follow each other single file, I told my husband I felt like we were on a Disney ride! Then before you know it, it opens up to a huge lagoon where every stroke of your oar, or swish of your hand in the water lights up beautiful blue glow! Magical! I enjoyed the explanation our guide gave about these bioluminescent plankton. Such a cool experience. Then back to the launch, where there are several open air bars and restaurants. Our driver gave us some time to get food and cocktails before taking us back to our resort. Our guides Gary, Manny, Giovanni, and Christian (the best! Christian was the best! 😉 were all so much fun! Loved them all! 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

Excepcional, excelente , única ❤ Una experiencia excepcional y única fui con mi niños y se lo disfrutaron al máximo. El canal fue súper divertido kayakiando y lo máximo ver los microorganismos bioluminiscentes con todo y la luna llena, luego te permiten kayakiar un rato.... read moreUna experiencia excepcional y única fui con mi niños y se lo disfrutaron al máximo. El canal fue súper divertido kayakiando y lo máximo ver los microorganismos bioluminiscentes con todo y la luna llena, luego te permiten kayakiar un rato. El guía Nestor y Daniel muy atentos y orientando en todo momento. RECOMENDADO 100 % read less

Great kayaking adventure - sparkling waters! We were staying at the El San Juan Resort & Casino and their Bio Bay packages were sold out. So we booked our trip through the group on the beach. The company was called New Horizons.Sandy our tour guide (who... read moreWe were staying at the El San Juan Resort & Casino and their Bio Bay packages were sold out. So we booked our trip through the group on the beach. The company was called New Horizons.Sandy our tour guide (who was terrific) picked us up in a Van that had only 13 people and drove us to the bay where the Island Kayaking guides were. The tour and the tour guides were just terrific. We kayaked through a canal covered by trees. It was dark and long and exciting and very amusing. Many of the people kayaking couldn't keep their kayaks straight. It was great fun. And the bioluminescent organisms were glowing through the entire tunnel as well as in the lagoon. The fish swimming in the lagoon also glowed. It was a great trip we will never forget. Don't miss this tour, it's worth every penny. 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

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

Very cool experience My family and I went on the bio bay kayaking trip with Island Kayaking a couple of days ago. It was a very fun experience. The bio-luminescence is not that easy to see (pics online look much brighter),... read moreMy family and I went on the bio bay kayaking trip with Island Kayaking a couple of days ago. It was a very fun experience. The bio-luminescence is not that easy to see (pics online look much brighter), but the experience as a whole was great. We took the 6:30 pm tour which was nice because we could see the canal on our way to the bay. The staff was friendly, there was plenty of parking and the experience is worth it. 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

Amamos Passeio imperdivel para quem visita Puerto Rico. Muito lindo e mágico.
O passeio é muito bem organizado e o guia explica tudo sobre esse espetaculo da natureza.

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

Beautiful The trip was beautiful. We were lucky to have little moonlight. Even the experience of rowing through the passages to the bio bay was cool. I wish there would have been time in the bio bay to play around but... read moreThe trip was beautiful. We were lucky to have little moonlight. Even the experience of rowing through the passages to the bio bay was cool. I wish there would have been time in the bio bay to play around but it goes pretty quickly then you are back kayaking in the complete dark. It was worth it. read less

Gran tour! Empresa muy recomendable, nos dieron un gran tour con mucha información, siempre predispuestos a ayudar y muy amables!
Muy recomendable!!!!

Bio Bay Night Kayak Adventure Very awesome! Rates up there as one of the best things I have ever done in my life! Do the night tour where you see the bay light up as the water glows when you touch it! Water is shallow... read moreVery awesome! Rates up there as one of the best things I have ever done in my life! Do the night tour where you see the bay light up as the water glows when you touch it! Water is shallow so even if you have a fear of water, it is only a couple of feet deep. 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