Bioluminescent Bay, Vieques

In my last outing I discovered the amazing El Yunque rainforest, in today’s post I head to the Island of Vieques in search of some mysterious glowing creatures. Vieques, a 1-hour boat ride from the port city of Fajardo is home to one of the most spectacular Bioluminescent Bays in the world. The warm Caribbean waters are perfect breading ground for these micro-organisms which glow at night upon contact. For each gallon of water (3.7 liters) approximately 720,000 single-celled bioluminescent dinoflagellates populate the water and when agitated they glow. All the action takes place at Mosquito Bay but to get there it involves a bit of a hike.

Due to time restrictions we went with a private charter group (Island Adventures Biobay Tours) which took us from Fajardo to Vieques and then transferred us via bus to Mosquito Bay with a stop off for dinner. The bus ride from the restaurant to the bay is interesting to say the least. Upon arriving at the dock you’re transferred to a motorized boat and the tour starts in total darkness.  As the boat moves through the water the micro-organisms glow. It’s hard to put in to words but it’s one of the most amazing natural sights I’ve ever seen! After about 20 minutes you’re allowed to play in the glowing water. One thing to note about these special creatures is that for them to survive the water needs to contain no pollution. Before coming on the tour make sure you rinse off any sun lotion or mosquito repellent to avoid damaging these precious creatures.

Another option to the motorized boat is kayaking around the bay, which is what I would do if I was to do it again. While the amount of people visiting the bay is controlled, swimming may increase the risk of this natural wonder being destroyed. For more information on tour companies check-out Farjardo Bio-Bay. Which ever option you decide on you won’t be disappointed. In my next post I explore the historic port city of Ponce.