Puerto Rico: Bio Bay Swim and Sunset Charter or Late night tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Floaties
- Towels , snorkeling gear
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Mareaito Charters L.L.C.Carretera 304, Lajas, 00667, Puerto Rico
In front of La Casita Sea Food. Look for Mareaito Charters on Google maps. If Downtown is closed go around through calle 1
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
La Parguera Bioluminescent Bay
2
Cayo Caracoles
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Maimona_a
Ryan was our operator and he was fantastic. This was such a special experience for our family with two littles under 5. They enjoyed the water so much. It was warm and calm waters. Bioluminescent was nothing like the pictures, but magical nonetheless. Stay close to the boat for the darkest shadow if you’re on the sunset tour as it creates the best area for viewing. Bring goggles or a snorkel for maximized viewing. Highly recommend this company for families.
Reviews
4.9
based on 338 reviews
casey_u, Jun 2026
It was incredible; very informative. Capital Fiol and Linda were the perfect guides.
The view at night is unforgettable.
Jennifer_R, Jun 2026
Amazing! So glad we swam in the bio bay as it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I highly recommend Mareaito charter with their wonderful boat and captain! He explained the history, info about the surrounding area and was a great resource. We all were so happy we did this swim!
Hannah_F, Jun 2026
This tour was perfect! Book the 6:30 so you can swim at the sandbar for sunset, then enjoy the late night tour out to the bio bay. The 6:30 tour runs 2 hours and they didn’t make us leave until it was very dark—something we had be worried about because of all the reviewers discussing the need for complete darkness.
We were worried about the brightness because of our tour time, but a message to the operator cleared everything up. Our tour time was perfect between sunset and the moon not rising until later that night. Also, apparently the brightness is better when the sun has shined during the day. So you can check all those things to ensure it’s a good night. We were torn on doing this one because everyone discusses the brightness over at Mosquito Bay, but we found it to be absolutely magical and I think swimming was the perfect choice for the kids. We were not disappointed in the brightness!
We took our small children (5, 8, and 10) and they all absolutely loved it. We were worried they would be too scared to get into the dark water, but they all jumped in and swam the entire 30 minutes in the bay.
Ryan was wonderfully patient with the children and answered all of their questions, but he also let us just enjoy our time as a family. He did a lovely job.
Things to know: There are no bathrooms or changing rooms—so be aware of that if you have little children. The parking lot is very tiny and we got boxed in for about 10-15 minutes after returning so that did make the late night more of a challenge with small children.
Cindy_S, Jun 2026
This was a beautiful experience it was that the guides that were not personable and it definitely made it seem more they were doing a job. We had just done a different tour the prior day to El Yunque and the guides were amazing!!!
Julie_S, May 2026
I recommend this Bio Bay Swim & Sunset Charter with Mareaito Charters. It's such a unique experience and the tour operators were very accommodating. If you are staying near San Juan, plan in advance for transportation to Lajas, as it's more than a short Uber ride away.
Ellen_Z, May 2026
It was absolutely spectacular to swim in the bioluminescent bay! It also felt much safer than I expected (only very small fish live in the water there, so it’s big fish/shark free!). Ryan was a great guide, boat ride was smooth, and they offered us free beverages. And we got to see a dolphin and shooting stars, it was incredible! He recommended going after a sunny day with a minimal moon for best visibility. We lucked out and it was much brighter than I expected. 10/10!
Katie_R, May 2026
This was an amazing outing. If you can fit it into your plans, do!! It requires some mobility ability to get on and off a boat. You will be in water where you can’t touch, in the dark, but it is so amazing, it’s worth getting over some nerves. We went with 3 kids (7, 3, and 1). All had a fantastic time! We felt very well prepared by the staff and well taken care of during the trip. I recommend bringing snorkel masks and towels in a splash-proof bag. Flotation devices and cold drinks were provided.
kylienicholerichmond, May 2026
Such a beautiful experience last night at the bio bay. Seeing the water glow around us was so cool and peaceful. Definitely one of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen
Jorge_C, May 2026
Very friendly staff. They provided a life jacket and gave us very good info about the bay and how it works. Francis and her partner were great to be with.
RonaldJames_M, Apr 2026
It's best to understand my review in context: even our guide at Mareaito Charters told one member of our party that Mosquito Bay in Vieques "is on a whole other level" compared to our snorkeling at La Parguera's bioluminescent bay. That being so, our La Parguera tour offered clients an opportunity not currently available on Vieques: plunging into the dark waters where the dinoflagellates live and swimming among them. We chose the latest charter departure possible (9 PM), right around moonset on a near-new-moon night & hoped for the best.
Our forty-something daughter & her partner described the experience as "pure magic," & frankly, I concur. The bay's waters were surprisingly warm, & our churning feet and swim-strokes glowed like fleeting fireflies beneath us.
The not inexpensive fee was a gamble, but the journey into the bay emerged as one of the highlights of our ten-day trip to Puerto Rico. For sheer gratitude, I left a tip for the boat's skipper. Pure bio-magic.
Alex_H, Apr 2026
Fiol and Linda were incredible, and took us on a scenic night time boat ride to the bioluminescent bay. They both had excellent experience and guided us to have the best time possible. The bioluminescent algae was such an unforgettable memory, and a once in a lifetime phenomenon to witness.
I highly recommend this trip over any other I. Puerto Rico, you will not be disappointed!
Gina_C, Apr 2026
Ryan and Luis were great! Very informative and this excursion was the highlight of our trip. Highly recommend this experience for everyone!
Ariel_V, Apr 2026
(Prefiero notar mis experiencias y opiniones en inglés. ¡Grácias a Adriana y Fiol! Saludos desde Caguas y Baltimore!)
I’ve been overdue for a trip to Puerto Rico for many years, and especially given that my wife has never been here. I wanted to show her some of the natural wonders of where I came from. Neither of us has been to a bioluminescent bay. Well, at least I don’t remember seeing one when my parents would visit Fajardo.
Adriana and Fiol were warm and friendly tour guides and it’s obvious they could navigate La Parguera in their sleep. I recommend them highly and the charter they work for. Their familiarity with the water made it a comfortable and safe ride. And just remember to stay on “island time.” It might take a while to get out there, but things have to be in order before setting off.
Our first stop was near Cayo Caracoles (Snail Key) for a dip on warm meter-deep water, as we waited for the sun to set. Meanwhile, Fiol messed around with some in our group by feeding a small group of tarpon hanging out near all the tour boats also stopped nearby. :)
It wasn’t as dark out as we had hoped, but that’s beyond anyone’s control. There wasn’t a new moon and it had rained recently, so not all the plankton were on the surface, but still, my wife and I saw how the water sparkled as we got to swim and float in the bay. If we kicked our legs or used our arms to move around, we could see the glow around our limbs. We could also see the glow on any given boat’s wakes. It wasn’t as dramatic as we saw in YouTube videos, but that didn’t matter. It was all a sight to behold, and all under a star-filled sky. It was quite romantic.
Aside from the moon’s (our) timing and a minor mishap with my wife (she’s ok), this was an experience neither of us will forget. And we got to experience something in my Puerto Rico together for the first time.
¡Muchas grácias por todo y hasta la próxima vez…!
Veronica_E, Apr 2026
This was a unique and fun experience that should not be missed. My 9 year old son thought it was so cool. The water felt nice and the hosts were friendly and informative.
Maimona_a, Apr 2026
Ryan was our operator and he was fantastic. This was such a special experience for our family with two littles under 5. They enjoyed the water so much. It was warm and calm waters. Bioluminescent was nothing like the pictures, but magical nonetheless. Stay close to the boat for the darkest shadow if you’re on the sunset tour as it creates the best area for viewing. Bring goggles or a snorkel for maximized viewing. Highly recommend this company for families.
Nicollette_M, Mar 2026
so much fun! don’t forget a towel or you’ll be cold. did the 9-11, it was shorter which i appreciated. captain ryan was great! my friend got stung by a jelly fish lol
Megan_R, Mar 2026
The tour and guides were amazing! The experience was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Warm water, shooting stars, and bio luminescent glows that looked like stars in the water.
Note: Plan for 2.5 plus hours if you need to get dinner prior to your excursion. Reserva 304 is not the place to go unless you have 3 plus hours before your boat ride. The parking is a nightmare for dinner, use Calle to Avenue los Pescadores and park on the side streets. Even though the tour has parking… it is bumpy.
Umang_G, Mar 2026
Very pleasant tour guides. Its a unique experience. We enjoyed it thoroughly and will recommend the tour
Nate_B, Mar 2026
My husband and I took the sunset cruise tour. It was nice, but you can't see the sun actually set over the ocean. We then went into the bay where the bioluminescent algae live. We had to wait about 30 minutes for it to get dark enough to see (there was also no moon). Towards the end of our time there we saw "sparks" in the water. Prior to the sparks the glow looked more like cloudy water. The guide said on the 9pm and 11pm tours the algae is brighter. This was the main reason we came to Puerto Rico. If we were to do it again I think I'd get a hotel near this bay and come on the 9pm tour. Ryan our guide was great.
Susan_S, Mar 2026
Our guides were great. They eased my fear of going into the water-especially at night. She had incredible knowledge of how the plankton interacts with the movement.
Crystal_L, Mar 2026
Unforgettable experience! My family of six all enjoyed the the bioluminescent very much. Our groups ages ranged from 12 to 46 years
rnisiewicz, Feb 2026
Our Captain Ryan was friendly and professional. Experience was shorter than advertised but seemed like the right amount of time. 30 min boat ride to the bay, 30 mins to swim, 30 mins back to the dock. Make sure you bring towels!
Rebecca_H, Feb 2026
Swimming in the bioluminescent bay was an absolutely magical experience. We timed our trip with the new moon and the stars were just as breathtaking as the water. Ryan and Gabriel were great guides. It was honestly the most beautiful experience we’ve ever had, cannot recommend enough.
Jacob_B, Feb 2026
Experience alone was worth it, swimming with Tarpon, watching the sunset, then swimming in the bioluminescent bay. Incredible time!
Luke_W, Jan 2026
This experience was one for the books, the staff was amazing, knowledgeable, and really fun!!
The bio luminescence, swimming in it is a once in a life time experience 10/10 recommend.
Valerie_B, Jan 2026
Totally worth the drive from San Juan!!! The tour operators were so accommodating of our unexpected small problem and made sure we got the wonderful experience we expected. Can’t say enough good things about them and the natural wonder that bioluminescence is!
Laurie_L, Jan 2026
Loved being able to swim in the bioluminescence bay. Such a neat experience. Snorkeling/swimming around the little island before enjoying the sunset was neat. Would have been better with cocktails 😉
Eric_M, Nov 2025
Great sunset. Guide was very knowledgeable, Ryan was great.
Definitely try to go during February for peak bio time
Philip_M, Nov 2025
Pro tip: forget your phone and camera, and just be present in a fleeting moment. The Phytoplankton are camera shy, plus, you don’t want to be handling your phone in the dark in the water anyway.
Kelley_S, Oct 2025
One of the most magical experiences I’ve ever had . If you go, be sure to get in the water otherwise you don’t get the full effect
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