island kayaking adventure

Did the Glowing Bay Tour with this company and it was great. Picked up and returned to area very close to my hotel. The trip included water and snacks after the trip as well. Our tour guides were funny, friendly, and helpful. Now the tour itself was okay. Kayaking out to the bay was okay, but coming back in the pitch dark was difficult. The visit to the bay itself was fun. It is amazing to see how the water just lights up as your hand or paddle moves through it. I thought there would be a little more to the whole illuminating thing, but I would still do the trip if you get a chance. I would also definitely recommend Island Kayaking Adventure.

Being someone who has kayaked pretty frequently, I wish this was something you could do on your own or maybe this company just wasn't for our group (we had four people). Due to the large size of the group, it was not as enjoyable as it could have been, there were 12 boats plus four or so guides and I think we spent more time "grabbing the boat" next to us and lining up than actually paddling/seeing the bay. I was glad they brought the tarp so we had a better chance of seeing the lit water. Try to go closer to a new moon when there isn't so much light. Kayaking through the mangroves at night was beautiful, on the way paddling back to the marina make sure to continue sticking your hands in the water and enjoy the bioluminescent waters longer while your in the pitch black of the mangrove canopy. Wish they would skip the picture taking (especially twice!!), waste of time. I would say the value just wasn't really there.

Great tour with three teenagers. Some of the reviews had given me concerns about the trip, but we had a great time and enjoyed seeing the genuine, non-manufactured, natural phenomenon. Main takeaways: 1. The bioluminescent effect (seeing a glow around your paddle or hands in the water) is very cool. 2. We went with a waxing, half moon. While the effect might have been more brilliant with less moon, when we stopped in the bay, they had a solution for that--so if your chance to do the tour is at a time with moonlight, don't hesitate. 3. You'll be paddling about 90 or so total minutes at night across a shallow bay and through a winding mangrove lined channel that will have other tour groups heading the other way. There will be about 15 kayaks in a line in your group. You may bump a tree here or there--it's not a big deal. No one tipped and the water is shallow. 4. Main guide and shore staff were great. I thought asst guides could have helped folks into and out of their kayaks more--but that was a small point. 5. Wear something you don't mind getting wet and don't take cameras, wallets, etc. 6. I recommend the tour.

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 so even if you have a fear of water, it is only a couple of feet deep.

We loved the whole experience of kayaking through the mangroves to the bay, the crazy bioluminescent glow created by moving your hands or paddles in the water (or sometimes by fish). We lucked out and were in Puerto Rico when the moon was only 6% full, so our conditions were good. If I ever did this again I would probably go with another tour group. No one could hear the guide speaking and he was not willing to raise his voice. There was not much information provided other than the basics of what caused the glow. There are little fluorescent lights at the front and back of each kayak because it is very dark in the mangroves and the light of the kayak in front of you is the only thing you can follow. However, luckily, an alert person pointed out to the staff while we were out in open water getting ready to enter the mangroves that there were many lights out on the kayaks. They adjusted them before we went in. I was really surprised this was not something that was checked before anyone boarded the kayaks because we were very dependent upon them. The other negative was that after paddling about 30 minutes through the mangrove we only spent about 10 minutes in the bay itself. Because we were on the early trip out, we had to wait in the bay until it was a darker to see the glow, so the mangrove water really offered the lengthier time to experience the luminscence of the water. All in all, we enjoyed this fully and Island kayaking was not a downer in anyway, just not the greatest. Tips: Don't book through your hotel, book direct including transportation, you will save $$$. If you are really nervous about going through the mangroves in pitch black, take the earlier trip and it will be light on the way out so you will get a feel for your surroundings. Or take a motor boat, some tours offer these. We love to kayak so this was not a consideration for us. True night darkness to view the bioluminescent bay doesn't fall until after the early trip is over. i would take the later trip if I ever did it again, it was noticeably darker when we returned. (We still were thrilled with our experience on the earlier trip.) Even our 6% moon cast light, so I would not recommend going unless the moon conditions were right.

Don't waste your money on this company. Organization and communication is not their strong point. Immediately getting in the kayak my friend slipped and fell on the algae that is covering the entire loading dock, unsafe. They could care less just told her to get in the kayak. Going out there was cool but everything after that was a disaster. Kayaks crashing into each other and into the sides. Part of the group got separated from the rest and we had to wait 15 mins just sitting there which led to us all crashing into each other again when we started to move. Every other group out there was uniform and communicating. I got a paddle and a large branch to the face. For barely seeing anything and feeling completely unsafe, I recommend going with another company and not waisting your time or money here.

There are only a few places in the world that have a bioluminescent bay- the conditions have to be just right. I won't bore you with the scientific details here. Suffice it to say that there is a lagoon in Puerto Rico that has it- BUT it is so commercialized and taken over by tour groups trying to make a buck off a natural wonder that it takes away some of the magic from it all. So you have to drive to Fajardo then wait around for 30-45 minutes PAST the time they tell you to be there, then you and your partner take a kayak out to the lagoon which takes about 20 minutes or so. It's not very strenuous, but I wouldn't recommend it for those that are really out of shape or young kids. There also is a problem if you have 3 people because all the kayaks are for 2 people so 1 person will either get paired up with a stranger or have to go with one of the guides.The lagoon does have bioluminescence, BUT the the moon is even HALF full, you won't be able to see it much. There are SO many tour groups that people were literally running into other people's kayaks and had I not been "driving defensively" one of the other group members almost hit me in the face with their paddle because it's dark and let's face it, some people just aren't that coordinated. The tour guides aren't much of a guide as the channel to get out to the lagoon is so narrow that they basically stick one guide in front to lead and one in the back to make sure everyone keeps going forward. You get a 5 minute spiel when you get out there and then they stick you under a tarp for 2 minutes literally so that you can actually see the bioluminescence. The best part of the entire 3+ hour ordeal was being under the tarp for 2 minutes to actually see the bioluminescence. I guess it's cool if you've never done it before, but don't except a WOW moment- it's just ehhh.

We visited in January, and we had no mosquito problems. We also had a Full Moon, and we realize this makes the luminescence less visible. But even while paddling out to the lake, while we were shielded from moonlight by the overhanging trees, we could barely see any light when we swirled our hands in the water. We're told other places in PR are better for that.Main complaint: the kayak had poor back support, only a short flexible strip attached at the four corners. Whenever I tried to paddle, the arrangement forced me backwards until I was practically lying down; it was very difficult to stay upright. I was miserable by the time I got back.Floating on the lake in moonlight was quite nice, though, as long as I didn't have to paddle too much.

Not worth the money at all! Misleading info ! Very frustrating to kayak for 2 hours to get to the bay n not see what u expect ! When we told the guide that we dint see anything he asked us to put our hands in water to say the luminiscent effect ! Lame .. Completely hyped up ! I Would say take the electric boat n save the energy for somethin better

The tour guide was knowledgable but that's the only good thing about this trip. They took us all out on to the dock and got us on kayaks, it was dark already at this time. As we entered the canal, the smell and the mosquitoes took over! It took over 30 minutes to get to the bay, which was beautiful but they gave us very little time to actually play around in it. When we got back, my friend had over a hundred mosquito bites and was swollen head to toe, they did not warn us about mosquito repellent, when we said something they said it was right on the table and that we should have known to put it on. We had to rush to a pharmacy to get allergy medicine to relieve the swelling on my friends face and ears. So if you are planning a bio-bay adventure, call an electric boat instead!!! And take bug spray!

They told us they will take pictures that's why we chose them among other companies, but when we got there they said the camera was broken!The experience is more horrifying than interesting. They make paddle 2 hrs in absolute dark in a 3 ft wide channel where several other companies are taking tours too. On top of all the traffic every now and then a boat comes among and what they do about it is to tell you watch out! It can be really dangerous! I hit myself to tree branches since I couldn't see anything and injured my self but nobody gave a damn!

We were traveling with children and asked (before paying) whether the kids could double up with one adult. We were told yes, and then paid. Less than five minutes later, we walked to the bay and were told kids two kids could not sit with one adult and the kids would have to kayak alone. Little ones were too scared and we thought it would be unsafe. One adult stayed back with the kids who did not have an adult to ride with. When I asked for a refund based on misleading information at the time I paid, I was told to call back in the morning. Four phone calls later and after an email to the company manager, I've still heard nothing. Dishonest and unresponsive company in my experience. Go with another tour company!

The guides were clear and always on top of everything. The Fajardo Bioluminescent Bay tour lasted a long time but I only wished we had stayed in the bay more since we had very little time to play around in it.

They let us do kayaking next day. Great staff, patiently guided us to lagoon. Wish they could have taken few more pics, but still thanks to them.

I recommend the earlier tour as well, but don't be discouraged if only later is open. Guide was very open about the kayaking being "in slow motion." Not a rigorous trip at all, and many completely inexperienced paddlers. I went with my 2 children, 11 and 13. My son had fractured his clavicle only 3 weeks before and was going to be no help rowing. Not a problem for me to do his share, we've done this since he was able to swim, but guide took him in his kayak and made whole trip even better for daughter and I, as well as him. Don't be expecting "Disney" this is reality. You'll want to have a look at the surroundings on the way into the channel - amazing in themselves. But once the sun sets and the water becomes alive with other-worldly glow, you'll be glad you came. In addition to stirring the water with your hand, try putting the paddle deep into the water and moving it back and forth with your partner doing the opposite - eerie! And move away from other boats and splash as far as you can - even better than fireworks on the fourth. These are things you can't do as easily or at all on the motor boat tours. Definitely pay attention to the moon calendar.We also went swimming in Parguera bay. I am glad we did that one first - much dimmer, largely because they do allow swimming and are not as strict with environmental protections. Still an experience worth having, and much less expensive.Don't expect to be able to take pictures of your experience, so leave the camera behind. You will be soaked from the waist down after your trip so your camera, phone or other valuables will suffer, too. Even a waterproof camera will not be useful on this trip. The luminescence isn't bright enough for any but the most extremely light sensitive cameras which are beyond what any usual tourist would have. Besides, the guides do take your picture in the kayaks and post online for you to download later.