Bioluminiscent kayaking in San Juan?

[Cortney]

Hi everyone! I'm going on the Norwegian Jewel in February and we're deciding where we want to do shore excursions. We love San Juan but we've been there a few times and have done the walking tour/photo thing, wanted to do something different. We saw something about kayaking in a bioluminscent bay and it sounded pretty neat. We were wondering if anyone has done this, and if so, how was it? Has anyone booked with a company they'd recommend other than through the cruise line? Thanks!

[peter l]

Unless you are staying overnight in San Juan you wont be able to do the bio kayak as it is done at dusk/dark..We stayed two prenites a couple of years ago and did this excursion. It was well worth it.

Peterl

[Jim C.]

You also have to be in the correct time of year. If you search the internet for the tour, you will find their website and they have a calendar of when the best times are. But as Peter says you have to be in San Juan overnight to do this tour. If you are flying in a day early for you cruise and you can be ready to go on the tour by 7 or 8 pm you could do it.

[Cortney]

It's offered through NCL, so I'm assuming the timing is OK (just thought we'd save some money by maybe going outside of the cruise line...we've had good experiences with non-cruise line excursions before). Our cruise leaves out of NYC and we have two sea days before San Juan. We get there around 3 p.m. and leave at midnight.

But my husband just looked up some things and saw it's like a 1.5 hour ride to the site. Yikes. I have a pretty short attention span, don't think I'm up for that.

[Dave]

I think it is at Vieques Island which is a little ways from San Juan.

[peter l]

Cortney, when we stayed in Old San Juan 2 years ago, we did an outside vendor for this and had a great experience...In our case, since we were staying locally, the company we did it with had 5 or 6 stops to make before we could head to Fajardo for our kayak.
I think the distance was about 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour at most from Old San Juan where we stayed. Once we were given instructions on the kayaking, the distance we would be traveling to the site, and about the ecosystem we boarded and left in our group...On the way in, it is easy but on the way out, we encountered several groups coming in and it is very, very dark and not easy as you travel through the mango swams with twists and turns..We felt it was well worth it and the company we did it with was very friendly and eco friendly (no accidental falling into water to experience the sensation as some tours allow).. Hope you get to do this as there are only a few places in the world to experience this.

Peterl

[MiketheKid]

i did it a few years ago and its been one of my favorite excursions....we were on the Miracle, and were in San Juan till midnight....the ride is a little long, but just think of it as a driving tour.....bio bay itself really is amazing - the water glows any time it is agitated....if a fish swims by, it leaves a trail of light behind it....you can dunk your oar to make bright waves....you can even pour some down your body and watch yourself glitter....i'd say give it a try because its different and something that you dont get many opportunities to do

[Cortney]

Thanks for the info, guys!

[penny3333]

My friends did this through Holland America and said it was one of the top experiences on their cruise. I would catch a little nap on the drive over and back. That way, when you return to the ship, you're ready to party a little more!

[Casanova frankenstein]

My best guest is you are talking about the one near Fajardo, I have been in the one pof la parguera far away from San Juan it's good but that will depends on the time you will be visitieng the island because if for some reason rains during the day you will probably will not see much during your excursion. maybe the bacardi excursion is a good one that's other option...