A Guide For Being Guided To Puerto Rico’s Bioluminescent Bays
Sublime, beautiful, and indescribable. These are some of the words that’ll apply to Puerto Rico’s Bioluminescent Bay at La Parguera, a beautiful display of the microscopic single celled dinoflagellates called Pyrodinium bahamense. These tiny creatures are a type of plankton and contain high concentrations of mycosporine-like amino acids that release colored dissolved organic matter, both of which absorb strongly in the UV part of the spectrum.
Ok so if you’re like me and completely lost as to what mycosporine-like amino acids are, don’t even stress it, a quick google search rewarded me with an answer. Mycosporine-like amino acids are secondary metabolites. These are natural products like include toxins, which help protect plants, or even cocaine from the cocoa plant which some humans (not I) use for recreational fun. Mycosporine are the specific natural products that help protect it from the sunlights destructive UV rays. So far only 30 organisms have been found to produce these amino acids naturally!
As if this scientific fact wasn’t intriguing enough, there are actually only FIVE ecosystems with a large enough population of these dinoflagellates to cause the shimmering effect that occurs when something moves through it’s waters at night.
Puerto Rico actually has the MOST Bioluminescent ecosystems in the world, with the other two being in Luminous Lagoon in Jamaica and Halong Bay in Vietnam.
While tourists are allowed to kayak and swim in La Parguera, Laguna Grande is a kayak only tour while the third, Mosquito Bay, is off limits altogether.
So, now that we’re all amped up about La Parguera’s biodiversity, here’s what you’ll need to go on this amazing tour.
Personally my pals and I chose BioBay Kayaking Adventures and Tours in Puerto Rico,
For 60 dollars we sailed out to La Parguera. The captain had a firm hand on the steering wheel( which I appreciated when the waves got choppy) and the tour guide was super informative. We sailed past some vacation floating houses as well on the way over. The great thing about this tour is that they provide life jackets and kayaks which makes the price well worth it. They also have a sunset tour option available for 85 dollars.
Over in Mosquito Bay or more as it’s known as: Puerto Mosquito, Vieques, Puerto Rico, kayak tours are offered. You’ll have to take a ferry from mainland Puerto Rico to Vieques since Vieques is a separate island. An hour kayak tour and and hour and thirty minute tour is offered. These kayaks have glass bottoms as well, allowing you to see the magic at work. An overnight tour is also available for those that want to stay on the island overnight. The prices range from 56.99$ to 60.00$.
Fajardo ,Puerto Rico is home to Laguna Grande which offers a 2 hour kayak tour. The tour showcases a beautiful mangrove water trail. It’s a real treat even during the day because of the tropical wildlife that can be found there like Iguanas and tropical birds. Day or night, this tour will explain how the biodiversity of the Pyrodinium Bahamense has been preserved and protected.
These microorganisms are a delight to learn about and be a part of in nature. Don’t miss out on this experience and one last tip. At night you won’t be able to take any awesome selfies because then you won’t see the micro organisms glow. So you’ll have to use yout old bra in memory for this experience folks. No worries, it’s a beautiful time.
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