Bio Bay & Rainforest Combo Tour

This is a beginner friendly kayaking spot! The lagoon and mangrove tunnels are very calm and a great place to try kayaking for the first time.

If you are looking for more information on beginner kayaking, check out TripOutside’s blog post on Kayaking for Beginners!

Of course! First, we will not be swimming on this tour. All our guests will be provided with USCG approved life vest, and it is mandatory for you to wear it while kayaking. We will be paddling through calm, protected waters, and all of our kayaks are very stable. Even if, for any reason, you do fall in, the water depth throughout the mangrove channel (where you will be kayaking most of the way) is 3-4 feet deep.

You will board your kayak on easily accessible, shallow waters. If you need help getting on and off the kayak, our staff will gladly assist you. Your guide will begin the tour with a short orientation on the basics of kayaking, from getting in the kayak to rowing properly.

Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon that is unpredictable and subject to change. Therefore, it is impossible to ensure its brightness levels. The bioluminescent intensity depends on weather conditions such as rain, tide, moon phase, sunlight and many other natural factors out of our control. The best time to visit is around the new moon and during the dry months, December to March with a midsummer dry season June to July.

Check out our blog describing bioluminescence more in depth at Bioluminescence Kayaking!

We provide light snacks. We stop as a group for dinner, but you will be responsible for the cost of your meal. Please note, dinner will be around 4:00 PM, so it is important that you eat a good breakfast and begin the day well-fed.

Kayaking Puerto Rico and Island Journeys Tour Guides will take pictures throughout your Rainforest & Bio Bay excursions. Each company will upload your photos and send you separate links via email for each excursion so you will be able to download your favorites. These photos are free to you as a way to thank you for choosing us as your operators while in Puerto Rico. 

That said, if something out of the ordinary were to happen and there are no photos of your excursion, please note that there will be no reimbursements as it is a free service.

Notes: Please allow 5-7 days for the link to be sent to you via email. If you would rather not have your photo taken no problem, please just notify your guides at the beginning of each excursion.

The difficulty level of this excursion is considered to be moderate to strenuous depending on your physical fitness level. It is very important that you are in good physical condition in order to participate and enjoy yourself. The terrain in the rainforest can be muddy, slippery, uneven and include river-wading, climbing large rocks and steep inclines. Kayaking can be strenuous when the current is strong and requires upper body strength. This excursion is recommended for guests with an active lifestyle. It is a long, but fun-filled day!

The following guests cannot participate:

• Guests with neck, back, arm or leg problems or casts
• Guests with recent surgeries
• Pregnant women
• Guests who have epilepsy, heart conditions and/or dizziness

Kayaks have a weight limit of 240 pounds per guest, but the total capacity per double kayak is up to 425 pounds between 2 guests. Minimum age is 8 years old. All guests must be able to communicate in English or Spanish. Guests that show signs of intoxication by drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to participate.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to notify us ahead of time with any concerns about your health or physical condition for the excursion.

Depending on the season, it is possible to find large amounts of sargassum (floating algae) during the tour; this is also a natural phenomenon, but it can become uncomfortable.

At times, we experience strong winds and currents in the bay, which increases the effort of paddling and physical activity. However, you’ll be paddling out to a lagoon, so you won’t have to worry about waves in open water.

This excursion requires a minimum of at least eight guests requesting in order to provide the tour. In the event this minimum is not met, we will call one or two days prior to the excursion to go over alternative options (i.e. reschedule for a different date or time that has the minimum requirement, payment options for a private excursion, or cancel without penalty).

There are several reasons why swimming is not allowed in the Bioluminescent Bay. Most of them have to do with ecological impact and safety:

• To keep the waters clear and free of sedimentation. The organism that produces the bioluminescence — Pyrodinium bahamense— needs clear waters to complete the process of photosynthesis during daylight hours. If groups of people jump into the water, they will stir up the sediments from the bottom of the lagoon, making the water murky, which hinders photosynthesis and threatens the life of these glowing organisms.
• To keep the lagoon free of pollutants. Deodorants, hair gels, skin lotions, perfumes, insect repellents containing DEET, and other personal care products contain chemicals that directly affect the bioluminescent organisms of the bay.