El Yunque Rainforest & Bio Bay Tour - Puerto Rico

Experience two of the greatest natural attractions in Puerto Rico, all in one day! Kayaking Puerto Rico has teamed up with Island Journeys to provide you the best experience on the East Coast in this full-day Rainforest and Bio Bay tour, making your planning seamless!

El Yunque is without a doubt Puerto Rico’s greatest Natural Wonder. It is the only Tropical Rainforest, and the most studied Forest, in the United States National Forest System. It is the most biologically diverse forest, hosting hundreds of plants and animals, some only found here in Puerto Rico!

Bioluminescence is one of planet Earth’s best kept secrets. Tiny organisms called “dinoflagellates” make the water glow at night and fortunately, they have found the perfect place to live in the Fajardo Bio Bay, so we are able to experience them all year round. The Fajardo Bio Bay Kayak Tour feels like discovering a whole new world.

Itinerary

Your day will start by meeting your local guide in the morning at your accommodation or nearby meeting point. After completing all of our pick ups, we will head towards the rainforest, taking the scenic route through the North side of the island to share with you beautiful views and go over a few fun facts about the areas along the way. This relaxing sightseeing drive will take you through 4 towns of Puerto Rico before arriving to our first stop at a fresh fruit stand in the town of Luquillo. Here, your guide will pick up a variety of fresh local fruit for the tour (included), and you have the opportunity to purchase some local fritters and/or a fresh fruit smoothie. After this stop, we will continue towards Puerto Rico’s majestic El Yunque Rainforest.

El Yunque Rainforest Tour

After an interpretive hike through natural trails lined with beautiful flora and fauna, and some river wading, we will arrive to a hidden gem found in the heart of the rainforest. This breathtaking segment of the 29,000 acre forest is like a natural playground. Here you will have the chance to swim in the natural pools, refresh in the waterfalls, slide down an exhilarating waterslide, rope swing into the river, jump from different rock formations, and enjoy fresh local fruit with a view. Along with all of this excitement, you will also have time to simply relax to the sounds of cascading waters and take in the beauty of this very special place.

By this time you have worked up an appetite! We will make a stop for late lunch/early dinner at a local restaurant for you to enjoy Puerto Rican Cuisine and relax for a bit until it’s time for your 2nd part of your combo tour – the Bioluminescent Lagoon.

Fajardo Bio Bay Kayak Tour

Our Fajardo Bio Bay Kayak Tour begins at Kayak Village in Las Croabas. After receiving a brief of Kayaking 101 and few safety tips, we will load up in our kayaks and head toward the Red Mangrove Forest with an amazing view of the sunset. The Mangrove Forest is part of Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. You will kayak approximately 30 minutes, and along the way your Eco Guides will point out the forests beautiful protected flora and fauna.

Upon arrival to Laguna Grande, the sun will set and the magic begins. The Fajardo Bio Bay Kayak Tour feels like discovering a whole new world. At every stroke of your paddle, lots of sparkles will appear in the water. The kayaks will create a swirl of light, and the fish will glow in the darkness of the water. To add to its beauty, the Fajardo Bio Bay is perfect for viewing constellations too!

We will cruise back through the mangrove channel to the departure point with your Eco Guides and the navigation lights on the kayaks leading the way. Through the darkness the air is fresh and the sounds of nature are exotic.After kayaking back to shore enjoy complimentary snacks and water before heading back to your accommodation.

Duration of Adventure

12+ hours (full day)

One of the things that we enjoy the most about our excursions is that every day on the water, in the rainforest, or anywhere in Puerto Rico, it’s a different experience. According to the specific weather conditions, seasons, and availabilities for any given day, a trip may vary slightly from our advertised offerings. On these rare occasions our tour guides will select the route that they believe will be the most fun and enjoyable for the entire group. Some days a given trip may do an additional stop beyond what is advertised, at the same time, that trip may do one less stop than what is advertised.

Location / Where to Meet

This tour includes round trip transportation. The transportation service is scheduled directly with Kayaking Puerto Rico and provided by Island Journeys (as is the Rainforest excursion). After booking, you will receive a confirmation email including a pre-assigned pickup location and approximate pickup time depending on your location. We provide round trip transportation from pre-assigned locations close to all major hotels and guesthouses in the San Juan area and North Eastern Puerto Rico.

Approximate Hotel Pickup Times:

San Juan: 8:00-9:00am
East Coast (Rio Grande, Luquillo and Fajardo): 10:15-11:00am

Ages & Requirements

Minimum age of 8 years old to participate.
This excursion is considered to be moderately difficult. It is important that you are in good physical condition in order to participate and enjoy yourself.
Guests with neck or back problems, recent surgeries, pregnant women, or those who have epilepsy or heart conditions are not allowed to participate.
Participants must be comfortable with dark environments.
Not recommended for guests who may be prone to panic attacks.
Maximum weight limit is 250 lbs (113 kg) per one person and up to 425 lbs (193 kg) per kayak.
Minimum age is 8 years old.
Please contact us ahead of time if you have any concerns about your health or physical condition for the excursion.

What's Included

Part 1: Rainforest

Fully Guided Rainforest Tour
Professional Tour Guides with Lifeguard, CPR & First Aid Certification
Pictures throughout Tour
Eco Interpretations throughout the Rainforest Trails
Refresh in Beautiful Natural Swimming Pools and Waterfalls
Slide Down a Natural Water Slide!
Rope Swing into the River
Cliff Jumps
Light Snacks & Refreshments
All Necessary Equipment
Training and Safety Instructions prior to Tour
Stop at Local Restaurant for Dinner (not included in price)

Part 2: Bio Bay

Fully Guided Bio Bay Tour at World Famous Laguna Grande
Professional Tour Guides with CPR & First Aid
Eco Interpretation of the Bioluminescent Lagoon and Surrounding Area & Eco Systems
Paddle through the Red Mangrove Forest
Discover Bioluminescence at the Fajardo Bio Bay
Watch and learn about the Constellations
Training and Safety Instructions prior to Tour
All Equipment Including: Kayak, Paddle, Life Jackets & Low Intensity Navigation Lights
Eco-Friendly Insect Repellent
Light Snacks & Refreshments

Not Included

Dinner (available for purchase at Local Restaurant)
Gratuity - Never expected but if you have a great experience, please consider gifting 10-25% to your guides!

What to Bring

Cell phone (in the event that we need to contact you or you need to contact us prior to the excursion)
Closed-toe shoes that can get wet/dirty, have good grip for hiking on wet surfaces, and provide comfort and support (no sandals, water shoes, or flip flops)
Comfortable hiking clothes that can get wet
Bathing suit (already on)
Towel and change of clothes
Water bottle to refill throughout the day (provided if you do not have one)
Waterproof Camera - The company is not responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Insect Repellent
Dry Bag
Extra Layers of Clothing - Sweatshirts and Warm Hats
Required Paperwork - Signed medical form if required, waivers, etc.
Money for dinner
Please remove any jewelry, watches, or anything that can get damaged by water or you don’t want to lose.

Note: Items can be left in vehicle during Rainforest and Bio Bay Tours

Check Out Our 101 Kayaking Lesson Here!

First time kayaking? No problem! Check out this video for a couple of tips before joining us on your Bio Bay Kayak Tour.

Fajardo Hiking and Trekking Adventures