Biobay Tour?

[Crez4jc]

We are staying at the Ritz the weekend before our cruise and are thinking about doing this excursion. Should we do it with the kayaking? Or the electric motor boat? I had read somewhere that the bugs were bad, and we should take our own repellant. Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks!

[dirvin0500]

I was told by some friends that went (we couldn't because of full moon) that they would go again but not on a kayak. They said that there was a really strong current that they didn't seem to make much headway into. They ended up being "rescued" by an electric boat.

[janabm81]

The kayaks do seem to require you to be in pretty tip top shape...I work out 4 days a week and feel in decent shape but I felt sore for the next 3 days after the bio bay kayak excursion.

Most people think that the kayaks are a better way to do it because you're closer to the water and can the luminesence better; but we were so concerned with not tipping over in the dark and keeping close to the group I feel that we kind of lost out.

If we did it again I would go for the motor boat.

Also, do remember to bring bug spray...when we went the bugs weren't bad at all; but the next night some fellow travelers came back all eaten up.

[gkjta]

We were in San Juan in March and took the biobay tour at Vieques through East Island Excursions. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I definitely recommend it. We were staying there post-cruise without a car and for an additional price - they will transport you from your hotel in San Juan to the dock and back. We left our hotel about 3 in the afternoon and did not arrive back until about midnight. If you have any questions - just ask. I will be happy to answer them the best that I can. I was a little nervous about booking with them because I didn't see alot about them on the boards but the 4 of us had a great time.

[Shekim]

We were in San Juan in March and took the biobay tour at Vieques through East Island Excursions. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I definitely recommend it. We were staying there post-cruise without a car and for an additional price - they will transport you from your hotel in San Juan to the dock and back. We left our hotel about 3 in the afternoon and did not arrive back until about midnight. If you have any questions - just ask. I will be happy to answer them the best that I can. I was a little nervous about booking with them because I didn't see alot about them on the boards but the 4 of us had a great time.

How far is the dock from which you leave? We will have a car specifically for a biobay tour. But I'm just worried about driving at night in unfamiliar territory!

[gkjta]

Just trying to remember back - I think it took about 45 minutes to an hour to get to the dock from San Juan. It was also a Sunday afternoon so not sure if that is lighter traffic than the norm....I would never drive in San Juan - especially in Old San Juan but I didn't think this highway seemed particularly scary. But I was also just along for the ride!

 

Also - I forgot to mention in my first post that this bay still allows swimming so you are actually in the water swimming in the bioluminescense.

[Ms411]

There are several biobays in PR - one near the rainforest, one near Fajardo, and the one in Vieques. Only the one in Vieques allows you to get in the water. That's supposedly the brightest of the three with the one near the rainforest the least bright.

 

I've booked the kayak biobay excursion for September. I've kayaked before, and I like being close to the water. I read somewhere that they ask biobay swimmers to not use repellants and sunscreen because they may harm the environment, so I would ask about their repellant policy before booking.

 

You need to check a biobay calendar to see if there'll be a good moon during your time in PR. You can easily find one by googling.

 

I'm really excited about doing this excursion! I've been wanting to do it for a long time.

[Shekim]

We will be there March 16th...I checked the calendar and it will be a good time. So since we will have a car for Friday night (we are staying at Marriott Stellaris) which biobay tour would be the best for us? My husband doesn't mind driving in unfamiliar places. But at night it's a different story. We are leaving on a cruise Sunday. We are coming in Friday, mid afternoon.

 

We've been to SJ once as a port stop on a cruise. We enjoyed it so much we're anxious about a couple of days precruise.

[gkjta]

Since obviously all the biobay tours are going to be at night and your husband might not feel comfortable driving at night - maybe you should consider paying for the transportation from San Juan. Like I mentioned before - it didn't seem like a hard drive to me but that's easy to say from the back seat. Maybe someone else will comment about the other biobay excursions and say whether they are closer and an easier drive.

[Ms411]

The swimming biobay is my preferred choice, but since none of those pick up in Old San Juan, the kayak tour was my second choice. This may be the only place in the world where you can swim escorted in a biobay, so I'd go with that one. Practice taking good night photos, and google for the directions on how best to take photos in the biobay, and I'm pretty sure you'll have very unique vacation photos and a memory that few can match.

 

You can drive to the dock pickup in the daylight so you'll have a feel for the roads, and then you'll feel more comfortable driving back at night.

 

Take me with you!:D

[airhead22]

I did the kayak one last year when we were there on the Freedom,and it was amazing. There were no bugs and the paddling was easy. I personally would not want to drive there at night.

[addicted to crusing]

We are going to go Sept. 4th and would love any info you have. We have wanted to do this the last few times on this cruise, but didn't know how to get there other than fly to Vieques or take the ferry which would make us stay the night on the island. We will be staying in Old SJU, but I guess we could go into the newer part if there is a pick-up and return which is what I think you said. We really want to do this one on Vieques since we think this is the only one that you can get out and swim in. Thanks in advance for any more info or how to contact the place you used!

[gkjta]

Here is the link for the tour we used in March.

 

http://www.eastwindcats.com/pages/powercat_excursion1.html

 

The bioluminescent bay tour is about 2/3 of the way down the page. Let me know if you have any questions.

[addicted to crusing]

Thanks so so much! I will check it now and let you know if I have any questions> It sounds like a great tour!

[rainforestgirl]

The swimming biobay is my preferred choice, but since none of those pick up in Old San Juan,

 

Is that true? There is only one company that does this tour (the Vieques biobay trip from Fajardo and back), but I assumed they would pick up at hotels in OSJ also. I would call and ask them.

 

There is a bit of mis-information about the biobays. There are a few in PR, but for tourists in SJ, they really only go to the one in Fajardo (which is the one "by the rain forest") or the one on Vieques.

Both tours leave from docks in Fajardo, but they are different docks.

As long as you have good directions, I really don't think it is a hard drive to either.

 

To do the Vieques trip, it takes a while, and many times you are not back into OSJ before 12 mn. So I would never try this trip on a day stop in PR. It would have to be when you have a night pre or post cruise.

[cibaygirls]

I just did the kayak tour on our day stop to PR on the Caribbean Princess. I did not use bug spray and our guide said no need to worry about it, but did ask that anyone using it not put it on their arms below their elbows. I did wish I used it as some mosquitoes did land on me and got a few bites..

 

I do not consider myself to be in tip top shape but in decent shape, as is my husband and we did OK. We did crash into the mangroves a couple of times (which was part of the fun). Very cool experience

[Rysyonok]

We were in San Juan in March and took the biobay tour at Vieques through East Island Excursions. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I definitely recommend it. We were staying there post-cruise without a car and for an additional price - they will transport you from your hotel in San Juan to the dock and back. We left our hotel about 3 in the afternoon and did not arrive back until about midnight. If you have any questions - just ask. I will be happy to answer them the best that I can. I was a little nervous about booking with them because I didn't see alot about them on the boards but the 4 of us had a great time.

 

Gkjta, how much did they charge extra for transportation to / from Fajardo? What time did they tell you to be ready for pickup? Did they provide any swimming suits, or did they require swimmers to come equipped?

 

Thank you :)

[gkjta]

Going by memory - the base rate for transportation was $120 per van. We were a group of 4 so knew that $120 was going to be the most we would pay for all of us. If they can get more people - the price is cheaper but the minimum cost is $20/person. We ended up with 3 other people in the van so paid $20/person. In my opinion it was definitely worth it becase we didn't have to worry about driving in the traffic and getting lost.

 

They picked our group of 4 up at the Conrad Hotel in the Condado area at 3PM. We then drove about 5-10 minutes and picked up the other group of 3 people from a condo that they were renting.

 

I am not aware that they provided any swimwear. We wore our swimsuits under our clothing. If you are planning to swim in the bay which I heartily recommend - be sure to bring a towel because it gets somewhat chilly at 10PM although the water temperature was quite pleasant.

 

Hope this helps - ask any other questions that you have.

[Crez4jc]

East Island Excursions has asked that I wait until I'm about 30 days out to book this trip. I've looked at the moon calendar and it looks good. So, now I'm just waiting for August 24th! It said on their website, that they will pick us up from our hotel and provide transportation to/from the tour.