anjelicw

We're going to PR for one week at New Year's. I am just getting around to planning and finding that a Vieques leg is much more complicated than I thought it would be--figuring out what to do with our mainland car rental and not having many options for a car rental in Vieques at this stage of the game. Our main reason for visiting Vieques was the bio bay, but I see that I have a few other options in SW PR and Fajardo. So what are the differences? Could we skip Vieques and still get our fix of glowing bugs?

virginiafish

Having just returned from Vieques, I must say the biobay trip (with Abe's into the mangroves, also) was one of the highlights of our time there (along with gorgeous, empty beaches). From my understanding, Vieques is the only place where one can physically go into the water to experience this.

burnsie

Actually, I believe Laguna Grande in (or near) Fajardo is a true bioluminescent bay. I can't personally compare it with the one on Vieques, but I've talked to others that said that they are quite similar. We did the one in Fajardo with our 4 kids this summer and we all thought it was a definite highlight. You kayak through mangroves to get to the lagoon and the water really does glow. I think more than anything else, that the success of the "glow factor" depends on the phase of the moon on the night of the execursion. If you aren't wanting to spend the night on Vieques, (which you'd have to do) I think you'll get enough of a "fix of glowing bugs" in Fajardo.
Have Fun!

zeta

I just went to PR for a few days in early Nov. We did the kayak trip through the mangroves to the biobay in Fajardo and it was really cool. You can't swim in the water, but you can run your hands through, etc. If it is a hassel for you to get to Vieques that I would go for Fajardo and I also reccomend staying in the Fajardo area as the beaches are nicer in that area, and the rainforest is nearby as well as many other activities if that is you thing. Have a great time!

leavingsoon

It is a town called "La Parguera" (spelling possibly wrong). It is on the far end of the island, the opposite side of Vieques. There are glass bottom boat trips every night.
A kid jumps off the boat and brings up a bucket of the water and you can swirl your hand in it.

Lots of tourist facilities.

Not too far from Ponce if you have to stay in a resort.

doug_stallings

PR does indeed have 3 real biobays, but the one in Vieques is far superior, so go there if you can; I've been told that there are now some trips that do not require an overnight stay.

If you can't make it to Vieques, then I'd recommend the one near Fajardo if you are staying in San Juan, La Parguera if you are staying in Rincon or on the south coast, but I'm not sure it's worth the drive from San Juan.

Of course all are better if there is no moon.

mahobaygirl

I recently heard that one of the hotels on PR has a evening trip to the Vieques bio bay that returns to the big island after the trip. ?Conquistador???

doug_stallings

I think it's a tour company that offers the trip, rather than a specific hotel, but I can't recall the name. But it's possible that the trip leaves from El Conquistador, which is in Fajardo and would be a good place to park anyway (you have to pay to park there, though).

rphamy

We will be in Puerto Rico 12/26-12/31. Have booked with East Wind Catamaran to do a biobay tour on Vieques from Fajardo. Leaves 5pm and returns around 10pm and includes dinner. You go out to the biobay in an electric boat, not a kayak and you can swim in the biobay. This works well for us because of the ages of our kids.

bc

rpahmy:
Just wondering how your excursion to the biobay in Vieques went. We are going in March and are trying to decide between going to the biobay in Fajardo or the one in Vieques. We had decided on Fajardo until I saw your post today, since we will not be able to spend the night on Vieques. I am very interested in how you liked it, as well as how you liked the meal.

Maggi

We did the biobay swim on Vieques. Yes it was magical to lift your arms out of the water and drip stars, but I was a bit apprehensive about the jellyfish I had read about. Sure enough, after about 10 minutes people starting quickly pouring back onto the pontoon boat. Several people got stung that night, including my best friend. She described the feeling as an intense itching that went away after 20 minutes. I wonder how often that happens there. People almost never report it. I'm not trying to put a damper on your plans, just trying to be honest.

bc

Thanks for the response Maggi. We really had not intended to swim, to be honest. We are all in our late 50's to early 60's and we think just the kayaking is a challenge! Tell me, did you find it pretty or interesting enough to be worth the time and money?

Maggi

Yes, I did think the experience was worth the money. We did the pontoon boat and not the kayak, so I can't comment on that. It's lovely being on the bay in the moonlight with the warm breeze caressing your skin. The photos of the bioluminescence are a little more exaggerated than in reality, but it still is an amazing phenomenon.

virginiafish

We took the kayak trip with Abe's while on Vieques in Nov. We are in our late 50s. It was wonderful to quietly kayak and experience the radiant water. I jumped in; my husband did not. We both had a wonderful experience!