FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We meet in a grassy lot across the street from Rainbow Realty (278 Calle Flamboyan). Rainbow Realty is 5 doors south of the Green Store (5 doors closer to the Malecon). Keep an eye out for the Abe’s Snorkeling sign and guides wearing red shirts with our logo

Yes, you will need to stay overnight in Vieques if you plan to see our bioluminescent bay at the 7:00, 8:00, or 9:00 pm tour times. Vieques is an island separate from the main island of Puerto Rico and you must take a ferry or an airplane to get to and from Vieques. There is no transportation off of Vieques Island after most biobay tours. However, we do offer a 6:00 pm biobay tour during high season which allows enough time to catch the 9:30 pm ferry. This would be the only exception. Please see our link with tips on how to get to/from Vieques.

We use sit-on-top, tandem ocean kayaks with a capacity of 525 pounds. Our kayaks are very stable and easy to paddle and can safely hold two adults, two adults and two very small children, or three small adults. You will most likely be seated with a friend or family member that you came with, or if you are coming alone you may share a kayak with another guest or a guide.

Clear “kayaks” are actually canoes and are notoriously unstable which is why we don’t use them on our tours.

Many people prefer to schedule their tours around the time of the new moon when there is less moonlight in the sky to interfere with seeing the glow. However, you can also look at the moonrise times each night as the moon may rise late (after your tour time) even on days that are closer to the day of the full moon each month. All biobay tour companies in Vieques are closed during the night before the full moon, the night of the full moon, and the night after the full moon every month per DRNA regulation. Please plan accordingly and refer to www.timeanddate.com for the lunar calendar for San Juan, Puerto Rico. There are many factors that affect how visible the bioluminescence may be on any given night, including cloud cover which may help to block the moon and its light. Many times the bioluminescence is highly visible/bright even during days surrounding the full moon.

DRNA (the Department of Natural Resources in Puerto Rico) regulates Mosquito Bay/Bahía Mosquito and does not allow any tour companies to do tours during the day before the full moon, the day of the full moon, or the day after the full moon every month. Their reasoning is to give the biobay a “rest” from human interaction each month during a time when the bioluminescence will often be less visible.

Raindrops will often illuminate and dance on the water. Abe jokes that he does a rain dance to make it rain because it’s so beautiful in the biobay when it does! If we determine that weather conditions are extreme or dangerous we will cancel your tour and refund your money.

DRNA (Department of Natural Resources) regulates the biobay and no longer allows swimming in Bahía Mosquito in order to minimize human contamination from products like mosquito repellent containing DEET and sunscreens which kill the microorganisms that cause the biobay to glow. Swimming in Bahía Mosquito is strictly prohibited.

DEET (found in major insect repellents like OFF and CUTTER) kills the microorganisms that make the biobay glow. We are committed to protecting our beautiful natural resource and do not allow guests to use these products during our tours. You can purchase natural DEET-FREE repellents which are very effective against mosquitos.

Mosquito Bay/Bahía Mosquito in Vieques is the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world! Our biobay in Vieques is roughly six times brighter than the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo.

Mosquito Bay is only open to tour companies with DRNA permits, not individuals, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. midnight. As DRNA regulation prohibits swimming in Mosquito Bay/Bahía Mosquito, individuals wanting to see the biobay on their own would also have to have a non-motorized vessel to see the biobay and would need to navigate in dark conditions. It is safest to go with a reputable and insured tour company with a DRNA permit with guides who can safely navigate the biobay and explain the biology of the fragile ecosystem there for you.

The biobay is typically very calm water and our ocean kayaks are very difficult to tip. The area where we will be paddling is not in open ocean water and should not have a rough current. Unlike the biobay in Fajardo, you do not have to paddle far to be in bioluminescence in Mosquito Bay. Our guides will give you basics on how to paddle prior to the tour and will be in the water with you to help you. We would rate the paddling for our biobay tour as easy.

You will be sitting in a kayak with your legs straight or slightly bent in front of you for at least one hour during a biobay tour. If you believe this will be a difficult position for you to be in, you may want to consider not doing a biobay tour by kayak. There is another biobay company in Vieques that offers tours by electric boat.

Yes. We can take infants and young children on our biobay tours. We have infant and child life vests available. Small children and infants will be seated in a parent’s lap in the kayak.

All of our tours are guided tours. We provide experienced guides who have all required permits and understand our unique island and its ocean life.

No, pets are not allowed on any of our tours.

It is very difficult to capture the bioluminescence on film without very specialized professional equipment. We don’t recommend bringing cameras that are not waterproof or are very valuable as someone may splash water on your camera or you may drop it into the biobay. Since the photos of the biobay don’t usually turn out, we recommend just coming and enjoying your experience. You will always have memories of the glow!

Your guides will not be taking photographs during your tour. They will be busy making sure that the tour is safe and runs smoothly.

No. You should not bring valuables on your tour as there will be no secure place to leave them. Leave whatever you can in your home or hotel room. We will not have shared dry bags on our tours as there is often confusion when people take their items at the end of the evening.

You should bring a towel, natural DEET-free bug spray, and sandals/flip flops/water shoes. For our day tours, you should also bring sunscreen and protective clothing like rash guards and/or hats if you like.

No, we do not pick up guests from hotels unless we have made special arrangements through our office for a large group. Our meeting location is across from Rainbow Realty, 278 Calle Flamboyan.

There will be one main guide leading your tour and several guides helping. The guides will help guests both in and out of the water. The number of guides is dependent on the size of your tour group (up to five total guides in the water with guests).

Mosquito Bay (Bahía Mosquito), the bioluminescent bay in Vieques, experienced a darkening of its bioluminescence a few years ago for a period of several months. It’s normal for the biobay to go through short periods of darkening periodically and it is not predictable but also not common. The secretary of DRNA cited weather conditions to be responsible for the sudden and prolonged darkening at that time. The bioluminescence has returned to its full glory and we have not experienced prolonged darkening again since then.

Many people have asked us this question. Vieques was hit extremely hard in 2017 by hurricane Maria with winds that reached 220 mph. The tumultuous conditions of hurricane Maria did cause the biobay to temporarily lose some of its brilliance but the biobay in Vieques has now returned fully to its original brilliant glow. Tourism has also returned. Hotels and restaurants are open again and the island is gorgeous. Every visitor who comes to Vieques is helping to rebuild our island economy by supporting local businesses.