This was, without a doubt, the highlight of our PR vacation! I stumbled upon this through some…read moreTrip Advisor reviews and learned that the reserve offers an environmentally-friendly way to see the bio-luminescence. In addition to being environmentally-friendly, it is also cost-effective! Let me tell you more! First of all, the reserve offers a lot of different tours and activities but the one I am writing about is the evening lighthouse tour and hike through the bio-luminescent lagoon. If you wish to the tour I did, I recommend booking it online in advance because this tour WILL sell out. It is SO awesome. When we first arrived to the reserve, we parked our Jeep and checked in. It was very easy checking in. We then covered ourselves head to toe in bug spray which I HIGHLY recommend. Then we walked around the main "office" of the reserve and we got to see a beautiful sunset over the ocean. Everything was so pretty! Once we had everyone checked in for the tour, we got on an open-air shuttle with a group of about 16 people. Our tour guide, Francisco, told us a lot about PR and about the natural habitat and what the reserve is doing to preserve and restore it. Our first stop was the Faro Fajardo (Fajardo Lighthouse). This was gorgeous. We got to go inside this historical building and climb to the top and look out and see so many beautiful sights. The stars and moon were incredible and we also could see our resort as well as many other points in PR. We learned so much about Fajardo and about the ecological systems in that area. After leaving the lighthouse, we went on this long walk in the dark on this really sturdy wooden path that led through mangrove trees and out into this beautiful lagoon. It was so beautiful and you could hear the song of the coquis. Once out at the end of the walkway, we were given long sticks that we were able to use to swirl the water around and see the sparkling bio-luminescence. It was amazing! It was so beautiful and we learned so very much. It also meant a lot to us that the money we spent on the tour was going towards the greater good of protecting the natural environment in Puerto Rico. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this place is. We wanted to go back during the day but didn't have enough time on our most recent trip so we have it on our to-do list for next time. If you do anything in PR, check this place out!

Inexpensive ($12 - $22pp) tours offered by this 316 acre nonprofit nature park (just down the road…read morefrom Seven Seas Beach and the restaurant Costa Mia) are great value for anyone interested to learn about the variety of ecological systems of Puerto Rico. The Reserva Natural Las Cabezas de San Juan provides guided tours of (among other things) the 3 types of area mangrove forests, the famed Laguna Grande bio-bay, some less traveled beaches and reefs, an active archaeological site, and El Faro, the 1882 Spanish white lighthouse on the top of the tallest point with spectacular 360 degree views around Fajardo. Our family attended a 9:30a tour of the park which included a tram trip to the lighthouse with stops to explore the mangroves and a rocky, windy beach. Our local tour guide and geologist by trade, Francisco, was very friendly and knowledgeable about all aspects of the reserve and was a wealth of information about Puerto Rico in general, as well. Although our tour was scheduled to be in Spanish, Francisco quickly switched to English when it was clear that all attendees were from the mainland U.S.. We were glad to have brought water, hats, and umbrellas, as there were some portions of the tour in the hot sun. Evening walking bio-bay tours (where you stay on a board walk and activate the dinoflagellates via long poles) tend to fill up weeks to months in advance, so visit the park's website (it has an English version) and make your reservation as soon as you know your travel dates. This can be a great option for travelers who are not interested in kayaking to the bay or would like a quieter, more "one with nature" experience. If you try this, be sure to cover yourself with mosquito repellant, as the bugs are relentless in the mangroves. FYI, Francisco says that the best time of year to view the brightest bio-bay action are from March to July, and you should try to go when the moon is not full; he also says that Mosquito Bay on Vieques is really the best bio-bay, so go there if you have the time. We were very disappointed to find that the park's gift shop was unable to process any transactions during our visit (prime tourism season over the winter break). We were told, "Oh, we just did inventory for the year, so we can't make any more sales." ¿Qué? This was such a shame given that the nonprofit certainly needs funds to further their work and they missed out on more than $500 in sales from the tour attendees during our visit alone (all of whom would have gladly purchased a $20 t-shirt and other items after hearing our guide's convincing spiel about how we could help preserve this ecological wonder). Perhaps this story illustrates some of the economic problems PR is facing.... FYI, the park's entrance is guarded and gated, but it may be a surprise to hear that the beaches surrounding the park as well as the interior's bio-bay are required by law to be accessible to the public. This means that if you are adventurous, you can follow the beach trail from in front of the Costa Mia restaurant until you reach a path that runs right into the bio-bay.

The tour was canceled due to weather and we were never notified after driving an hour to get thereread more

What a delightful experience! This small cacao farm tour was one of the highlights of our trip to…read morePuerto Rico. Such a gem, location, products and hospitality! This is a small family business, we had a private tour of the cacao orchard (in Spanish) detailing the entire chocolate-making process, with hands on participation and delicious learning opportunities. They toasted some cacao nibs for us to samples, along with some of their chocolates and cacao marmalade (if we were flying home in a couple of days I would have stocked up on this!!). Then we relaxed in their cozy outdoor cafe as the sun dipped down behind the flamboyan trees, drinking milkshakes and eating Bon bons, swinging in the hammocks sprinkled around the cafe. What a lovely evening! Reservation required, if you enjoy intimate, relaxed, off-the-beaten-track experiences like this, don't miss La Finca de Cacao PruVite!

Jack gave us a really personalized tour June 2012. (a little slow with my reviews) Way worth the…read moremoney we would have spent on any other tour. I will be back in February, this time with my 10 year old. For sure Jack will be the first pick for any tour!

Jack was very accommodating to us. I called him and wanted to tour the rainforest but unfortunately…read moreit was closed due the mudslides. He then offered to take us to see a cave and the satellite dish in PR. The Cuevas Del Indio was PHENOMENAL. There, we followed one of Jack's acquaintances as he showed us around. The caves were filled with optical illusions and the history behind it was very interesting. After, he offered to take us to the window caves, but we opted out and headed strait to the satellite. We walked up some stairs and a hill and there it was, the biggest satellite ever! Jack thank you for making our first trip to PR amazing. We definitely will call you when we come back!

WITHOUT A PADDLE…read more Kayaking during the day proving too easy?  How about kayaking at night...through a mangrove forest. As my wife and I planned our second trip to Puerto Rico, we agreed that a bio bay kayak tour should be on the list.  Only 5 biobays exist in the world, 3 of which are in PR (in Vieques, La Parguera, and here on the far northeast corner of the island).  There's a few kayaking tour companies in the area, each offering a similar bioluminescent excursion. Hang on, biolu-what?  I'll skip the TED talk--all you need to know is that a certain kind of marine plankton makes the water in extra salty lagoons glow blue.  It's the same science that gives jellyfish, fireflies, and deep-sea anglerfish their special ability to produce light. When we arrived around 8pm, tour guides gave our group of 15-20 life vests and provided instructions, like what to do if your ass falls out of the kayak.  Our goal was Laguna Grande (literally "big lagoon"), roughly 1 mile from our starting point on the shores of Fajardo. So......getting to Laguna Grande is not easy.  Along with a partner, you'll paddle your way through a narrow channel surrounded on all sides by thick mangroves, including an overhead canopy.  This is tricky during daylight hours, but at night the difficulty ramps up.  Keep in mind that visibility in these thick mangrove patches drops to near-zero at times. You might (probably will) have to avoid other kayak groups and (possibly) motorboats as you make your way to the lagoon, all while trying not to crash into the person in front of you, fall too far behind, or be knocked unconscious/impaled by low branches.  The outbound trip was not super chill, thankfully coming back was less stressful. Having an experienced partner is CRUCIAL. Bio bay tours are very much like whale watching, in that your visit is based almost entirely on luck.  A lot needs to go right in order to see magic stuff in the water, like the moon being in its 'new' phase (full moon casts too bright of a reflection) and no recent rainfall (rain comes down as fresh water, decreasing the lagoon's salinity). Under ideal circumstances, the microorganisms appear as florescent blue swirls when you move your hand/paddle through the water.  What we saw were closer to electrical 'sparks', still cool but not vibrant.  Capturing what little bio-presence we saw on camera would've been impossible, so we smartly kept our phones in the car. Oddly enough, mosquitos weren't a problem. * TL;DR * For me, this was more about the journey than the destination. If I'd hung all of my hopes on seeing tons of bioluminescent activity, I would've been disappointed.  I was focused more on trying not to capsize while also listening to the symphony of 'coqui' (the local island tree frog). It can be romantic with a spouse/partner, assuming they're not yelling at you the whole time. Wear comfy clothes (swim trunks aren't a bad idea) and be aware that parts of your outfit will be crunchy the next day, due to the lagoon water being twice as salty as the ocean. Mangroves play a critical role in the tropical ecosystem, but they stink! Would definitely recommend this to anyone over the age of 18; it's an awesome late-night adventure and one of the most unique things you can do while in Puerto Rico.

What a beautiful experience. Had great guides during our Bio Bay tour. Our guide told us all about…read morethe science and history of the bay. Very cool, don't miss this magic!

A great experience with Captain Jimbo, Herbert, and Ralphie. I've never seen so much coral and…read morefish. Ralphie made sure to show me the best spots and Herbert took some great photos and showed us some of the local sea creatures. They served a tasty lunch, fun music, and of course a kick a$$ rum punch. Can't wait to do it again.

I had so much fun, can't wait to go snorkeling with them again!…read more The Captain and his men Scott and Herbert were super friendly group of guys that gave special attention to everyone on board. They gave us instructions for snorkeling, and helped everyone to securely fasten their gear. We stopped at three spots for snorkeling. The first one were very close to Icacos Island, which was deliberately in a shallow area, so first time snorkelers like me can get some practice before going into deeper waters. The other two spots we stopped were in the middle of the ocean, among the reefs and vast expanse of the Caribbean Sea. Herbert, an experienced diver that guided our tour, dove down and flipped lots of rocks and caught little star fish, urchins, shrimps, crabs and other interesting creatures for us to see. It was amazing, and something I couldn't have done if I were on my own. Snorkeling is such an easy sport, even though I've only swan in water parks before, I find it easy to swim the sea with no problem. Lunch was prepared by them, with cold cuts, cheese and sandwich bread. I'm not a fan of these type of food, but I didn't expect hand pulled noodles in the middle of the sea either. Food was not the point of this trip anyway. If you don't like these food, you can always bring snacks and just put them in the cabin downstairs. In the end, we sailed by this small piece of land and saw iguanas climbing up the trees. It was really nice. I learned about this tour rather late, so I didn't meet the book online window (at least 12 hours ahead), had to call in and make reservation. I would recommend everyone taking advantage of their online booking system, it is real-time and you get $10 off.

first off, they were pretty vague with the fact that you will definitely get wet (their website…read moresaid you could bring a towel/extra clothes in case you get wet). i had never been kayaking before, so i didn't know that you will definitely get wet. and sandy. but other than that it was pretty fun. it was kind of hard to see the bioluminescence, so don't have your expectations up too high, but i also held a jellyfish which was pretty cool.

They are only 5 places in the world to view the bioluminescent lights in the water and Puerto Rico…read morehas 3 of them. (Bahamas and Jamaica are there other two) The first time I went there was only one company offering this type of trip. Now there are at least 5 other companies that will offer this. In other words, that's a lot of people in the water kayaking at the same time. So we got stuck behind a few of them that only slowed us down. However, if you enjoy kayaking at night, at times in the pitch black and seeing the bioluminescent lights in the water then this is the trip for you. It doesn't disappoint. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the whole area and it was easy to see he enjoyed his job. It was also sad to see the damage the hurricane had caused to the area. You will first start off in the bay. It's a 2.5 mile run through the canal. It's extremely dark and at times you need to watch for low hanging branches. Once you get to the lagoon, you and the others are put together where you will cover yourself with a heavy tarp in order to reach your hands in the water to light up around you. Highly recommended you splash the water into the kayak and in the tarp. It will appear as though you're watching fireworks. This adventure is approximately 2.5 hours long. You met at 7:30 pm. Given instructions and life jackets then in the water by 8 pm. Good luck and have a great time. They do take a photo of you that will be emailed to you later.

We did a bioluminescence boat tour on a Saturday evening in March. The communication leading up to…read morethe tour was excellent and ensured we had all of our questions answered. The tour itself was phenomenal. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and the boat staff did a great job. This was a highlight of our trip, and we would all highly recommend adding this to any visit to Puerto Rico.

Fun staff. However, didn't do much to help us see the bioluminescence, was so excited and paid a…read morelot just to be given a tarp 15 people had to share. Maybe invest in one for each Kayak instead of sharing across 4???

**This is a fairly long review - but highly informative!**…read more I booked an El Yunque hike with Pandora a few months ago based on some reviews I had read - and my wife and I are glad that we did! Our driver (and owner of the company) was Eddie. I got a couple of follow up texts and emails from Eddie confirming our pick-up time and a text 20 mins before we were supposed to get picked up...gotta love that follow up! We started out for the hike about 10 mins earlier than expected. We were supplied with water, soda and fruit for the trip. Along the way, we were given a lot of information - current and historical - on the areas we were driving through and the island in general. Once we got there, we watched a video on the rainforest that really tied together the information we had received on the ride in. We then trekked it up the mountain in the van until we hit the trailhead. The hike from the La Mina trail was amazing! So many photo-ops, plus there's a waterfall (wear shoes good for hiking and water of you're going to swim). The trail was mostly down-hill and paved....but it was closed at the waterfall, so the walk back was uphill and a little rough. Don't let that deter you ....We wouldn't have traded the experience for anything! After the hike and more photos on the way down the mountain (which lasted about 90 mins total), Eddie took us over to a local eatery near the airport...the food was great and cheap (even if we got the world's worst waitress! LOL). After lunch, we headed back to the hotel. Eddie asked us what we were getting into the rest of the day, so we told him we were headed to Old San Juan for the afternoon. Eddie offered to give us a ride down there (which we gladly accepted). He allowed us time to go up to our room and change before we left. He picked it's up in his personal car and drive us over...still giving us great information about the island, and also life - advice we will surely cherish. He left us near the docks - and I must say, it was a little sad ending our time with him. It was like being with an Uncle you haven't seen in a while. He really takes care of people, and seems to genuinely enjoy what he does. He puts a lot of hard-work into perfecting his craft as an excursionist and it really shows. I know it has already been said in another review, but we honestly do feel like we have made a friend in Puerto Rico, and will definitely be calling WHEN we come back! Thank you very much for your time today, Eddie...We thoroughly enjoyed it - you made our vacation extremely memorable and special!

Eddie was an excellent tour guide! He did something not many (if any at all) would do, he took us…read moreto the top of El Yunque! It was an incredible experience! My wife and I researched various tours and decided that Eddie was the one because he was willing to do a private tour with just us two to the top of the rainforest and Bacardi Factory. He went out of his way to make sure we had a blast! Our morning started with him picking us up promptly at 8:00AM at our hotel. He had fresh fruits, cold water, great service, and very good conversations. The night before he made sure we had all we needed before booking with him so we were all set as soon as we jumped in the van. He told us all about El Yunque and what we would see, while taking his time driving the crazy streets of Puerto Rico. Once parked, he made sure we stretched and took a few pics of us before starting the hike. We went through the trails taking all the time we needed since it was very muddy and wet. We went all the way to the highest rock and spent a few minutes admiring the view; then we went back down to see Mt Britton. He took a bunch of great pictures of us as we went through the trails and shared them on dropbox when we were done. After El Yunque he took us to Bebo's BBQ in San Juan which was phenomenal (he said it would be)! He then took us to the Bacardi factory and patiently waited for us to take the tour, all this and it was his birthday! We had a full day with him. He showed us interesting areas of San Juan on the way back to the hotel and we couldn't be happier! Eddie is a trusted, funny, respecting, fun, and caring tour guide! So much so that I feel we must contact him next time just to say hi and have a drink even if we do not want to go on any tours. One of the best things about Eddie is that he is VERY flexible with his schedule and he will take you anywhere (that is reasonable of course). I feel he is an excellent guide and companion which is great because Puerto Rico has gotten pretty dangerous over the years and it is best to be with someone who knows the area and the history, even if you just want to be cabbed around the island. We recommend Eddie and Pandora Tours with our eyes closed! We loved our tour!

Don't hesitate to book Dimary for your transportation or tours!…read more I made the huge mistake of not booking a car rental or tour ahead of time on Vieques. But I was blessed to get recommended with Dimary and no regrets at all! I'm so glad I met Dimary and look forward to booking her whenever I'm back in Vieques! By the way, she did a great job with covid precautions with having us hand sanitize before going in the vehicle and also atomized the vehicle with antibacterial mist.