Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico

Located on the island of Vieques, a former United States Navy bombing range now turned Caribbean paradise, Mosquito Bay is a popular destination because of the water's bioluminescence. One of the best ways to experience this and the bay's other remarkable features is by kayak.

The bioluminescent Mosquito Bay is one of the world’s few remaining bioluminescent bays, and it has been officially declared as the brightest recorded one in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records 2008. At night, organisms named Pyrodinium bahamense, or dinoflagellates, which are responsible for this amazing natural phenomenon, glow blue-green when agitated, like fireflies in the ocean, and you can row out to the middle of the bay and take a swim in a starfield – an experience you will never want to miss.

Being small and shallow, the Mosquito Bay is the perfect environment for the dinoflagellates, as they can be trapped and protected in the bay, making it very bright, and the mangroves surrounding the bay provide the perfect nutrition for them.

Mosquito Bay Tour
Bioluminescent glow is immediately evident: The wake of the boat becomes a glittering aquatic trail even before leaving the dockside. Fish can be seen darting away from the keel leaving incandescent blue-green-white trails in the water. Eventually, the boat moors in a dark section of the bay; the crew explain the nature and mechanics of the dinoflagellates, then help guests don flotation belts and climb in. The water glows when you move through it, and sparkles on your body if you stay still. For those choosing not to swim, guides are happy to dip a bucket over the side; the dinoflagellates in the bucket glow from simply being stirred. To take effective photographs with a digital camera it must be set to ISO 1200 or higher, flash off. The swim lasts approximately 30 minutes in water that is typically between 75 and 85 degrees F.

Other Things to Do on Vieques
Snorkeling is excellent, especially at Blue Beach (Bahía de la Chiva). Vieques is also famous for its feral horses, which roam free over parts of the island. These are descended from stock originally brought by European colonisers.

In 2011, TripAdvisor listed Vieques among the Top 25 Beaches in the World, writing "If you prefer your beaches without the accompanying commercial developments, Isla de Vieques is your tanning turf, with more than 40 beaches and not one traffic light."

When you drive around the island you will find a 300 plus year old ceiba tree on the right side of the road on the way to the Mosquito Pier. It is one of the most beloved trees in Isla de Vieques.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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