They are only 5 places in the world to view the bioluminescent lights in the water and Puerto Rico has 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. read more

The people are great. The guides are good dudes. The experience sucks. Almost everyone has no kayak experience. That includes the other 5 tour companies putting boats on the water. You paddle through a mangrove canal in the pitch black. 70% of the groups have no lights and no business being on a kayak. There are tons of accidents, super frustrating. And the actual bioluminescence is horrible. You have to hold a tarp over your head in order to barely see anything in the water. Not worth it. Go somewhere else. read more

first off, they were pretty vague with the fact that you will definitely get wet (their website said 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. read more

It was my first time kayaking and the guides were all very helpful and patient. We saw a little bit of the bioluminescence in the water with the tarp over us. Definitely not bright blue like in some of those pictures online. They are heavily filtered. In reality, you see a faint blue not bright. It was still a cool experience because you can look up at the stars since it was pitch black. read more

Yokahu Kayak Trips - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fajardo, Puerto Rico

We had an incredible kayaking experience in the bio bay. All the guides were nice and informative. A must do if you are in PR!

This is an amazing experience! Luis and the team are extremely passionate about what they do and you can tell! They gather everyone before the start of the tour and make sure everyone understands how to Kayak (the basics). There were a couple of people in our group that have never gone kayaking and were falling behind. We were towards the back and overheard one of the tour guides being nothing but patient and extremely encouraging! Once you kayak the short area of open ocean, you go through canals that are somewhat narrow so they need everyone to stay in a single file. When we entered the lagoon, they again gathered everyone and explained the science behind the bacteria and what makes it a natural phenomenon. It is so amazing to see it with your own eyes. I truly recommend this activity and specifically this company to everyone visiting Puerto Rico! The water and snacks after the activity are a plus! read more

Yokahu Kayak Trips - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fajardo, Puerto Rico

So a few things off the bat. Pay attention to the moon phase. It was full so there was not much too see in the water (more on that later). Get there early: 5+ tours leave from the same area and the parking is crazy. If we do this again I may be inclined to pay for the shuttle they offer. It a bit of a drive if your coming from San Juan so give yourself some time. Make sure you have some sort of waterproofing for your phone and wallet, and leave everything else at the hotel. One other thing is that you do need to modify expectations. Many in our group were expecting some sort of 'Life of Pi" type glow and that's not what you are going to get. Once you get to the location and check in, there is a safety and primer on how to kayak that most seemed to ignore and it showed on the water. You pair up (if your an odd number group one of you will get to meet a new friend) and load into your kayaks. Each tour company has a different color glow stick on the kayak so its easy to keep track of your group. There are lots of guides in the water as well and were friendly and and patient At this point it became a little chaotic. One group immediately flipped right there in the bay lol, and lets just say the spectrum of skills was towards the lower end of the bell curve collectively. Many simply gave up and the poor guides had to tow the entire trip. Having kayaked numerous times before it was not a bit issue. The only problem was that I had never done so in such a large group so expect alot of bumping and dodging paddles. We made our was down the channel which is dark but pretty cool. you do have to hug one side or the other as other tours move in and out of the bay. Pay attention for low branches etc. Bugs did not seem to be a big issue on our trip. Once out in the bay they give you some education on the biology of the bay and then if the moon is full you take turns covering the kayak with a tarp then agitating the water. You do get to see those little buggers light up but its not that CGI glow people seem to expect (again it was a full moon). Then you paddle back. More staff help recover your kayak and that's that. We took the 9 PM trip and got back to the hotel in Rio Grande near midnight. read more

Ugh, this is a rough one to review. I enjoyed the experience to an extent but there was so much "this is wildly annoying" to give it the three stars I am. You start off with some instructions for kayaking and a LOT of, for lack of a better wording, things being said that make it seem like you're just not going to have fun. And while most of the group was my friends, there was about three kayaks worth of teenagers that seemed to be on their own. And horribly behaved, but we'll get to that. So we start out and the (mostly inexperienced) kayakers first are made to meet up by a buoy. I'm no great kayaker and had trouble, so basically it was a shit show. And didn't make a ton of sense. Then we started to folllow the guides and it was madness. The free-ranging teenagers were ATROCIOUS. They ran into everyone and everything, screamed, fought, yelled, and were just out of control. You go through some mangrove in a semi-single line and that's hard enough. Having stupid kids crash into you because they aren't listening to the guides, maddening. We got into the bay just as it was getting dark and the guides told us about the bay, and the science behind it. I enjoyed that part, but once again, the freaking kids would NOT stop talking. Then we were free to float around and put our hands in the water, which was pretty neat. Then the LONGEST TRIP EVER. Cue a repeat of the trip in, in the dark, with the WORST PEOPLE EVER. Those four kayaks of kids were awful. One ended up getting tied to a guide, but rest kept screaming, fighting and smashing. Plus they allow TOO many tours, so we were constantly pulling over for other groups. It felt like forever and ever and ever. In theory, this is great. In practice, it's some fun with a pile of frustration. The guides were really nice and tried their best, but I really wish they'd corralled the teenagers sooner. I'm sure they didn't sign up to be babysitters....but seriously, that group was awful. read more

Extremely happy!! Please DO your research! When is the best time to go to a bio bay? What will you see? How long do you have to kayak? All things you should know before going and being disappointed and blaming the tour company. You are kayaking at night in the dark. There are small lights on the front and back of all kayaks. Not bad at all! My husband wore a see through case around his neck for his phone and car key. We purchased it at a small shop 2 mins walking distance from our check in spot. I loved this company and so happy we booked with them! Such an inexpensive and incredible way to see a biobay! Booking was super easy! Just booked online after Google searching kayake to Farjado bio bay. Booked 4 seats online for the 6 p.m. kayak tour. We drove early to Frajado from San Juan and got great street parking! The tour groups are all pop up canopies with a sign in table. Go green group! :) You WILL get wet- you're going into the ocean. At least your bottom half will because you are in a kayak. People act surprised about that. Please dress accordingly. I left my sweater and tennis shoes in the car. Please bring your own towel, I'm happy I brought mine! You might not need it because you can definitely air dry. Wore my bathing suit and they provide a life jacket for everyone. Upon arrival we were kindly greeted and given lots of info and our questions were all answered. Before entering the water they give a quick tutorial on how to hold a paddle, stear, hold, stall.. things you need to know if you don't already. This is a TOUR group. You are in a group. Some people need more instruction than others, be patient. Because we went on a night with almost a full moon, they had tarps we got under and were able to see into the water. It's like pop rocks! Glowing sparks in the water. We splashed water onto our legs and enjoyed it so much! Amazing tour guides who provide lots of details and are happy to answer ANY questions you have about the beautiful island. My group ranged from ages 15 to 30. I'm so happy we did this! It was amazing. Thanks green group for great tour guides and making our vacay to Puerto Rico so special. read more

Yokahu Kayak Trips - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Fajardo, Puerto Rico

I've taken student groups to Puerto Rico four times over the last year and we always do the night kayaking with Yokahu Kayaks, they are the best. I noticed they have another listing on Yelp, but this one looks more frequented than the other one so I hope I am reviewing the right one. There are several different kayaking companies in Fajardo that will take tours into the Laguna Grande but what I love about Yokahu is that they put safety first and they have expert knowledge. They give an excellent safety presentation before getting on the water where they tell you exactly what to expect and give instructions on how to enter, exit, and operate the kayak. They provide life jackets and allow you to lock your possessions in their truck while on the water. They take a courtesy photo of you in your kayak and post on their Facebook page so visitors can have them for free. They are extremely knowledgeable and skilled on the water, pointing out facts about the ecosystems and history of the area while kayaking backwards and rescuing stray kayaks that get stuck in the mangrove branches. They are one of the companies that uses small led lights on the front and backs of their kayaks which is helpful because it gets very dark in the canal. I won't ruin the experience and tell you exactly how the tour goes, but I do recommend going out at the 6pm time so you can enjoy the sunset on the way in and it's then fully dark on your way out. They also provide water and snacks when you finish your tour. I highly recommend doing your research ahead of time to ensure you have come prepared. There have been a few times I have experienced complainers on the route who are unhappy that they are getting wet and you have to stay in a straight line in the canal which requires patience and control over your kayak, especially when there are several companies out at once. The power of the bioluminescence depends on weather and moon conditions. The brightest I've ever seen it was in December, it was so powerful my hands sparkled in front of my face when I pulled them out of the water. It was unbelievable. Other times it was not so bright, but you can always see it and sometimes the guides pull out a huge tarp you can pull over yourself and that helps block out natural light so you see the bioluminescence in the water more. Highly recommend! read more

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So disappointed with this company. I booked a family vacation for Christmas for 9 people and booked a tour for the bay on Christmas Eve; my booking was completed August 7th and we were so excited. Until the call 2 weeks before we are to go that is canceling the excursion. Not because of an issue, or weather, or something that could not be planned, but because they decided to close for the holiday. That is a really nice thing to take time off for a holiday but, as a business, it is something you should plan for in advance. While your employees may be happy, it is a shame you could not take your patrons into account and simply called to say...sorry. Now I cannot book with another company because it is so late and everything is sold out. I would not book with this company since it does not seem to care about keeping their commitment to their customers. We were so excited to see the bay and now will miss it completely, guess our holiday happiness is not important. Oh yes, they did offer to move my tour to 10 days later....who can do that when they have planned a vacation? make sure you book your trip with a more dependable company! read more

This is my second time doing the Bio Bay Kayak Tour, although first with this company. I loved it. Unfortunately, even with the lowest amount of moon, there was still barely any bioluminescence. I really think it has something to do with the disruption of mangroves during the hurricane a few years ago. Even the smallest changes affect the ecosystems. So do not be disappointed if you see very little "glow". With that said, the tour company was great! From check-in to the tour to the end of the tour, everything was very organized and efficient. The equipment was superb and they gave great instructions on how to actually use the kayaks. I was nervous going with my ten year old son as neither one of really knew what we were doing. The instructions provided were simple and very useful. We had so much fun kayaking through the canal. The guides made kayaking simple and were always around to help or to point out different animals hiding in the mangroves. They gave a 20 minute explanation on the area and bioluminescence. I would highly recommend the experience with Yokahu Kayak Trips! read more

Bio bay is a complete scam. We went on a 1 hour dark kayak ride to the "bio bay" which is literally a bay with 0 bioluminescence. We hid under a tarp and slapped the water and saw a slight green light in the water (wow!) I did like the kayaking but I feel like we were completely lied to in terms of the bioluminescence. The pictures you have probably seen are 100% photoshopped. Also everyone was super rude on the kayak ride because I was talking to my friends (I guess that wasn't the tour guides fault but we got the vibe that it was a silent tour or something). Weird! 1/10 stars. I wish I went to the club instead. read more

More 3.5 stars. When in Puerto Rico, you should check out the Bio-luminescence Bay. Of course, pictures on Google make it seem a lot more bright and awesome, but it's still a cool experience. Because we booked our trip last minute, we didn't have time to do the bio-luminescence bay tour in Mosquito Bay in Vieques Island. A lot of tours in Fajardo were booked so we went with Yokahu Kayak Trips to take us to Laguna Grande. Yokahu wasn't bad. In the beginning, the staff seemed excited with us, but towards the end, they seemed bored. There were so many kayak tours happening at the same time so getting through the mangroves took a while. They also kept yelling at us to stay in a single line, but some folks were first time kayakers and were all over the place and bumping into each other. It was kind of a traffic jam. Once we got into the lagoon, we all stopped side to side where they talked about the bio bays. Because of light pollution, it was difficult to see the dinoflagelates so they paired up kayaks and put a tarp over us so we can splash the water in darkness to see it better. You can see it way better when you put your hand in the water when you're in the pitch dark mangroves, but they kind of rush you. They don't allow you to bring bags or any items because it's a nature preserve. They don't want you dropping stuff. It's also too difficult to take pictures of the micro-organisms. When you return, they have snacks out for everybody. Limited parking. read more

Whenever someone I know tells me they've been to Puerto Rico, I always ask them if they did a bioluminescent bay tour. Most people have no idea what I'm talking about. Which is quite the shame, because this has got to be one of the most incredible and rare experiences that one can ever have in their lifetime. As mentioned, there are only 5 places in the entire world that house the extremely delicate ecosystem conducive for dinoflagellates to live. Two of those places have dying lagoons, and the third location in PR is as well, dying. Essentially, that leaves Mosquito Bay in Vieques (a small outer island) and Laguna Grande in Farjardo on the main island of PR. To come here and not experience this phenomenon is a travesty beyond proportions. For practical purposes, we choose Laguna Grande on the main island. This is because a Mosquito Bay tour requires an overnight stay on Vieques, since the ferries stop running from Vieques to PR in the early evening. Yokahu Kayak Tours was my BF's pick because of his positive experience with them in the past and because they are more environmentally conscious than many of the other bio-bay tour companies. The guides are friendly and thorough and they were indeed, concerned that we didn't litter, alter, or unintentionally harm the dinoflagelletes. You won't be allowed to take plastic water bottles with you as these can end up as trash in the water. You also aren't allowed to wear mosquito repellent such as "Off", since it contains DEET - a chemical that kills these living lights by the millions and which is in fact responsible for the devastating extinction of the third Bio Bay in PR. Here are my tips for an optimum experience: 1. Dress comfortably. To get to the Bio Bay, you'll have to kayak for about 15 minutes through a shallow swamp canal - leave your cute clothes at home and bring some water shoes. Your kayak WILL fill with swamp water. Leave your purse and belongings in the car (they'll hold your keys for you). 2. Go sans makeup. This is the Caribbean, people. It rains. Swampy water + rain = racoon eyes. It'll be dark so no one will be able to see your gorgeous face, anyway. 3. Don't bring your camera. You'll want to, because who doesn't want to capture this unexplainable experience? But you won't be able to. Dinoflagellates do not show up in photos, still or video. Many have tried. Just record the whole thing in your head, as it was clearly meant to be. 4. You can't wear "Off", but you can wear natural mosquito repellent. I highly recommend it. In fact, I INSIST. You'll be kayaking through a dark, shallow SWAMP - what does that mean? It means you will be rowing your way into the lion's den - mosquitoes salivating and waiting to feast on your DEET-free flesh. While the experience of touching the dinoflagellates itself was incredible, getting there was downright miserable. While there's always a few suckers out, apparently, the night we went they were out like hookers at Fleet Week. They descended on us like we were their last bloody meals. It was absolutely wretched! At the end of the tour, I had so many bites that I had an allergic reaction (two alone on my LIPS - what kind of mosquito bites your lip?! Vampire mosquitoes, I swear). We had to stop off on the way home to pick up some Benadryl, and - let's just say - there was no "happy ending" for BF back at the hotel, either. Eveybody looses. While I can't personally vouch for the effectiveness of home-made, natural repellents - I've been told that cinnamon oil (diluted with a carrier oil and applied liberally) repels mosquitoes even more effectively than "Off." Or, rub yourself with garlic gloves. Probably serves as a date repellent too, but at least you won't get eaten alive. Because mosquitoes are pretty much the suckiest fuckers on Earth. 5. Head to the front of the line so you'll be the first kayak. This is so you can avoid being "trapped" in the swamp behind some incompetent tourists from Kansas who can't figure out how to do a simple two-move row and who gravitate towards tree stumps like magnets. As if you need to prolong your journey through the mosquito banquet hall. When you get to the actual Bio Bay, you may need to wait awhile until it's dark enough. But when it is, the magic that unfolds in front of you can't really be explained. You aren't allowed to swim in the water anymore (harmful to the organisms), but you can touch it - dip your hand in and watch the outline of your fingers light up in a bright, neon-blue. It's indescribable. You can even scoop up the water in your hands; you'll be able to feel the tiny pulse of the millions of microscopic lights. The best time to go is when there is no moon, as the Bio Bay is more visible in complete darkness. Keep this in mind when planning your tour. Absolutely at the top of my "Must Do in Puerto Rico" list. read more

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Our rainforest and bioluminescent tours with yokahu was the highlight of our trip to Puerto Rico. Booked reservations a few days before we arrived and it was a breeze. Price was $100 (not including tax) for a tour of the El Yunque Rainforest and a kayak tour of the bioluminescent bay in fajardo. Slightly cheaper than competing companies. We were picked up at our hotel in Condado right on time. Luckily we got a great group of people. For the rainforest tour there were about 10 our us. We all got along great which made the tour that much more fun. Our guide emmanuel was very informative of the rainforest and we got to swim in a waterfall! The bioluminescent tour was very unique. I can see how some people wouldn't enjoy it since the paddling can make you tired after a while and it is honestly pitch black until you get into the bay. But it was such a great experience, we really loved it. While in puerto rico we had the most fun this day. Highly recommended! read more

What a unique kayaking experience! It's around $45 per person and they take you at night when it's dark to see one of five bioluminescent bays in the world. They put you on a double kayak (not my ideal) and they take your group through marsh at night, which is creepy and AWESOME. After the marsh, it leads you into the actual bay. The guide explains the science behind the bioluminescent bay and then lets you kayak around for a few minutes before heading back. The entire tour is around 2 hours and worth it. The bioluminescence is really amazing and you'll be in awe as you kayak. Don't bring your camera because your photos won't turn out. Leave your camera/phone in your hotel and enjoy the natural beauty. It's amazing! At the end of the tour, they give you water and a snack! read more

I see the potential of this trip and how good it could be....but the entire time on this trip the word running through my head to describe it is: shit show. You start with a very basic bit of instruction on kayak operation. (Very basic....for those who had never been in a kayak they were lost.) Then they herded us into the kayaks and pointed is out to a buoy and had has raft up about 15 kayaks while we waited for the numerous other groups of kayaks ahead of us to go. Then we were told to paddle in a single file line toward a darkened tunnel of mangrove trees. People without any kayaking experience immediately began crashing into almost everyone and into the trees. This should have been beautiful but I was constantly distracted by the people who couldn't operate their boats crashing into mine or fighting with each other. The mangrove path opens up into a protected bay and we again raft up and hear the explanation of the bioluminescence and see the glowing water. It was interesting....just wished we could have enjoyed it longer. Then back through the mangrove trees and what seemed like the longest journey back. (The fighting between the people who couldn't operate their kayaks was beginning to peak at this time.) I would say if the groups were a little smaller and you could go out with just people you knew it would be a lot better. The guides were nice and were trying their best.....they had their hands full. read more

It's soooo worth to take this tour! The staff is informative and helpful. The tour itself is an unforgettable experience. Need to call to reserve your spot in advance. Priced around $45/person read more

Not a recovered biobay just a kayak paddle in dead mangroves. Sorry they need to close yours.

My group of five had a great experience with Yokahu Kayak Trips, though there was one (semi-major) drawback. Generally, the group was very professional, great to work with, you can tell they do this a ton, etc. They waited for us as we were late because of traffic, which was much appreciated. Here's the way it works. You get to the kayak landing, get some sort of an overview (my friends and I had all kayaked a ton, so we mostly ignored it), and get fitted with kayaks and life jackets. You then kayak for an hour or so to the bay where the actual bioluminescent organisms live, where you get an explanation of the environment, et cetera. The group loses a star because I felt quite hurried once in the bay. It's like "oh, here we are, put your hands in the water and see the glow, take a picture, now head back." My friends all agreed that we would have liked 20 or so minutes to be able to paddle around. Here are some general thoughts: - It feels absolutely safe, but there are fish splashing and it's very very dark. So if that scares you, perhaps this isn't the tour for you. - The kayaking is absolutely not strenuous, but it isn't sedentary. Our group was all in pretty good shape, so it was easy for us. If you're very out of shape, perhaps this isn't the tour for you. There was another boat entering the bay as we left that had an electric motor, so perhaps you can see the bay another way. - YOU WILL GET WET. Bring a towel and additional clothing. - USE BUG SPRAY. We forgot and got eaten. - LEAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DRIVE FROM SAN JUAN. We thought 1.5 hours was enough -- and it would have been -- except for the random parade on the highway in Rio Grande. That backed traffic up for half an hour. While this is technically the United States, expect a more Mexico-like level of traffic hassles. Otherwise, go and enjoy! It's a great tour, if you have the right mindset. read more

So cool! I did this kayak tour to the Bioluminescent Bay. I don't think that this tour is too difficult for beginning kayakers, as long as you pay attention to the directions and your surroundings. Given, it is pitch black, but I have only gone kayaking a couple times before and my mom never had, and we managed to successfully navigate the channel through the mangroves. Well, except for one time where one of the guides had to come push us out after another boat inadvertently bumped us. At any rate it was a really neat experience! The pitch black of the channel of the mangroves, opens up into a tranquil bay in faint moonlight. The bioluminescent organisms, are awesome! So cool to see them light up as your paddles enter the water and move. It looks like a fainter version of a blue glow stick has been put in the water when it moves. I would totally take someone else on this tour when I am back in Puerto Rico! A really neat experience! read more

This place was great, but I would not recommend going on thie tour if you have no kayaking experience. The tour consisted of 1.5 miles of kayaking to the bio-bay where you are given a detailed yet brief explanation about the glowing mechanism. The 1.5 mile kayaking involved navigating through a narrow channel lined by mangrove trees on both sides. If not careful its extremely easy to crash into the trees. We thought the 6:30 experience was better because the 8:00 experience would have been a bit daunting because it was so dark you could not even see where you were kayaking on the way back. The total trip was about 3 miles and took a little over 2 hours. If you are strong about going on this trip then yokahu is the only tour to take! P.S. - If you are inexperienced or scared of the dark i would not recommend going on this trip. My parents were frightened the entire trip because their kayak flipped over in the very beginning. read more

I went with 3 other friends on this kayak tour in the bio bay. I had been on the tour with another company in 2010 so I knew what to expect. But my friends never had been. This company was disorganized and not honest from the get go. When we arrived we were not greeted and didn't know what was going on. The introduction was skimpy at best plus there was no real help choosing the right life vests. 2 of my friends were non swimmers. The tour had about 15 kayaks. We stopped constantly along the way and because they hadn't taught the beginners how to paddle correctly there were lots of pile ups. The biggest disappointment by far was the actual bay. There simply was hardly any bioluminesence! My friends thought it would be just like the pictures on their website. But there was barely any glow. On the way back there were more stops for no reason except to promote how great their tour was. I asked one guide why there was no glow in the bay and he did say that it is best to come in the summer because the warm water activates the algae. Lesson learned! Go when it's hot out, later in the summer (which is when I went the first time). This should have been clearly stated on their website. Would not recommend this company. read more

Your trip to Puerto Rico is incomplete without a visit to the Bio-Bay! We took the 6 pm trip and kayaked for about 2 hours during the entire trip. You pass through the lagoons and enter a beautiful bay! At the end, you will see bio-luminescent microorganisms (they glow when you touch them)!! The feeling to hold these glowing microscopic organisms is just something else! The sky is so clear (no light pollution) and you can see the stars very bright as well!! Unfortunately, none of these can be captured by your camera, but it does capture your heart!! Plus the staff at Yokahu is is amazing! They are very helpful people who guide you through the entire process and explain in detail the history behind the place and science behind the microorganisms. read more

Honestly the reviews below sum everything up. I don't want to sound like "that" person but, don't waste your money. There is n o t h i n g to see that's worth 40 dollars per person. If people have been saying there hasn't been a glow for over a year, there probably will never be one. There was a light green tint when you shake your hand in the water at best. It's more of an exercise class then a bio luminous lagoon tour. If you just want the experience of kayaking at night then this is for you. Also be prepared for a lot of bumping and panicked kayakers throughout the journey :) read more

Definately a MUST DO while visiting Puerto Rico. What a great way to support the island than to see it's natural beauty. Something you will never forget. These crews helped clean it up after the hurricane which was a lot of strenuous work and shows the love and pride they have to preserve the beauty and magic of this place. I went with my family, seniors, youngins and a kid. The tour was informative and fun. An activity for all. You wont regret it or forget it. Make memories! Thanks Yokahu read more

We were lucky to get a same-day reservation with Yokahu. And it was a great trip! The guides were fun, informative and always there to help -- even when we hit a couple of mangrove trees. Paddling in the channel leading to the bay was very cool. But once we hit the open waters of the bay, cool became spectacular! The microorganisms in the bay looked like confetti trailing the paddles, our hands, feet, etc. Definitely something I've never seen!! The staff at Yokahu was great, and I'd recommend them to anyone! read more

We checked all the deals and this place was the cheapest, and it ended up great! Its best to go when there is no moon so you can see the water glow. It was absolutely amazing to paddle in a dark tunnel to end up in a lagoon. We were not allowed to swim in the water which is a shame because its a rare experience. My friend even saw a shooting star in the beautiful lagoon. Picture perfect! read more

One of the coolest things I have ever done. Period. Tony was our guide. He was chill and really good at explaining everything. We have both kayaked before and the water is really shallow, so even though I was concerned about how dark it was (and the pending rain storm) it was completely fine and my fears were alleviated as soon as we started out. The kayaks have front and back lights on them, plus the person in the back of the kayak wears a little light, so there is some light. You do need to follow the lights in front of you, but this is not hard. Also, you will get WET. I wore a waterproof windbreaker and am SO glad that I did. Bring a change of clothes for the ride home. All you need in the boat is you - everything else will get wet, plus since the bay is a protected nature preserve, they do not allow you to bring anything. Do not put any bug spray on your hands, either, as this kills the micro-organisms. Kayaking in the dark, through the mangrove trees, is so amazing that words will not do it justice. You just need to do it. Once you're in Laguna Grande, full of the bioluminescent micro-organisms, be sure to look out of the jumping fish. They make the water light up in streaks and it is so cool. My boyfriend was amazed by the fish and we could have spent all night in the bay. It is $45/person for a once in a lifetime experience. Just do it and enjoy. read more

It's hard not to give this the 5 stars because based on the guide, Tony, it should be. However, I couldn't because the "bio" part is really a non event. It really doesn't appear like anything in the brochures and may in fact be dying as the other areas in the world are. That along with too many tours in the river and a power boat for the handicapped tourists made the kayaking more Like bumper boats. Tony the guide, was very knowledgable and we really enjoyed it despite the disappointment in the bio events. read more

Wonderful tour. Luis and his two guides were super helpful, careful, and positive. We had the longest tour of all the groups that left at the same time. It's a very easy kayak trip, even if you've never kayaked before. The bioluminescent lagoon is unreal!! It's about a 25 minute paddle out, 40 minutes or so in the lagoon, and 25 minute paddle back. We definitely recommend this kayak tour group! read more

The Yokahu tour group was a great way for my family and I to see the bio bay in Fajardo. They were extremely patient with everyone to the point where it was almost ridiculous. Great tour guides and very nice people. They offered water and snacks after the tour as well. The bio bay is definitely a must see when visiting the Northeast part of the island and Yokahu is a great company to see it with. read more

Had an amazing time at the Yokahu Kayak trip. We were a group of 11 people. Luis was our tour guide. Not only did he give us fun facts about the bioluminescent organisms, he also told stories about Puerto Rico. The trip was filled with fun and adventure including running into a mangrove that had iguanas. Overall it was a great time. I would highly recommend taking this tour at night. read more

This is an absolutely amazing experience that cannot be missed if you have the opportunity. Here is my experience: We rented a car and drove down there ourselves and paid $45/person. It was a little tricky to find the bay where we were leaving from, but the guy on the phone was very helpful. They are available to receive payment right there by the water before you take off. There are lots of other companies there, so be sure you find the right one. Yokahu wears green shirts with their name on it. First they will go through some simple instructions about how to paddle, and then fit you with lifevests and blinking lights. Our guide Tony was very friendly and spoke excellent English and was very clear and informative. Then you partner up and if you don't have a partner, they will find one for you, or one of their helper guides will go on your kayak with you. The tide isn't bad so you should be able to get the hang of it pretty quickly. We follow a single file line through the mangrove canals by following the red blinking light in front of you. The guide and helpers are with you along the way to make sure you are doing alright and don't run into any problems. The water is very warm (we went in Sept), and after a little while you start to see a little bit of the bio-luminescence as you stroke your paddle. Be a little careful of the sides, because if you start to drift over to one side, you might get him by some long-hanging branches. It's always good to warn the guy in the back if you see one coming. When we got to the main lagoon the bio-lumin is very strong, and putting your hand in the water makes it glow. It is a once in a lifetime experience that cannot be duplicated in photos. The guide will gather all the kayaks together and give a short speech about the BioBay and answer any questions you might have before heading back. Then they will group you together by the beach again, and send you onto the shore two boats at a time. Once you get out, they also provide a small snack (bag of chips) and water for you. The whole trip takes around 2 hrs, which will fly by, but will still feel very worthwhile. We went on the 6:30 trip, which I think is the best because the sun is still out when you arrive, so it's easier to find the location, but we don't set out onto the kayaks until it is dark, so as to see as much in the water that we can. I would recommend using the facilities beforehand, in case you run into any troubles. The bathrooms at the bay, however, are very disgusting. Even the tour guides will warn you about them, so take caution. Some other tips: - I would bring a Ziploc bag to hold any items that you can't keep in the car, like keys, money, or even cameras. - There are lots and lots of mosquitoes so be ready to get bit a lot! Bring your own bug spray, as the guides don't always have enough. - The guide said something about the bio-lumin going all the way down to the bottom, which means if someone was attached to a concrete block, they would glow all the way down. That made me think that it might be cool to bring a few rocks with you and drop them down when you hit the lagoon. I don't know how much you'd be able to see, but I thought it might be a cool idea. - Since there are so many other tours that go to the BioBay, you might run into another group that are on-coming. The guides will instruct you to stay on the right hand side in a single file. There might be some bumping involved, but as long as you don't panic, you're not going to fall into the water. - It gets a little tiring, even for a pretty fit person, especially if the two people are not in sync with their rowing. So be careful if you're not really used to activity, or if you have a bad back or something. My buddy hurt his back and he couldn't do much paddling, and more importantly, he couldn't rest his back on anything. After a while, one of the guides hooked up to their kayak and dragged them the whole way. Which is not an easy task as he's up over three bills! - Which leads to another point. The helper guide who did that was very friendly and willing and able to do that. My friend was so grateful and more than happy to be able to give him a huge tip at the end of it. If you feel like it, I'm sure they would not mind if you wanted to give them a tip (though it is not necessary). - Lastly, you are going to get wet and sit in a puddle of water the whole way. I would recommend wearing trunks or a swimsuit so that you might get dry a little easier. Jeans or long pants would not be recommended. You can always bring a change of clothes in your car. I also bought a pair of flip flops so I wouldn't get my sneakers wet, but I ended up just leaving them on the shore with the company, and going barefoot into the boat. Which I think is the best choice. Other than that, I don't think I can impart any more information. It was definitely a great time and I highly recommend it to anyone who can get out there to do it. read more

The micro organisms we not what I expected, but still amazing to see. The tour was good and the guides were helpful. The only problem was that some people had never been kayaking before and this caused many frustrating traffic jams when traveling through the mangrove trees. I am definitely happy I had this experience and will never forget it. read more

This was my favorite part of the trip. It was absolutely amazing! I was nervous about kayaking in the dark, because I had never done it before. It was a little tiring, but so worth it. The water was luminous and we saw fish dart by, which created even more of a light show. It takes patience and physical effort, but DO IT. You won't be sorry! GPS was accurate getting to and from Fajardo. We also rented a car out of Old San Juan to get there. read more

On an extended Memorial Day Weekend trip with my girlfriend and two other friends we took some time to go kayaking in Puerto Rico. Through our resort, the Wyndham Rio Mar, we booked this excursion experience with Yokahu Kayak Trips. Getting there wasn't too difficult with our rental SUV. Once we got there it was a bit of a challenge finding parking. You may have to drive around the park a few times unless you cab it there. There were a ton of these kayak tour companies set up in the same place offering the same experience. Our tour was scheduled for 5:30p which ended up being the perfect time. I'll get back to that and why it was perfect later. The tour guides do a great job giving a quick training session before getting us all onto the kayaks. They also do a great job of putting single riders together in a way that doesn't make it uncomfortable for the riders. Once we were all in the water we had to wait while the other tours from the other companies got through the entrance to the mangroves before us. In hidnsight, this was the only negative part of the tour overall. All the tour companies leave at the same time jamming up the entrance. I suggested to them that, while I get that they're all competing for the business, they'd all be better off overall if they were to work together and plan different departure times. Maybe each tour can leave 20 minutes after the previous tour - 6:00 / 6:20 / 6:40 / etc. Getting through the mangroves on the way to the lake was pretty outstanding. Though that was nothing in comparison to actually arriving to the lake. The 5:30p departure time was perfect because it still gave us enough daylight to see through the mangroves on the way in. I thought it was also perfect because you got both perspectives during the tour of seenig the environment with some daylight and experiencing it with nightfall and eventually complete darkess when you're done, except for the moonlight of course! Once in the lake, the tour guides gathered us all together and gave us a quick tutorial on what bio-bay was all about as well as the organisms which make it so special - the dinoflagellates. These organisms make the water glow like a there was a flashlight in the water underneath you when you disturb the water with your hand or paddle. We had a cloudness night sky that night and a nearly full moon which made it even more special. We had time to admire the serenity of the environment with our friends before heading back. Be ready for heavy paddling on your way back because the current is pretty strong coming into the lake, or Laguna Grande. And again, we had to deal with some extended wait time during the return through the mangroves because of the other tours leaving before us. This is my only complaint about the whole trip. Otherwise, this was an outstanding adventure and one you should definitely take while in Puerto Rico. Visited May 2013 read more

After hiking through el yunque, we decided to go kayaking in Bioluminescent Bay. The main kayaking place was full because we were just walk ups, so we stumbled across Yokahu, which was awesome. It wasn't jam packed like the other place and our guide really knew his stuff. He seemed passionate about the bay and you could really tell he cared about it. This tour was really intimate and as a first time kayaker, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I just got back to my hotel room from doing the tour and I had to write a review on it. Enjoy. read more

I did a combination rainforest/biobay tour with Yokahu, and had a great time. The price was excellent ($99 for the rainforest, biobay and transportation to and from the San Juan/Isla Verde area). The van picked us up right on time, and our tour guide (sadly, I don't remember his name) was awesome. The rainforest tour was very well-constructed - the only thing that I would say could be changed is that when we got there we got 20 minutes at the visitors center before hiking during the day, and I think that part of the trip is better saved for after the hike - I wanted to buy tons of souvenirs, but wasn't psyched about carrying them while I was hiking, although I had the option to leave them in the van. Anyway, we did a couple of trails - one was a quick trail that led down to a really cool river area, and another longer one that took us to one of the waterfalls. The upside to doing this through a tour company was that we were able to hike straight through the trail and meet up with our guide who had the van, rather than hiking down to the waterfall and hiking back up to where we would have had to park our car and missing half of the trail. We also go to visit a tower which had great views of the east end of the island and Culebra. After the rainforest, we stopped at a place in Loquillo that was almost like a strip mall with different eateries. We chose a place that had local food, and I was able to get a few mojitos in before the biobay. The biobay is in a really cool and vibrant part of Fajardo, right on the water, and we had a lot of fun kayaking. Like other people who posted noted, navigating through the cavernous path of mangrove trees in the pitch black of night was challenging, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't smash into one or two of them. The bummer part of the trip for us was that the moon was gigantic and full that night, so seeing the glow was really difficult. To the credit of the staff, they came equipped with a tarp that everybody passed over the kayaks to block the light - it didn't really help much, but I appreciated their ingenuity. The guides gave us a great explanation about what made the biobay special, and they took pictures of everybody in their kayaks that you were able to get by "Liking" their Facebook page. My picture came out pretty good. Definitely recommend this place. read more