Mosquito Bay

Location: Vieques Island

Getting there: Take the ferry from Ceiba to Vieques Island. To get there, rent a UTV or golf cart for $60.00 – $160.00 and drive 25 minutes to get to the launch point. You’ll turn off the main road and drive down a rough dirt road for a ways. You really need a UTV or something like it to make it there. Park here. You’ll have to wade through some really gross mud to get to the water.

General Info: The bay is quite large, but if you are up for it, I suggest crossing the bay. The more area you cover, the better chance you have of finding the brightest spots. I also noticed that when I paddled faster, I saw more fish scattering beneath me. There are some big animals in the water like tarpon and nurse sharks, but that’s it and they’re harmless so don’t be scared when you see something big move in the water. Upon my last visit, I found that the mouth of the bay is the best area. It is bright and is full of fish, possibly sharks as well. 

Heads up: As with all bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico, swimming is prohibited. Stay on your water craft and use a paddle or your hands to move the water around. The dinoflagellates in the water can be harmed by sunscreen and bug spray so make sure you don’t have any of that on your hands. Go as close to the new moon as you possibly can, the size and brightness of the moon makes a huge difference in the brightness of the bioluminescence. There are times when it is possible to go before moon rise, which is a good idea if you are going closer to a full moon. I went once when the moon was full and can confirm that it is definitely not worth going.