La Bahia Fosforescente, Bioluminescent bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico
The waters of Mosquito Bay contain over 160,000 dinoflagellates per liter, creating bright blue flashes when the water moves at night.
In 2008, Guinness World Records certified Mosquito Bay as the brightest bioluminescent bay worldwide, surpassing all other similar natural phenomena.
Local environmental protection measures restrict swimming activities in the bay to maintain the natural balance of microscopic organisms.
Visitors need to schedule guided tours during new moon phases through licensed operators who use electric boats or kayaks for optimal viewing.
Following Hurricane Maria's impact, the bay's microscopic organisms recovered and produced even higher levels of luminescence than before the storm.
Address: La Bahia Fosforescente, 00667, Puerto Rico 00667
GPS coordinates: 17.96491,-66.99582
Latest update: March 3, 2025 14:26
Puerto Rico offers more than the beaches and colonial fortresses of San Juan. The island contains dozens of natural swimming pools, remote coastal sections and protected forest reserves. The northern coast holds limestone caves with pre-Columbian petroglyphs, while the southwest region includes bioluminescent bays and extensive salt flats. The interior features waterfalls cascading over volcanic rock and hiking trails through mountain canyons with native vegetation. Historic sites include 19th-century lighthouses on rocky promontories, Spanish fortifications guarding harbor entrances and archaeological sites like the indigenous ceremonial center of Tibes near Ponce. Coastal areas offer natural swimming holes separated from the sea at low tide, including Las Paylas in Luquillo and Pozo de Jacinto in Isabela. The dry coastal forests of Guánica and the wet rainforest of El Yunque show the range of the island's ecosystems. Visitors reach these locations via local roads that are often unpaved and poorly marked. Many natural pools and waterfalls require short hikes over uneven terrain. The best conditions occur during the dry season from December through April, when river flows run lower. Some locations like Reserva Natural Las Cabezas de San Juan require advance booking for guided tours, while others remain freely accessible year-round.
Porta Coeli
14.3 km
Guánica State Forest
12.4 km
Faro Los Morrillos de Cabo Rojo
21.1 km
Mayagüez Athletics Stadium
30.3 km
Maricao State Forest
17.7 km
Playa Buyé
23.8 km
Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge
18.3 km
Minor Basilica of the Virgin of Montserrat
24.2 km
Isidoro García Stadium
30.4 km
San Isidro Labrador y Santa María de la Cabeza Church
13.5 km
Boquerón State Forest
13.8 km
Guánica Light
9.9 km
San Germán de Auxerre Church
14.3 km
Mayagüez City Hall
30.4 km
Mayagüez Municipal Cemetery
29.5 km
Logia Masónica Hijos de la Luz
17.3 km
Hacienda Santa Rita
12.8 km
Logia Adelphia
30.2 km
Mirador de las Salinas
21.5 km
Casa Franceschi Antongiorgi
17.4 km
Teatro Ideal
17.1 km
Filardi House
17.3 km
Chalet Amill
17.4 km
Silva Bridge
25.1 km
Agostini House
17.5 km
Salto Curet Waterfall
22.7 km
Guilligan's Island
13.3 km
Statue of Christopher Columbus (Mayagüez)
30.4 kmReviews
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