Capitán Jose Cruz here. La Parguera, in the southwestern town of Lajas, is about two and a half hours by car from San Juan, and that drive is exactly why it stays one of the most underrated stops in Puerto Rico. It gets a fraction of the crowds of the east coast and it has one of the best bioluminescent bays on the island.
The Bioluminescent Bay
La Parguera’s bay is one of only a handful of bioluminescent bays in the world and one of three in Puerto Rico, along with Mosquito Bay in Vieques and Laguna Grande in Fajardo. Tiny organisms in the water glow blue when a paddle, a fin or a boat wake moves them. A night tour here is one of the most unusual things you can do on a Puerto Rico trip. The first time you see it, you will say wepa out loud.
More Than Just the Bay
La Parguera is also known for some of the island’s best scuba diving, with a dramatic drop called The Wall. The Malecón, a waterfront strip of souvenir shops and casual restaurants, is the spot for local food and a cold drink with a view. Boat charters can take you out to small mangrove cays like Caracoles, Mata la Gata and Cayo Enrique, where spotting sea turtles, dolphins and even manatees is not unusual.
Planning Your Visit
The glow needs darkness, so tours run at night and the moon matters: a new moon means a darker sky and a brighter glow. Most tours combine the bio bay with kayaking or a boat ride through the mangrove channels.
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Written by a real person
Capitán Jose Cruz
Boat captain in Puerto Rico and the person behind ThingsToDoPR. I write these guides myself, as a local and a ciudadano who uses the same roads, beaches and guaguas you will. Yes, I also run boat trips and transportation, but informing you comes first. If the honest answer is to take the bus, that is what you will read here. ¡Nos vemos en el agua!
