9 tips for your first bioluminescence tour
The bioluminescence tour is easy: we pick you up, take you to the lagoon and bring you back. Still, a little preparation makes the night better. Here is what our guides tell first-timers.
Before you leave the hotel
- Skip the sunscreen and lotion. Chemicals harm the plankton that create the glow. Shower the sunscreen off after the beach if you can.
- Wear your swimsuit under your clothes. It saves changing on a dark dock.
- Pack a towel and dry clothes in a bag for the ride home.
- Wear sandals or water shoes. The dock and the boat can be wet.
On the water
- Let your eyes adjust. Avoid looking at your phone screen for a few minutes and the glow will look much brighter.
- Move slowly. Gentle, sweeping movements create long glowing trails. Splashing just makes sparks.
- Look under the boat. Fish darting through the water leave streaks of light like tiny comets.
About photos
- Manage expectations. The glow is very hard to photograph. A phone in night mode, held completely still against the boat, gives you the best chance. Flash won't help.
After the swim
- Now put on the repellent. The mosquitoes near the mangroves notice when you stop moving. Apply it once you're dry and back on the boat.
One last thing
Check the moon. The darkest nights around the new moon give the brightest glow. If your dates are flexible, read our guide to the best time to see bioluminescence before you book.
