Entry No. 01 · Vieques
Mosquito Bay in Vieques is the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, and you can only see it by guided kayak or electric boat tour after dark.
18.0897° N, 65.4425° W
18.0897° N, 65.4425° W
Dip a paddle blade and pull it out glowing. On a good new-moon night here, even a fish crossing under your kayak leaves a blue-green trail you can follow until it fades.
The brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, Guinness World Records, 2006. Kayak or electric boat only, no swimming.
Table 1
The almanac
Mosquito Bay is the brightest of the three, so it rewards planning your trip around the moon more than any other bay. Aim for the darkest sky: a new moon, give or take three nights. A full moon washes the glow out almost entirely.
See all six months in the moon calendar →Anno MMXXVI · 2026
New moon and the three nights on either side, when the glow is strongest. Struck dates mark the full moon, when it is weakest.
None of the tour operators provide lodging. This map shows nearby places to stay, ranked how you like: price, distance, or rating.
To visit the bay, you must book with one of the licensed tour companies in Vieques. They typically provide transportation from a designated meeting point to the bay entrance.
Certified guides and a clear-bottom kayak option, though unlike most operators here, they don't publish a review count on their own site. Worth a quick search elsewhere before you book.
Field-verified July 14, 2026
Been running bay tours since before most of Vieques's other operators existed, with 156 Yelp reviews to show for it.
Field-verified July 15, 2026
A PADI 5 Star dive center that's been running Mosquito Bay tours for 15 years, with round-trip transport from town already built into the price.
Field-verified July 15, 2026
A 24-foot electric catamaran with climate control, if you'd rather sit back than paddle, and one of the few Mosquito Bay operators you can also book through Viator.
Field-verified July 14, 2026
The operators above are the ones we've individually researched. GetYourGuide and Viator also list Mosquito Bay tours beyond what's covered here, if you want to compare options or prefer booking through a marketplace.
Sponsored links to unconfirmed marketplace search results, not operators we've individually vetted. Affiliate disclosure.
No, swimming is not allowed in Mosquito Bay. Tours are by kayak or electric boat only.
Mosquito Bay is on Vieques, reached by ferry from Ceiba or a short flight to Vieques Airport (VQS). Plan to stay overnight, since tours run after the last ferry back.
The same new-moon rule applies here as at the other two bays, but Mosquito Bay is the brightest of the three, so it is worth planning your whole trip around a new-moon week if this is your priority bay. Check the moon calendar for exact dates.
Tours typically range from $65 to $145 per person, depending on the operator and tour type.