Bio-Bay Questions

[Quampapetet]

I'll be staying several nights before my cruise in Old San Juan and I want to do a Bio-Bay excursion or two. It was unplanned, but the New Moon is the day before I get to OSJ, so my first night will be 0% moon and the second night 2% moon (according to the site I looked on). My best friend is flying in the first night, but too late to do an excursion (she lands at 7:30), so she'd have to do it with the 2% moon the next night.

 

From what I've read browsing on this forum, East Island Excursions is the only company you can go with that allows you to stay on the mainland that night?

 

How long is the time they give you to swim in the Bio-Bay?

 

On the dinner menu, is the Quesadilla just the pita with cheese? Or is there other stuff in it (if you get the non-meat one)?

[RayInPR]

For Mosquito Bay (in Vieques and where you can swim), you are correct in saying the only way to see that biobay without spending the night on Vieques is to go with EIE out of Fajardo.

 

We've done that trip a few times (and going again next week!). I don't know how long they give you to swim, but I do remember feeling like we had more than enough time in the water. I don't recall them ever calling us back to the boat, and we've always been the last ones to get out of the water. Mostly because we look around and see that everyone else is already out!

 

I can't comment on their quesadillas ... never had 'em.

[Quampapetet]

Thanks for the info.! Do you think next week when you go you can find out how long they give you for swimming? I want to know if it is long enough for two ppl to do it consecutively instead of simultaneously so that each can get a good length of time doing it while the other stays back on the boat.

[rainforestgirl]

Thanks for the info.! Do you think next week when you go you can find out how long they give you for swimming? I want to know if it is long enough for two ppl to do it consecutively instead of simultaneously so that each can get a good length of time doing it while the other stays back on the boat.

 

I am going to say it is about 20 mins of swimming.

But why does one of you have to stay on the boat while the other swims?

[Quampapetet]

Thanks. Twenty minutes isn't very long. I do hope my friend will want to swim, but she might not if she learns that the light is caused by organisms 'cause she didn't even want to go to a butterfly place for fear they would land on her!

 

One of us will have to stay with my service dog as well as my belongings.

[dz63]

I'll be staying several nights before my cruise in Old San Juan and I want to do a Bio-Bay excursion or two. It was unplanned, but the New Moon is the day before I get to OSJ, so my first night will be 0% moon and the second night 2% moon (according to the site I looked on). My best friend is flying in the first night, but too late to do an excursion (she lands at 7:30), so she'd have to do it with the 2% moon the next night.

 

From what I've read browsing on this forum, East Island Excursions is the only company you can go with that allows you to stay on the mainland that night?

 

How long is the time they give you to swim in the Bio-Bay?

 

On the dinner menu, is the Quesadilla just the pita with cheese? Or is there other stuff in it (if you get the non-meat one)?

 

We did the Vieques Bio Bay excursion in July with East Island Excursions. They are the only tour company that offers the Vieques Bioluminescent Bay excursion from the mainland of Puerto Rico without having to stay overnight. Once at Mosquito Bay, we had 30 minutes to swim in the water.

 

We did not order the Quesadilla, so I cannot comment what is in it. However according to the dinner menu, this dish is available with or without chicken. A vegetarian dinner of Quesadilla with a green salad is also offered.

[rasta]

We had about 20-30 minutes in the water. My daughter had the chicken quesidilla and it was large and stuffed with lots of chicken and cheese. Dinners were all good...not great but good. The boat is a flat pontoon so it is pretty easy to get around on although you do go up and down a ramp to get on/off since they just kind of beach it...thre isn't a dock for the pontoon.

[Quampapetet]

Thanks for the info., you guys! :) 30 min. sounds better than 20 min., so I hope it is 30 min. ;)

[rainforestgirl]

Thanks for the info., you guys! :) 30 min. sounds better than 20 min., so I hope it is 30 min. ;)

 

I went on Monday...it is closer to 20 mins.

Your stuff should be fine on board alone,I have never worried about my stuff and I have done this tour 6 times. The captain is always on board, and the other people are all there for the glow, not your stuff. (I have never heard any problem with stuff stolen from the boat, but it may get wet).

Can your guide dog "stay" alone? You may want to call the company that does the tour and check if they are ok with you leaving the dog alone. If so- both take the time and go. It is an amazing experience- not to be missed. Or maybe the dog can swim with you- it would be cool to see the glow he makes!

[Quampapetet]

LOL about the dog's glow ... but she doesn't like to swim. :( (I know, what fun is that?! She LOVES playing with water you splash up from the pool, but I guess just doesn't love the being wet part - didn't like when the waves at the beach splashed her, either. She's a water breed, so go figure!)

 

That's too bad it is only about 20 min. - even the full 20 min. would seem short, I'd think! But, still, I'm sure it is an awesome experience!

 

Thanks for your help!

[gretnagirl]

Here's a thought- instead of going all the way to the other island, you could go to the Bio Bay in Fajardo. I can't say how it stacks up against the other option, but we did the trip in Fajardo and it was AMAZING! Google Kayaking Puerto Rico, that's the company we used who were just fabulous. They don't have a swimming component, just kayaking, but it was an incredible experience none the less. I don't know if you had any interest in kayaking, but if there's even an inkling of interest, I would say to check them out. They were that good.

[Quampapetet]

Thanks, I do like to kayak, but right now, I don't have enough energy/strength to do that. :( I haven't done it in several years (partially also due to other reasons, like my kayak getting holes in it, LOL - the darn heat melted the plastic!). But, I really like the swimming aspect of the Bio-Bay experience and I know that's not allowed in the Fajardo one (for good reason, though, so I'm not complaining).

[rasta]

To get the most time in the water plan to be the first ones in the water. When boarding the pontoon try and sit all the way aft port. The boarding ladder is there so you will get an extra 5 minutes or so in the water by being the first in. If you sit all the way to the front you will be waiting in line for folks to get their life belts on and jump in...very slow.

[rainforestgirl]

To get the most time in the water plan to be the first ones in the water. When boarding the pontoon try and sit all the way aft port. The boarding ladder is there so you will get an extra 5 minutes or so in the water by being the first in. If you sit all the way to the front you will be waiting in line for folks to get their life belts on and jump in...very slow.

 

Good suggestion! That is what I always do too!

This means- as soon as you get on the pontoon, sit down. The area you board is the front of the boat (going forward) and where you get on and off the ladder into the water to swim. We are always the first in the water.

[Quampapetet]

Thanks for that tip!

[jencat]

The Bio Bay (Mosquito Bay) swim on Vieques Island with East Island Excurisions is incredible! They allowed about 30 minutes for swimming. A detailed review of my experience (with pictures) is posted at www.mydreamcametrue.com/dreambiobay