MOSQUITO BAY

Commonly known as "Bio Bay", the bioluminescent bay of Vieques is the island's main environmental treasure. If there are five in the world, including three in Puerto Rico, this one is probably the most spectacular, by its size and brightness. They are micro-organisms, dinoflagellates, which are signaled by a small neon light as soon as the water gets agitated around them. A simple observation is therefore not enough. No agitation, no reaction. The micro-organisms at the origin of this phenomenon are however very fragile, which is why swimming, day and night, is forbidden. Indeed, many conditions are necessary to allow these micro-organisms to survive: the presence of mangroves, whose dead leaves enrich the plankton, a constant quality and temperature of the water. This requires the reduction of human pollution by artificial lights and products dejections. Human sweat, perfumes or mosquito repellents applied to the skin can considerably harm them. That's why it's better to just visit by canoe. The survival of this biological treasure depends on it. Unfortunately, at certain periods, several dozen kayaks, chartered by local agencies, are on the water at the same time and that makes a lot of people at the beginning. But it is difficult to be apart and the excursions are generally well organized and respectful of the environment.