The glow
Water that shines.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters — Public domain · Steven Isaacson — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Steven Isaacson — CC BY-SA 2.0 · JHill — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Edgar Torres — CC BY 3.0
A quiet island off Puerto Rico's east coast, best known for Mosquito Bay, recorded by Guinness as the world's brightest bioluminescent bay: a small mangrove-ringed bay holding millions of tiny organisms that give off a blue-green light when the water moves, so paddles and fish leave streaks of light in the dark. The bay is visited only at night, on kayak or electric-boat tours with licensed operators; petrol-engine boats are banned, and swimming is not allowed, to protect its organisms. The glow is clearest on dark nights away from the full moon. By day the island offers long, quiet beaches, many inside the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge on land held by the US Navy until 2003, so they stayed free of buildings. Esperanza village has a small seafront promenade with restaurants, and wild horses roam the island; do not feed them. The island is slow and peaceful, best explored by rental car. Ferries run to the island from Ceiba in eastern Puerto Rico and small planes from San Juan; ferries fill up on holidays, so book early. Do not touch or stand on coral, do not feed or approach animals, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Water that shines.
In the refuge.
Seafront walk.
South coast of Vieques, near Esperanza
No, swimming is banned to protect the glowing organisms; visits are by kayak or electric boat only.