Bioluminescence

The magical tour, admire the Holbox night sky and look into the glowing eyes of its sea.

Marvel at the divinity that is the bioluminescence of the sea, the celestial vault and the large number of stars and lights created by sea creatures seen only on a clear night.

Kayaking

Take a night paddle to a sandbar to observe this surreal phenomenon up close, becoming one of the very few people ever to do this truly unique experience.

BOOK $1000 MXN

Golf cart

Ideal for families and for those who want to see the magical glowing waters from the coastline of Holbox.

BOOK $400 MXN
  • Excelentes tours, profesionalismo y atención. Mis respetos para Vicente y Alex; lo disfrutamos muchísimo!. No se pierdan la salida a Cabo Catoche y el tour de la Bioluminiscencia en Holbox

    Tania Rodriguez Tania Rodriguez
  • Amazing Whale Shark Tour

    Andreas Leicht Andreas Leicht
  • Eddie and Christian are wonderful guides, wouldn’t book with anyone else! People from other groups actually stopped to listen to Eddie!

    Tracy Sullivan Tracy Sullivan
  • Excelente servicio, excelente puntualidad, la atencion del guia y del capitan fue de 100, por supuesto que regreso con ustedes!

    Liliana Ramos Liliana Ramos

Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon of sea organisms that radiate light creating a glow across the ocean.

The tour

We will meet on the beach, from there, we will head out on the kayaks and we begin to move away from the noise and lights of the town centre.

It’s a short and easy paddle (no experience needed). As we quickly begin to feel the immensity of the sky and the sea around us.
We will star gaze, looking for constellations, clusters and galaxies.

If we are lucky, we may spot a shooting star!

As we continue on into the sea, we begin to see a different brightness, caused by an algae bloom of plankton the sea now glows as we begin to experience the Bioluminescence phenomenon up close.

At the sand bank we can get out of the kayak and take a moment to enjoy the grandeur that surrounds us as we stand before the universe in its wonder.

Meet at our office, where we depart via golf cart.

Our guides know the perfect areas on the island to experience the phenomenon at its very best and in absolute tranquillity, once we reach the shoreline, we will walk out to the sea.

Let the night sky take over as you adjust to the darkness and secluded tranquillity of the island.

As you gaze up at the celestial vault, your guide will explain the curiosities of the night sky, its constellations, clusters and galaxies. If we are lucky, we may spot a shooting star.

Below us, starting right at our feet we see a different brightness, caused by an algae bloom of plankton. The sea now glows as we begin to experience the Bioluminescence phenomenon up close.

Totally immerse yourself in the moment and swim in the magical water. 100% unforgettable experience!

Tips

You will have the possibility to go swimming, we suggest you bring a towel and a change of clothes to change after the tour.

We recommend not to bring valuables; at night it is very difficult to find objects that may fall into the water or surroundings.

It is very difficult to take good photos of the sky and bioluminescence. Don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t go well.

Itinerary

Duration

2 hours

Departure

Kayak Tour: from the beach near Villas Flamingos hotel.
Golf cart Tour: from the VIP Holbox office.
The schedule will depend on the daily sunset / moon rise time.
Confirm schedule when booking.

Return

We return to the starting point.

What to bring

• Towel
• Swimsuit
• Clothing that can get wet
• Change of clothes
• Insect repellent

Includes

Certified bilingual guide.

Not included

Food / drinks

Additional information

• The kayak tour is recommended from the age of 10 or above
• Because this tour depends on weather conditions, the schedule of the tour may vary according to the day.
• If you have any questions, please contact us with the estimated date on which you could take the tour.

Cancellation Policy

• If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before your scheduled departure, no cancellation fee will apply. If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before your scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel 2 day(s) before scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.

We want to preserve and protect the ecosystems we visite by not disturbing the animals, watching not to pollute protected areas.

Questions and answers

What is the tour?
This magical tour showcases Holbox sea at night.
To enjoy its maximum splendor, we will kayak away from the lights of the town and its hotels. In order to better observe the night sky and the phenomenon.
Tour will be led by a certified guide
What to bring?
Towel, Swim suit, Clothing that can get wet, Insect repellent.
How long it lasts? Schedule?
2 hours. Because this tour depends on weather conditions, the schedule of the tour may vary according to the day.
Where do we depart from? Do you pick us up at the hotel?
Departure is near the hotel Villas Flamingos.
Can I bring a camera to take pictures of the bioluminescence and/or stars?
Yes, although It’s difficult to capture with regular cameras, that said you can take your camera and try.
Be especially careful because it is difficult to recover objects at night if they fall into the sea or surroundings.
The photos seen online are taken by experts with special cameras and equipment.
Do I need experience to kayak?
No, kayaking is easy and even if you’ve never done it, we trust you can quickly learn. You will also have the help of our guide.
Will I get tired?
No, Intensity will depend on the current and wind speed, but if at any time you need help, the guide will assist.
What is bioluminescence?
Bioluminescence is a process that occurs in some living organisms, where a chemical reaction is created that produces light.
Holbox has microorganisms that have this property, so when stirring the water, this reaction is triggered, generating the luminescent effect across the sea.

Reviews

  • Amazing Whale Shark Tour

    Andreas Leicht Andreas Leicht
  • Excelentes tours, profesionalismo y atención. Mis respetos para Vicente y Alex; lo disfrutamos muchísimo!. No se pierdan la salida a Cabo Catoche y el tour de la Bioluminiscencia en Holbox

    Tania Rodriguez Tania Rodriguez
  • Eddie and Christian are wonderful guides, wouldn’t book with anyone else! People from other groups actually stopped to listen to Eddie!

    Tracy Sullivan Tracy Sullivan
  • Excelente servicio, excelente puntualidad, la atencion del guia y del capitan fue de 100, por supuesto que regreso con ustedes!

    Liliana Ramos Liliana Ramos

Gallery

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