6 Magical Bioluminescence Tours Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido, located on the coast of Oaxaca, is known for its surfing, stunning beaches, and abundance of marine life. But many travellers miss out on the magic that lies just offshore in the freshwater lagoons.
Are you looking for the best bioluminescence tour in Puerto Escondido? A tour of the lagoons is a magical and educational experience that can’t be missed!
Bioluminescence, the emission of light by living organisms, is abundant in the lagoons around Puerto Escondido. But they can be tricky to get to, so the best way to experience this phenomenon is by taking a tour.
I took my mom on a tour of the bioluminescence in Puerto Escondido and it was an experience I will never forget – so I had to share it with you!
Here are my recommendations for the best bioluminescence tours in Puerto Escondido!
Best All-Day Tour – Chacahua National Park Tour
Explore the Chacahua lagoons by day, enjoy sunset at the lighthouse, and then swim with the bioluminescence! This popular tour is a nature lover’s dream.
Best Tour – Lagoon Boat Ride and Swim
This is the tour I took from Puerto Escondido to the Lagunas de Chacahua to swim with the bioluminescence. It was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it!
Photo: Shev
Chacahua Bioluminescence Tour Puerto Escondido, OaxaCA, Mexico
1. Lagoon Boat ride and Swim
🌟Rating: 4.5/5 | ⏳ Tour Length: 4-5 hours | 📆 Pricing and Availability
Tour Highlights
- Hotel Pickup and dropoff
- Transportation right to the dock
- Lifejackets are available if desired
- Knowledgeable guide
- English and Spanish tours are available
This is the best bioluminescence Puerto Escondido tour! I took this tour and the service and expertise were excellent.
The guides picked us up in a comfortable, air-conditioned van right from our hotel for the 1-hour and 15-minute drive it took us to get to the lagoon.
You will drive through many small towns, so I loved taking in the scenery as the sun was setting. Moto taxis, chickens, and just people going about their day entertained us all the way out to Chacahua.
Tip from a local: The best time to see the bioluminescence is during a new moon. There is almost no other light pollution at the Chacahua Lagoons National Park!
When you arrive there are bathrooms to use if needed, then your guide will bring you down to the boat!
Photo: Shev
Swimming is optional, I will admit it can be a little unsettling jumping into the water in the dark, but believe me when I say that it is so, so worth it!
We spent an hour or so on the lagoon, playing with the bioluminescence and just gazing at the stars. There were only 5 of us on the boat, so we had plenty of time to enjoy the experience!
We had a clear night sky in January and a new moon, so the star gazing was almost as magical as the bioluminescence was.
Tip from a local: There are two lagoons outside of Puerto Escondido that have bioluminescence, Chacahua and Manialtepec. Chacahua has a better population of bioluminescence but is further away. However, I feel it is absolutely worth it!
Read more about the lagoons
Chacahua Bioluminescence Tour Puerto Escondido, OaxaCA, Mexico
2. Chacahua Lagoons Experiences
🌟Rating: 4.5/5 | ⏳ Tour Length: 8 hours |📆 Pricing and Availability
Tour Highlights
- Hotel Pickup and dropoff
- Boat across all 5 lagoons of the national park
- Visit a Afromestizo community
- Watch the sunset from the lighthouse
- Swim with the bioluminescence
- Small group size
- Knowledgeable local guide, in English or Spanish
If you have the time to do this 8-hour excursion to the Chacahua Lagoons Experience I highly recommend it!
The Chacahua Lagoons have more to offer than just the bioluminescence. The unique ecosystem is teaming with life and culture that is best enjoyed during the day.
This all-day tour will take you on an adventure through all 5 lagoons of the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park. You’ll experience things like:
- Eating breakfast tacos on a local cattle farm
- Paddling through the mangroves
- Visiting an island in the lagoon with its own village
- Birdwatching in the sanctuary
- Watch the sunset from the Chacahua lighthouse
- Swimming with the bioluminescence!
The tour does not include food that can be purchased from locals, so be sure to bring some extra cash (in pesos) to sample the food throughout the day.
During this 8-hour tour, you will be exposed to the unique Afromestizo culture distinct to this region of Oaxaca. You will see and experience so much in just one day!
And I’m not the only one whole loves it. Here’s what other travellers have to say about this bioluminescence tour Puerto Escondido.
Alejandro provided a great experience for my friends and I on this long afternoon/late evening adventure. He provided a lot of details that you may not receive elsewhere in Puerto Escondido. I highly recommend doing this tour.
Richard – (More Reviews)
Tip from a local: Confirm when booking that you want to do the late afternoon/evening tour with bioluminescence. This company also offers a day trip that ends before sunset.
Laguna Manialtepec Bioluminescent Tours Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
3. Bioluminescent Night Tour
🌟Rating: 4.5/5 | ⏳ Tour Length: 2.5 hours |📆 Pricing and Availability
Tour Highlights
- Hotel Pickup and dropoff
- Local Guide
- Boat ride into the lagoon, optional swimming.
If you don’t have a lot of extra time in Puerto Escondido, try this tour of Laguna Manialtepec. Also home to bioluminescent plankton, the Manialtepec Lagoon is only a few minute drive from Puerto Escondido.
Simple and easy, this tour will pick you up from your hotel for the 20-minute drive to the lagoon. You’ll have time to swim with the plankton and enjoy the stars before heading back to your hotel.
This is a great tour to tack on to the end of a beach day in Puerto Escondido, or after another tour!
Wow!!!! This is all could say about this tour. The lagoon is pitch black but once you hit that really warm thermal water the water lights up just like advertised!!! I have no words This is probably the best night tour I’ve ever done. They give you around 40 min to swim in the warm water and it isn’t deep at all. I could touch the mud at the bottom. I highly recommend this tour!
Lisette – (More Reviews)
Laguna Manialtepec Bioluminescent Tours Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
4. Bioluminescence Experience in La Laguna de Manialtepec
🌟Rating: 4.5/5 | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours |📆 Pricing and Availability
Tour Highlights
- Hotel Pickup and dropoff
- Local Guide
- Boat ride into the lagoon, optional swimming.
This is the simplest and most affordable option of the Puerto Escondido bioluminescence tours.
If you like to be independent and just want to be pointed in the right direction, this is for you!
The bioluminescent experience in Laguna Manialtepec can keep the rate low by bringing more people at a time. Tours guides do not always speak English, and you may or may not get some information from them about the lagoon.
But! If you are looking for affordable transportation to and from the lagoon to see this phenomenon, then this tour might be for you!
This is a great tour. It’s magical to swim at night in the warm water and to have the bioluminescence light up as you move. Really enjoyed it and our guide did a great job pointing out birds that nest in the trees near the lagoon.
Emily – (More Reviews)
5. Bioluminescence and Turtle Release
🌟Rating: 5/5 | ⏳ Tour Length: 2.5 hours |📆 Pricing and Availability
Tour Highlights
- Hotel Pickup and dropoff
- Local Guide in English or Spanish
- Sunset release of baby turtles into the sea
- Boat ride into the lagoon, optional swimming.
What can be more magical than swimming with the shimmering plankton? Releasing baby turtles just before!
This tour makes good use of the evening by combining a baby turtle release with a swim in the lagoon.
The coast of Oaxaca is fortunate to have several non-profit groups that have been working hard to preserve the sea turtle population in the area.
Photo: Shev
Turtles will always nest on the beach they were hatched on, so they must crawl through the sand on their own toward the sea.
Releases of the baby turtles typically happen at sunset to offer them a better chance of survival from predators, which makes it the perfect activity to pair with the nighttime swim in the bioluminescence!
I did a turtle release near Mazunte and it was such a fun and educational experience, so if you have the chance to take this tour, I highly recommend it!
Abi was incredible. Our experience was so unique. We asked questions he had beautiful answers. The turtles was such a magical experience. Learning directly from the people that had the turtle sanctuary was wonderful. Abi took the most amazing care of us.
Jamie – (More Reviews)
6. All-Day Tour from Huatulco
🌟Rating: 4.5/5 | ⏳ Tour Length: 12 hours |📆 Pricing and Availability
Tour Highlights
- Hotel Pickup and dropoff
- Local Guide in English or Spanish
- Turtle nesting and release at Playa La Escobilla in Mazunte
- Horseback riding along the Manialtepec Lagoon to the ocean
- Sunset on the beach
- Boat ride into the lagoon, optional swimming.
Not Included
- Food and drink (you will have opportunity to buy from locals)
- Bring cash in pesos for anything you’d like to purchase
I think this is an incredible tour offering for anyone staying in Huatulco but is interested in seeing more of the coast. In just one day you will get to see the highlights of the Oaxacan coast!
Leaving your accommodations in Huatulco, you will head to Mazunte to visit the Santuario La Escobilla, the famous turtle sanctuary.
From there, you will head towards Puerto Escondido to visit the Manialtepec Lagoon where you will ride horses along the rivers and the beach!
After taking in the sunset while horseback riding along the sea, you will head to the boat to swim with the bioluminescence.
Edgar our tour guide was the best – so well informed and truly into making sure his tourists were happy !! This tour is a long drive but the things you do and see are well worth this adventure!
Tisha – (More Reviews)
If this tour is a bit much for your group, you might consider spending a few days in Puerto Escondido to take in tours like the bioluminescence!
It’s really easy to get from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido by bus or taxi, so heading there from Huatulco for a couple days is also a great option!
About the Bioluminescent Lagoons of Oaxaca
There are two main lagoons where you can see the bioluminescence near Puerto Escondido. Laguna de Manialtepec, and the Lagunas de Chacahua.
Lagunas de Chacahua
The Lagunas de Chacahua is a protected, national park area on the coast of Oaxaca, about an hour north of Puerto Escondido.
These lagoons are filled with mangrove forests, and incredible wildlife, and are known to have bioluminescent plankton all year round.
During the day, tours are offered to these lagoons to birdwatch, ride through the mangroves, and just experience this unique ecosystem.
There are also unique cultural groups living along the lagoons and even on some of the islands. Some are great to visit for their food and hand-crafted goods!
In my opinion, a Chacahua bioluminescence tour is the best option from Puerto Escondido, because it has the best chances of seeing the bioluminescence.
Tip from a Local: There is also a town of Chacahua near Mazunte, it is not the same thing as the lagoons! So if you are looking on a map, be sure to look for the Lagunas de Chacahua.
La Laguna de Manialtepec
La Laguna de Manialtepec is only about 20 minutes from Puerto Escondido by car, making it far more popular to visit than Chacahua.
The bioluminescence in Manialtepec can be amazing, but only at certain times of the year. But, a Manialtepec lagoon bioluminescence tour is the easiest tour to take from Puerto Escondido. So if you are short on time, it’s definitely worth the trip!
Bioluminescence Tour Puerto Escondido FAQ
Can you swim with the bioluminescence in Puerto Escondido?
Yes! This is the best part of the tour! If you want, you can hop in the lagoon and swim with the bioluminescence.
I loved swimming in the lagoon. We would cup the water in our hands and lift them out of the water. As the water cascaded down it was like a waterfall of twinkly lights.
What is the best time of year to see the bioluminescence?
All year round! The bioluminescence at Lagunas de Chachua National Park is always visible, year-round.
The laguna de Manialtepec can have great bioluminescence, but seasonally from July – December is best.
When can you see bioluminescence in Puerto Escondido?
A new moon is the best time to see the bioluminescence. The lack of light pollution makes the lights in the water so much more visible.
As a bonus, the stars are usually incredible during a new moon too!
Where to see bioluminescence in Puerto Escondido?
Lagunas de Chacahua and La Laguna de Manialtepec both have bioluminescent plankton living in their waters.
Chachua is about 1 hour from Puerto Escondido, and Manialtepec is just 20 minutes!
How do you see bioluminescence in Puerto Escondido?
By taking a tour! The best way to see the bioluminescence in Puerto Escondido is to hire a knowledgeable tour guide.
You can see the sparkling plankton by moving the water, so swimming in the water is the most magical way. You can also move the water with your hand or a paddle if you don’t want to swim.
Shev’s Summary – 6 Magical Bioluminescence Tour Puerto Escondido
These are the best tours from Puerto Escondido to see the bioluminescence! I hope you get the chance to experience them for yourself.
Whether you have this time for an all-day adventure of the Chacahua lagoons, or just plan to slip away for the evening for a night swim, Puerto Escondido has a bioluminescent tour for you!
My mom and I will cherish our memories of swimming in the glowing lagoons under a sea of stars for years to come, and I wish the same for you!
Loving Puerto Escondido so far? Check out these other towns in Oaxaca that are worth a visit!
Puerto Escondido Travel Planning Guide
🚑Do I need Travel Insurance to visit Puerto Escondido?
Absolutely, yes, 1000x yes! If there is anything we have learned from the last few years it’s that life is unpredictable and plans can always change.
At just a few dollars per day, it’s worth getting travel insurance just for the peace of mind. I have my travel health insurance through Safety Wing and my travel insurance through Travel Insurance Master.
💦 Can I drink the water in Puerto Escondido?
No, the water in Puerto Escondido from the taps is not safe to drink. Restaurants and street vendors use purified water distributed in large jugs.
You can get these “garafons” delivered to your accommodations to reduce plastic waste, or use a Waatr bottle like I do to have clean water anywhere you travel!
🚙 Is it safe to rent a car in Puerto Escondido?
Yes! It’s totally safe to rent a car in Puerto Escondido, but the availability books up fast. I recommend comparing prices and booking in advance with Discover Cars.
🗣️Do I need to speak Spanish in Puerto Escondido?
Maybe
You can get by with Google Translate, and many tours are offered in both English and Spanish.
Most serving staff and store owners in Huatulco speak a little English. But learning the basics like how to order or read a menu will really help you out!
I used Pimsleur to learn Spanish and it was extremely effective! I highly recommend the app to anyone who wants to become comfortable navigating Mexico.
📲 Will my phone work in Puerto Escondido?
Yes, your phone will most likely work, but it will be expensive. It’s best to order a Telcel SIM Card to your home so you are connected and ready to go when you reach Huatulco!
Check out my post with more details on technology in Huatulco, much of it applies to Puerto Escondido as well.
🏨How do I book a place to stay in Puerto Escondido?
For Puerto Escondido, and Mexico in general, the best site to book accommodations is Booking.com.
They have access to hotels, vacation rentals, and even short-term apartment rentals there and is usually cheaper than Airbnb.
For travellers on a budget, I like to book hostels through HostelWorld.
✈️ Where is the best site to buy flights to Puerto Escondido?
You will most likely fly into the Huatulco airport and then take a shuttle to Puerto Escondido.
See Huatulco’s direct flights throughout the year, but I like to book tickets through Skyscanner to find the best prices.
🛂Do I need a visa for Puerto Escondido?
Probably not, most tourists are granted a 180-day tourist visa upon arrival at the airport. This is now done with a stamp in your passport, as of 2023 Mexico is phasing out the paper forms – yay!
