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Looking for a night tour of Puerto Escondido’s bioluminescent lagoon? You should be!
A Phosphorescence Tour of Manialtepec Lagoon is one of the top things to do on a visit to Puerto Escondido as it’s one of few places in the world where you can actually swim with incredible glow-in-the-dark bioluminescent plankton.
Here’s what you need to know about experiencing the unique Manialtepec Lagoon bioluminescence natural phenomenon.
What is the Manialtepec Lagoon Bioluminescence?
On Mexico’s Pacific Coast, five major lagoons, including Chacahua, line the shores of the Pacific Ocean from Acapulco to Puerto Escondido.
In Oaxaca, they’re home to Afro-Mexican communities and important to the biodiversity of the coastal eco-system.
Although each of the lagoons are unique in their own way, the Laguna de Manialtepec (Manialtepec Lagoon) is extra special because it’s home to a unique bioluminescent phenomenon.
And at certain times of the year it’s possible to swim with these glowing organisms during a Puerto Escondido Bioluminescence Tour offered by local community members.
Taking a Bioluminescent Lagoon Boat Tour and Swim at night is definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences in Puerto Escondido.
It’s one of the top tours and one you should not do independently. Manialtepec Lagoon is located 30 minutes north of Puerto Escondido which means it isn’t close to the popular beach zones.
You’ll need transportation to get there and return.
Check prices and availability of a Bioluminescent Lagoon Boat Tour and Swim (including hotel pickup and drop off).
What is It Like to Swim with Glowing Plankton?
My own experience began while we floated quietly in a small boat in the middle of a lagoon under an ink-black night sky.
Then, I heard a large splash. Someone in our group had jumped into the water.
Soon everyone else followed!
We were participating in a Fosforescencia or Phosphorescence Excursion a bioluminescence experience offered in Puerto Escondido at special times of the year.
When the conditions are right, a unique alchemy of ocean currents and water temperature draw dinoflagellate plankton into Manialtepec Lagoon, the deep lagoon located 20 minutes outside Puerto Escondido.
Much like fireflies of the north, the half-plant half-animal organisms glow with a bluish white light creating an eerie shimmer to the water.
Local History of Puerto Escondido Bioluminescence
“Ancients believed bathing in phosphorescence gave them special energy and made them more youthful,” explained Ebarardo, our guide.
His family has lived at Las Negras on the lagoon for generations, one of 150 families who earn a living by fishing and now, by offering bioluminesence tours of the mangrove swamp.
If you’re taking a tour of the mangrove, booking a tour with them will help support local families.
Is it Safe to Swim in Manialtepec Lagoon?
The first thing you need to consider is that crocodiles do live in this lagoon.
Check out this report of a metre and a half long crocodile that was found roaming a neighbouring farm and was safely returned to the lagoon.
That crocodile is likely swimming around in the water somewhere!
And crocodiles do attack people. A young British woman was seriously injured by a crocodile near here.
It’s important to note however that she was swimming in the river (not Manialtepec Lagoon) and in an area where local guides recommend you don’t swim.
So if you’re taking a tour of Manialtepec Lagoon (during the day or night), be sure to follow the advice of the local, government-licensed guides about safety.
Check prices and availability of a Bioluminescent Lagoon Boat Tour and Swim (including hotel pickup and drop off).
If you’re an intrepid adventurer and if seeing glowing bioluminescence on a Laguna de Manialtepec tour is on your bucket list, it could be one of the highlights of visiting Puerto Escondido.
On our tour we just jumped right in. Soon we were floating, making snow angels in the water, our arms glowing wings of shimmering white.
Surrounded by tendrils of black mangroves with the lagoon itself wafting a rather funky smell, this lagoon didn’t bear any resemblance to The Blue Lagoon of Brooke Shield’s 1980’s movie fame.
We could see schools of tiny fish, glowing like radioactive Nemo’s beneath the surface of the water.
They scattered in all directions as the swimmers surfaced, their heads bathed in a sparkling sheath of white droplets.
Bioluminescent Plankton Locations Around the World
“There are lots of bioluminescent beaches (such as Auckland, New Zealand, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Cocoa Beach in Florida and Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica to name a few) but only two bioluminescent lagoons in the world,” said Ebarardo.
“One here in Oaxaca and another in Puerto Rico. The best viewing times are at the New Moon when the sky is at its darkest.”
I dipped my hand in the water and droplets of sparkly stars poured from my hands.
“It’s like swimming with stars, ” said the woman in the water as she gazed up at the night sky which wrapped around us.
Above me was a dome of constellations, planets and the Milky Way, which to the ancients represented the birth canal of the Cosmic Mother and the starting point of all life.
The path led to the Underworld and represented man’s journey on earth.
The night sky was a sight I’d forgotten from my childhood growing up in Canada’s north, far from city lights.
I scooped up a handful of water and realized I didn’t have to drink from the Fountain of Youth, I could hold it in my hands.
Laguna Manialtepec Bioluminescence Travel Tips
Best Bioluminescent Tours in Puerto Escondido
Best Laguna de Manialtepec Phosphorescence Tour: The Lalo Ecotours 3 hour excursion includes pick-up at 8:00 pm and drop-off at your hotel in Puerto Escondido at 10:30 PM.
It also includes a traditional Oaxacan snack of pescadilla (tuna-stuffed empanadas), the boat tour of the lagoon and guide.
Lalo Ecotours: Contact them by phone at 954 588-9164 or 954 123-4005 or email at laloecotours@hotmail.com
Laguna Manialtepec Bioluminescence Reservations: You can also book online.
Check prices and availability of a Bioluminescent Lagoon Boat Tour and Swim (including hotel pickup and drop off).
When to Go
The best time to take a bioluminescence tour is during the New Moon. That’s when the night sky is at its darkest and the bioluminescence will be its brightest.
What to Pack
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt and long sleeved pants to avoid insect bites.
- Be sure to bring a bathing suit and towel if you plan to swim.
- Insect repellent is also a must.
- A flashlight is handy.
Other Popular Puerto Escondido Tours
How to Get from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido
Riding Horseback to Atotonilco Hot Springs
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For more ideas on what to do in Puerto Escondido, check out these posts for ideas on adventure, excursions, restaurants and day trips:
Best Restaurants to Try in Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.
Read more about Michele Peterson.
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Marta
This looks amazing!!! I was near Oaxaca years ago but had no idea this place existed or I would have gone for sure. Really magical!
Chasing The Goose
That looks and sounds great! Must be fantastic to experience it.
Sumti Bhadani
Amazing Hope you had great magical experience