This was our first time being in Jamaica and it felt so surreal. I definitely think the rain from earlier in the evening negatively impacted my overall experience.Had an amazing time with my wife for her 30th birthday celebration and vacation thanks to JD and Jeffery of Scott's Transports and Tours. Just because I didn’t love the Luminous Lagoon doesn’t mean you won’t! I’ve heard of tons of people who loved the lagoon, and a couple I met said it was the highlight of their trip. ![]() If I could, I’d probably go back in time and try to head to Rick’s Cafe, or Bob Marley’s house instead. I much preferred my visit to Dunn’s River Falls, and had a blast at the Blue Hole. Of all of the excursions I went on, this was my least favorite (and I am not alone in that, my parents also felt that way, as did the other 4 in our tour group). Maybe it was just all of these, coupled with the fact that when you only have limited time and funds to spend on vacation, so you want to see the best of the best. It could have even been the fact that we were the last tour of the night and the water was no longer as bright. Maybe it was all the rain which agitated the dinoflagellates quite a bit before we arrived, so they were no longer as bright. Perhaps it was the 45-minute drive that turned into 3 hours. But to be perfectly honest, I found the experience to be a little underwhelming. Okay, so seeing the water light up and glow was pretty cool. I opted to skip the camera and just enjoy the experience instead. It is way too dark for a go pro, and I had trouble adjusting my camera settings with so little time and light. I also recommend grabbing the camera guy ASAP if you’d like any photos. You’ll have about 45 minutes total from the dock and back, so it is a relatively short trip. Swimming further from the boat will also make seeing them easier. ![]() Once the dinoflagellates are agitated, they slowly begin to glow less and less. Once you arrive at the swim spot, you’ll want to be one of the first people in the water. Your guide will tell you a bit about the lagoon, and the dinoflagellate creatures that make it so unique. Everyone just piles on, and you get driven to a spot in the bay perfect for seeing the luminescent creatures. Water shoes-I forgot mine, but the bottom is a bit mucky, so you’ll want them if you are squeamish.Cash-in case you’d like to purchase any drinks at the bar, or photos afterward.Towel-for after jumping in and the ride back.Swimsuit-don’t bring white! Mine was noticeably duller after I got out of the water.Tours begin at sundown, and there are several boats taking off each hour. Once you arrive, you’ll pull up to a small bar and dock area, where you will get a wristband and wait for the next boat. The traffic was so horrendous that it took us nearly 3 hours to arrive at the lagoon when we were only a 45-minute drive away! The Experience That being said, the night my family and I choose to go it was raining extremely hard for about 3 hours. ![]() The lagoon is located in Falmouth, which is about a 45-minute drive from Montego Bay, and is 1-1.5 hours from Ocho Rios. You can also opt to drive there yourself and simply pay to get on the boats once you arrive. ![]() From what I’ve seen, the prices vary from $45-$70 per person, including transportation from your resort. Most resorts offer tours to the Luminous Lagoon through various local tourism companies. After all, when was the last time water started to glow while you were swimming? Jamaica is home to one of the few Bioluminescent Bays in the world, and the Luminous Lagoon is considered by many to be one of the top tourist sites to visit in Jamaica. While it is impossible to see the microscopic creatures themselves, the light emitted by them is unmistakeable. The bay contains a mixture of ocean salt water and fresh river water, and its shallow depth of 3-8 feet makes it easy to see this unique phenomenon. The Luminous Lagoon is a shallow bay that is home to rare bioluminescent microorganisms called dinoflagellates which glow when disturbed. What I expected/hoped to find! Image source: Glistening Waters About The Luminous Lagoon
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