This is the one experience we tell almost every guest to do at least once. Laguna de Manialtepec is a mangrove lagoon a short drive west of town, and on moonless nights the water holds a natural bioluminescence — every paddle stroke, every fish moving underneath the kayak, sets off a trail of blue-green light. It sounds like a gimmick until you’re sitting in the dark on flat water watching it happen around your own hands, and it isn’t.
Tours run in small boats or kayaks with a local guide, usually starting around 7pm and lasting two to three hours. The darker the night, the better the effect, so ask your host or the tour operator which nights that month are best before booking — a few days either side of the new moon is the general rule. Bring a change of clothes; you will get splashed, and most tours include a stop to swim in the glow itself.
It’s not a walk-up spot — book a guide in advance, either through your host or one of the operators based in town. Most tours include pickup, which is worth taking given the lagoon sits outside the main walkable area.
