Abe’s Snorkeling & Bio Bay Tours

I was very disappointed with this company. I am part of a family of fourteen children and we have been saving up money for this trip for years. Upon arrival, we met a met the guides to confirm our reservation. We came on time but ended up waiting in the rain for two hours because the tour in front of us was late. When they finally arrived, they told us that there was no room for our family. I was in disbelief, we had booked over two months earlier. Overall, I am very unsatisfied with this business.

Abe and his crew took us on an awesome kayak and snorkeling adventure! Our family of four (parents and two kids, aged 15 & 13) had a wonderful time. Highly recommend this outfit when you go to Vieques!

Very informative tour. Our tour leader was very friendly and knowledgeable. The tour was fantastic. We could see the trails of fish glowing in the water. I wish I was going again today.

We had such a great day with Abe’s. We did the all-​in-​one bio bay tour. Our tour guide was awesome (Stephen?). He was super knowledgeable and entertaining. The only reason I took off one star was because of the actual tour itself. First of all, it’s a bit pricey, but you figure you’re paying for like 6 hours. But then you hop in the van, and circle the block, and stop to pick up the food. Second stop, for waters. Then finally we were actually on our way (a good 30 – 45 minutes later). I wish the company would have provided some plastic zip lock bags or something to put our phones in. We were using them to take pictures, but did not really plan ahead enough to think about the fact that they would get wet. So they were left behind in the van. Kayaking through the mangroves was really fun, but short. We got to a little secluded beach and grabbed out gear for snorkeling. They need to get some new equipment as both my and my husband’s masks were leaking (and I’ve been snorkeling MANY times so I could tell the difference). The area we snorkeled in was not great. There weren’t many reefs and we spent most of the time just trying to find something. We were also a little close to open water so I started to feel a bit nauseous from the waves. We also stayed so long in the water I started to get kind of cold. We got out onto the beach and ate our late lunch/​dinner. Simple lunch of sandwiches and chips, not bad. But then we spent a really long time on the beach doing nothing before finally kayaking back to where we started. We got back in the van and it was on to Mosquito Bay. Now THIS was well worth the wait! The bio bay was incredible and so much fun! I could’ve stayed out on the lake forever. Anyway, through it all we had a great group and a great tour guide. Overall a really great day. I probably wouldn’t do the all-​in-​one tour again, but would definitely book another bio bay tour with Abe’s.

NB: I cannot swim, and this was my partners and my first kayaking experience.
My partner and I were in vieques for about 24 hours. We arrived on the ferry and were staying two blocks away from the Abe’s gift shop in Esperanza. The employee there told us we had to call and book– so we did, provided our credit card number and we were able to book day of and get a reservation for that evening.
We were picked up on time with several other couples at the gift shop– we drove to sun bay to meet up and with others that drove there themselves, signed waivers and were fitted for life jackets.
Kayaks are 2 person– but if you don’t have a partner you partner up with someone else or join a kayak of 3.
We got a 20 second kayaking lesson on land. We didn’t know how to kayak so we straggled behind initially– a lot. There are three guides– 1 leading the tour and 2 spotting everyone, so for the first 30 minutes we had a very understanding guide spotting us and encouraging us to keep going. I would say we are at an above average fitness level– and despite that it took us a while to get acquainted with how to efficiently row.
I would suggest that Abe give beginning kayakers a head start /​10 minutes to get acquainted before the rest of the experienced kayakers jump in– will make the experience better for everyone.
The bio bay is amazing. There is no other way to describe it other than you have to see it. We went 3 – 4 days before the new moon. Don’t forget to look up at the nearly unadulterated night sky.
As someone who doesn’t know how to swim (like, at all)– don’t be afraid! You have a life jacket, people watching you all the way, and the waters are incredibly calm. I imagine any other experience is way lamer– short of actually going in the water kayaking is the way to go :)
Is Abe’s the best company to go with? No clue what the others are like– but we had an amazing experience regardless.

We went on a bio bay your with Abe’s. The group size was too big (32!) and there was not enough kayak instruction for those who had never kayaked to be out on the water safely. We were almost t-​boned at full speed by a few boats of inexperienced kayakers who didn’t understand how to control their boat. The guide, Cruz, was very knowledgable about the bio bay and the history/​science of the waters. The bio bay itself is a must see when you are on vieques, but I would recommend a different company as during my stay I saw a few other vendors taking out much smaller (~10 people) groups for a safer, more intimate experience.

Two stars for providing equipment and access to the bio bay. Office staff not very friendly or enthusiastic, tour guide even less so. It all felt so rote – «another night wasted on idiot tourists”-type of feeling. No smiles or warmth whatsoever until it was «showtime» and she got to her memorized spiel. That was better, but not wowing us with anything we couldn’t read ourselves from a guidebook.
We were also told at the shop that the «mosquitos are really bad,» so we purchased one of the expensive small repellent bottles (smart enough to split it with another couple). I saw maybe two mosquitos the whole night. And I don’t think it was because the repellent was that effective.
The worst was really the disorganized logistics, no one telling the large group what was going on, what we were waiting for at the Sun Bay Parking lot, where we were going next and how, and the overall bored and disinterested attitude. I overheard the guide tell one non-​native English-​speaking couple who hadn’t heard her calling them (since no one knew what we’re doing anyway, can’t blame them): «what were you guys doing?!? I’ve been calling you. You need hearing aids!» That, and not checking if the many non-​native English speakers understood everything made it very untourist-​friendly.
Despite the fact that it was almost full moon, we were able to see the bio bay ok. And that was beautiful.

First off, absolutely bring your own bottle of mosquito repellant you will be using it often. Now to the review, I was fortunate to go out with Abe himself. The tour was a first of a lifetime experience. We had a mini jam session with bongos and a ukulele followed by kayaking, bathing in mud, and lunch on one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen. Abe was also very knowledgable and the bioluminescence was very cool you just have to be patient. I would recommend it to anyone prone to adventure. I left Vieques with an Abe’s t-​shirt, new sunglasses, and hella good memories.

The biobay was awesome. The tour guide was explaining us about the science behind it. though they said the trip is about an hour duration in the waters with kayaks, i was pretty sure that it didnt last that long and he was kind of rushing/​guiding us to return to starting point.

Communication was lacking. I sent an email to book a tour and then they asked to call and confirm, but getting a hold of an actual person never happened.
The day before the tour, we got a real person and booked the bio bay tour.
The tour itself was okay. It was set 7 – 9 pm and was 50 dollars a person. Our guide was knowledgeable and gave us some info about the mangroves and how the bay was probably the healthiest it ever was.
Then she set us off on our own for 20 minutes max. I would have liked to stay longer as the water was just starting to glow. We slowly rowed back to shore and hopped in the vans. When we got back it was still only 8:45. The combined drive to and from the water is about the same time we spent in the water. And we could still see the other tours hanging out in the bay as we were leaving.

Great tour. Our guide was Kalina. She is very knowledgeable. Everything the website states about the tour is absolutely correct. Must do while in Vieques.

While the tour itself was delightful; the Abe’s experience was a complete cluster.
The Good: The tour, like many, many others competing for business on Vieques, was wonderful. We went on the day-​long excursion that included kayaking the mangroves, snorkeling, and the bio bay. While actually out on the excursion the guide was knowledgeable, informative, and wonderful. I’d recommend getting one of these excursions for anyone visiting.
The Bad: I wouldn’t recommend Abe’s. Absolute chaos in the execution of the trip and some of the most despondent amenities of any tour I’ve ever been on, basically summed by a total lassiez faire attitude. We arrived at the meeting point and had to hunt down our guide and basically walk her through the registration («Here’s our names, here’s what trip we’re on, here’s our money», etc.), at which point we walked down to Abe’s to get «fitted» for our snorkeling equipment. (Why we couldn’t have a. started at Abe’s; or b. have per-​registered things like our shoe size to streamline this process is lost to me.) So there we are holding our fins, snorkel, and the cooler we’d brought along as the company had recommended we bring water and snacks. We then tried to cram 11 people and equipment into a 12-​person van that looks like it had been running on shoestrings and prayers for years: No working seatbelts, A/​C, side-​view mirrors, radio, and seats that had more stuffing visible than upholstery – all with our equipment in tow and no storage space, making the 12-​person van cramped and hot. And then we waited. We waited while the guide finalized our departure and wrangled the kayaks. We got a block from Abe’s and waited while the guide stopped at a convenience store to get snacks (Again, why this couldn’t have been done prior was unknowable.). And finally we got on our way.
And waited. We waited at the launch while they unloaded our kayaks. Then we had to find our life jackets amid a selection of moldy options thrown haphazard into the back of a pickup truck. After the kayaking excursion we were told to hang on to our lifejackets as we relocated to our dinner (Which, in Abe’s defense, while minimal sandwiches, was quite good.), but making our 12-​person van all the smaller as we sat there, damp and in lifejackets, in an inclimate van.
When we got to the Bio Bay (late, as we had to go back to town and pick up stragglers who’d missed their pick-​up place and time (Making the other 11 guests miss part of the Bio Bay time while we went back and picked up the twits, now putting 13 people into a 12-​person van.), and return to the Bay. When we got there, we watched in fascination as other tour outfits seemed to have a pretty clear and streamlined process – only to have us muddle around trying to find equipment, waiting for instructions, and generally being jealous of other tour groups.
In short, when actually on the outing it was a good experience; but given the number of competing options in the area, the lack of process, guidance, and direction demonstrated by Abe’s was disheartening for a pretty good chunk of cash for a day’s outing. We were really disappointed in how badly the guides communicated with us to prepare and actually guide the trip in all but once on the water. While there’s something to be said for the «island lifestyle,» this was too laid back and too much figure it out ourselves. Were we to come back, we’d absolutely try Blackbeard’s (Who seemed infinitely more organized) or another option.

Abe and his company are awesome. My hubby and I after a red eye flight and a loooong day overslept and nearly missed our tour. Abe was playing with his band next door and immediately made a call and sped us over to the bay to make it to our tour. The tour was great and a one of a kind experience! I was expecting to be on a boat but in reality it was a bunch of 2 person kayaks (Side Note: If youre going have a buddy or be willing to meet a new friend) Our tour guide was David and he was super cool and knowledgeable about the bioluminescent bays here and around the world. We got a little free time as well to go at our own pace. A few notes about photos which we did NOT take on the tour-​1) If you have cameras/​phones be prepared for them to be damaged if they are exposed to water in the rare case you capsize or it rains (none of which happened) 2) everyone says the photos dont come out well without professional photog equipment. Hence why we didnt take our precious iphones along. Maybe next time I’ll bring a disposable underwater cam as a test. Also, dont worry they will lock your stuff up in the van safe and sound. Definitely book with Abe’s bio bay tours if youre in Vieques!

Several errors in judgement and not so friendly at the office at this place. I also did not get the underwater pics our guide said he would email me.
My wife and I had burns and blisters on our feet because our guide said we wouldn’t need our shoes in the walk across scorching hot pavement and sand to the kayaks. For $ 100 I would expect much better service.

This was a very friendly and fun experience.
Communications are almost impossible as phone calls and questions were unanswered. So — it’s kind of confusing.
The guide and the life guards are all friendly and professional.
All ages and types of people had a good time.
Note: I can’t swim and still had a great time — although I was a bit nervous at first. They assigned an unobtrusive lifeguard to our kayak that shadowed us just in case I fell out.
The bay itself is a treasure and a must-​see. This particular tour was the most convenient way to not just see it but experience it. The other group on a pontoon boat tour looked so lame!
There may be Mosquitos so were loose long sleeves and a hat.

We booked a bio bay tour through Abe’s and right off they were so helpful. They gave me a list of guesthouses to stay at on Vieques, because we would not make the ferry back to the main land. The guesthouses were all very nice and walking distance from were the tour met.
During our tour the guide we had was so knowledgable about the bay and its history. She was also funny and rolled with the punches. It poured rain during our tour and the guide knew exactly what to do and made our experience that much more enjoyable. I wish I remembered her name!
It was obviously dark when our tour ended and our driver (Colinda, I think) had no problem giving us a ride back to our guesthouse! Which was the cherry on top. I would definitely recommend them for a tour!!!:)

The bio bay in Vieques is truly an amazing experience. We went on an almost-​moonless night and we could see the water shimmering and the fish darting about. It is worth the trip to the island. However beautiful the bay itself was, we had a less-​than-​stellar experience with Abe’s.
Abe’s sent us an email before our trip asking us to meet at the gazebo in Esperanza across from Banana’s restaurant at 6:30pm. We arrived at around 6:25pm and waited until 6:40. We didn’t worry– I thought this was just «island time.» At around 6:45, one of the women selling jewelry in the gazebo asked us if we were going on a bio bay tour. When we mentioned our reservation with Abe’s, she told us that the van had left at 6:15pm. She graciously gave us a ride to the Sun Bay so that we were able to experience the bio bay. However, his miscommunication with Abe’s could have cost us the entire experience (and $ 100).
Apparently some of the tours pick up in Esperanza at 6:15– others pick up at 6:30, depending on the guide. One of the staff even admitted to us, «We are having issues with communication.» I can imagine how disappointing it would have been to miss the tour, especially considering that we, and many others, visit Vieques EXCLUSIVELY for the bio bay.
Bottom line: Until Abe’s gets its communication straight, it is not a company that visitors can depend on.

My girlfriend and I made reservations for the bio bay tour on a Friday night. Everything went perfectly! We showed up at the sun bay parking lot and the vans were waiting for us! The van ride to the bay was bumpy but that is just due to the nature of the road. Our guide did an amazing job of explaining the bay. We were out on the water for about an hour! This is a must see if you are traveling to vieques!
Here are a few mis happenings that occurred while on this your:
1) The staff didn’t bring enough transportation for the group of people. After 15 mins, they called another employee to bring his truck and transport the remaining people. All I can say is you wouldn’t want to be one of the few that has to sit in that truck for the bumpy ride!
2) the kayaks didn’t have a back rest which caused me a lot of back strain!
3) the guide only gave the group 10 mins to tour the bay on their own
Overall, Abe’s did a great job of creating a memory that my girlfriend and I will hold onto for years to come!

We reached out to Abe’s when we initially planned the trip in January 2014 — the online calendar showed that ⁷⁄₁₄ would be ideal to a good viewing. However, we were informed that in efforts to conserve the Bio Bay, the government in Vieques no longer allows trips during the week in addition to other strict measures. The weather on Monday ⁷⁄₁₄ was conducive to a great viewing and the government set up a lottery system to decide which company was allowed to take a tour into the bay — Abe’s was apparently chosen.
We found out that Abe’s was taking a tour to the bay on 7/​14, when on ⁷⁄₁₂ we called them in «one last attempt» — and were in LUCK! The crew was great — all cordial, fun and educated. The water wasn’t too rough and we kayaked out about 45 minutes to the center of the bay. 2 people are allowed per Kayak. As you move nearer to the center of the bay, away from the lights, you see your oars glow + a glow lining other people’s kayak’s!
We were surrounded by millions of stars, an educated guide, and the glow of fishes! There were no mosquitoes (or didn’t realize there were many). Swimming is not allowed (I don’t know if I would have even if it were allowed since its PITCH BLACK)
My advice would be — Abe’s is great for your first time out into the bay, however, call them a couple of times, since the regulations keep changing — the bay definitely has a glow and it’s worth it!

We went on the Bio Bay tour and had a great time with our guide, Joshua. He joked with us and made us feel welcomed. He was an integral part of our experience, and he was one of the reasons why we enjoyed it so much! We also LOVED the bay. The only issue was having to wait a long time for the tour to start, but that wasn’t Abe’s fault, it was all the other people on the tour who were late. Thanks for a great time!
I do wish they would have given us a better discount for using their snorkel tour. They were going to give us the discount because we used them for the bio bay, but even though we had our own gear, the tour would have been over $ 50 each. We didn’t go on the snorkel tour.