Holbox: Night Bioluminescence Snorkeling Tour with Pickup

4.74

(375 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was how dark it felt—like the kind of darkness you only get far from city lights. Our guide, Ana, handed out wetsuits and these odd little mosquito masks outside my hotel in Holbox. She laughed when I fumbled with the zipper (I always do), and said not to worry about looking cool out there—no one would see us anyway. The air smelled like salt and damp leaves, and I could hear crickets somewhere close by. I guess I didn’t expect to feel a little nervous, but there’s something about getting ready for a night swim that makes you second-guess your bravery.

We drove maybe ten minutes—just enough time for Ana to explain how the bioluminescence works around Holbox Island. Something about plankton and the lunar cycle; she pointed up at the sky and said full moons are a no-go for this tour. When we finally waded into the shallow water (it was barely waist-high), she switched off her flashlight. For a second it was just blackness and then—when I moved my hand—the water lit up with tiny blue sparks. Not like fireworks or anything big, just these soft glimmers trailing behind every movement. It felt strange and quiet, almost like being let in on a secret.

I tried to say “bioluminiscencia” right (Ana smiled politely), but mostly we just floated around watching our own ripples glow. The wet suit was snug but not uncomfortable; honestly, after a few minutes you forget about it because you’re too busy swishing your arms through light. There were maybe six of us in total—nobody talked much after the first few minutes, except for Ana pointing out some facts or quietly checking if everyone was okay. At one point someone started humming under their breath; it sounded weirdly right for the moment.

Afterwards, back on shore, my feet felt sandy inside those funny shoes they gave us. We piled into the van again—quiet this time—and Ana dropped each of us off at our hotels around Holbox. It’s hard to explain what sticks with you from something like this…maybe just that feeling of moving through darkness and light at once. I still think about those blue sparks sometimes when I can’t sleep.