Mesmerizing Luminous Lagoon (Glistening Waters) Night Tour

Posted By : ErikaC1984
At the beginning it was a little creepy. Our driver pulled into an area that of course is dark and we saw a bunch of locals at a hut. Being not from Jamaica we felt a little uneasy but when our driver talked to the lady at the bar and came back he told us what the plan was. We then went to the pier and boarded a boat that was going to take us out onto the bay. The crew was very nice and explained everything to us about the history of the bay and why it "lights up". The bay is very dark with very little lights except what is on the boat. To get the full experience once we arrived to our part of the bay he turned off the lights and said this is the part we can jump in. The bay really does light up as you swim in the water. The bottom of the bay feels really weird b/c you kind of sink into it a little bit. It doesn't feel like the normal bottom of the water that you would expect. So for myself I had to do a lot of high knees in the water to keep from sinking in the mud. They said I wouldn't sink but it wasn't the most comfortable feeling. To get the best view of the water lighting up is when your in the boat and moving. The engines really "disturb" the algae which makes it really bright. They do take your picture and you can purchase for a fee but if your phone is water resistant that will capture the light up as well. Overall it is an awesome time and would highly recommend. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is b/c I felt the Luminous Lagoons in Puerto Rico light up brighter.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-05-05 12:49:53

Posted By : B4026FMclaudiac
Carlos is hands down the best tour guide we have ever hired. We travel 2-3 times/yr and we have never experienced someone more welcoming and friendly. This was our second time using JMT for airport transfer, they are always early and we have not had any issues. This time we booked a guided tour to Negril, our driver was Richie and this wonderful person was everything we could have asked for. He was friendly, knowledgeable and above all else made us feel safe and secure. Carlos is not only the best in the business but I consider him a friend as well. Thank you to Carlos, Richie and the rest of his staff, we appreciate you!!!
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-02-28 20:18:08

Posted By : 106justiny
My wife and I recently embarked on what turned out to be the worst experience we had in Jamaica, and it's essential to share our ordeal to save others from a similar situation.

**Arrival and Sketchy Marina:**
Our journey began on a promising note, with a friendly and knowledgeable driver who shared exciting insights about Jamaica during our ride. However, things took a turn when we arrived at a public pier. Amongst various boats, a makeshift marina welcomed us with a questionable "bar" serving a drink that was purportedly rum punch but tasted more like rum with some food coloring. It was so unpalatable that most of our group disposed of it.

As tourists gathered on this pier, a voice announced the "glistening waters girls," and a solitary performer appeared on a makeshift stage. Her awkward and uneasy dance, devoid of smiles or joy, left many guests perplexed and uncomfortable. It felt as though she was dancing against her will. The discomfort escalated as two more girls joined in with similar routines. In the background, I spotted our bus driver casually playing dice with other drivers, adding to the bizarre atmosphere.

**Boat Experience:**
The confusion continued as a man referred to himself as "captain" instructed guests based on numbers to board one of the two boats. The lack of clarity regarding these numbers added to the confusion, and our driver eventually informed us that we were in group #2. However, our discomfort didn't end there. Once on the boat, we were packed in tightly, with the captain in civilian attire instructing couples and families to separate for weight distribution, further adding to our unease.

The boat set off into the bay, and the captain was adamant about keeping all flashes and phones off so we could witness the "glowing" water in its full glory. After a while, we noticed a faint glow when the water was disturbed, hinting at the phenomenon we had come to see.

**Photography and Safety Concerns:**
As we lined up to jump into the water, the captain posed each person for photographs, which they would later overcharge us for. The photographer used a high-powered flash, which was wonderfully ironic based on the captain's instructions 2 minutes ago.

The Sandals website advertised 45 minutes of swimming time in the glowing water. Unfortunately, our actual time in the water was approximately 4 minutes. I was stung by a jellyfish within 40 seconds of entering the water, causing excruciating pain and panic. Other guests experienced similar stings, and everyone rushed out of the water, ending the experience prematurely.

The captain's assurance that the water was safe before our swim proved false, and our ordeal left us disappointed and in pain.

**Tip Pressure and Strange Behavior:**
To add insult to injury, the captain was fixated on collecting tips. He watched his tip jar like a hawk and called out anyone who didn't contribute. After such a dreadful swimming experience, his insistence on tips felt audacious, especially considering the $180 fee we had already paid for the excursion.

To make matters worse, when we docked, the captain instructed us to cheer for him for getting us back "in one piece." However, one passenger, likely feeling unwell from the boat ride or the jellyfish sting, left the boat quickly. This led to a heated argument between the passenger and the captain, creating a tense atmosphere.

**Research Reveals the Truth:**
Upon returning to our room, we researched the excursion and discovered numerous complaints about jellyfish stings, contradicting the captain's claim that such incidents were unprecedented in his 19 years of experience. Whether it's the season, water temperature, or some other factor, allowing paying customers to jump into dark waters with the risk of jellyfish stings after promising a safe experience is incredibly irresponsible.

**Final Verdict:**
In conclusion, I highly recommend avoiding this company for the glowing water experience. While witnessing the glow is unique, the sketchy vibes, discomfort, and painful jellyfish stings make it not worth the risk. Whether you find another provider or skip it altogether, your safety and enjoyment should be the priority. 1 out of 5 stars.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-01-15 15:26:50

Posted By : globe627
We saw some whitish glow with movement of the boat's wake, and when people swim, particularly breast stroke.
It is about 45 minutes, 12=15 minutes there on a wooden speed boat, 20 mins for people to go into the wather which is warm, but you can't really see much. When people move the glow gets brighter. Sit near the captain for best views
more light than the one in Puerto Rico but nothing amazing.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-01-01 18:46:02

Posted By : heityg
The luminous lagoon was absolutely amazing !! Our driver was very kind and funny 😊 It was unreal to see how the lagoon glowed every time we moved , I wish that we could see that every single night . I will definitely be going back to experience this again because no matter how many times I do it , it will always be as amazing as the first time seeing it ❤️❤️
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-12-20 06:34:23

Posted By : tinarT4238JI
We were told nothing was in the water that would hurt us. I will say it was a real cool experience. I was super upset my Mt 2 daughters and I got stung by jellyfish and many people on the boat got stung. If they were honest we would NOT of went into the water. It so was not worth the money at all. Very disappointed with it.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-12-17 00:01:39

Posted By : 919travelbug
The experience is really cool. I gave it 4 stars because we were rushed as soon as we got to the property. We were all rushed to get on the boat. They took pictures of people in the water and waited until everyone came back on the boat on their own. When we came back to the starting point, the fire eating show was already going on. I feel like I missed stuff. I didn't get to look around. The experience in the water was amazing. I highly recommend everyone to try it. There are only 3 areas in the world that have this, so why not experience it.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-12-14 09:56:53

Posted By : deannasT2899XY
Great time. A must do during your jamaica trip. Only 3 or 4 places have this type of natural water in the world. Is a once in a lifetime experience. Tour guides make it so much fun also. Those guys should earn way way more then they do. Without them cracking jokes and getting involved with you and making it personal experience it would be so much different.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-30 21:13:43

Posted By : Sarahkelly67
Sadly not the experience we were sold or was expecting , it was coach loads of people pushing and shoving to get on the boats , we’re we went to middle of lagoon, and told to jump off into dark , unlit waters, to see this phenomenon,
Not good for me as I’m not a good enough swimmer for that , we were told we could walk in from the shore line , then go on the boat ,
Very disappointed, as I was looking forward to this trip
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-11-18 17:24:41

Posted By : Drstaceyp
We loved this place! Definitely a must see! Myself and my husband took our eldest two (aged 9&6) and they were absolutely fascinated. Life preservers were provided and we had about half an hour in the water which was really warm and glowed a brilliant blue. The colours are very difficult to capture on your phone camera so we did but the ones taken by the official photographer (after a bit of bargaining!)
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-10-30 14:27:35