Anderson Lagoon bioluminescence tour: Glowing water at night

Watch the water light up as your boat cuts through the lagoon at night

A night tour on the Sittee River to Anderson Lagoon near Hopkins, Belize, where you ride out to see bioluminescent dinoflagellae glow in the water. The guide turns off the flashlight, the boat accelerates, and the wake ignites in blue light. Schools of fish and jellyfish trail phosphorescence as they move through the lagoon. A professional guide, landing fees and local taxes are included. The tour runs during the dry season when conditions allow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bioluminescence tour and river cruise

• Boat ride to Anderson Lagoon
• Pass through mangrove cut
• Turn off flashlight to see glowing wake
• Stop boat to observe glowing water
• Watch bioluminescent fish and jellyfish
• Move hands in water to see glow

The experience

The Sittee River is the gateway to Anderson Lagoon, a five-minute boat ride through mangroves and into open water. The night sky fills with stars down to the tree line. Once the guide cuts the engine light and the boat picks up speed, the tiny algae that settle in the lagoon during the dry season get agitated and glow: a blue light spreading across the wake. The boat slows and you stare into the water as schools of fish and jellyfish create phosphorescent trails, their bodies lined with the glowing algae they feed on.

Moving your hand through the water triggers the same effect: the dinoflagellae respond to motion and light up around your fingers. The guide stops the boat so you can watch the phenomenon without the engine's disturbance. Hundreds of jellyfish pulse in the water, their edges and bodies glowing. This seasonal tour runs best in the driest months, February through April, when conditions are right for the algae to settle and concentrate in the lagoon.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• landing and facility fees.
• local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and TuesdayDeparts at 18:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (9 to 12 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 43 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Get to Know Belize Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this tour during the dry season (February through April) when the algae concentration in Anderson Lagoon is thick enough for the bioluminescence to glow reliably: any other time of year the phenomenon may not occur.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 12 years); Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

When does the bioluminescence tour run?

The tour operates seasonally during the driest months, typically February through April, when conditions in Anderson Lagoon are right for the dinoflagellae to concentrate and glow.

How long is the boat ride to Anderson Lagoon?

The ride from the Sittee River to Anderson Lagoon takes about five minutes, and the full tour lasts two hours.

What happens when the guide turns off the light?

Once the flashlight goes off and the boat accelerates, the wake glows electric blue as the dinoflagellae react to the motion. The guide then slows down so you can watch fish and jellyfish create glowing trails as they swim through the water.

Can I touch the bioluminescent water?

Yes. Moving your hand around in the water triggers the dinoflagellae to glow around your fingers, creating a phosphorescent effect you can see and feel.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a professional guide who speaks English or Spanish, landing and facility fees, and local taxes. Hotel pickup is available for an additional 7.50 USD per person round trip, paid to the driver.