5. Krabi, Thailand
There are a few bays and coves in this popular region of Thailand that promise a watery light display on clear nights. Ao Nang Beach is one of the most famous and most accessible, with beachside hostels, restaurants and bars a stone’s throw from the shoreline offering places to hide out in ahead of nightfall. While no less famous, perhaps, Phra Nang Beach is another spot a little further along the coast for a peaceful, intimate bioluminescent session reachable by boat transfers from Ao Nang Beach.
When to go: November to May
How to get there: 20-minute drive from Krabi International Airport
Where to stay: Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is just a 40-minute drive from the glistening waters. Expect dazzling villas and pavilions, sprawling pools and access to dazzling beaches through the lush landscape.
6. Toyama Bay, Japan
While many of the best places to see bioluminescence around the world are so due to an abundance of glowing plankton and algae, the story is a little quirkier in Japan’s Toyama Bay come spring. Here, the bioluminescent performance atop the otherwise pitch-black Japanese waters is caused by a considerably larger creature – the firefly squid. Join a fishing trip and watch as the organisms emit blue light from photophores, creating a wet and wild firework display as they are pulled from the icy depths.
When to go: April – May
How to get there: Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo
Where to stay: The DoubleTree by Hilton Toyama is a perfectly plush spot to rest in between city exploration and bay visits.
7. Oaxaca, Mexico
One of the most popular places to visit for bioluminescence in Mexico is the Laguna de Manialtepec, a coastal lagoon about west of Puerto Escondido. As fish (and people braving the water for a dip) dart through the waters, the twinkling algae that call the lagoon home make the water turn fantastically phosphorescent. A little farther on, similar experiences are available at Lagunas de Chacahua.