La Parguera in Lajas boasts of a marvel of glowing plankton

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Each year, travelers from around the world visit the south-west corner of Puerto Rico for viewing a marvel found only in very few sites around the world.

In the peaceful seaside area of La Parguera in Lajas, the chief allure is an inlet by the same name, full of
miniscule plankton that glows in the dark. The bay changes into a gleaming blue lagoon after sunset. The bay is one of the only bioluminescent types in the world. Night-time tourists visit the area to view it from close, pushing off into the sparkling waters in kayaks.

For long, the gentle display of light has been a local gem. However, it has been endangered by a demand
for accommodation by residents and sightseers in the same vein who want a front-row seat to the spectacle.

In recent times, the area adjacent to La Parguera has witnessed widespread redevelopment and seaside
expansion. Periodic and overseas inhabitants have moved into the area, dislocating lower-income
residents. City bred rich newcomers who have made Lajas their home are being talked about by the locals
as ‘precaristas’ or trespassers. Long-time inhabitants have said that their new neighbors are creating a
harmful influence on the environment by buying homes on the bay and growing these belongings with new surfaces and other revamps.

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