There are only a handful of places in the world where bioluminescence can be seen every day of the year. And lucky for travelers to the Nicoya Peninsula, there's one such place right here.

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Let's take a step back and talk about bioluminescence. What is it really? Bioluminescence is light created by living organisms through a chemical reaction, biological light. We've probably all seen it in some form on land, like fireflies or glowing beetles.

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However, it's much more prominent in the oceans. Jellyfish, fish, some invertebrates, and algae (a certain type of plankton) are the main creatures that can produce bioluminescence. It occurs in many different areas at certain times but isn't constant. The Gulf of Nicoya has it, and there's a small area near Paquera where it's prominent all year round!

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In the gulf, it's the algae that create this magical effect. When disturbed, the algae emit a flash of light. Since there are millions of them, it looks like sparkles in the water. The wavelengths are in the blue or green spectrum. One of the best ways to see this phenomenon is to get a bird's eye view, and kayaking is a great way to get a good look. The algae stick to the paddle, your hand, or floating leaves, glowing intensely for many seconds if you encounter a strong patch. When you're paddling over shallow areas, the fish get startled and it looks like fireworks underwater as they take off, leaving a trail of 'fairy dust' in their wake.

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The amount of bioluminescence seen is very proportional to the amount of surrounding light, especially moonlight. Even though the algae are there during the day as well, they can't be seen until it gets dark. The darker the night, the better the view. Taking photos of bioluminescence is possible but very difficult due to the wavelength of light emitted by the algae.

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To witness this natural phenomenon, it's recommended to take an organized tour to get the most out of the experience.