Flamingo & Mangrove Trip with Local Guide
Description
The mangrove forest of Lac Bay is one of the best-preserved mangrove forests in the Caribbean. For generations, this lush, green environment has served as a home and incubator to native fish, baby rays, lobster and seahorses. The bushy and beautiful trees and their deep, webbed roots protect Bonaire from extreme weather conditions. It’s rumoured that they’re strong enough to withstand the wind and water to slow a tsunami! While driving south to the Mangroves, your guide will inform you about the history and sites of Bonaire. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions and explore before arriving at beautiful Lac Bay.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The mangroves are a series of narrow channels covered by natural canopies made by bending the mangrove trees that house birds and fish and clean the water. For centuries fishers and tourists have been visiting, kayaking and exploring this area of rich waters. Historically, they also provided means to make household items and played an essential role in the fishing community, which you will learn about on this tour.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick you up at all the hotels of Bonaire, pick up also available from the cruise pier.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We want you to feel at home and comfortable on our island and recommend you bring the following for this tour:
- 1. Sun Protection: Sunscreen, Sunglasses
- 2. Extra Water
- 3. Dress Comfortably for warm, sunny and humid weather
- 4. Camera (of course!)
- Before the Tour:
- Hotel or apartment guests: For the meeting, please meet your guide at the reception, and if you are staying at an apartment; your driver will be at the address you provided on the booking. Your guide will arrive at your pick-up location 15 minutes before the start of your tour to pick you up. We will notify you if there are any changes.
- Cruise Ship guests: Your guide will welcome you with your first name or last name on a sign in front of the cruise ship exit/enter gate where your ship is docked. As you walk away from your ship, you will be approaching a security checkpoint gate. When you exit the gate, walk straight forward, and look straight ahead. Your guide will be there 15 minutes before the start of your tour to collect you. Please Note: If your tour starts at 08:30, your guide will pick you up 15 minutes (08:15) before the start time of your tour.
- Very IMPORTANT: If you don't see your guide with your name, please stay at the gate of your ship and do not walk away and look for your guide, let your guide look for you.
- We GUARANTEE to have you BACK TO THE SHIP 1 hour before the ship departure time.
- This is a small group guided tour of up to 7 people per vehicle. You will be in a shared van, car, or pick-up depending on the number of guests.
- Our prices include a 6% government tax.
- Our goal is for you to leave the Island happier than when you arrived.
Reviews(8)
One must rent a car and tour the entire island. The landscapes are different and magnificent. Exceptional snorkeling
Merci beaucoup pour votre avis ! Nous sommes ravis d'apprendre que vous avez apprécié la beauté de Bonaire, ses paysages variés et l'excellente expérience de snorkeling. Merci d'avoir choisi Shekhinah Tours. Nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau lors d'une prochaine visite sur notre magnifique île ! Cordialement, Shekhinah Tours
Very bad service, they picked us up in a 4 person car and there was 6 of us , they wanted to cram us in the back and have to climb in and out of it during the tour. It was supposed to be a bus !! My husband hurt his ankle just attempting to get in so we declined unless better transportation was provided, they refused. We did not get to go on our excursion and they are denying refund . Very bad customer relations.
Very interesting excursion! Our guide Nicoline was very friendly and told us interesting history of the area where the flamingos nest. We were fortunate enough to see many of them. I highly recommend this excursion!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're glad you had such an interesting experience and enjoyed learning about the area. It’s great that you were able to see the flamingos — always a special sight! We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again on your next visit to Bonaire!
Was not very exciting nor informative. Flamingos were far away & the Mangroves are trees you see all over waterways, which I knew but figured why not.
Stan and his friend Ramine(?) took us straight to the flamingos and one to interesting beaches. We saw the salt mines and even got a little sample to take home. Stan gave us lots of details about the island and it’s inhabitants. Originally from the Netherlands, it was interesting to hear his story and great for him to share his vast knowledge about all the kinds of Mangroves. Saw all the salt mines and slave quarters on the beach. Process is very cool!
Hi, thank you for your message. Stan and Resine are both very knowlegable guides and are always happy to share the history, culture and beauty of our precious island! I am glad you had a great time and hope to see you next time!
It all started with us waiting 35 minutes for the guide to appear. We then traveled over the worst roads I’ve ever been on to see mile after mile of mango trees and flamingos which only appeared as pink spots. We traveled the island 5 years ago and had such a wonderful trip-NOT this time. Pick a different trip.
Dear Diana, Thank you for your review and we appreciate it a lot. Sometimes we have traffic jams and therefore we were indeed 35 minutes late and we can not do much about it but we always write to our guests and let them know about the delay. And I do know that on the ship internet is slow and expensive and most guests don't use the internet on the ship or till when they are on shore. But we are doing our best to keep our guests updated. Where the mangrove and the Flamingoes are at Lac Bay are in the NATURE. The road there is from dirt and when it rains the road gets a bit rough. This is something we can not control or change because of its nature. As for the Flamingos, they are also free and in nature. We can not help it that they were not close enough for you to see them. We can not call the flamingoes and tell them to come close so you can see them. it is impossible. This tour is the Flamingo and Mangrove trip and we feel sorry you had this tour right after a very bad rainy period we had on Bonaire. We wish you all the best and a great safe journey for you and your family.
I had a great experience with Ephraim exploring the mangroves of the southern end of Bonaire. He was very knowledgeable and welcoming, and accommodating of my individual interests during the adventure. He was a great representative of Bonaire and of the community and has me excited to return one day soon.
