If you are vacationing on Bonaire, there’s a good chance you need to pay the STINAPA Nature Fee. This contribution is essentially an entrance fee for the two national parks the island is known for: the Bonaire National Marine Park and Washington Slagbaai National Park. In this blog, you learn more about these parks, the Nature Fee, and who is required to pay it.
Sharing Island Love
Thank you for your interest in our beautiful island in the Caribbean! We love sharing our passion for Bonaire with everyone — locals, visitors, and of course, with our guests during Our tours. Curious how we do that? You can find all the details in Sharing Island Love.
With Island Love,
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Visitor Entry Tax
In addition to the STINAPA Nature Fee, there’s also the Visitor Entry Tax, the local tourist tax that most visitors are required to pay. You can read all about it in our blog about The Visitor Entry Tax.
Two National Parks
In the north of Bonaire, you find Washington Slagbaai National Park, a vast area with hills, saliñas, rugged coastlines, and breathtaking landscapes. It’s a great place for hiking and snorkeling, making it easy to spend an entire day enjoying this park. At the park entrance, the ranger will ask to see your Nature Tag.
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Around Bonaire lies the Bonaire National Marine Park. This extraordinary park encompasses the entire coastline of Bonaire, Klein Bonaire, the Lac Bay lagoon, and the mangroves. The underwater life here is exceptionally rich, making it a favorite destination for snorkelers and divers from all over the world.
Unlike Washington Slagbaai, the Bonaire National Marine Park has no fences or entry gates. The park begins right at the shoreline and extends to a depth of 60 meters around the entirety of Bonaire and Klein Bonaire. As soon as you enter the sea, the lagoon, or the mangrove on Bonaire (even by boat), you are within this protected nature reserve, and a park ranger may ask you to show your Nature Tag.
Do I Need to Pay the STINAPA Nature Fee?
Whether or not you need to pay the Nature Fee depends not only on your plans, but also on your country of residence and your age. By following our handy flowchart, you easily find out!
How Does Payment of the Nature Fee Work?
Payment is simple via the official STINAPA website. After purchasing, you receive a confirmation email containing the Nature Tag: a QR code. This code is your personal digital entrance ticket, which you can save on your phone or print out. Be sure to have the Nature Tag with you when entering either of the two parks. A park ranger may ask to see your Nature Tag.
Make sure you can identify yourself during a check, for example with your passport, ID card, or driver’s license.
Tip: The rangers also accept a photo of these documents, so you can leave the originals safely at your accommodation.
How Long Is Your Nature Tag Valid?
The Nature Tag is valid from January 1 through December 31 of the same year. Visiting Bonaire around New Year’s? No worries, most of the time, you only need to purchase the Nature Fee once. Sales of Nature Tags valid through the end of the next calendar year already start in December. If you purchased your tag before the new tags were released, the tags from the previous year are still valid during the first two weeks of the new year.
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Your Nature Tag as a Souvenir
In the past, STINAPA issued a physical tag that you would attach to your dive gear to show that you paid the Nature Fee. To honor this tradition, STINAPA still issues a physical tag each year. You can pick it up for free, by showing your Nature Tag at the main office or at the entrance to Washington Slagbaai. This souvenir tag is meant as a fun keepsake from your time on Bonaire and does not replace your personal Nature Tag.
What Happens to the Money?
The revenue from the Nature Fee is used directly for nature conservation efforts, including:
- The preservation and restoration of coral reefs and marine life
- Management and maintenance of both national parks
- Educational programs for residents, visitors, and schools
- Research and support of local and international nature projects
By paying the Nature Fee, you actively contribute to protecting Bonaire’s natural resources. It’s a small step with big value for the island and all its life.
Do You Need a Nature Fee for Tours?
For some of the tours we offer, a Nature Tag is required, for example, our day tour to Washington Slagbaai National Park and other tours that include snorkeling. The prices on our website are always listed excluding the Nature Fee, since most of our guests already need the tag for other activities during their stay. During the booking process, we let you know whether the tour you are booking requires a Nature Tag. Before departure, your guide will also remind you to bring it along.
Many other tours also require a Nature Tag, such as:
- Snorkeling and diving
- Boat trips, for example to Klein Bonaire
- Water-based activities like kitesurfing and windsurfing
- Tours in the mangrove
- Hikes in Washington-Slagbaai National Park
Tour operators offering such activities are required to check whether you have a Nature Tag.
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About us: a Tour with HopiBonaire
On a tour with HopiBonaire, you don’t just visit the well-known highlights, you also explore the most remote and beautiful spots on the island. Plus, you will be traveling only with your own group, creating an intimate and personal experience at your own pace. We don’t mind taking our time!
All tours can be customized to your wishes, and you also have the option to book a fully customized tour, for example, to visit unique snorkeling sites. Feeling excited and ready for adventure? Take a look at our tour offerings!
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