Reviews Mesmerizing Bonaire

What a wonderful “Mesmerizing Tour” offered by HOPI Bonaire (a couple-owned business). They always take the time to adjust the program of the tour according to your wishes and capabilities.

Despite not being native from Bonaire, Sebastian has an execellent knowledge of the island’s history. He had the answers to many of my questions on the pasionating geological, social, and economical history of Bonaire. He also has an incredible knowledge of wildlife, including birds. He spotted so many beautiful birds I would never have found by myself. He takes a lot of beautiful photos with his professional camera during the tour and shares all of them the day after.

This tour is definitely worth the price compared to renting a car for one day and going discovering the island on its own. Without Sebastian, you will miss plenty of sweet animals, beautiful trees, and hidden gems.

In a nutshell : for the price you spend 6 hours with a professional guide, photographer, wildlife specialist, and also great safe driver (their pick-up is so comfy and brand new). I felt I was treated like a VIP during a whole afternoon !

You have chosen Bonaire as your holiday destination. That alone is a good decision if you love sun, sea and nature. But if you also want to know more about the island — for example about its history or culture — if you want answers to any question, or want to discover places the average tourist will never find, then we have one very good piece of advice for you: go explore with HopiBonaire.

We chose the Washington Slagbaai Tour and were not only amazed by the beauty of the national park, but especially by the way we were guided through it by our super guide Sebastian,  who truly knows everything about the area. We thoroughly enjoyed the nature, the stunning views, the rugged coastline, the snorkeling (from which we now have beautiful photos), and definitely the delicious lunch and cool drinks along the way!

We loved the tour so much that we decided to also do the Island Tour. Luckily, Sebastian was available a few days later to take us on that trip as well.

That tour was very different, but definitely also more than worth it! Once again, Sebastian took us to places you would never reach on your own.

A little anecdote: while we were driving past the salt flats, we saw two flamingos flying nearby. Well — more flapping than flying — and one of them dropped down on the sea side and disappeared behind the rocks. Our guide didn’t hesitate for a second, stopped the car, got out and ran in the direction where the poor bird had last been seen. A moment later, Sebastian returned with a soaking wet, young flamingo in his arms, which he had just pulled out of the sea. He called the animal ambulance, which happened to be very close by. The man from “Dierenlot” told us the bird was about three months old and too weak to learn to fly properly, but otherwise unharmed. He wrapped it in a cloth specially designed for this purpose and said he would take it to the shelter. What a special moment to witness up close!

Thank you, Sebastian, for these two unforgettable tours and for your beautiful photos!

Truly a highlight of our stay on Bonaire!

“Hopi bon” means “a lot” or “very good” in Papiamentu. HopiBonaire stands for exceptionally good!

During our Caribbean trip, we booked a full-day customized tour with HopiBonaire during our visit to Bonaire. We did not regret it. Our guide Sebastian, who everyone calls Bas, showed us the island from its most beautiful and impressive sides. Rugged, unspoiled, dreamy, breathtaking landscapes, idyllic bays, exciting stories – with Bas, you can discover Bonaire in all its facets.

The 8-hour tour includes a comfortable, fully air-conditioned four-wheel-drive vehicle, delicious snacks, and cool drinks.

Nothing was missing. To top it all off, Bas showed us his personal snorkeling paradise, complete with a great introduction and tips for us snorkeling beginners.

The absolute cherry on top: Bas is also a fantastic photographer (above and below water). Now we have a wonderful photo documentation with the highlights of the tour.

We give a full five stars and say in Papiamentu: Danki!

We had the most AMAZING tour with Bas in April. My husband and I had 24hrs in Bonaire and Bas made our day the BEST we could have imagined and it was everything we expected.

Bas picked us up at our apartment and we were off on our tour. The pace was perfect, his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for showing us the island was astounding, and we felt like he truly cared about our experience. We saw every part of the island and tons of wildlife. Our lunch and quick afternoon snack was delicious (and perfectly timed), and we were sad when it was time to go our separate ways. It wa ask special getting a bunch of beautiful photos at the end as well. Not having to take as many pictures while we were on the tour made it so much more relaxing and let us really enjoy the experience.

Thank you, Bas! We still can’t stop laughing over the fact that you knew who (and what) Mr. Visserplein is! 😂

We had an incredible full day tour with Bas! If you are visiting Bonaire, I would highly recommend taking a tour with HopiBonaire. Bas was a wonderful guide and the tour was everything we hoped for and more!

We saw the beautiful nature Bonaire has to offer, ate an incredible lunch at a beautiful lookout and ended the day with a glass of wine at another beautiful spot. As an added bonus, Bas took photos along the way and shared them with us!

Thank you Bas for sharing your beautiful island with us and for the incredible memories we created.

100% recommendation!

We enjoyed the mesmerizing Bonaire Island tour, individually adjusted to find the best combination to suit a family with two kids (3y & 6y) and their parents’ passion for traveling and collecting memories with their camera.

Bas guided us to the most important places, hidden spots without any other people, to many flamingos, donkeys, goats, even wild sheep… exactly knew where to take the best pictures and recommended the best compromises where necessary (eg to prioritize safety of the kids or if allowing them to play at the beach or getting the perfect picture required adjustments of the time schedule) – allowing each of us to enjoy this great afternoon. An excellent knowledge combined with the impressive capabilities of knowing exactly what two active kids need to join the adventure happily.

Thank you for the patience and the incredible amount of snacks: delicious muffins (thanks, Jessica) the homemade ice tea, the juice & watermelons and many more small but highly appreciated details that made the day and the whole experience in Bonaire unforgettable.

Had an amazing private island tour with Bas! If you’re looking for a tailor-made tour with personal attention, this is an absolute must.

In a comfortable car, you’ll explore the entire island in 4 to 5 hours. You’ll see and learn a lot about Bonaire—its flora and fauna—along with its impressive and moving history, all beautifully shared. In short, I had a lovely morning I won’t soon forget. With tasty and healthy snacks along the way, it was more than just a successful trip!

Thank you, Bas and HopiBonaire! See you next time!

We did a HopiBonaire tour on our first full day on the island and it was the best decision we could have made. Sebastian took us around the entire island for about 6hours, showing the less traveled and more unique sides of Bonaire.

While we had more tours later in the week, the information that Sebastian provided was generally more thorough and had little to no overlap. The pace of the tour was perfect, with snacks along the way and an amazing sunset ending. We also unexpectedly received really great professional photos that were the cherry on top of the experience.

I recommend HopiBonaire to anybody planning a trip and wanting to see what the island has to offer!

My sister and I used HopiBonaire to tour the island during our Feb. 2025 cruise stop to Bonaire. The email conversations back-and-forth were very timely and provided all information that was needed. Due to some mobility issues there was a concern about the height of the vehicle and the ability to get in. I was sent photos of the transportation as well as height indicators, so I would know the vehicle was accessible.

We met Sebastian (Bas), one of the owners, of the company at the arranged spot just outside of the cruise port. They even provided a map of how to get to the location, as well as a photo of the meet up spot. The vehicle he picked us up in was immaculate.

Our tour was 6+ hours and we felt like it really showed us the island. It is obvious Bas loves his beautiful island home and is very proud to show it to others. Bas is a nature photographer, and he has a lot of knowledge on the nature on the island. I didn’t feel like we were rushed to go from place to place, yet we were able to traverse the entire island.

When I visit a new location, I try to do a tour. I have been on several tours before, many of them, private tours, and have never experienced a tour that was so full of details for the comfort of the visitor. At one stop, we had the opportunity to have some fruit and some other snacks along with a drink. We were also provided a homemade lunch at a picnic table right in a little cove area. He also provided additional snacks and drinks after we snorkeled. As part of the tour, we were provided photos that we could download that Bas had taken a various scenes along the island, as well as of my sister and I.

It was definitely a more meaningful trip to Bonaire by having someone passionate about the island show us its beauty. I am so glad we didn’t try to see the island on our own, or we never would have seen all the beautiful sites of Bonaire.

My wife and I arrived for our first stay on Bonaire, having booked a tour with another group. At midnight the day of the tour we received a cancellation notice from that tour which left us in limbo. We reached out to Sebastian and Jessica at Harbour Village’s recommendation. They were gracious enough to accommodate us later that week on their “Mesmerizing Bonaire” tour.

We truly can’t say enough good things about the time Sebastian invested in our tour. When my wife and I hear “private tour” it conjures notions of 4-8 people. We were amazed to learn it was literally Bas and the two of us. Bas has an amazing grasp of the history and lore of the island which added so much depth to our tour. And lo and behold, he’s a professional photographer as well, so we received some amazing photos of our day’s memories shortly afterwards.

The time we spent with Bas completely changed our perception of the island and gave us a respect for the history of its people and the natural surroundings. We couldn’t have asked for more gracious people to work with than Bas and Jessica. The best in the business, without a doubt. We are already planning our return trip and coordinating with them on more adventures.

Masha Danki, Bas and Jessica! We look forward to seeing you, and Bonaire again. 

On the recommendation of friends, we reached out to Hopibonaire to book a private island tour during our vacation. Even though everything was fully booked, Bas went out of his way to show us the island—on his day off, no less.

We took a 6-hour tour, exploring every coastline. Bas knew everything about the island’s history and captivated us with his knowledge of its wildlife and birds. We made plenty of stops along the way to take in the sights and snap some photos. Bas also made sure we were well taken care of with snacks and drinks.

We saw all the highlights, but the most impressive for us was the east coast—completely secluded, in a rocky landscape, witnessing the raw power of the ocean. As a perfect ending, Bas set up 2 chairs and a little table, allowing us to enjoy a breathtaking sunset with a drink and some snacks. It was a truly special experience!

Bas later sent us all the photos he had taken of us together—beautiful shots for our photo album. We’ll cherish these wonderful memories of this tour and of Bonaire, and who knows, we might be back someday.

Once again, a huge thank you, Bas!!!

We were so fortunate to be able to book a last minute all-day private tour with Sebastian on a Sunday in early January. The tour came highly recommended and it was a great recommendation! Now I am thrilled to recommend the Mesmerizing Bonaire tour to anyone who loves learning about the history, wildlife and culture of the beautiful island.

If you are arriving to Bonaire via cruise ship, do not be concerned about taking this excursion! Bas will get you back to the ship on time!!

Bas took photos of the wildlife as we journeyed around the island. We learned about the differences between the four areas of the island as we traveled off-road to places we never would have seen on our own. Most of the time, there was no one else around us so we know that we visited incredible sights that no other tour company visits.

And as if that wasn’t enough, Bas brought snacks for us in the morning and provided a wonderful beach-side lunch while we enjoyed the view and chatted about life on Bonaire.

Thank you Bas! We enjoyed our time together, your fantastic photography and your vast knowledge that provided an experience we will never forget. It was a perfect day!

I took both the Bonaire Island Tour and the Washington-Slagbaai National Park Tour with HopiBonaire. The island tour perfectly showcases Bonaire’s versatility and how each side of the island has its own unique character.

Both tours include well-known spots as well as hidden gems. Bas shared a wealth of information about the island’s history, geography, flora, and fauna at every stop. It was fascinating and fun to learn so much about Bonaire.

Since it’s a private tour, you get to set the pace (a big plus), and upon request, the tours can be enriched with stunning hikes.

The care provided is exceptional: a comfortable vehicle, plenty of breaks with delicious homemade snacks and drinks, and Bas captured breathtaking photos along the way, which were sent to me afterward.

For a perfectly organized private tour, I can wholeheartedly recommend HopiBonaire!

I cannot recommend HopiBonaire enough! Our amazing tour guide, Bas, had seemingly limitless knowledge of the island’s history, geology, fauna and flora.

In six hours we visited sites all over Bonaire- caves and cave paintings, beaches, lakes, mountain tops and salt flats. All along the way, Bas answered all of our questions, and explained the vibe of each village.

There were planned snack breaks in picturesque locations throughout the island. We ended our journey with glasses of wine and a gorgeous sunset over the hills near the East coast of the island.

Bas snapped gorgeous photos of my partner and I, as well as the island’s wildlife.

Last December, during our vacation on Bonaire, we had the pleasure of experiencing the wonderfully diverse island tour ‘Mesmerizing Bonaire.’ In a very comfortable pickup truck with excellent air conditioning, and Bas as our skilled driver and knowledgeable guide, we spent an entire afternoon exploring both the well-known and hidden gems of Bonaire. Plenty of time was given at each stop to either enjoy breathtaking views, take in the island’s beautiful nature, or linger at historical sites from the past. On top of that, our physical needs were well taken care of.

This special afternoon ended with a sundowner in a remote, rugged landscape along the wild east coast, paired with—yes—a stunning sunset.

Bas, with his enthusiasm, extensive knowledge, captivating stories, and extra touches, made this private tour an unforgettable experience for us. We thoroughly ENJOYED it!

Jessica provided an excellent private day tour to my family. She was a pleasure to work with planning in advance to customize our agenda, and made sure every detail was considered every step of the way on our tour.

She was great with our younger kids, and was very knowledgeable about the history, culture and wildlife on the island.

We recently spent a wonderful day with Jessica exploring the beautiful island of Bonaire. I cannot say enough great things about Jessica and Hopibonaire. From the moment we met her, she made us feel like family.

She showed us a lot of different parts of the island, took us to an amazing snorkel spot, and took us to a peaceful viewpoint and made us a delicious picnic. This is what really sets this company apart from others is the attention to details. She was very knowledgeable about the island and the information she gave us was interesting and easy to retain.

She provided homemade tea, snacks, and beverages throughout the trip. The best part is, you do not have to worry about taking pictures because she takes amazing photographs and sends them to you after your trip. This lets you relax and enjoy the island.

I cannot thank Jessica and hopibonaire enough for an incredible day. I highly recommended booking a trip with them because her love for the island is contagious and you will want to return again and again.

I had a great private tour while visiting Bonaire last week! Bas was incredibly knowledgeable about the island and I would have had great difficulty trying to navigate that terrain without an experienced guide like him. He shared the histories behind everything and I found it very educational.

When he found out I had lost my phone the prior day, he brought his camera and took (stunning) photos for me so that I wouldn’t miss out on the memories of my tour. I enjoyed the personal touches from his wife, with homemade iced tea and baked goods throughout our stops on the tour. He was also very accommodating with my schedule when I needed to have the tour be a bit shorter, but still made sure I got to see everything.

I would highly recommend HopiBonaire for your tour needs!

Yesterday I had the pleasure of experiencing a tour with HopiBonaire, led by the exceptional guide, Bas. From start to finish, the journey was nothing short of remarkable. Bas’s enthusiasm and captivating storytelling truly enriched the experience, making it both informative and engaging.

The tour itself was of the highest quality, with every detail meticulously taken care of to ensure comfort and enjoyment. Bas expertly navigated through the island, allowing ample time to soak in the breathtaking views and discover the hidden gems scattered across Bonaire’s landscape.

One of the highlights of the tour was Bas’s flexibility and willingness to adapt to my schedule, ensuring that we made the most of our time together. His extensive knowledge of the island, its geology, history, culture, flora, and fauna was impressive, as he effortlessly answered every question and shared fascinating stories along the way.

I was particularly amazed by the diverse array of bird species we encountered during the tour, including a rare sighting of an owl, thanks to Bas’s keen eye for wildlife. The lunch break atop a scenic hilltop, with panoramic views of Bonaire, provided a serene moment to appreciate the island’s natural beauty.

Additionally, I appreciated Bas’s thoughtful gesture of capturing high-quality photographs throughout the tour, preserving precious memories of the experience. It’s clear that Bas goes above and beyond to ensure his guests have a memorable and enjoyable time.

In conclusion, my tour with HopiBonaire and Bas exceeded all expectations, leaving me eager to return for another adventure. I wholeheartedly recommend HopiBonaire to anyone seeking a high-quality and unforgettable experience on the island.

We had a great day touring around most of Bonaire looking at the most gorgeous landscapes! Our tour focused on my husband’s photography interest, and a bit of my snorkling fun.

Sebastian made sure we were enjoying everything he was showing us. You could tell after each stop, he was thinking of something else that would excite us. Even with us having our own camera, he took pictures of different things, and emailed us the pictures afterwards.

He picked a section of beach where only a few people were near to enjoy a delicious lunch that was included with the tour. He made sure we would get back to the cruise ship on time.

I would always recommend this company, and plan to see them again when we make our way back to Bonaire.

Our other tour was canceled, and that’s how we ended up at Hopi Bonaire for a complete tour of Bonaire. Looking back, we are so happy about that! The contact during booking was easily established.

Our guide Bas turned out to be a history, biology, and geography teacher all in one, and he shared information throughout the entire tour that added real value. Bas’s delivery was relaxed and captivating.

We literally explored every nook and cranny of the island, places you wouldn’t reach with a group tour! At popular spots, Bas drove a short distance further so you wouldn’t have to follow a “herd” but see the same sights from a different perspective, which was great! The island displays astonishing diversity, and with Bas’s explanations, it was a beautiful and comprehensive discovery with excellent value for money.

The finale at a coastal blowhole and the subsequent sunset made it complete. Bas also sent some homemade photos afterward, a nice bonus. In short, if you don’t book this, you’re really missing out!

From the very beginning, we had great contact with HopiBonaire. The booking process was very smooth and clear. Next to English, the guide speaks Dutch, which was most important for us. Questions via WhatsApp were answered quickly.

On the day of the tour, we had nothing but praise for Bas’s expertise, enthusiasm, patience, and the beautiful photos he took with his professional camera. The care provided was excellent, with plenty of drinking water, cola, etc., and each of us received a cupcake, followed later by fresh fruit. At the end of the wonderful tour, we even enjoyed a glass of wine with some snacks. Extremely thoughtful.

Thank you, Sebastian, for the unforgettable and impressive day. A day to never forget. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about Bonaire with the “Mesmerizing Bonaire” tour.

My husband and I had the best private tour we’ve ever had, thanks to Sebastian! Never would we have had the chance to see as much as we saw and learn as much as we learned if we had booked with a group tour. For every question we had, he had an answer.

It was a full day and he made sure that we had sufficient bathroom stops, as well as beverages and snacks. We ended a beautiful day by watching a beautiful sunset. We so appreciate all the photos Sebastian took of us and shared with us.

Thank you Sebastian! We will return to Bonaire. When we do return, we will book another tour with you.

We had the most outstanding day with Bas on a tour around Bonaire – never rushed, time to sit and pause at stunning locations and take them in properly, with chairs brought for the purpose (and drinks, and fruit, and homemade cakes – wonderfully thoughtful touches!).

On these tours you will get to see places that you would never otherwise reach, experience the huge variety of the island, and learn about what one sees – it is a privilege to be guided by someone so knowledgeable and passionate about the history, the nature (especially the wonderful birds) and the landscape of the island.

Bas sent us the pictures he had been taking during the day of the astonishing wildlife!

We had a great day with Sebastian. He took wonderful photos and shared them with us afterward. Great picnic lunch, snacks, very friendly and knowledgeable of the island, its history and wildlife. One of the best tours I ever experienced.

I booked a full day with Sebastian and enjoyed the excursion very much! We did a Roundtrip all over the island and saw the sun set behind hills full of cacti. Sebastian knew a lot and explained me about history and ecology of bonaire.

He piked me up in the hotel and brought me back in the evening. He offered water, coke and fresh fruits and cubcakes. He made pictures, which he send me via we-transfer. Thank you so much! A day, I ll never forget! I highly recommend this private tour to learn and see about this island! And all for no money. I was at Aruba and Curacao too, the tours there cost 3-4 times more!

Thank you Sebastian! I would book a tour again next time when I retur to Bonaire!

We had a super beautiful and special tour. Bas explains everything with great enthusiasm and fun. We drove around the entire island and saw a lot as a result. Highly recommended. We are glad we chose HopiBonaire.

What a TOP day we experienced. Although our day at Washington Slagbaai couldn’t go ahead due to the heavy rain (so we have to come back), Bas quickly adapted, and we changed it to an island tour. We were even able to tick off some Geo-cache points. Fantastic.

We had a delicious homemade lunch on the way (made by Jessica and Bas 😋) in a beautiful spot. We saw so much at a nice pace and learned a lot about the island.

A super ending with snorkeling with the turtles (a wish came true) 🤩 😃 and a day later, we received beautiful photos of that day. So happy with them.

With HopiBonaire, you don’t just take a standard island tour. Bas takes you to the most enchanting places. It’s pure magic. You could never discover these on your own because they are completely off-road. Bas has extensive knowledge of both the history and the fauna and flora of Bonaire. Along the way, there’s also time for a snack and a drink in a relaxed atmosphere. And to top it off, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset at the end of the ride. Highly recommended.

My mom and I had a wonderful tour with the very knowledgeable Sebastian. He shared the history of the island (and not the white-washed version) and taught us all about the plants and animals too. He was kind to stop wherever we wanted and moved at our pace. The truck was comfortable and air-conditioned, it was the best way to see the island.

One of the best tours I’ve been on! You really get the best of Bonaire, especially on the East side 😉. I would definitely recommend! Thank you for the great service, it was an amazing day!!

Excellent private tour. Our guides Jessica and Bas were incredibly knowledgeable and gave us a fantastic day in Bonaire. We particularly appreciated the fact that they took great care to ensure that we saw all the features of the island that we wanted to visit.

We would totally recommend HopiBonaire!