Reviews Birdwatching Tour

We had a really fun bird tour with Sebastian. We had to get up early (departing at 6), but it was definitely worth it. Sebastian knew where to find the birds, but even more important to us were the beautiful, quiet spots where others don’t go.

On top of that, Sebastian is an excellent guide, everything was perfectly taken care of, and we received some beautiful photos afterwards. Highly recommended!

Even if you already know the island well, a tour with Sebastian is a must-do. The tours are put together with great care and attention. You will end the birding tour with photos worthy of your wall.

The personal attention also means you need to book in advance, because this isn’t mass tourism but one-on-one Bonaire at its most beautiful and quietest.

On our last morning on the island, my family treated ourselves to a private birdwatching tour courtesy of HopiBonaire and couldn’t have been more happy. Our time on the island was limited, and the only slot that worked was the morning before our afternoon flight. HopiBonaire is a husband-wife team and were amazingly accommodating, even conducting a tour on their ‘day off’ so as to be able to suit our schedule.

My wife is a ‘serious amateur’ birdwatcher and I’m a photographer. Sebastian took our needs into account and worked an itinerary to maximize what we could see while focusing on areas of the island and species we’d not yet experienced. We found him to be easy going, knowledgeable, funny, and a joy to be around.

In almost every category HopiBonaire over-delivered, from the coffee and snacks to the overall tour duration. We were able to linger at spots we particularly liked, and he was quick to stop and pull-over at the merest glance of something interesting. We have been fortunate enough to have been able to do similar tours in literally dozens of natural places, and this experience was right up there and I have no hesitations in recommending.

Just to give a little insight as to who these folks are, during a drive from one of the more secluded spots, Sebastian spotted some errant garbage on the side of the road – stopped the vehicle, collected the trash, and then continued on our way. He genuinely cares about the environment and the island’s natural inhabitants, and I give him the extra nod for that.

If you’re looking for a casual, laid-back, informative, and beautiful scenic tour of Bonaire with a gracious host, look no further.

Thanks Sebastian, for the beautiful bird photo tour on Bonaire. You showed me incredibly beautiful spots, we spotted beautiful birds, and the part off the beaten path was definitely awesome.

The snacks were delicious along the way and everything was well taken care of. I will definitely come back and practice the photography tips you gave. It is a real recommendation to book the tour with HopiBonaire!

Great birdwatching tour with Hopi Bonaire! Bas knows all the best birding spots, especially outside the touristy areas. In advance, you can indicate which species you’d like to see. Saw so many different kinds. Absolutely recommended!

We had already booked this excursion from the Netherlands. The first contact with Sebastian and Jessica was very pleasant.

We chose to do a customized birdwatching tour. In advance, we could indicate which birds we really wanted to see. The hummingbird, osprey and caracara were high on the list. In the end we spotted so many different birds and other animals. Really amazing! The spots where Sebastian stops are beautiful. Sebastian knows a lot about the island and its people. The Indian drawing was also a special surprise. Another fun thing was that after the excursion, we explored the island ourselves over the next two days (North and South ) using the scenic drives Sebastian had written.

This tour is truly a recommendation!

Bas gave us a terrific birding tour! Well over 30 species, including several life-list birds. Plus fresh coffee at a beautiful coastal resting spot, fresh fruit at a salina, geology and ecology explanations, historical context, and a number of excellent short stops for views, birds, iguanas, and rock paintings.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the natural history of Bonaire. A five star tour!

We had a fun and beautiful tour with Bas. Originally planned as a “birdwatching tour,” and we certainly saw plenty of birds. Since an early morning departure didn’t suit us, some birds were a bit harder to spot. But that was no problem—besides birdwatching, we also got to explore parts of Bonaire.

This was our second visit to Bonaire, and this tour took us to hidden gems we hadn’t discovered before. Short drives with many stops and lots of explanations along the way. We even got to enjoy some snorkeling at a quiet spot. It was great that the tour was done in a comfortable, well-cooled, and clean car (which isn’t easy to maintain with all the potholes and puddles 😉).

Plenty of attention was given to refreshments during the stops, which was also well taken care of. Throughout the tour, including the snorkeling, Bas took photos, which we received digitally the same afternoon.

All in all, a very successful tour that gave us wonderful new memories!

We went on a birdwatching tour with Hopi Bonaire, and it was fantastic! Sebastian knows all the best spots, has extensive knowledge of the island’s birds, and often knows exactly where they can be found. We were able to admire many species we definitely wouldn’t have spotted on our own. Plus, we were treated to coffee, cookies, juices, and fruit along the way. Wonderful!

An unforgettable experience and a strong recommendation.

Went out twice with Sebastian from Hopi Bonaire for a birding and day tour. A fantastic experience on all fronts.

It all starts with the guide: Sebastian, who has a wealth of knowledge and shares it in such a pleasant way. The hospitality is truly exceptional, every detail is taken care of. He considers the wishes of his guests, ensuring everyone has a great experience. The island, the nature, the birds, the marine lifeis all beautiful and even more so through his stories and personal guidance, especially when snorkeling.

In short, if you’re looking for a small-scale organization that caters to all your wishes, Hopi Bonaire is the one. Thank you, Sebastian, for bringing the island and its inhabitants to life and showing me its beauty in a way I could never have experienced without such a fantastic guide.

We did the private bird tour with Bas and I we LOVED it! We booked with Bas whilst already arrived on the island and Bas made sure to pencil us in two days after our first contact so we were able to get the most out of our experience for the rest of the trip. Whilst not spotting the Osprey during the bird tour (wish list bird but bad time of the year to spot one on Bonaire), Bas told us the spots where to look out for them so we could spot one during the rest of our trip, and we did!

Bas was super knowledgeable about the birds, spotted and pointed them out to us with ease and told us a lot about the rest of the islands history and geology in the process without overloading us with information.

We connected right away with Bas and had such a great experience. Bas also made sure that we had plenty to drink (great coffee for the early morning) and packed nice snacks to enjoy at the most beautiful spots. A solid 12/10 review from us.

Escaping the rain in the Netherlands, we decided to book a week on Bonaire. I always bring a camera to take pictures, especially of the birds. But how many birds can you find in a country you don’t know, especially when you’re only there for a week? The solution was obvious: find a guide.

We chose HopiBonaire, and it felt right from the start. No large groups, flexible start times, duration, and which birds to look for – everything could be arranged beforehand. The initial contact was already pleasant.

On the day itself, Sebastian arrived well before the agreed time. We enjoyed a great time chatting and spotting many birds. Sebastian knew exactly where we had the best chances of seeing birds. I would have definitely driven past those spots. And with my regular car, I would have never reached the end of a stone-strewn dirt path: Playa Frans. In the salina behind the beach, we saw many beautiful birds!

After the tour, Sebasrtian sent a thank-you note and included photos of birds he had taken – a nice surprise.

Of course, Sebastian and we managed to spot an osprey. A bird that winters in Bonaire, so the chance of finding one in July wasn’t very high. All in all, HopiBonaire is highly recommended.

We booked a tour with HopiBonaire for ½ day of birding. We were picked up at our resort in a comfortable 4-wheel drive truck. Our tour guide, Sebastian, was very knowledgeable about not only birds of the island but also history, geography and other fascinating facts about Bonaire. We rode through neighborhoods to see Parrots, along the water and inland to experience the ocean, the limestone bluffs, plants and wildlife. Sebastian took us off-road which afforded views of more species. We then sat at a salinia and watched water birds wander by.

Sebastian was thoughtful and asked if we were up for a hike in various places, or wanted to stop to get a better look or view of a location or bird. He is an excellent photographer, and shared his pictures with us the same day as the tour. We saw many species of birds, and learned a lot about the island.

Sebastian provided us with unexpected extras including drinks, snacks, and opportunities for breaks. We enthusiastically recommend booking with Hopibonaire for bird and/or island tours!

The birdwatching tour with HopiBonaire was an incredibly fun experience! As beginners, Sebastian taught us so much about birdwatching and the island of Bonaire.

The tour was fully customizable to our preferences. Sebastian is very flexible and thoughtful in crafting a memorable tour. He has even discovered his own special locations, making the tour truly unique! Above all, it was a great time, and I’m definitely going to continue birdwatching!

We had a wonderful private tour in the early morning hours to spot the unique birds of Bonaire. Sebastian showed us the special spots, spoke with passion, and captured everything in a beautiful photo report.

The drinks and snacks were also well taken care of. Thank you!

Wow! Just Wow! Four of us did the Washington Park all day tour. We were interested in birding, snorkeling and just a good understanding of Bonaire and the National Park. Sebastian (Bas) did not let us down.

He picked us up at 6:30 AM and got us back home at about 5:30. The day was packed from end to end with everything we had hoped for and much more. The home cooked meal was excellent. Bas does it all and doesn’t expect his clients to do anything but enjoy. And that, enjoy, we most certainly did.

He has several other tours. When we return, we will most certainly do at least one of the others. If you are planning on going to Bonaire and want a great tour with a great leader, then just go to HopiBonaire. You can thank me later.

We were part of an all-day customized 4-person tour with Sebastian (Bas) at Washington-Slagbaai National Park and surrounding areas. We had a fabulous time.

My husband & I were especially interested in flora/fauna (especially birds). Sebastian had extensive knowledge that he conveyed very clearly. He impressively followed up on the couple of species that he didn’t immediately recognize and relayed very interesting information about all other aspects of the places we saw & Bonaire in general such as history and geology.

Sebastian easily modified the tour based on weather conditions and provided delicious beverages, snacks & lunch along the way. My husband was very appreciative of Sebastian’s extra attention during the snorkeling portion of our tour. The day after the tour, Sebastian sent some great photos. We highly recommend this tour!

We had a fantastic time, our guide (Sebastian) picked us up just outside the cruise port at the exact place he said he would.  He took us bird watching around Bonaire to places we would not have found, he took us to a lake for a rest stop and provided refreshments there and then off to do more bird watching, we went to the salt pans where we had another refreshment stop by a lovely quiet beach.

Here’s a list of some of the birds we saw on our trip. Caracara, Blackfaced Grasquit, Bananaquit, Yellow Warbler, Short billed Dowitcher, Black necked Stilt, Tri Coloured Heron, Reddish Egret, Venezuelan Troupial, Yellow billed Cuckoo and many more birds too. A bird watchers paradise.

We highly recommend this trip.

Had a wonderful morning with Bas. The tour was tailored to our preferences. Coffee was even included!

Bas showed us not only many birds but also the beautiful spots on the island.

What a wonderful birdwatching excursion we had under the expert guidance of Bas. Completely tailored to our preferences and, despite having been to Bonaire many times, to unfamiliar places for us. And we spotted birds that we had not seen here before. Bas: thank you very much for the enjoyable morning.

Had an absolutely fantastic birdwatching excursion with Bas! He’s a delightful man, incredibly knowledgeable about Bonaire’s flora and fauna, and has thought of everything. Coffee with cookies while watching pelicans forage, a refreshing drink when it gets warm, fruit salad midway through the excursion. He takes you to all the beautiful spots you wouldn’t know about yourself and lets you completely dictate the trip. If you want to stay somewhere longer, no problem. Highly recommended if you’re in Bonaire!

We had a fantastic private tour with Hopi Bonaire. We saw all the birds we wanted to spot and so much more.

Bas takes you to the most beautiful hidden spots of Bonaire, knows a lot to tell and also provides some treats for on the way! Great idea if you want to enjoy the versatile nature of Bonaire!

What a fantastic morning this was! A very knowledgeable guide who spotted so many birds. Also learned and saw many other interesting facts about the island. Highly recommended!! I saw so many beautiful things. Thank you so much!

We loved our guided tour with Bas and HopiBonaire! Bas managed to fill our 4 hours with a wide range of experiences. We saw many birds, sea turtles close in to the shore, pre-Columbian cave art, and even enjoyed a short hike up to a beautiful lookout.

Bas brought delicious fresh fruit and coffee and was a terrific guide and host. We highly recommend him and HopiBonaire

During our vacation in Bonaire, we connected with Bas and Jessica from HopiBonaire and booked an off-road private tour with them.

During the 3-hour tour, Bas shared his knowledge with great passion about the many birds and other animals that inhabit the island. This was interspersed with stories about the rich history of Bonaire. A fantastic experience to discover the south of Bonaire in this way!!

Thank you Bas, also for the beautiful photos you shared with us!

Last week (8/3), my wife and I went on a customized trip with Bas. Throughout a full day, we visited Washington Slagbaai NP and adjacent areas. On one hand, to become familiar with the areas and on the other hand, to search for all the different birds present, such as the Lora.

It turned out to be a very successful trip, where besides the information about the park and the island, we also lacked nothing in terms of care with coffee, soft drinks, lunch, etc. and transportation. A particularly successful day!

Today we did a birdwatching tour. It was really fantastic. We got very tasty ice tea and cookies. We were taken to beautiful places, which we would not have found ourselves. Afterwards, we received beautiful photos of the birds we had seen. In the meantime, also learned a lot about the country and nature. 10/10 that I would go again.