Reviews Customized Tour

We had an amazing time exploring hidden and unspoiled spots on the island. Bas is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. He showed us birds and places we hadn’t seen before. Even for those who have visited the island multiple times, a trip with Hopi Bonaire is an absolute must!

It unexpectedly (!) turned into an unforgettable morning. We thought we knew the island—at least, that’s what we believed. But it turns out our knowledge was limited to the wonderful climate, the friendly people, the beautiful beaches, cruising around in air-conditioned comfort, swimming, eating ice cream, enjoying fantastic restaurants, reading books, taking walks, and simply soaking it all in—mostly in the shade, sometimes in the full sun.

And then, this week, the enthusiastic expert and storyteller Bas picked us up for a tour of the ‘unknown.’ With the passion of someone who was there himself, Bas shared stories about the island’s first inhabitants from Venezuela, its fascinating history, the shifting tectonic plates and their impact on the geology, the rising sea levels, the trees and shrubs, the island’s early trade with the mainland, and, last but not least, his deep knowledge of the incredible birdlife that calls this island home.

We had a fantastic morning—highly recommended! It feels like just the beginning; we definitely need another adventure with Bas!

This is one of the very best tours we’ve ever taken. It felt like we came to stay with friends who live on the island and they showed us the hidden gems that most visitors never see or even hear about.

Sebastian was so friendly and accommodating and he was so knowledgeable. We told him the kinds of things we liked to do and he crafted the perfect excursion. And if we wanted to spend a little more time, or stop in between sites it was no problem. We saw SO MANY different things that we would have never found if we were exploring on our own. And to top it off he sent us the most beautiful photos of everything we did.

This was the best day!

We always book private tours so have lots of experience with guides but can honestly say that Jessica from Hopi Bonaire is more than you can hope for. She did a perfect job!

She showed us “her” Bonaire, the island she fell in love with. We could instantly feel her passion for the beautiful nature and the conservation of it. She also took us off road to the more hidden parts of the island.

She is a good photographer so afterwards, we received many nice pictures of our day together. She is so well prepared and has everything you could need in the trunk of her car: from homemade fruitsalad as a morning snack to snorkeling gear, beach towels and a first aid kit. She also prepared a delicious picknick which we took to a quiet viewpoint, truely memorable.

We finished our day with snorkeling at a beautiful reef where she was so patient and encouraging to me since I was feeling a little nervous about this. And she even had an underwater camera to get some nice shots of us and the fishes.

Conclusion for us: She is the perfect guide! If you’re looking for a way to discover Bonaire as a local: Book her. You won’t be dissapointed.

Had an amazing morning with Bas. Witnessed truly special natural wonders and learned a lot thanks to Bas’s knowledge. I can genuinely recommend this trip to everyone. You simply couldn’t make this up yourself…

Once again, we went on a tour with Bas this year. After our previous experience, our expectations were high—and Bas exceeded them in every way.

He guided us to the most stunning spots, places we would have easily passed by on our own. On this birding tour, as it’s called, we saw the most beautiful birds. Bas knows exactly where to find them. He also takes amazing photos of the birds and of us in these special locations, which he kindly sent to us afterward.

Along the way, we didn’t want for anything. Bas had plenty of cold drinks, water, and delicious fruit snacks for us.

In short, it was absolutely fantastic—we enjoyed every moment to the fullest. Without a doubt, we’ll book again next time. Thank you, Bas and Jessica!

We had an absolutely wonderful private tour of Bonaire! From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing. Our guide, Bas, was exceptionally kind, well-informed, and passionate about sharing the beauty and history of the island. He explained so much about how Bonaire was formed and its fascinating history, adding depth to everything we saw.

The island is incredibly diverse, both geographically and culturally, and the tour highlighted its hidden treasures. We enjoyed spotting stunning birds and visiting unique landmarks, all from the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle—a huge plus on a warm day!

Lunch was another highlight—a delicious meal by the water, enjoyed under the shade of a tree. It was so relaxing and perfectly timed, as were the snacks and beverages provided along the way.

We were given lots of opportunities to get out of the vehicle to see things up close and our guide, a professional photographer, emailed us digital photos he had taken during the tour.

We genuinely didn’t want the day to end. This was, hands down, the best excursion we’ve ever taken from a cruise ship. If you’re considering a tour of Bonaire, don’t hesitate—this is an unforgettable experience!

Had a super fun and interesting tour. We visited beautiful spots that you’d never get to otherwise.

Highly recommended! Also, delicious coffee with homemade muffins. Great morning!

Late November, I had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful (custom) tour with Jessica! Together, we explored some of Bonaire’s most beautiful spots, tailored to what I still wanted to experience during my vacation.

Jessica was such lovely company, making the tour not only stunning but also incredibly enjoyable. It was great to chat about the history and nature of this amazing island.

We ended the day with a hike that rewarded us with a breathtaking view over Lake Goto. Unforgettable!

An absolutely amazing day with Jessica! She very kindly re-organised her schedule so that she could take me on this trip of a lifetime, celebrating my 70th year, so very kind and thoughtful.

All communications were so clear and she offered me three alternatives for my day, giving me a great selection from which to choose.

Jessica‘s knowledge of the Island, its history and its wildlife really added to my enjoyment of the day. Her love and passion for the island, and all it has to offer, shone through!

Her fluency in English and her ability to describe the wildlife and the history are truly impressive, not only that, her driving off road was skilful and I felt completely safe throughout the whole day.

I also felt truly pampered and very much enjoyed the coffee and fruit at one stop and a very delicious lunch at another. The tapenade and goats cheese was scrumptious and I really would like the recipe!!

Our day ended with a wonderful snorkelling trip and, as I had broken a bone in my sacrum earlier in the year, Jessica was very mindful of this and helped me navigate entry and getting out of the water. Relaxing with a beer on the beach at the end of this day, was very special.

Another added bonus is that Jessica is an amazing photographer and so I felt I didn’t need to capture all the shots and she had brought her very good camera for taking pictures of wildlife and shots more in the distance. There were two unusual happenings that Jessica captured beautifully with her camera. She all so brought binoculars so that I could get close-up views of the wildlife. Within a day she kindly sent photos to me, further wonderful memories of this trip.

The whole day was a magical experience and Jessica’s company was a joy indeed. My life has been enriched in a very special way, thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jessica. I wish you all the wonders that life has to offer. 

Had an amazing tour around the island! Visited stunning locations, including spots even seasoned Bonaire visitors didn’t know existed! Learned so much, spotted beautiful birds, were completely pampered, and as a cherry on top, received gorgeous photos afterward! Highly recommended, thank you so much!

Sebastian showed us some truly unique places and shared a wealth of knowledge about the island, its nature, birds, and other wildlife. He did so with great respect for the environment and its creatures. Bas tailored the tour entirely to our interests and even shared his beautiful photos with us at the end of the trip. Highly recommended for nature enthusiasts!

In mid-August 2024, we had an amazing and incredibly diverse excursion with Sebastian. We were traveling with two children: one aged 8 and one aged 20, and both of them enjoyed it as much as we did!

Sebastian picked us up at 7:30 am. Thanks to the jet lag, this was no issue at all, and it was still relatively cool outside. Sebastian had a comfortable car with excellent air conditioning. On our way through Kralendijk, we immediately spotted some special birds and donkeys, which we took a moment to admire. We did a “north loop,” and having a guide with us was highly recommended due to the (very) bad roads and poorly marked special locations. Without Sebastian, we would never have found the Indian drawings, the “goat cave,” or Devil’s Rock. We visited the beach at 1000 Steps, and at the end of a short walk, Sebastian had drinks and snacks ready for us to cool down a bit. Along the way, we spotted several unique birds like the Lora and Caracara. The fun part was that Sebastian had his own camera with a huge lens and took stunning photos for us—a wonderful keepsake! He also had binoculars for everyone. Sebastian shared a lot of interesting facts along the way, giving places like Landhuis Karpata much more context and color.

We drove a long stretch offroad—definitely not a pleasant route to tackle yourself in a rental car—but it led to some beautiful spots, like Playa and Saliña Frans. It’s a fantastic place for both bird watchers and snorkelers. We were lucky and even spotted a turtle in the water near us. Once again, Sebastian had drinks and snacks prepared, and he even brought a “freshwater shower” to rinse off the saltwater. What service!

We ended the tour with (many) flamingos, and we even rescued a night heron. We brought it to the bird rescue center, which was a special experience.

It was an incredibly diverse adventure, perfectly organized down to the last detail. We had an amazing time!

Thank you, Sebastian!

Fourteen days in the Caribbean, and the day we spent on Bonaire with Jessica and Bas was the best of all. It was Christmas Day and these two wonderful people shared both their holiday and their island 🏖️with us in a day filled with beauty and wonder as we travelled the length and breadth of the island and snorkelled in crystal clear waters. The day was filled with incredible sights of both natural and historical significance, and each was accompanied with exactly the right amount of information to make each experience more special.

The planning and communication prior to our tour date was immaculate. We were met at the cruise port right on time at 9am. We had a message the evening before with a photo of the meeting point, which was extremely helpful.

Over the next 7 hours, we visited plantation ruins and learned of the tragic history of slavery on Bonaire. We saw wildlife in places of natural beauty which we’d have not found on our own. We saw ancient indigenous drawings, remarkable in their original locations. We had a delicious homemade picnic lunch on a secluded beach, after spending an hour or more on a guided reef snorkel.

The day was well planned, down to the intermittent restroom breaks and the binoculars available for each of us. Cold drinks and refreshing snacks were available from a cooler all day.

I could go on…but let’s leave it at this. Your visit to Bonaire will be so much better if you take a tour with Hopi Bonaire ♥️ As a bonus, both professional grade nature photos and underwater photos were shared with us the next day!

We did a customized tour with Bas and Jessica while on a cruise to the ABC Islands. From the minute we were lucky enough to find them on the internet to the end of the tour, they were friendly, accommodating, flexible and very professional. They tailored the tour to the time we were in port and every detail was covered and every question was answered. We felt comfortable, safe and in very good hands. They were also very patient and understanding.

Bonaire is a beautiful island and Bas showed us all it had to offer on a full island tour that included many hidden gems as well as the more well known spots, a delicious homemade lunch with a nicely set table, drinks, snacks and a guided snorkel to end the day. We saw beautiful fish, turtles and even an octopus!

He explained so much about the history of the island and the wildlife. On the island we saw wild donkeys, flamingoes and many beautiful parrots just flying around free! Also saw several iguanas. They even provided binoculars for each of us to see everything up close! They also had planned bathroom breaks that were very much appreciated. They really thought of everything!

Bas is a nature photographer and took beautiful pictures of the wildlife and sites as well as underwater pictures of us snorkeling and the sea animals we saw! He sent them all to us later in a nice email that we could download.

We really can’t say enough about this tour and the job Bas and Jessica do. They love the island and the wildlife and are passionate about what they do and it shows. Our kids, in their twenties, loved it as much as we did! They want you to have the best experience and we did! Truly a highlight of our trip!

We had an exceptionell tour with a guide that is on the one hand so passionate about his guiding and on the other hand very caring about the people who he guides. In the centre of our tour was the national park. We made pictures our self but he had a professionell camera and made sure the whole day that he catches the best impressions and he send them afterwards.

The different stations of the tour had a clear plan but the fantastic guide made it feel so individual on every step, because he opened up on situations and was very flexible to create the best experience possible. Furthermore he catches the view to wild animals that missed our first attention.

Exceptionell is his ability to explain in depth, we had beautiful conversations the whole day. What made us warm our hearts was his passion for protecting nature and animals and interact in a respectful way. We find ourself in this agenda.

Last but not least he guides to spots that are not crowded or even overcrowded. It felt like the most personell experience. It’s not a normal day to go with him, he presents the highlights of the island in a very unique way. We were happy the whole day.

A day on the road with Bas (HopiBonaire) as a private guide, a great day !! What are we going to do, Bas asked during our first conversation, an existing tour or something customized. It became a tailor-made day.

Starting at Playa Frans and then the big loop in Washington-Slagbaai, all in all a day trip of about 9 hours. Bas knows the area like the back of his hand and shows you the most beautiful spots while telling a lot about the history of the island. The tour included lunch and drinks, Bas said and that was the case, coffee, fresh fruit, soft drinks and a delicious lunch (homemade salads). Well arranged Bas !!

With Bas, I’ve been on tour twice; the first was Gems of the East. I had a wonderful morning and visited places you wouldn’t easily reach with a rental car.

I enjoyed it so much that I booked another afternoon, which completely surprised me. I had indicated beforehand what I had already seen and done on Bonaire, so the tour was customized. And it was amazing! The nature is truly beautiful, and I saw a lot of different birds.

Bas’s knowledge and enthusiasm are very enjoyable and educational. I highly recommend booking a tour (or two) with HopiBonaire.

What a joy we had on our customized tour, curated by our enthusiastic guide Sebastian! A trip around the South with a wonderful guided snorkel with turtles!! A well-organized journey with a beautiful history of this magnificent island with its flora and fauna!

Sebastian, once again, thank you for these beautiful experiences!

Sebastian was an exceptional tour guide, but that word doesn’t do it justice, as it felt like having a friendly local take you around the island. You feel really special on the tour because Sebastian cares about your wants and interests and will work with you to create a personalized tour.

He is exceptionally knowledgeable in the history, culture, and wildlife of the island, able to answer any questions you may have about anything. He went above and beyond by providing a homecooked picnic that he set-up on the beach with a spectacular view.

He also takes amazing pictures throughout the day, that captures the memories made, and he also has an expertise of taking superb animal shots. We loved looking through the album and remembering the amazing time we had on Bonaire.

We had the BEST time ever with Hopi Bonaire. We absolutely loved the island and Sebastian was extremely knowledgeable and instilled us with his love of nature. Beyond his patience and positive attitude, he had incredible energy and just the right temperament for our family. He is an excellent photographer and took the most beautiful pictures. He gave us a great grasp of the rich history of Bonaire.

We enjoyed all aspects of the tour from the North to the South and the magical East Coast. We loved swimming at Salt Pier and seeing the kite surfers at Lac Bai. The blow holes of the East and the otherworldly desert landscape have our heart.

We now have memories to last a lifetime and we will be forever grateful for the experience. You will be in great hands with Hopi Bonaire. I am confident there is no private tour outfitter better to share the treasures of this amazing place.

A couple of days we had the pleasure of joining Jessica and bas on a journey through the “real” Bonaire. It’s incredible how much there is to see!

Both of them are true nature enthusiasts, which is contagious. Their knowledge about all the creatures is astonishing. Seeing Bonaire with them was an absolute joy in every aspect and on every face. They have such extensive knowledge and stories about the history of Bonaire!

Dear, trustworthy people with a great passion for the Caribbean, especially for Bonaire, which in our eyes is truly THE island to be seen. Just ask them, and they will drive and guide you wherever you want to go. The unknown becomes familiar, and the amazement and wonder only grow. Bonaire has so much to offer!!! By going on a tour with them, “doors” of Bonaire open that my mother and I would never have discovered on our own.

We are enthusiastic, and actually, that is an understatement because we are not doing justice to what they have shown us and what they have to tell. Seeing Bonaire in just 3 days is impossible, that’s our conclusion! If you’re going to Bonaire, we highly recommend getting in touch with HopiBonaire.

Warm greetings from Joke and Ingrid

A full day out with Hopi Bonaire in the north of Bonaire. What an experience. We visited beautiful places where delicious treats were presented every time.

After a beautiful walk, we were served coffee/tea with cookies at a stunning viewpoint. Fresh fruit at the blowhole, and a delightful beach lunch with tasty couscous salad.

Bas knows a lot about the nature and history of the island. We saw many birds. A beautiful bird spot at a spring where Bas provided chairs for us to comfortably watch the birds come to drink.

We also enjoyed snorkeling. Bas even brought water for rinsing off after snorkeling.

A top day with a great guide and excellent care. Highly recommended! Bas takes care of everything, you just need to enjoy the beautiful nature.

We booked an amazing custom-made tour. Bas and Jessica passionately share their knowledge about Bonaire and show you places that you wouldn’t get to see on regular tours. It was a beautiful and personal experience where every detail was taken care of. Absolutely top-notch!