Private Tour
Private nature tour: Aruban mangrove forest & pristine coral reef
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Get up close and personal with Aruba's wildlife in a way that's unique on the island. You'll start your privately guided hike at the Balashi gold mill ruins, where you’ll learn all about its history and enjoy a great view from Spanish Lagoon. You’ll then venture into the surrounding hills and mangroves, where you’ll enjoy Aruba’s local birds and flora.
After the hike you can cool off at Mangel Halto, snorkeling past healthy coral reefs under guidance of an experienced, EFR certified private guide. You can expect a private experience that is 100% catered to the pereference and experience level of your group. The activities are extremely versatile and can be adapted on the spot if you decide to take it easy, or want to look for more adventure.
Please note that we do not operate by boat. Boat engines are loud and disturb (and potentially damage) marine life. By approaching from shore, you get to access rarely-visited spots that are more vibrant with fish, coral and other marine life.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Balashi Gold Mill Ruins
Learn about the history of this old Aruban gold smelter and enjoy a great view of Spanish Lagoon. Afterwards we’ll venture into the surrounding hills and mangroves for more views and an up-close encounter with Aruba’s nature.
Mangel Halto Beach
Drift snorkel past Mangel Halto's outer reef, spotting reef fish and beautiful coral heads.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Use of mineral sunscreen (reef-safe)
Soda/Pop
Use of towels
Snacks
Private guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Use of snorkeling gear
Underwater pictures
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private nature tour: Aruban mangrove forest & pristine coral reef
Pickup included
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Top-notch experience with a wonderful guide !
Sunnyflash1,,Feb 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a treat this was ! We have visited Aruba for a number of years, but it was an eye-opening revelation to experience more of Aruba's natural beauty with Fins & Feet. First of all, Rob is delightful and is highly committed to making the experience interesting, educational, safe and fun. He was attuned to our needs and capabilities. And he brought with him water and refreshments and excellent snorkeling equipment. After discussing various options, and based upon our hiking skills (or lack thereof) and the rough waters where we would normally have gone snorkeling, Rob tailored our trip to the circumstances beautifully. The result was a delightful hike and a greater appreciation of Aruba's varied natural beauty and a snorkeling adventure that was fantastic, featuring several sea turtles ! At all times Rob was knowledgeable, clearly committed to respecting and appreciating nature, and protective of us as his guests. We even enjoyed the donkey sanctuary that we visited. We would highly recommend this as a terrific addition to the more traditional beach experience that also make Aruba great. Rob showed us other aspects of Aruba that greatly enriched our trip. Highly recommended !
Wonderful experience! Recommend to everyone!
ef576,,Nov 25, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I went to Aruba to celebrate my birthday. We took a hiking & snorkeling tour with Rob and Christina! First part was to walk through the Spanish Lagoon. We had a great time and liked it very much. Rob provided lots of information about everything what we were interested in. In addition, we had a conversation about Fifa World Cup 2022 and Rob showed deep knowledge of world of professional soccer, which was an “extra point”. We also swung by Donkey sanctuary. We had so much fun feeding donkeys, chickens and peacocks. Second part of the trip was to snorkel through coral reefs. I had a blast and an excellent experience with guide Christina! She was taking so many pictures of me under water that made the trip even more memorable. My wife did not snorkel but spent time on the beach nearby. By far, it was one of the best snorkeling experiences we have ever had so far. Everything was just awesome! We love Aruba, one of the beautiful islands in Caribbean! We will definitely be coming back! I would recommend this company for everyone who wants to combine hiking and snorkeling! I would like to thank Rob and Christina for wonderful experience!
We highly recommend Fins & Feet for a personal and dedicated, safe and ecologically responsible experience.
mathieudesmet,,Sep 29, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked the sunrise hike and the mangroves and corals experience in advance of our trip to Aruba. Communication with Miranka was very clear and prompt. Once in Aruba the natural sunrise hike was fantastic. We started of early morning after, in the dark even. Our guide Monica showed us around and guided us to the natural pool. My wife was hesitant because of the not so calm water. But with Monica's help and guidance, she made the jump and was happy she did! On our way back Monica pointed out some cactus fruits, which we enjoyed eating. A very well spent morning! For our second tour Rob was our guide. We had a beautiful and very interesting hike through the mangroves, learned about history, nature and local culture at the same time. At the end of our tour we spotted several burrowing owls. For our snorkeling trip in open sea my wife was very nervous, but thanks to Rob's calm and clear explanations and guidance, this too was a great succes. Everything went smooth, the reef was just the most beautiful thing, and with Rob pointing out several gorgeous fish and corals, this was just an amazing experience. We did see the typical mass snorkeling at Tres Trapi, 4 boats and about 80 people in the water at the same time, and we were so glad we booked this eco- and reef friendly personal and safe snorkeling experience! We highly recommend Fins & Feet for a personal and dedicated, safe and ecologically responsible experience.
Person Touches & Expertise Make the Experience!
K1694EArachelm,,Jul 9, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was our favorite excursion in Aruba. Monica led our hike and snorkel trip. Her calm confidence, warmth and knowledge of the island made the experience. We also loved the personal, thoughtful and eco-friendly touches of aluminum water bottles, homemade sandwiches and fruit in reusable containers, and a stop to feed the donkeys our watermelon rinds. Highly recommend for the experience and opportunity to connect with locals in an authentic way. Thank you, Monica and Fins and Feet!
Lots to see and learn
365marjoleinw,,Feb 14, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We very much enjoyed the hiking early in the morning, with a lot of information from Rob on plants and animals. The snorling part of the tour was really marvelous, with a lot of colourful fish and some pieces of coral reef. A great experience, with a personal touch!
Highlight of trip - best snorkeling ever
beth p,,Dec 17, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I wrote a more extensive review about Fins and Feet - but this is the particular hike we did and we loved it. The highlight was the snorkeling, but the mangrove itself was fascinating. And we were happy to get away from the hotel areas and explore this unusual site (a former gold mill and lagoon and mangrove. We saw eagles and owls and no rattlesnakes ( to my delight). The snorkeling was phenomenal - the best snorkeling experience I've ever had. I'll be dreaming about it for the rest of my life. It's a magical world and it's our responsibility to protect it. Fins and Feet offers the chance to witness the beautify while not harming it, and that made the experience all the better. Thank you Rob!
Great personal tours
patton725,,Oct 10, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rob did a great job spotting wildlife and local plants. Was very knowledgeable about the ecology. We saw a rattlesnake, owls, osprey and others. Took the extra steps of showing off a local bakery and introducing us to local favorites. They specialize in small groups. We were the only ones on both of our excursions so great personal service. Highly recommended!!
An experience to remember!
Brenda H,,Jul 25, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00If you do only one excursion do this one! Monica, our tour guide was awesome! The hike gave us a unique perspective on the greener side of the island. Hands down the snorkeling was the best experience we had on our vacation. The snorkeling was so well thought out going from one spot and drifting along the way seeing an incredible variety of fish and coral and ending up at a beautiful beach. This was such a safe and truly enjoyable family experience with my three teenagers, thank you Monica and Feet’s and Fins!!
Wonderful hike and snorkel!
jaclynkp,,Mar 23, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed this private hike and snorkel excursion. The hike gave us a chance to see more of the island with our knowledgeable tour guide, Rob. A good mix of nature and exercise! A surprise trip to the Donkey Sanctuary gave us more insight to the islands history and a chance to spend time with donkeys, peacocks, and roosters. ending with a snorkeling adventure where we saw plenty of underwater “friends”! Would recommend.
Endangered wildlife & tropical fish
jasonsW7757OE,,Mar 7, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed our time with Rob! We figured the mangrove hike would be an underrated excursion, and we weren't wrong. The hike took us through several different biomes, from the mangrove swamp to sand flats to xeric upland shrublands. Wildlife we saw included threatened burrowing owls, and the native eagle. Flora in bloom ran from aloes to passionflowers to barrel cactus. Afterwards, we did the reef snorkel, which was certainly the best-equipped snorkel I'd done. Rob had modern, higher-tech, easy-to-use equipment that looked brand new. He led us down a current over a reef not far offshore. It was enjoyable to drift with the current and watch the colorful tropical fish. We did experience a little hitch with our reservation at first, but Rob and Marinka accommodated us eagerly. Would absolutely recommend any of Rob's excursions to see the hidden side of Aruba!
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