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
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.
Options
Private nature tour: Aruban mangrove forest & pristine coral reef
Pickup included
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
17 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best Tour and Guide on the Island!
887bethanyd,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This private tour was well worth the money! Another company cancelled on us, so we booked this last minute but Fins and Feet was available, accommodating, and reliable despite the short notice. Rob was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable, friendly, and courteous with sharp eyes to spot so many things we would have otherwise missed. He took some great pictures for us! We loved the hiking, the surprise donkey sanctuary visit, and were able to choose our snorkeling destination last minute to suit our preferences. Rob was well prepared with snacks, water, and a wealth of experience that made this a perfect tour (perhaps our very favorite from all 3 of our trips to Aruba). I can't recommend it enough!
Amazing Tour with Amazing People
J5081KDandrewm,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had originally booked the highest peak hike, but my wife's knee was giving her trouble after walking around the mountain. Miranka and Rob were able to work with us on our options to hike around the Aruban mangrove forest. Rob is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the island's history and the nature that lives there. We saw about 8 different types of amazing large birds and numerous other animals. Then Rob took us out snorkeling. We swam with about 10-15 sea turtles the entire day. Amazing customer service, incredible communication, and an amazing time. Thank you Fins and Feet we will be booking again when we return. Andy and Sydney
Very fun and incredibly friendly
anniesF8608TH,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rob took us hiking, to see the Donkey Sanctuary and snorkeling. He was incredibly accommodating with the kids. There were unusually large waves so he took us to a couple spots until we found one that works. We will definitely book with him again if we come back to Aruba.
Great Customized Tour
TeoK76,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great hiking and snorkeling experience. Rob took care of every detail to assure an excellent experience, in contact with nature and customized to our preferences as we were a group of 2.
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!
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