Bonaire visitor tax and nature fee: what to arrange before snorkelling

Start at the official visitor-tax portal

Open the government’s information page and follow its payment link to tourismtax.bonairegov.com. Check the current categories, exemptions and payment window there rather than relying on a copied tariff. Save the confirmation or QR code where you can retrieve it without mobile data. If a payment fails, use the official support route before trying an unrelated reseller.

Check the activity, not just the word “diving”

STINAPA manages the marine park and Washington Slagbaai National Park. Its requirements also matter to visitors who snorkel or use protected areas without scuba equipment. Check which fee and proof apply to your plans, age and circumstances. Ask an excursion provider whether the required fee is included, arranged for you or left to you to pay separately.

Plan the reef visit around your ability

For an unfamiliar site, ask for an orientation or guided outing and describe your experience honestly. Agree the entry, exit and what to do if someone wants to stop. Avoid touching coral or wildlife and do not take natural souvenirs. Keep fins and equipment clear of the reef. A photo opportunity should never depend on moving an animal or standing on coral.

Related guide: Bonaire weather: rain, hurricane season and your days at sea

Klein Bonaire: organise both crossings

Before booking a water taxi or tour, confirm the return departure, meeting point and what you must bring yourself. Ask about shade, drinking water and the suitability of the proposed snorkel plan for your group. Keep your return instructions with you. Treat a weather cancellation as a reason to change plans, not to improvise an independent crossing.

Keep two confirmations in your travel folder

The Visitor Entry Tax concerns your arrival circumstances; STINAPA's Nature Fee concerns access and activities covered by its rules. They are not interchangeable receipts. Save each applicable confirmation with the name of the traveller and the relevant date so it is easy to identify the right document when asked.

Use the government portal for the visitor tax and the link provided by STINAPA for the nature payment. Check exemptions and categories on those official sites for each person. Do not assume that a hotel, cruise or excursion booking has included either payment unless the provider explicitly confirms it.

A family checklist before paying

List the ages, residency circumstances and activities of the people travelling. Then compare that list with the official eligibility rules. Children, residents and cruise visitors can have different conditions; avoid applying the answer for one traveller to the whole group without checking.

Keep passport or identity information private while completing the required process. If a confirmation is missing or a payment appears incorrect, contact the relevant official service before paying again through a different website. An advertisement using familiar colours or the island's name is not sufficient evidence that it is the official portal.

Paying does not remove activity restrictions

A valid fee does not make every entry, site or activity appropriate. Follow current closures, equipment-cleaning instructions and the guidance of qualified operators. Match the outing to ability and conditions. The marine park protects a living environment, not a fixed list of attractions that must all remain available.

If choosing Klein Bonaire, organise the crossing and shore needs separately. If visiting Washington Slagbaai, confirm the road and vehicle arrangements. Keep the practical planning attached to the actual place you will visit rather than treating the payment as the final preparation step.