Spanish Lagoon Mangrove Trail & Bird Watching: Spot Aruba's Shoco

Walk a mangrove trail, find a shell midden from 1465 BC, and hunt for Aruba's rarest owl

A guided mangrove trail tour through Spanish Lagoon, Aruba's only inland water area, where you walk past ancient Amerindian shell middens, the Balashi Gold Smelter Ruins and Frenchman's Pass while spotting the Shoco (burrowing owl), troupials, bananaquits and migratory egrets. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours with a live guide in English, Spanish or Dutch, water and fruit included, and pickup available depending on which option you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Spanish Lagoon and historic sites

• Start at TeleAruba in Pos Chiquito
• Hike along Spanish Lagoon to old bridge viewpoint
• Pass under new bridge and continue mangrove trail
• See oldest Aloe Farm and shell midden
• Observe flora and fauna at inland water area
• Visit gold barge loading point on trail
• Pass protected Shoco nest area for bird watching
• Visit Old Balashi Gold Smelter Ruins and Frenchman’s Pass
• Hike ridge overlooking Spanish Lagoon for photos

The experience

The tour starts at TeleAruba in Pos Chiquito and follows the Spanish Lagoon uphill to an old bridge where the water first comes into view. From there you hike the mangrove trail itself, passing an aloe farm at the ridge before dropping back down to the water's edge. One of seven shell middens sits along this stretch (carbon-dated between 1465 and 1280 BC) a tangible marker of the Amerindians who lived here centuries ago. The mangrove ecosystem here is unlike anywhere else on the island: different plants, different birds, different light filtering through the canopy because this is the only inland water body Aruba has.

The Shoco, Aruba's national symbol, nests in a protected area you'll pass near the end of the trail. These burrowing owls are found nowhere else on earth, and if the group stays quiet and lucky, you'll see one. Beyond the owls, the trail brings troupials, bananaquits, egrets and sandpipers depending on the season. Your guide points out where gold barges were loaded over a hundred years ago (a loading point still visible on the trail) before the group heads to the Balashi Gold Smelter Ruins. Built in 1825 to extract ore from the nearby hills, the smelter operated for a decade and left enough structure behind to read its story. Frenchman's Pass sits just beyond, and your guide will tell you the legend attached to it. From the ridge above the ruins, you get the best vantage of the entire Spanish Lagoon basin: the kind of view that stops you mid-hike.

Water and fruit come with you on the trail. A live guide speaks English, Spanish or Dutch depending on which departure you book. The tour runs between two and three hours. Pickup is included if you choose the transportation option at checkout. If you book the guided tour alone, you arrange your own way to TeleAruba in Pos Chiquito. Tipping your guide is optional and welcome.

What’s included

• Water and fruit throughout the hike.
• a live guide fluent in English, Spanish or Dutch.
• access to the mangrove trail, the shell middens, the Balashi Gold Smelter Ruins and Frenchman's Pass.
• pickup from your hotel (on the transportation options only).

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English, Spanish or Dutch07:30

Guide in English, Spanish or Dutch07:30

Guide in English, Spanish or Dutch07:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomeNot for heart conditions

Operated by Aruba Nature Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose the Private Tour + Transportation option if you want the trail at your own pace with a dedicated guide; pick the Guided Tour + Transportation if you're joining a small group and want pickup included; book the Guided Tour alone if you can reach TeleAruba in Pos Chiquito on your own and prefer a lower price.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What birds can I actually expect to see on the Spanish Lagoon trail?

The Shoco (burrowing owl) nests in a protected area along the trail and is the main draw for bird watchers, though sightings depend on the group staying quiet. You'll also see troupials, bananaquits, egrets and sandpipers, especially during migration seasons. Your guide will point out which species are present that day.

How difficult is the mangrove trail hike?

The trail is suitable for all fitness levels and runs 2 to 3 hours total. It includes uphill sections to the old bridge and ridge viewpoints, but the pace is guided and stops are built in. The walk is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What are the shell middens and why are they on this trail?

The shell middens are ancient refuse heaps left by Amerindians who lived at Spanish Lagoon between 1465 and 1280 BC. Seven of them are scattered along the mangrove trail, and your guide will show you one up close: a direct connection to the island's earliest inhabitants.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the starting point?

It depends on which option you choose at checkout. The Private Tour + Transportation and Guided Tour + Transportation options include pickup. The Guided Tour option does not, so you'll arrange your own way to TeleAruba in Pos Chiquito where the trail begins.

What's the story behind Frenchman's Pass?

Frenchman's Pass sits next to the Balashi Gold Smelter Ruins and has a local legend attached to it. Your guide will tell you the haunted tale when you reach that part of the trail near the headwaters.