The CARMABI Foundation (Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity) is the leading scientific and conservation organization in Curaçao. Established in 1955, it has evolved from a small marine biology institute into a multi-pillar foundation responsible for the island's most critical natural assets. The Four Core Pillars
CARMABI operates through four distinct but integrated departments that define its mission: Carmabi-Press-Kit
If you have secured your spot, you are about to walk where 99% of tourists never go. Pack like a scientist:
You cannot book this on Viator. You cannot book it at the hotel concierge desk (usually).
You must email the research department directly at least two weeks in advance. Why? Because they only run the Exclusive tours when a researcher is available to host you. It is not a scripted tour; it is a guided study. carmabi foundation exclusive
Pro Tip: Ask for the "Twilight Exclusive." That allows you to stay on the research pier after sunset to watch the coral spawning (seasonal) or the nocturnal bioluminescence.
Most snorkel trips take you to Tugboat Beach or Playa Lagun. The Carmabi Foundation Exclusive takes you to the "Restoration Zone"—a section of the reef closed to anchoring and swimming for 20 years to rebound from bleaching events.
This is not just a swim; it is a live lecture.
Yes—but only if you hate crowds.
The standard Carmabi entrance fee is $10. The Exclusive experience runs closer to $95–$150 depending on the activity (dive, hike, or lab tour). However, that money goes directly to the foundation. You aren't paying for champagne service; you are paying for the privilege of seeing a pristine environment and funding its preservation.
If you want a floating mat and a rum punch, go to Mambo Beach. If you want to cry a little bit because the coral is so healthy it hurts, book the Carmabi Exclusive.
To understand the value of the "exclusive" tag, one must first understand the gatekeeper. Carmabi (Caribbean Research & Management of Biodiversity) is the non-governmental organization responsible for managing and protecting Aruba’s protected nature parks and reserves. They are the custodians of:
While the general public can access certain areas of Arikok National Park via a standard entrance ticket, the Carmabi Foundation Exclusive programs bypass the beaten path to reach zones that are otherwise closed to the public—sometimes for decades at a time. The CARMABI Foundation (Caribbean Research and Management of
In an era where "exclusive" usually implies luxury suites and private beaches, the Carmabi Foundation offers a different kind of privilege: the exclusivity of impact.
It is the privilege of knowing that your visit contributes to the preservation of the critically endangered Resticaris shrimp, found only in the brackish pools of the island. It is the access to pristine ecosystems that have been saved from the bulldozer of overdevelopment.
Carmabi’s success is evident in what is absent: the absence of high-rise hotels on the northern coast, the absence of pollution in the park's waterways, and the absence of apathy in their approach to nature.