Begin your visit to Watamu with a trip to the Watamu Marine Park, a protected area of coral gardens, sea-grass beds, and mangrove forests. As you explore the underwater world, you can spot a variety of marine creatures, including sea turtles, rays, and vibrant schools of fish. While there, take a glass-bottom boat tour to witness an incredible coral garden view.
Start the day with a visit to the Bio-Ken Snake Farm, where research and anti-venom production on venomous snakes occur. Along with learning about the behavior of these deadly reptiles, visitors can watch snake-handling demonstrations with pythons and non-venomous snakes.
From there, head to the Gede Ruins, an ancient Swahili coastal settlement that dates back to the 12th century. Visitors can explore the remains of the city, including a palace, houses, and a mosque, that reveal the architecture and lifestyle of the then-inhabitants.
When traveling within Watamu, taxis and tuk-tuks are easily accessible and inexpensive. However, to save on costs, consider walking as most destinations are relatively close. Local buses run between towns, and minibusses called matatus provide transport to and from the airport.
Transportation costs range from KES 200-KES 1000 depending on the length of the journey, while a round-trip fare from Malindi Airport to Watamu costs KES 3000-KES 3500 in a taxi.
If you have more time, consider a visit to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, a unique habitat bursting with rare bird species and various flora and fauna. If you are short on time, you can skip the Bio-Ken Snake Farm and head straight to the Gede Ruins.
Watamu is served by two airports - Malindi Airport (MYD) and Moi International Airport (MBA). Malindi Airport is the closest airport, located just 30 minutes (20.4 km) away from Watamu, while Moi International Airport is located around 2 hours (123 km) away in Mombasa City.