The iguana is a big lizard that you often see on Bonaire. You can find it in trees, in puddles and also in swimming pools. The iguana or American iguana or common green iguana is often called ‘boomkip’ on Bonaire, this stands for tree chicken. The meat of the iguana tastes a bit like chicken and it is a popular dish, especially as a stew during events like Dia di Rincon.
Young iguanas have a bright green color so they are nicely camouflaged in small trees where they love to eat the fresh leaves and flowers. When they grow, the iguanas get a more grey-greenish color and they are still well camouflaged on the bigger branches of trees where they like to hang around.
Would you like to see the iguana while visiting Bonaire? Look good at threes around the garden and in the wild. It might take a while to spot one but after that you know what to look for. Do you want to taste the iguana? There are a couple of local restaurants where they sell iguana stew and when you go to a festivall there will be stalls with iguana.
