What it's like
Washington Slagbaai National Park is a national park and ecological reserve on the northwestern part of Bonaire. It was established in 1969 as the first nature reserve in the former Netherlands Antilles, and it covers about 5,643 hectares, roughly a fifth of the island. STINAPA Bonaire, a non-profit foundation, manages it for the Bonaire government.
A visit is mostly a drive. The park has about 34 km of dirt road, and you can pick a long or short route. The long route takes about two hours and passes bird spots, beaches, salt pans, blowholes and historic buildings. Stop at the Visitor Center at the entrance to learn about the park's history before you set out.
Good to know
- The park gets hot and dry. Go early, do not hike alone, cover up from the sun and carry plenty of water.
- The park is closed on national and local holidays and may close after heavy rain because roads become unsafe.
- Scuba diving is not possible inside the park. Snorkeling and swimming are possible at the western shore beaches, but do not swim alone.
- Slagbaai beach is a good place to relax, bring your own lunch, and watch flamingos from a short distance.
Washington Slagbaai National Park
Washington Slagbaai National Park is a wild reserve covering most of Bonaire's north. Visitors drive rough dirt roads past salt pans, blowholes and bird spots, with flamingos and the endemic Lora parrot among the wildlife.
Tours that go here
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Horse Ranch Bonaire
Horse Ranch Bonaire is a horse ranch on Bonaire where visitors ride out on trails, sometimes along the beach. It also has a petting zoo with rescued animals.
Bonaire National Marine Park
Bonaire National Marine Park is the protected sea around the island and Klein Bonaire, home to reefs, shallow lagoons and 86 public dive sites. Most of the diving and snorkeling happens here.
Bonaire western reef
A protected reef along Bonaire's western shore, where divers wade in from the beach in front of their hotel. Divers can walk in from the sand in front of their hotel and start the dive there.
Klein Bonaire
Klein Bonaire is a small uninhabited islet about 800 meters off Bonaire's west coast. It is a marine preserve, and people come for the snorkeling, the turtles and the beach.
The same kind of day, elsewhere
Wildlife and birding
