Washington Slagbaai Park Full Day including Hike and Snorkel

Your day begins at the entrance to the park. Here, you will show your STINAPA Nature Tag, which is not included in the tour price, along with your ID, such as your passport, driver’s license, or state ID. At the outdoor exhibition, your guide takes you through the many products that were once produced on the former Washington and Slagbaai plantations, giving you your first glimpse into the history of this remarkable place.

Would you like to start your day with one of the most diverse walks on Bonaire? Then a guided hike on the Lagadishi Walking Trail is a great choice. This 2.5 mile (4 km) trail takes you through a cactus forest, across a wide open coastal plain that feels straight out of a movie, past a blowhole along the dramatic cliff coast, to an idyllic inlet with a unique dune landscape, a small mangrove forest, and a photogenic saliña where flamingos are often seen. Along the way, your guide points out traces of the plantation era and the wildlife that lives here, helping you discover both the park’s fascinating nature and its rich history. There is plenty of time during the walk to pause and take in whatever catches your eye. Because this is a private tour, you set the pace. Do you enjoy walking, but feel this trail may be a bit too long? Your guide will be happy to suggest an option that suits you better. Not much of a hiker? No problem. We will shape the day in a way that suits you.

eavy rain it transforms into a beautiful lake filled with dozens or even hundreds of flamingos. Since this spot lies right along the route, your guide will simply ask whether you would like to stop here or step out for a closer look.

e, is a place you do not want to miss during your visit to Washington-Slagbaai National Park. From the cliff, you look out over bright turquoise waves rolling into the inlet below. At night, sea turtles come ashore here to lay their eggs in the dunes. Your guide shares the story of this remarkable process and explains the conservation work that helps protect these animals. A little farther on, the waves crash dramatically against the coast in a spectacular display. You can feel the salt in the air here.

Your guide knows when this small inlet is truly worth a stop. Boka Chikitu is at its best when strong trade winds send powerful waves into the inlet.

In this dramatic moonscape, sharply bordered by a million-year-old cliff, you will discover Bonaire’s extraordinary geology, search for fossils, and experience the power of the ocean up close. Bonaire is an island of hills, cliffs, and terraces, and at Seru Grandi all of them come together. That makes this one of the best places to dive into the story of how these remarkable landscapes were formed. This area was shaped, and is still being shaped, by the rugged sea. You feel that most clearly at the Suplado Blowhole and at the hidden sea cave your guide will point out to you. This is the perfect place to lose yourself in the crashing, swirling, and exploding water, with plenty of time to take it all in at your own pace.

At Boka Kokolishi, you can experience the raw force of the ocean from the cliff above, from the small beach inside this photogenic inlet, or of course both. With a deep roar, the waves push into the boka, break against the rocks, and then quietly roll onto the little beach. It is the perfect place for a short break with fresh fruit and a drink of your choice. This area is also known for the hundreds of fossil corals and shells preserved in the limestone terrace.

Then a visit to the Ricardo Winklaar Lighthouse on Seru Bentana is an excellent choice. Here, your guide will also tell you the tragic story of Ricardo Winklaar, the lighthouse keeper after whom the tower was named. This white lighthouse in northern Bonaire looks a bit like a small church. It dates back to 1927 and is still in use today. The tower stands on a long, narrow cliff. On one side, you take in the island’s entire northern tip, including the lighthouse ruin of Malmok. On the other, you look out over the gently rolling Savana valley, with the ridge behind it that separates the former plantations of Washington and Slagbaai.

Under the right conditions, Pos Mangel can be a true bird paradise. Bonaire is a dry island, and outside the rainy season there are very few places where birds and lizards can find drinking water. Because Pos Mangel holds a small pool of fresh water year-round, it is a green oasis in the park. Under the right conditions, it can attract large numbers of birds. Your guide knows the park inside and out and will advise you whether this spot is worth including during your Washington-Slagbaai tour. Visiting a different well is also possible.

Do you love photographing abandoned landscapes and old buildings? Then make sure to choose a visit to the lighthouse ruin of Malmok. Because of a planning mistake, a low lighthouse was built at Malmok, the absolute northern tip of Bonaire, in 1921. The tower was too low to be seen from a useful distance, and to make matters worse, it was not visible at all from east of Seru Bentana and Seru Grandi. The solution came with the construction of a new lighthouse on Seru Bentana. What remains today is the dramatic sight of the crumbling Malmok lighthouse standing alone in a stark, empty landscape.

Here, you drive across the coral dam that separates Saliña Bartol from the sea. This is where you learn how this natural barrier helps protect coral reefs while also creating habitat for flamingos and other waterbirds.

Stretch out in the lounge chairs under the palapa, or take the more active route and head down the stairs to the small sandy beach below the cliff. Whichever way you choose to enjoy it, the jagged rocks and bright blue water will leave an impression.

This little pebble beach sees very few visitors.

Ready for lunch with a fantastic sea view? In the saliña behind the former harbor of Playa Funchi, flamingos are often easy to spot. While you enjoy these colorful birds through binoculars, your guide sets the table for a full lunch. There is also a good chance you will meet Bonaire’s impressive green iguana here. Feel free to take photos, but please do not feed them. Feeding wildlife is not allowed, and these animals are perfectly capable of finding their own food. Would you prefer a later lunch? No problem. In that case, we will serve lunch at Boca Slagbaai.

m, or wade into the shallows, Wayaka Beach is a wonderful place to cool off during the hottest part of the day. A guided snorkel is the best way to explore this varied reef and its colorful marine life. Your guide takes you to the most beautiful spots and points out things you might easily miss on your own. Photos are also taken underwater, giving you wonderful memories to look back on after your adventure. Because this is a private tour, you set the pace. Professional rental snorkel gear is available on request. Feeding marine life is forbidden in this marine park, and as an eco-friendly tour operator, we do not allow it.

At this boka, you will find the famous ochre-yellow buildings that stand out beautifully against the bright blue water. Your guide knows the best angles to help you capture this iconic place at its best. This is also a lovely place to find a shady spot and enjoy a cold beer, wine, or another drink of your choice. While your guide sets up camp, you can take a bathroom break and enjoy the flamingos that are often seen surprisingly close by.

On its shore stands an observation tower with beautiful views over the saliña and Slagbaai Bay. If Slagbaai feels too crowded, your guide may suggest stopping here instead to enjoy a drink in peace and quiet.

After a bumpy ride back through the heart of the national park, you arrive once again at the park entrance. This is the perfect moment for a quick restroom stop, one last visit to the museum, or a little souvenir shopping at the nicest gift shop on the island. After that, you will be dropped off back at your accommodation.