Washington Slagbaai Park
If you’re looking to do a bit of island exploration, Washington Slagbaai park in Bonaire is worthy of a truck rental . Of course the park hosts several great dive and snorkeling sites, but there's much more to experience here. Upon entering the park you'll be immersed in the desert-like conditions of undeveloped land waiting to be explored.
There are more cacti than trees here, lots of sage brush and a variety of creatures, like the 6 ft. long iguanas you’ll see re-energizing themselves in the sun. The soil is arid; you won't find any rain-loving plants here. You will find Salinas, or salt ponds though. Goto Meer salina is a favorite with both tourists and Flamingos alike. This is the best lake to view these beauties up close (the flamingos, not the tourists) and to capture some nice pictures. In the breeding season from January through July, the shy Flamingos really display their quirks. The tourists display their quirks year-round.
Looking for a good place to hike or mountain bike? The highest peak in the park is Brandaris at 787 feet (240 M) high. From start to finish this is a good hour and a half hike with stunning views of the Caribbean. From this vantage point, both Curaçao and Venezuela are visible.
There are over 190 species of birds protected on Bonaire and many of them live on this part of the island. The hike up Brandaris Mountain is a great place for bird watching; keep your eyes open for the Lora (Amazon parrot) with its lime green body and yellow head.
Seven of the beaches here are dive or snorkeling sites . The rest of the beaches are secluded and more often than not unoccupied. It's not often that you can come to a Caribbean island and find such hidden jewels. This is one of the many things that make Bonaire so special.
In the far Northeastern corner of Washington Slagbaai Park there are ruins of the Malmok lighthouse and research center, which is another great photo op and a reminder of the rich history of Bonaire. Watch for opportunistic iguanas and birds looking for a hand-fed snack.
To enter the park make sure you bring your park tag along which is included with your dive orientation, otherwise you will have to pay a nominal fee of $10 for adults and $5 for children. Give yourself plenty of time to explore this part of the North island, as it takes at least 2 hours to drive around the whole park. Washington Slagbaai park opens at 8am (except Christmas) and closes at 5:00pm. There is no admittance after 2:45pm.
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Near the main beach, Boca Slagbaai, the park has some buildings dating back to 1878 that are still in use. Boca Slagbaai is also a fantastic, family-friendly reef for