boca slagbaai

OK, there is the good and the bad. One first remark, officially this is only for reviewing the Boca (=bay) "Slagbaai" in the Washington Slagbaai National Park. Not the entire park....On the other hand, what could have been different (and positive) for the "boca slagbaai" isn't anymore: no restaurant/bar, no toilets; just a stoney sand-beach after one hour of driving. Getting there with your truck costs USD 25,- pp (which includes your snorkling/diving fee and as many as you like re-entrances of the park). And at the entrance of the park there is a tiny visitor center and a small bar where you can buy a can of coke or whatever else is left plus maybe something to eat. The park itself is worth one visit, driving through it and watching nature and some very, very nice beaches and caves is really worth the trip. For the money, we would have expected a little bit more amenities and enthusiasm at least at one spot in the park. Boca Slagbaai would have been the ideal location for that......Back in Rincon: we went to Rose Inn for a nice authentic Stoba (stew), in a very local setting. Great end of a mixed-feelings trip.

When you arrive at the park you need a picture id to enter. There is a small museum that includes information about Bonaire, the history of the island and the former plantation. It's a solemn part of the island's history. You are instructed to either take the long or short drive. The long drive goes along the coast and is very scenic.the park is where the natural terrain of the island is maintained. The dessert foliage with pencil thin cacti cover the area, you first drive along black volcanic rock - looks like a moonscape. This is on the Windward side of the island and the waves are crashing against the rocks - quite beautiful. We found a perfect cove to snorkel with a white sandy beach and amazing coral reef teeming with beautiful fish. Lots of iguanas and lizards around also. There are also dive sites as well. Some appeared to have strong currents. On our drive after snorkeling we stopped to admire the flamingos in the salt ponds.just breathtaking . You must have a 4 wheel drive to traverse the roads. At the end of the road you cross the park and it's mostly cacti but it's a beautiful arid landscape. Although the park is beautiful and nicely preserved the plantation had a bad past abusing people even after they were slaves.

Nice spot. Enter on the far left in the sandy area to snorkel or dive. Little busier than other spots in the park. Flamingos can be seen in the adjacent salt flat.

There is no restaurant or amenities at this site anymore, except toilet facilities. We drove 1 1/2 hrs through the park ( lots of cactii!!) hoping to have a snorkel and lunch but no go, so we then drove another 40 mins to get out of the park (it's a one-way drive on very bumpy roads) and ended up having lunch in Rincon (Rose's Inn) which was very nice. The park itself was pretty disappointing although we did see some a couple of parrots, some very friendly iguanas and a few flamingos at a distance,

Well, if you like cactus it's the place to go beside that just few coral beaches and you can see pink flamingos if lucky enough. Better to go with a 4x4 if you have to. It takes quite a while to visit as you have to drive a lot and slowly due to row roads

This site is in the actual marine park. It is a serious drive through the marine park. The roads are terrible but the scenery is cool. We hit this dive while there. Not too bad getting in and out. Lots of marine life to see.

Boka Slagbaai is beautiful place where you can drive thtough with a 4WheelDrive. Just look at the flamingos, enjoy the view, have a swim ,snorkel and most of all go diving! Use a car with good A/C though

One of the most beautiful dive sites in Bonaire with very easy access and all necessary facilities at the beach.

While in Bonaire we wanted to jump off the cliff in the park. We decided to make the trek and do some diving as well at the park. Once we arrived we checked out the cliff, and felt a bit u-easy about the depth of the water we were going to jump into. Did our dives (which were ok) and decided to pass on the cliff dive. Probably would have done it if there were other jumpers, but the water just did not seem deep enough. We have jumped off the cliff in Curacao at Playa Forti, ....maybe next time. The park itself was arid with not much to see while driving except for cactus and the rare goat. Glad we went to see it, but won't be rushing back anytime soon.

If you haven't seen tha national park you haven't seen Bonaire. We drove through the park with a very small car, I would recommend a pick up. Beautiful diverse scenery

We arrived at 2pm, knowing they didn't let visitors in the park after 2:45. The guard at the gate was nasty, and clearly doesn't like people to arrive late in the day. He said it would take us an hour to drive to Boka SlagBaai to snorkel, and we have to leave by 4 to be out of the park by 5pm. The road is dirt, full of pot holes, one way, and the speed limit is 20km. It also cost $25 pp to get in, so for our family of 4 it was $100 (less if you have paid the marine park fees for snorkelling or diving, but the total cost is still $100). I agree that you don't get much for your $100. The park is nice in that you see the natural setting of one of the most beautiful parts of the island. It stays protected and thus the wildlife in and out of the sea will not be put at risk. The snorkelling at Slag Baai was very good, but you must be intrepid and keep going beyond the waves and then you will be rewarded. Flamings are cool but you can see them elsewhere on the island. Ultimately I like to support parks and conservation, but the attitude of the rangers was really offensive. Everyone we met on Bonaire was great, expect the employees at this park.

A lovely stretch of beach with restroom facilities (a rarity at snorkel sites). The briny lake behind the beach was filled with flamingoes both times we visited. Facing the ocean, there is a great overhanging cliff the children enticed me to jump from. This site is part of the national park tour, accessible only by the park road.

We had a day on Bonaire where we couldn't dive for 24 hrs before our departure, so decided to see the rest of the island. The National Park was a huge disappointment and regret.There's nothing to see inside the park that you don't see everywhere around you on the drive (on paved roads) to get there. Once inside the park, you're subjected to the worst maintained dirt road (and I use the word 'road' generously) that you've ever seen. At best, it will rattle your entire skeleton, and at worst, very possibly result in a broken axle, wheel or suspension! No kidding - beware! Also check your rental contract, because many say that the insurance is void if you go off paved roads.) The 'road' in the park is also one-way, so you can't even turn around after 5 minutes, when you realize you've made a huge mistake - which means you're stuck for 90-120 minutes of bone-rattling misery, and that's if you're doing the 'short loop'.I don't know how much money they collect very year from the $25 park fees per person, but they obviously haven't spent a nickel of it on road maintenance in the park - for years. The condition is shameful, and someone should do something about it. Where's all that fee money going?!?! Perhaps to the barely responsive, rude 'attendant' in the office at the park gate.

I must have visited this NP at least 10 times in the past 4 years. Not only is this a very interesting geological area, with ancient lava and coral formations and dense vegetation alternated with bare sections and cacti fields but there are also many species of birds to be seen. The park can be toured by 4-wheel drive, but there are also 2 hikes near the entrance that offer very beautiful views. A challenging hike deep in the park is the Brandaris hill: a mere 700 ft but don't underestimate this climb!Birds routinely seen are caracara, various flycatchers, yellow warbler, tropical mockingbird, bananaquit, troupial, yellow oriole, pearly-eyed thrasher and many more; at the salinas there are various herons, plovers, egrets and, of course, the flamingo.In addition to the many bird species there are iguanas, a special type of tree-lizard and once I also spotted wild pigs.A marvel for nature lovers!

Organised by Tropical Travel, a six hour trip, picked up fro hotel.Only two other tourists were in the 'group'. The van was driven by the guide, a charming woman who drove very well, and who could tell us a huge amount of interesting info.It was very clear that she loved the island, and wanted to share this with her guests.She showed us awesome coasts, turquoise bays, huge black limestone rocks, old light houses, a variety of trees, flowers, cactuses and some tiny white beaches, with pink flamingos and other birds, such as the white bellied heron.She explained the function of the plantation... That is what this park actually was.We drove slowly on the bad roads, full of potholes.But, man, what beautiful trip.