AT A GLANCE

Why go?

Washington Slagbaai National Park is the wild heart of Bonaire—a 4,286-hectare reserve of cactus scrub, salt pans, remote bays and the island's highest ridge covering roughly a fifth of the Caribbean island. Established in 1969 as the first nature sanctuary of the former Netherlands Antilles, it protects some 340 plant species, more than 210 bird species and vital sea-turtle nesting beaches. A single day here, driving dirt roads between flamingo lagoons and wind-blasted cliffs, feels like stepping off the resort coast into another, far older Bonaire.↗↗↗

The park is built for self-sufficient explorers: bring your own water and food, rent a proper high-clearance 4x4, and plan around a strict 5pm close. In return it delivers one of the most rewarding half-to-full days on the island—birdwatching from a hide at sunset, snorkelling in secluded bays, and the chance to spot the endemic yellow-shouldered parrot known locally as the Lora.↗↗