Activities on Bonaire: Scenic Drive to the North

One of the absolute must-do activities during your vacation on Bonaire is engaging in the two scenic drives. This blog is about the Scenic Drive to the North of Bonaire, locally known as the ‘Rondje Noord’ (the Northern Loop). The other drive is the ‘Rondje Zuid’ (the Southern Loop), a Scenic drive to Bonaire’s Salt Pans. There is much to see and experience on these scenic drives, and you can easily explore them with your own rental car, scooter, or golf cart.

Do you want to discover more beauty after this drive? Then book a guided tour with us!

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The scenic drive to the North starts when you leave the roundabout at the Marina and Chogogo Beach Resort in the northern direction. You drive through the Hato neighborhood to Sabadeco. Sabadeco is located on the coast. There are two popular snorkeling beaches: Andrea I and II. Sea turtles are often spotted here.

At the end of Sabadeco, past Santa Barbara Shores, the road makes a sharp turn towards the coast. Here, at dive sites Jeff Davis Memorial and Weber’s Joy, begins the Queen’s Highway. This beautiful winding road follows the west coast and is known for its stunning sea views and unique rock formations. Want to know more about the origin of these rock formations? You can read all about it in The Geology of Bonaire.

The Queen’s Highway was constructed in the 1960s with funds from the European Economic Community (EEC). Back then, the road was still referred to by its real name: the Tourist Road (Kaminda Turistiko in Papiamentu). The aim was to make the beautiful west coast and Gotomeer accessible to promote tourism, and it succeeded! The road to Seru Largu and the EEG Boulevard in the south were also part of this project. EEG in “EEG Boulevard” is Dutch for EEC.

1000 Steps (1)

Soon, you will arrive at the parking lots of one of Bonaire’s most famous beaches: 1000 Steps. The earlier you get here, the closer you can park to the stairs. It’s definitely worth taking a moment to look down from here, but we always start our northern drive with one of our favorite activities on Bonaire: snorkeling. In the water at 1000 Steps, you can enjoy the beautiful coral gardens and the sea turtles that are often seen here. Once you’ve dried off and carried your belongings back up the stairs, you’ll understand why we call this place 1000 Steps. That’s exactly how it feels!

Devil’s Mouth (2)

Shortly after 1000 Steps, the Queen’s Highway becomes one-way. After the dive site Tolo, the road turns away from the coast, leading you straight towards a natural bridge called Devil’s Mouth. This dark recess in the rock wall indeed resembles an open mouth. If you pay close attention, you can find the beginning of a beautiful trail that runs along the cliffside.

Plantation House Karpata (3)

Plantation House Karpata, or Kas Grandi as this grand house is also known, served as the residence of the plantation owner and supervisor of Plantation Karpata. This plantation was used for goat farming and the production of aloe oil. On the parking lot, you can still admire the aloe oven. In addition to aloe oil, castor oil was also produced here. Castor oil is extracted from the beans of the karpata, the castor oil plant. Read more about the plantation era in The History of Bonaire.

The plantation house was thoroughly renovated in 1980. Unfortunately, after that, a sustainable purpose for the complex could not be found, resulting in it falling into decay once again. For those who haven’t had enough of snorkeling, there is another beautiful snorkeling spot located opposite the plantation house.

Rei Willem-Alexander Marine Reserve (4)

As mentioned before, the Queen’s Highway ends at the country house, but continue driving along the waters of the Rei Willem-Alexander Marine Reserve for a while longer. In this reserve, named after King (rei in Papiamentu) Willem-Alexander, entering the sea is prohibited. Commercial fishing is also not allowed. Stinapa, Bonaire’s nature organization, can observe how the reef develops when left undisturbed. This way, the impact of fishing and recreation on the heavily frequented dive sites can be better determined.

One regular visitor to this area is the osprey. If you don’t see it flying along the coastline, you might find it on the beach or perched on one of the poles equipped with cameras.

Old Plantation Wall (5)

At the end of the road stands an Traditional Stone Wall from Plantation Brasil. All plantations had to be fenced to keep the goats inside, as described in the purchase deeds drawn up in 1868. At that time, the Dutch Government offered its land for sale. After the abolition of slavery, they saw no viable way to continue profitable government-owned plantations. They decided to sell the land in pieces. As a result, the land came into the possession of family businesses, and plantations such as Washington, Slagbaai, and Karpata were established. Until the Second World War, these owners managed to make a profit, but afterward, the plantations fell into decay.

Behind the wall lies the BOPEC, the Bonaire Petroleum Corporation. The parent company, a Venezuelan oil company, used this terminal to send their oil in large oil tankers all over the world. However, the economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. President Trump on Venezuela in 2017 led to the bankruptcy of BOPEC in 2021. You can read more about it in our blog about Playa Frans. The route to this beautiful hidden gem in the north starts at this location.

Lake Goto (6)

By turning right before the wall, you will drive towards Lake Goto. Get ready for one of our other favorite activities on Bonaire: Bird watching! The water in this large saliña is brackish, although it becomes less salty during the rainy season compared to the dry season. Flamingos, herons and other water birds enjoy searching for food here. The lake is a RAMSAR site, a protected wetland of international importance.

First, on the right side of the road, you will come across a small parking lot with a beautiful view of this area. The owner of the island below keeps goats. Continue on the road from here, which winds along the shores of the lake. During the rainy season, this road is sometimes flooded!

Dos Pos (7)

After the lake, you will continue on the narrow road further inland, heading towards Dos Pos. If you’re lucky, bird watching might not be over yet. Along this road, you will often spot Caracaras scavenging around. These impressive birds of prey are fond of roadkill, and many Lizards are killed by vehicles in this area.

About one and a half kilometers (one mile) from the lake, you will reach Dos Pos. This place gets its name from the two water wells (pos in Papiamentu) found here. Each well has a windmill that pumps groundwater. One windmill is located on the left side of the road, while the other one is behind the vegetation on the right side and cannot be visited. Before the residents of Rincon were connected to the water lines, their drinking water came from these wells.

Dos Pos is the heart of the habitat of the Lora. The buildings on the left side belong to Echo, a local foundation that protects these parrots. Look and listen carefully, as you might spot these unique birds nearby!

At Dos Pos, you’ll find two beautiful hikes marked by pink stones. One trail leads up Montaña, offering stunning views of the west coast. The other, the Dos Pos Hike, is a circular route through the hills on the left side of the road. Avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day and bring plenty of water! Be sure to check out all our other Helpful hiking tips.

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Rincon (8)

Dos Pos is located in a valley. Further along, the road climbs again towards the next valley, where the Spaniards founded Rincon in 1527. This valley provided an ideal location for a settlement because there is always a cooling breeze, and the buildings are not visible from the sea. This was a significant advantage during the heyday of piracy!

Do not drive straight into Rincon’s valley just yet, because at the top of the hill, on the right side of the road, you’ll find Posada Para Mira, a restaurant with refreshing drinks and a fantastic view. Here, you can enjoy lunch with traditional dishes like goat stew (kabritu stobá) with funchi and iguana soup (sòpi yuana) with plenty of bones.. On Sundays, there is often live music. You can also have lunch at Kos Bon So down in the village. After your well-deserved break, you can leisurely explore Rincon.

Rincon has preserved its charming village character. Besides the adorable colored houses, there’s a small supermarket, a church, a café, and… the Cadushy Distillery. This distillery is a haven for liquor, rum, and beverage enthusiasts. They are open from Monday to Saturday and warmly welcome visitors for tours.

Mangazina di Rei (9)

After leaving Rincon, you head back on the main road towards Kralendijk. At the end of the village, somewhat hidden on the left side of the road, you’ll find a historical building: Mangazina di Rei. You won’t miss the large parking lot.

In 1636, the Dutch West India Company (WIC) conquered Bonaire from the Spanish. After the company’s bankruptcy in 1791, Bonaire became the possession of the Dutch government. Little changed for the enslaved workers who had to toil in the salt pans and on the land. Under the rule of the king (the head of the government), they were still subjected to heavy and unpaid labor, and a cruel and inhumane treatment.

The yields were brought to this building. Mangazina di Rei translates to Warehouse of the King. Here, the government slaves could collect their weekly rations. If the slaves were assigned to work in the salt pans in the south, they had to walk all the way to this place during the weekends! You can read more about slavery in The History of Bonaire.

The Rugged East Coast (10)

After Mangazina di Rei, the road makes a sharp bend towards the southeast. After about a kilometer (a mile), you will come across a wide sandy road on the left side of the main road, leading to the East Coast. You can already see the sea from here. If the condition of the road permits, you can drive on it for a short distance. The last 150 meters (500 feet) towards the coast are best covered on foot.

The east side of Bonaire is particularly rugged. The waves crash forcefully against the cliffs, and due to the salty mist, there is very little vegetation in these plains. Further along, you’ll find, among other things The Onima indian drawings and Boka Onima. In our tour The Magical North we explore this beautiful area extensively.

Bonaire Botanical Gardens and Tanki Maraka (11)

Drive 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) further on the road towards Kralendijk. For nature enthusiasts, we must mention the Bonaire Botanical Gardens. Manuel would be delighted to show you his exceptional garden. He passionately talks about the plants he cultivates and their medicinal properties.

For those interested in local events during the Second World War, you can visit Tanki Maraka just a short distance ahead. There was an American military base located there.

Seru Largu (12)

One and a half kilometers (one mile) further, you will see a large field on your right-hand side. Until the Second World War, this was Bonaire’s airport. In 1942, the Americans built a new airport under Kralendijk. At the end of the field, turn right and follow the asphalt uphill. Turn left at the top to get onto the ring road towards Seru Largu.

Here you find the Millennium Monument (also: Cruz Seru Largu), offering sweeping views over Kralendijk and the South of Bonaire. This hill also features a pleasant, accessible trail. The Seru Largu Hike takes you past more stunning vistas.

The sun will probably be low in the sky by now, and this is the perfect spot to witness a stunning sunset. On a clear day, you can even see Curaçao from here. We hope there’s still a cold drink in the cooler!

Get to know HopiBonaire for free. Download this blog as a PDF and let your phone guide you:

Looking for activities on Bonaire? The scenic drives are an absolute must-do! The information above is just a fraction of what there is to discover along the northern drive. If you want to know more, we’d be happy to take you on a tour. During our The Magical North Tour, we also explore the beautiful off-road trails of the North.

Are you also interested in exploring the Southern Salt Pans of Bonaire? Read our Scenic drive to the Salt Pans of Bonaire blog. Just like this drive, you drive it with your own rental car, scooter, or golf cart.

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