Washington Slagbaai National Park with Kids: A Family Day-Trip Guide

ⓘ When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Washington Slagbaai National Park - Wikipedia

Washington Slagbaai National Park covers roughly a fifth of Bonaire’s land area, and it’s a genuinely different kind of outing from the island’s beach and dive-focused days: a mostly unpaved park with two driving routes, scattered wildlife, and a handful of beaches accessible only by park road. It rewards families willing to commit a half or full day and a suitable vehicle, but it’s also easy to underplan — between road conditions, limited services inside the park, and Bonaire’s midday heat, this isn’t a spot to arrive at without a plan. Here’s what a family day actually looks like.

Contents hide

I What to Know

II Getting In and Choosing a Route

III Filter out the noise and find what works for your family.

IV What the Roads Are Actually Like

V Wildlife and Landmarks Worth Building the Day Around

VI Boca Slagbaai and Playa Funchi: The Park’s Swimmable Beaches

VII Plan Your Days in Bonaire

VIII Quick Answers

IX Where to Stay in Bonaire

IX.I Harbour Village Beach Club

IX.II Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino

IX.III Delfins Beach Resort

IX.IV Buddy Dive Resort

IX.V Eden Beach Resort

X Ready to Plan Your Trip?

What to Know
The park has two marked driving routes: a shorter “green” route and a longer “long” route through the interior.
Roads inside the park are unpaved and rough in sections — a standard sedan struggles on parts of the long route.
Entry is included in Bonaire’s STINAPA nature fee, the same one-time pass used for marine park access.
The park closes mid-afternoon (check current hours before you go) and has no restaurant — bring food and water.
Wildlife includes flamingos at Salina Mathijs, parakeets, iguanas, and Bonaire’s endemic lora parrot in the scrubland.
Boca Slagbaai and Playa Funchi are the park’s most swimmable and snorkel-friendly beaches for families.

Getting In and Choosing a Route

The park entrance sits at the island’s northwest tip, roughly 30–45 minutes from Kralendijk depending on your hotel — see our guide to Bonaire’s best family regions for typical drive times from different parts of the island. Entry uses the same STINAPA nature tag required for marine park access elsewhere on Bonaire, so if you’ve already paid it for snorkeling or diving, keep the receipt or tag on hand rather than paying twice.

Find Your Ideal Family Resort

Filter out the noise and find what works for your family.

Every resort we review gets one of four Family Fit ratings. The rating is based on kids programming, amenities, vibe, and who the resort actually markets to - not just whether they allow children.

Discover My Ideal Resort →

Inside, two marked routes split from the entrance: a shorter loop (roughly 15 miles, 2–3 hours) and a longer one (roughly 22 miles, half a day) that pushes deeper into the park’s hillier interior. Families with younger kids or limited time generally do better on the shorter route, which still passes Salina Mathijs and a couple of beach stops. A higher-clearance rental, booked through a service like DiscoverCars rather than a standard sedan, makes a real difference on both routes’ rougher unpaved sections.

What the Roads Are Actually Like

This is the park’s biggest logistical difference from the rest of Bonaire. Roads are unpaved gravel and packed dirt for nearly the entire route, with washboard sections, loose rock, and the occasional sharper dip that a low-clearance sedan will scrape on. Speeds stay low — 15–20 mph in most sections — both by necessity and by park rule, and the drive itself takes noticeably longer than the mileage suggests. Car seats and window shades help; the ride is bumpier than a typical drive.

There’s no fuel, food, or reliable cell service once inside, so top off gas beforehand and pack everything you’ll need for the day: water well beyond what feels necessary, snacks, sun protection, and a paper map or downloaded offline map as backup. Families uneasy navigating unfamiliar unpaved roads solo can instead book a guided Washington Slagbaai tour, which handles the driving and route planning.

Wildlife and Landmarks Worth Building the Day Around

The park’s wildlife is the main draw beyond the beaches. Salina Mathijs, a shallow salt lake near the entrance, regularly hosts flamingos and is an easy, short stop right at the start of either route. Further in, the park’s scrubland is one of the better places on the island to spot Bonaire’s endemic lora parrot and the more common yellow-shouldered parakeets, along with iguanas sunning on the rocks near several overlooks. None of this requires a hike — most wildlife is visible from the car or a short walk from a pullout, which matters with younger kids along.

For families who do want to get out and move, a few short marked trails branch off the main routes, distinct from the longer coastal hikes covered in our guide to Bonaire’s best family hikes, most of which are outside the park. Inside the park, keep walks short and shaded where possible — there’s little tree cover on the exposed sections, and midday heat builds fast.

Boca Slagbaai and Playa Funchi: The Park’s Swimmable Beaches

Two beaches inside the park stand out as actual swim and snorkel stops rather than just scenic overlooks. Boca Slagbaai has a small sandy patch alongside a rockier shoreline, calm water most days, and the shade of an old salt-trade building nearby — a reasonable lunch and rest stop partway through either route. Playa Funchi, a little further along, has a rockier entry but better snorkeling, with reef fish visible close to shore in calm conditions.

Neither has services beyond basic shade structures, so treat them as a stop within a bigger day rather than a full beach day on their own — bring your own snorkel gear, towels, and enough food and water to cover several hours away from the entrance. Families wanting a full, easier beach day are better served outside the park entirely; see our beach-specific guide for calmer, more developed options.

Ages, heights, prices, and hours in this guide were current as of publication, but attractions and operators change these details without much notice. Please confirm specifics directly with the venue or tour operator before you go, especially anything with an age or height cutoff.

Plan Your Days in Bonaire

Browse family-friendly tours, snorkeling trips, and day activities on Bonaire.

Things to Do in Bonaire →

Quick Answers

How long should we budget for Washington Slagbaai with kids?
A half day (3–4 hours) covers the shorter route comfortably with young kids; the full long route with stops is closer to a full day and better suited to older, more patient kids.

Do we need a 4×4 to get through the park?
A true 4×4 isn’t required in dry conditions, but a higher-clearance SUV or truck handles the unpaved sections far more comfortably than a standard sedan, which can bottom out on rougher stretches.

Is there food or water available inside the park?
No — there are no restaurants or reliable shops inside the park boundary, so pack all food and more water than you think you’ll need before entering.