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Northern Tour ... Touring the North is a different kettle of fish altogether. Firstly, you can see as you head north out of Kralendijk that there actually some hills up in the distance! Its makes a big change from the flat-as-a-pancake South. Keeping to the coastline, you head towards Gotomeer, a neat lagoon surrounded by mangroves and green vegetation. Gotomeer is the other area where flamingos gather on Bonaire. The road runs close to the lagoon's edge and you can get a good snapshot of flamingos from your car window; the birds tend to be more relaxed here and not quite so skittish as in their breeding grounds in the South. The pink birds against a green backdrop makes for startling photos. You will see on your journey alot of Bonaire's typical savannah-like vegetation consisting of short grasses, large cacti and thorn bushes. In this seemingly harsh environment there are many bird species that make their home. You may also find the odd wandering donkey. This is quite normal, but do be careful as they are not familiar with the highway code! Back down the road and a quick turn to the left sends you towards the historical settlement of Rincón. This small town was the first 'settlement' in Bonaire and dates back to 1527. There is a small crest just before the town and makes for an ideal photo opportunity looking down the road into the settlement. Rincón has a number of pleasant walkways and cycle paths and has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It is the cultural centre of Bonaire. East of Rincón on a side road there are a number of Arawak Indian rock carvings & paintings. These date back at least 500 years and are a reminder that Bonaire was inhabited long before Europeans "discovered" the island. In fact there is evidence of Arawak colonisation as far back as 1300 BC. These carvings are the only remaining testament to the considerable Caquetio Arawak Indian "pre-european" history. Northwest of Rincón lies the Washington/Slagbaai National Park which celebrates its 30th Anniversary in 1999. The park entrance is at the end of the road that heads north out of Rincón. The park spans 13,500 acres and covers virtually all the top Northwest segment of the island. It is an excellent bird sanctuary and there are tens of local and itinerant bird species as well as lazy, elusive iguanas. The route through the park is rugged, so drive carefully. To find out more about where to go in the Park visit our Washington/Slagbaai National Park page. Back into Rincón and out the other side takes you towards the East Coast at Boka Olivia. The road swings down through the village of Noord Saliña and finally back into Kralendijk. The town is busier than Rincón and like many towns in the Caribbean with Dutch heritage it is neat and efficient, well signposted and well organised. Buildings are typically painted in bright colours like orange and yellow with bright red roofs. Much of the colonial architectural style is maintained and gives the town a unique feel. |
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