Hello,

I just made our flight and Bellafonte Chateau de la Mer reservations for a Feb. 28 - Mar 7 trip to Bonaire! This is our second visit. After reading postings here, I think we would like to snorkel at the Wayaka sites in Washington Park, which we didn't do on our first visit. Do I remember correctly that the only way to get to these sites is a long drive into and out of the park?

On our last visit, I remember seeing something about a company that seemed to specialize in services for folks snorkeling and diving in the park. Maybe they even provided some kind of shuttle service and food from a spot pretty far north on the coast. Does this exist?

What is the most efficient way to do a snorkel outing to the park sites? How long will it take to drive to the sites? How long a drive back? Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks, Janet

we've taken our snorkel gear with us when we tour the park so we don't go there specifically to snorkel. we take a few hours to get to wayaka III but we stop at a lot of places on the way there. we also take a small cooler with cold drinks and sandwiches and have lunch either at wayaka or at slagbaai. i'd plan on an all-day excursion...it can be a rough ride on the park roads so you might as well visit a lot of the sights along the park road. i think the longest part of the drive is after you leave slagbaai...you'll see a sign that says "exit...7KM". that feels like the longest 7KM in the world. but it's still worth doing.

We did the non-snorkeling park sites on our last trip, so I think we'd like t focus on snorkeling in the park this time. If there is anyone who can tell me if you can do the snorkel sites while driving the shorter park route, I'd like to know that. Thanks, Pat for your feedback. You mentioned taking gear into the park and also visiting the non-snorkeling sites. We've been cautioned not to ever leave things in our vehicle if we step away from it. Is that less of an issue in the park?

Janet

Jan: You've got mail!

You can snorkel Wayaka/Slagbaai doing the shorter route, but it's still a day trip unless you like to rush. IMO, Wayaka II is one of the best snorkel sites on the island. The people at the entrance will tell you you must leave Wayaka by 3pm and Slagbaai by 4pm to get out of the park on time. It's at least an hour+ from the entrance to Wayaka w/no stops on the shorter route, and another hour (the 7km Pat mentioned-it is the longest 7km on the island) from Slagbaai to the exit. I would think theft is less of an issue in the park simply because of logistics. But you never know. We did take cooler, food, snacks, drinks etc. when we went in August & were just fine.

Just read that the south entrance will be open to public once a month (first sunday) which will give you a direct route to Slagbaai. You will need a pass (NAF 17,50 yearly) or get a ticket (NAF 5,00 daily) at the entrance and drive to the south entrance from there.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_64837.php

Do you need a four wheel drive car to enter the park or will a pickup truck or SUV be OK?

When we come in January, my wife and I will be diving and the other two couples will be snorkeling. We want to make a whole day of it in the park. Does anyone know if Bonaire has any rentals that can fit six people along with our dive and snorkel gear? Or should we just do a caravan bring two cars?

Bill, Would be better to have 2 trucks as 6 peps, and all the gear may overload one unit. God forbid you don't want to hace car trouble in the park! Bring food, and lots of water, and have a great time... Ron

Jan: despite the challenges (or maybe BECAUSE of them) the Wayaka sites are wonderful. If they were more easily accessible, they would be over-run with visitors and thus, they would not be as good, since the fish might be less "tame", and so on.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my initial post on this topic. I appreciated your comment, Patricia, about the lack of accessibility somewhat protecting the snorkel sites. I had been thinking that, too, and am looking forward to seeing these sites in particular, as this will be a new adventure and one of the many things that will hopefully make our second trip to Bonaire as exciting as our first.