Do they ever let people go to the top of Willemstore Lighthouse? The door was padlocked in February, and seems to be in every picture I have ever seen.

Found it open one day--good view. But generally closed--liability and all that, I gather. The stairs inside are rickety.

Hi Greg,

Not really... a few years ago the door was broken for a while so everyone could just go in and up. Nice view! Then fixed the door got fixed and padlocked. Haven't seen it open since. Maybe the key is lost :-) it isn't working.. at least it wasn't a few weeks ago.
The lighthouse at Spelonk is open... the door is completely out... you can just go in and climb up the stair case. Even better view from this lighthouse.. see a lot more island from there. I was up there yesterday..nice 'n breezy!! This lighthouse also not working... and some idiot felt the need to throw an old battery from the top level down the stair case breaking a step and railing. There were 2 old batteries sitting next to the steel battery case which is padlocked through only one eye so it is still open. :-0
For the other battery someone made the effort to bring it up one more stair to the top and splattered it from there on the rocks below.
And when you're there check out the house next to the lighthouse.. it's got a thick layer of the yukkiest slimey algea on the walls inside. Pick up a stick and fiddle with it.. really gooey hehehe LoL
Also closeby is the Spelonk cave. Stalagmites and stalagtites inside..some nice indian inscriptions. There's a 20" diameter hole all the way in the back of the cave, crawl through into another room and you'll find some very nice 'fresh' -tites and -mites with crystals that reflect your light. The entrance of the cave is big, shady and has sandy ground. Makes a nice place to picnic when you are touring that part of the island.

Bas, We searched for that site last Nov...drove through many, MANY bumpy areas , and never found the inscriptions...I have been to the one area that is easy to get to....Steve said he's through with hunting and pecking for these sites! You think you can give me easy (remember I'm from Joisy!) directions? See ya in a few days!

Hi Meryl,

Yer, it's a bit confusing to get there if you don't know. Here goes..Follow the road to lagoen almost to the end. There's a bar close to the end. Turn left 200 yards before the bar, follow the road up the hill, you'll find a gate on the right hand side, go through, follow the road past an old house, down the hill keep left..now you are getting on to the plain and that where it start to get confusing. After heavy rain the area is partially flooded and very muddy. The 'main' hahaha road is then full of big puddles. People look for a way around it and around that and around another one....so it branches out left and right but eventually they lead to 2 roads..
one going to the lighthouse(east) and the other one staying more inland eventually taking you along a rock ridge cliff face. So hang a general left so to speak to end up on the inland road. Keep following the ridge and you can not miss it. The last 1/4 mile is VERY bumpy, it starts to get so bumpy just after a road going towards the sea, also when you look back now you wont be able to see the light house any more, where the road splits again..go left and you're there.
I'm sure this will get you there but if you wanna team up for a lil afternoon safari... I always like to go there.. nice area.. I know a nice route through washikemba to the east coast, passing boka washikemba, around lagoen into bolivia/spelonk area. There's a bunch of neat stuff to see on the way. We bring some food, drinks and a doggalong...We'll have a great time for sure and we might MIGHT just be lucky enough with good conditions to dive boka spelonk.

Bas, the gate your talking about? we passed a gate near a house the gentleman was outside making something out of a cactus????..not sure if it is the same place..I think we got to where the path splits,,and then it got very VERY bumpy never saw a lighthouse...but we were not near the shore,, closer to the hills. at one point it looked like you could take a road that would get you closer to the shore but the "main" road went inland more.....we turned around there...(not at my request) but I could see it would be a bad place to get a flat! I'm surprised Bonaire doesnt have more "all terrain" vehicles..like 4 wheelers to get to the "back" country...

Meryl...as much as ATV's and four wheelers would be great on Bonaire, I have a feeling there would be horrible damage sustained to the island and to the critters who are nesting, etc...not to mention the noise it might create, too. We watched Aruba be overtaken by tourists with ATV's and 4-wheelers and it was not a pretty sight at all. (you can rent SUV/4-wheel vehicles on Bonaire but ATV's are a whole different animal and are now banned, as far as I know). I think it's best if we keep things the way they are....as much as I agree with you about the adventure being part of a great trip and experience, I fear it would produce irreparable (sp?) harm and damage. You and I sound alike...we love to go to places where no one else wants to go....fearless or nuts?? Not certain which it is! LOL. See you shortly! ( Carole

Carole, I am surprised that I have not seen any ATV's on Bonarie, especially since there are so many places that are off the beaten track! I love being off the beaten track...! Maybe Marina can do donkey tours...(I guess then I would start feeling bad for the donkeys!}....dog sleds...????

Meryl,

Not sure where you ended up... the house is really just a ruin.. no one lives there.. never seen any one camp out there either. It sits on top of the hill.
Never seen the lighthouse?? you must have been way off.
My Suzuki van can go almost everywhere on this island as long as it is not too muddy.. only 3 places/roads I can think of it won't go up. It has 2 spare tires so I'm not worried:-)
BTW Carol, the ATV's/Quads are back on the road after some adjustments (lights, mirrors..) Not sure what they are doing to prevent people from tearing up the salinas & beaches... it doesnt seem to be as bad as in the beginning when their tracks were all over the place.

Off the beaten track?
There's this nice hike.. coast to coast across the island, over the hills. See the wild orchids along the way...

Bas, to me this is sad news...(the ATV's being back)...on our October 2000 trip we experienced some young folks tearing up the beach (with nesting turtles nearby, I believe) up at Sunset Beach. We called the authorities and reported them and they were called on the carpet later on. We also saw lots of ATV tracks in the mud flats up at Gotomeer Lake at the Flamingo Sanctuary the same trip....they were doing "donuts" all over the flats, apparently. This is when the authorities jumped in again and "banned" them...at least for a while. I realize there were "safety" issues for the occupants riding them, too, as we could see folks with infants on their laps, etc., but I think it would be better if they were banned completely. The noise they were creating out by the Divi was unreal, too....riding up and down Industria Avenue all night long (3 and 4 a.m, etc). Pretty obnoxious, actually. I wish they could have shipped them all back to Aruba!! 4-wheel drive vehicles are different...they do not seem to do as much destruction as they are not as portable and unable to access a lot of the areas where the ATV's seem to be frequenting. 4-wheel drive vehicles seem to be operated by a more "mature" crowd, too. We will keep an eye out for any abuses or destruction with the ATV's while we are on the island next week and report same to the proper authorities as we did in the past.

Is the party still on for the 19th???!! Ayo. Carole

PS We saw a beautiful brand new sparkling Blue Mini today while we were at the camera shop...so neat! My friend from Santa Barbara Calif has one on order for August deliver...$21,000 loaded up. Neato.

Carole, I have never noticed this but will keep my eyes peeled also...doesnt sound like it would be good for the enviorment..I agree...guess I just need some really good hiking shoes and a canteen!

Yup, still partying 19th.
Mmmm@Mini .... lucky friend you got!

As I recall didn't they outlaw those vechicles , awhile back, due to the irresponsibilities of the drivers? Some things need to be seen "gently".

Back to lighthouses, here's a picture of the Spelunk lighthouse and the abandoned house:

Great cloud formations in the background, too! Nice shot, Jake. Carole

nope thats not were we were...it was inland...off the beaten track...(and it was pretty beaten!) Thanks Jake....