For our last morning in Bonaire, we settled on a mountain bike ride along the wild east coast instead of hiking. The waves there are huge with turbulent, swirling waters all along a very rocky coast. Our ultimate goal was to find Indian inscriptions, but instead, we found ourselves off trail and riding over coral and rock toward a lighthouse set beside decrepit ruins we assumed to be the lighthouse keepers house from years long past. We saw only a couple of local fishermen on this ride. Not one tourist. So peaceful.
After we loaded the bikes back up in our truck, we went to find lunch, checkout and head to the airport. We arrived back in Denver late on Saturday, just in time to welcome snow on Sunday. Pictures from our morning ride are below.
After we loaded the bikes back up in our truck, we went to find lunch, checkout and head to the airport. We arrived back in Denver late on Saturday, just in time to welcome snow on Sunday. Pictures from our morning ride are below.
Looking back on our week on the island...we are glad we got certified to scuba dive, but we feel that it took two days off of our vacation. The last night at dinner, we both said we felt like we wanted two more days on Bonaire. Of course, we are both partial to 2+ week vacations. And who wants a vacation to end!? But scuba definitely sucked up some of our exploration time. We would have done additional hiking, biking and windsurfing with two more days. And probably would've headed back over on a kayak to Klein Bonaire with those curious French Angelfish. All in all, a great week on a beautiful breezy island.
Most visitors to Bonaire go to dive. A lot. The reefs and sea life are incredible, the water is clear and calm, so I don't blame them. But they spend the majority of their time underwater, getting ready to be underwater or coming back from being underwater. I want to say to those people...EXPLORE BONAIRE ABOVE WATER! Drive into Rincon and have lunch with locals, hike or drive in the national park or along the deserted east coast, visit the donkeys - basically leave the resort side of the island and explore the rest of it. It's beautiful. The people are trying to hold onto their culture in the face of Dutch control, and with more and more Dutch expats, it's challenging, but they are doing it. They are welcoming, warm and genuine. Experience island life above the water.
Inside the house
Some of the islands 300ish wild donkeys. Many are in the sanctuary, but they estimate 300 wild with 200 of those sterilized.
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