Do You Really Need a 4x4 on Bonaire? An Honest Answer
It's one of the questions we get most. And yes, we rent out a Jeep, but the honest answer is: it depends on your plans. For many visitors, a regular car is all they need.
Where any car will take you
The main roads on Bonaire are paved and in good condition. With a regular car you can easily reach:
- Kralendijk and the boulevard
- The west coast beaches and snorkel spots, like 1000 Steps
- The paved coastal road north to Karpata
- The salt pans, the flamingos and Pink Beach in the south
- Lac Bay and Sorobon on the east side
- Rincon, the island's oldest village
Some beaches are reached by a short unpaved stretch. These are usually fine with a regular car if you drive slowly.
Where you do need a high car
- Washington Slagbaai National Park: unpaved, rocky and steep in places. STINAPA recommends at least 30 cm of ground clearance.
- Playa Frans: the last seven kilometers are a bumpy dirt track.
- The east coast and the kunuku: dirt roads to places like Boka Onima, and inland roads that get rough after rain.
4x4 or high clearance?
What matters most on Bonaire isn't four-wheel drive. It's ground clearance: how high the bottom of the car sits above the road. A low car scrapes rocks and potholes, and that's how you damage the underside. A Jeep sits high and has big tires that handle loose rock with ease.
So, which car should you pick?
- Beach, snorkeling and sightseeing on paved roads? Our RAV4 or Trailblazer is perfect, and cheaper.
- Want to see the national park or the wild east coast? Go for the Jeep Wrangler. It's the only car of ours allowed on those roads.
- Both? [Ask us about switching to the Jeep for one or two adventure days, depending on availability.]
Not sure? Send Lynden a WhatsApp with your plans. He'll tell you honestly which car you need, even if that's the cheaper one.