Donkey Beach – Bonaire

About this beach

Donkey Beach, officially Playa Palu di Mangel (‘beach of the almond trees’), is on EEG Boulevard, about 3 km southwest of Kralendijk and directly next to Flamingo Airport. The road is fully paved; an ordinary rental car is enough. Te Amo Beach lies to the north and Bachelor’s Beach to the south.

The beach is elongated and not wide, with fine white sand mixed with small pieces of fossilised coral and large rocks. Large almond trees give free shade. The entry is gradual, but shallow over sharp rocks: water shoes are recommended. The water is usually calm and sheltered.

Snorkelling is possible at three spots with brain coral, starting about 30 metres from shore: north (1 to 8 m, for beginners), centre (3 to 15 m, sea turtles) and south (5 to 20 m, for advanced swimmers). Visibility is usually 15 to 25 metres, best in the early morning. It is also a shore dive site.

There are no toilets, showers or bins; the nearest toilets are at the airport. There are permanent concrete barbecue spots, free to use with your own charcoal and gear. A food truck sometimes stands here around lunchtime, mostly at weekends, but that is not guaranteed. Roadside parking is free. Weekdays are quiet; from Friday afternoon local families arrive with barbecues, tents and music. Planes land and take off a few hundred metres away. Feeding or approaching the wild donkeys is forbidden, as is entering the airport grounds.

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