The Bara di Karta car route, named after a central hill in the area, extends for approximately 15 kilometers. This relatively new route cuts through the rural and untouched landscape on the east side of Bonaire, leading past places rich in history and culture. Along the way you will be surrounded by cacti, small-scale farms (known as kanukus), and windmills. In addition, this area contains an extensive shooting range used by the police and military, parts of which may sometimes be closed off for exercises.
Your tour starts along Kaminda Lagun, on the way to the lagoon, where the departure point is on the right. Shortly after departure you will pass the historic Washikemba plantation, once one of the largest aloe plantations on Bonaire, now abandoned with a mansion that has been vacant for years, shrouded in rumors of ghostly apparitions. Then you arrive at the start of the Red Hill hiking trail, known for its varied landscape, a must for anyone who wants to experience the diversity of Bonaire on foot. The route takes you further past a natural saltwater lake (saliñas) on the way to the coast, where you will encounter the tallest tree in Bonaire. This unique mangrove tree, Avicennia marina or the gray mangrove, has started to grow horizontally due to the constant east wind.
The road runs a bit along the coast where you see many large stones and boulders. In the past, these were blown into the country by tsunamis. After the coast you move inland again. Take a good look around you because there is a lot to see here. Kanuku's, windmills and on your right the Bara di Karta hill. Click on the map to enlarge it.