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Meridiela.

Willemstoren Lighthouse

Bonaire's oldest lighthouse, standing alone on the island's windswept southern tip.

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WhereBonaire
Nearest cityKralendijk
Best seasonYear round
Time to allowAn hour
Getting thereAt Bonaire's southern point; coastal road from Kralendijk, around thirty minutes
EntryFree; exterior only

Willemstoren stands at Bonaire's southern tip, built in 1837 and the oldest lighthouse on the island, a white tower on flat coral ground with the sea running past on both sides and nothing else around it. The wind here is constant and the coast is strewn with driftwood and coral rubble thrown up by the surf. The keeper's house beside it is a ruin. It still works, and the light turns through the night over a stretch of coast with no other structure on it.

What you actually see

  • The 1837 tower - the oldest lighthouse on Bonaire.
  • The southern point - flat coral ground with sea on both sides.
  • The keeper's house - the ruined building beside the tower.
  • The wind and wreckage - driftwood and coral thrown up along the shore.

When to go

Year round. The wind is constant at this point in every season. Late afternoon light is best on the tower.

Honest expectations

The tower is closed and only the exterior can be seen. There is no shade and no facilities at all. The wind is strong enough to be tiring.

Nearby

The salt pans are north, and Pink Beach is northwest.

What to pack for Willemstoren Lighthouse

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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