Playa Palu di Mangel (Donkey's Beach)

Playa Palu di Mangel is located on the midwest coast of Bonaire; three kilometers southwest of Kralendijk. "Playa Palu di Mangel" is Papiamento and means "Beach of Almond Trees." Playa Palu di Mangel is also known as Almond Tree Beach. Almond trees bloom in spring, displaying their fantastic white to light pink flowers!

On Donkey's Beach, there are many almond trees, so you can always find a spot in the shade.

What is the location of the beach?

To the north of Playa Palu di Mangel lies Te Amo Beach and to the south the dive spot North Belnem/Dick's Place is situated. A short distance from away from the beach the runways of Flamingo Airport begin; the airport of the Leeward Island.

Nickname Donkey Beach

Because many donkeys used to gather at Playa Palu di Mangel, the beach earned the nickname Donkey Beach. Donkeys and Bonaire have been inseparably linked for centuries. Currently the majority of Bonairean donkeys live in a donkey sanctuary (Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire). Additionally, a small population roams wild on the island.

Donkey's Beach.

What does Playa Palu di Mangel look like?

Playa Palu di Mangel is a long and narrow beach consisting of fine sand, petrified coral, polished pebble, and pieces of rock (large and small). Due to the presence of numerous trees, there are plenty of shaded areas on the beach. On weekends, the beach is very popular with the local population who enjoy having fun and barbecuing there.

Private or public?

Donkey's Beach is a public beach.

Bonaire National Marine Park

The coral reef of Bonaire is of great beauty and has been intensively protected for over forty years. In 1979 the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) was established, making it the world's first underwater natural park. The costs to protect the BNMP are high. Therefore it is mandatory to purchase a Nature Fee if you are going to enter the Caribbean Sea of Bonaire. The money raised is used to protect the BNMP.

In the sea near Donkey's Beach pelicans are often seen fishing. It's beautiful to see.

What are the activities available at Playa Palu di Mangel?

• Sunbathing
• Paddling
• Picnicking
• Swimming
• Snorkeling
• Diving
• Plane spotting
• Enjoying a sunset

Coral Reef

Snorkelers and divers can enjoy a beautiful reef where there is an exceptional amount of brain coral. In addition to the Caribbean Sea, brain coral is found in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. As the name suggests this type of coral resembles the convolutions and grooves of the human brain; very fascinating!

Within the Caribbean archipelago, the coral reefs of Bonaire are known as some of the healthiest. However, scientific research from 2019 shows that there are significant local differences on the Dutch diving island. In areas where there is a lot of human activity the reef hardly grows and is even eroding. Locations affected include Kralendijk, the oil storage tanks, and the salt pans in the south. Fortunately in other areas the Bonairean coral reef is thriving well!

Plane Spotting

Since Playa Palu di Mangel is on the approach path to Flamingo Airport, it's a great spot for plane spotters. It's very enjoyable to spot, photograph, and film the landing Boeings and Airbuses from the beach!

Donkey's Beach.

Facilities

Food trucks (Cactus Blue Foodtruck Bonaire and Kite City). At Cactus Blue Foodtruck Bonaire, you can order burgers and wraps with beef or lionfish. The lionfish is an extremely tasty fish that is considered a pest in the reefs of Bonaire. This beautifully looking fish is not native to the Caribbean Sea. They are fish that have no predators in the Caribbean, are insatiable, and moreover, reproduce exponentially. If lionfish are left unchecked, they will consume the entire coral reef. To prevent this from happening, they are aggressively hunted and culinarily processed; among others by Cactus Blue Foodtruck Bonaire!

Accommodations

None

Accessibility

Playa Palu di Mangel is accessible by car, scooter, or bicycle. There are several parking spots available at Playa Palu di Mangel.

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• Check out the top 10 most beautiful beaches of Bonaire.
• Watch an overview of the beaches on Bonaire.