1000 Steps beach

1000 Steps Beach – divers heaven

1000 Steps Beach was our first stop on the island of Bonaire. We couldn’t wait to throw ourselves into the water and see thousands of diverse fish right at the shore. We were expecting a beautiful underwater world, but we got so much more. Looking down on the beach from the top surprised and captivated us.

1000 steps is not 1000 steps

As the name suggests, to enjoy the beauty of the beach, you have to go down the stairs. Although its name may evoke an endless climb, there are actually only 67 steps leading to the beach. However, these can feel like a thousand after a day’s snorkeling, and that’s how the beach earned its name.

On the other hand, the view you get when you park along the road right next to the beach will be worth it. Thanks to the stairs, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the beach and believe me, you want to see it.

With its turquoise water, calm atmosphere and excellent conditions for exploring the underwater world, this is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

What awaits you on the beach?

After descending to the beach, you will be greeted by sand mixed with small corals and clear water, where you will immediately see a lot of fish. Surrounded by limestone cliffs covered in greenery, the beach gives the impression of a secluded paradise.

Be sure to choose water shoes for getting around the beach. In the sea, the sand is quite fine, but the shore is dotted with coral. We felt sorry for the people who didn’t have them – their facial expressions reassured us that our stay probably wouldn’t have been very enjoyable without them.

You won’t find any bars or restaurants at 1000 Steps Beach, so be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks. And there probably wouldn’t be any point. We spent less than 20 minutes total on the shore, and other visitors spent even less. However, we did meet a few people in the sea by the corals.

Paradise for snorkelling and diving

As the water at 1000 Steps is clear and relatively calm, it creates ideal conditions for snorkelling right from the shore. Just a few metres offshore, you’ll see an abundance of colourful coral, fish and marine life. Hiding among the plants and coral are various curious little fish that will not be disturbed. There are only a few people here, so they will swim around you peacefully.

The corals around the shore are only yellow-green, which was a bit disappointing. A much more beautiful underwater world was waiting for us on Klein Bonaire.

Keep your distance or take the fins

Beware of fatigue. It is easy to swim away from the shore, but the return is not so easy. Without fins, I had trouble swimming back. Time flies fast when snorkeling, and we woke up after almost two hours.

If you’re lucky, you’ll also encounter sea turtles, often resting among the coral or gliding peacefully in the clear water. Divers can also discover larger fish species, moray eels and barracudas.

How to get to 1000 Steps Beach?

This beach is located on the northwest coast of Bonaire, about 15 15-minute drive from the capital, Kralendijk. Following the road along the rocky coastline, it offers spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. Just follow the Queen’s Highway, which is the main route connecting the northern part of the island. If you’re coming by car, you’ll find a small car park right by the road.