Washington Slagbaai National Park

The entrance is about forty-five minutes' drive from Kralendijk, and it was the first nature reserve in the Dutch Caribbean when the former plantations became a park in 1969.

Inside there are two one-way routes: a long one of about thirty-four kilometres and a shorter loop, both unpaved and both rough in places. They take you past Playa Chikitu and Boka Slagbaai, the salt pond where flamingos feed, and the foot of Mount Brandaris, the island's highest point. Iguanas, parakeets and goats are everywhere.

This is a full day and it has hard edges: the gate lets nobody in after half past two in the afternoon and everyone must be out by five. There is an entrance fee at the gate, separate from the nature fee. Take water, fuel and a spare tyre — most rental agreements exclude the park, and there is no help inside it.