In short: Around Villa Carolina in Park AyoBonaire, in the quiet Hato neighbourhood on Bonaire, you'll come across local animals every day. It's exactly those unexpected encounters with nature that make your stay here so special.
Anyone staying on Bonaire soon notices that you share the island with a few unique residents. You'll come across them all over the island, and definitely around Park AyoBonaire too. It's all part of the experience and gives your stay at Villa Carolina that little bit of extra character.
Where do you hear roosters in the morning at Villa Carolina?
Lots of free-roaming roosters wander around Park AyoBonaire. In the morning you wake up gently to their crowing in the background, and every day you'll see them scratching around in the bushes across the road. Something you'll notice quickly, by the way, is the ratio of roosters to hens: sometimes it's as much as ten to one! Where those hens are hiding? No idea, it remains a mystery every time. Either way, it makes for a cheerful, rural start to your morning.
Are there donkeys roaming around Hato on Bonaire?
Yes, donkeys roam freely on Bonaire and you'll regularly see them near Park AyoBonaire too. During a drive around the island they suddenly wander past: in the bushes, on the road or close to the water. By now the donkeys are an essential part of Bonaire and the face of the island. It's always fun to hear them bray and see them pass by.
How do you keep donkeys out of your bin?
With a sturdy latch over the container, a simple solution many Bonaireans use. Because these long-eared friends love a snack, you can't just leave the green wheelie bin loose outside or leave the gates open. Nilo, our all-round handyman and gardener, came up with a handy solution: a latch that you pull over the container. That way everything stays nicely closed on the mornings when the bin is out by the road for the rubbish collectors. A real golden local island tip, because we'd never have thought of it ourselves!
Which birds will you see around Park AyoBonaire?
A regular visitor is the grey kingbird, and with a bit of luck you'll also see flamingos and parrots. The grey kingbird is that beautiful grey bird that faithfully flies its rounds around the park almost every day. We've since renamed him Eddie. Hopefully he'll keep visiting for years to come, because it's lovely to have him around.
And are you relaxing by the pool? Don't be surprised if, on a lazy afternoon, a whole flock of flamingos suddenly flies high overhead, or a group of noisy parrots passes by. It doesn't get more tropical than that!
It's precisely these small encounters with the island's animals that make your stay so unique and atmospheric. You experience it all up close during your time at Villa Carolina.
Frequently asked questions about animals on Bonaire
Which animals will you see around Villa Carolina?
Roosters, donkeys, the grey kingbird and, regularly, flamingos and parrots flying over.
Do donkeys really roam free on Bonaire?
Yes, donkeys roam freely on the island, including in Hato around Park AyoBonaire.
Are the donkeys on Bonaire dangerous?
No, but they're very curious and love food (sometimes they even drink from a pool!). So don't leave the gate open and don't put the bin outside unsecured.
How do you protect your bin from donkeys?
With a sturdy latch that you pull over the container, a solution many Bonaireans use. At Villa Carolina it's already in place on the right-hand side of the entrance on the road side.
Can you see flamingos at Villa Carolina?
Yes, flocks of flamingos regularly fly over, and sometimes you can even see them from the pool.