Trip to the Caribbean Island Bonaire
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Bonaire - a small island located only about 80 km from the coast of Venezuela (it is the letter B in the ABC islands) in the southern Caribbean. A wonderful island for eco-tourism enthusiasts, known for its flamingo sanctuary at Goto Lake, but primarily considered a paradise for divers and snorkelers and one of the best places in the world for diving.
Only 14,000 residents live on the island, most of whom are of Dutch or German descent. It is an arid and flat island where the main vegetation is cacti. The local currency is the US Dollar.
There is no rainy season on the island and the temperatures are warm and comfortable all year round, ranging between 26-30 degrees Celsius. The cruise ship pier on the island is located in the center of Bonaire's capital city, Kralendijk.
On the main street adjacent to the pier, there are several pubs, restaurants, and mostly souvenir shops and a small artists' market.
Recommended Hotels in Bonaire
The Bellafonte - Luxury Oceanfront Hotel
A 4-star hotel with suites, studios, and penthouses. Located on the beach near a coral reef excellent for snorkeling. It has a private pier for easy access to the water. Jacuzzi, free Wi-Fi, and parking.
A 4-star hotel on the beach including a pool, restaurant, bar, and gym. Free parking and Wi-Fi.
Courtyard by Marriott Bonaire Dive Resort
A 4-star hotel with family rooms for up to 4 adults and 3 children. Infinity pool, gym, restaurant, bar, free Wi-Fi, and parking.
A 4-star boutique hotel. Located 10 minutes' walk from the city center and the beaches. Rooms with kitchen and balcony. The hotel has a pool, free Wi-Fi, and parking.
Ways to Reach Bonaire
Besides arriving by cruise ship, there are flights to Bonaire from Europe: from Germany and the Netherlands, from several destinations in the eastern United States and Canada, and from South America. Some flights have a connection in the nearby islands: Aruba and Curacao.
Tours in Bonaire
Guided tours in Bonaire from the recommended Viator website:
♦ Land tours adapted for cruise ship passengers - include pickup and return from the port:
♦ Sea/Water tours adapted for cruise ship passengers - include pickup and return from the port:
Google map of the Bonaire Island:
Additional Tours
A very amusing and recommended way to tour the island is a guided self-drive tour in a small and cool electric car named "Twizy" from the company Roadrunner.
Driving the vehicle is easy and fun. It is designed for a maximum of a driver and a passenger. The recommended German guide Hans,
Who is also the owner of the company (and also has a holiday apartment for rent in a central location) will lead you between the island's must-see sites on a scenic drive among many cacti and giant lizards: visit the villa neighborhood on the hilltop, featuring charming villas with a spectacular view, the popular and impressive "1,000 Steps" diving site (don't worry, it is reached by only a few dozen stairs, but its name was given because when climbing the stairs with oxygen tanks and all the diving gear, it feels as if you are climbing a thousand steps), the Goto-meer salt lake with many pink-orange flamingos,
Visit the city of Rincon, in the northwest of the island, stop at a cute local restaurant with a view of cacti to eat "iguana soup" (considered the Viagra of the island) and taste liqueurs in interesting flavors and spectacular colors at the "Cadushy" Distillery. Highly recommended is a green liqueur produced from cacti (you can watch a short video on site describing the liqueur preparation process). The electric car tour duration is about three hours including all stops. Afterwards, Hans will take you to a recommended beach at Eden Beach near Spice Beach, where it is wonderful to swim and snorkel. At the recommended beach, which has lounge chairs, organized locker rooms, and even a swimming pool, there is free Wi-Fi.
Video about Bonaire:
"Klein Bonaire"
Adjacent to the island of Bonaire, a about fifteen-minute boat ride from the cruise pier, is a small island called: "Klein Bonaire" (Little Bonaire) which is a nature reserve without hotels, restaurants, or facilities, but with wonderful beaches and a reef surrounding the entire island teeming with fish of all sizes and species, and also a sea turtle sanctuary. In fact, all the water between Bonaire and Klein Bonaire is a marine nature reserve called Bonaire National Marine Park. You can take a Water Taxi from the city center to the small island.
For cruise ship passengers, you can take a tour on behalf of the ship where you will sail from the cruise port pier directly to Klein Bonaire on board a boat named Kantika Too.
Or book a similar tour yourself through the recommended Viator website:
♦ Cruise to the National Marine Park including snorkeling
- Klein Bonaire Marine Park Snorkeling Excursion Includes pickup and return to the cruise port. Lasts 3.5 hours. Includes snorkeling in Klein Bonaire. Includes snorkeling equipment.
For about two hours, you can swim, walk on the island, and especially snorkel along the reef adjacent to the beach teeming with corals and fish. A wonderful experience for snorkeling enthusiasts.
Those who are not fans of snorkeling but are still
interested in being impressed by the variety of fish and corals can join a one-hour glass-bottom boat cruise in the National Marine Park.
You can also join a kayak trip in the mangrove forest (trees growing in salt water) which is also part of the marine nature reserve:
♦ Booking from Viator: Mangrove boat trip and snorkeling with clear-bottom kayaks
-
Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak and Snorkel tour
Includes pickup and return to the cruise port. Lasts 3 hours. Includes snorkeling equipment.
Additional information on Bonaire can be found on the island's official tourism website: