Pink Beach, located due south of Kralendijk, is a beautiful strand that takes on a pink color when it is wet. The sand is like fine talcum and the water is calm. Scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling are all good here. Nearby,…Read More

Pink Beach, located due south of Kralendijk, is a beautiful strand that takes on a pink color when it is wet. The sand is like fine talcum and the water is calm. Scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling are all good here. Nearby, and a little inland, are the saltpans with bright hills of salt and a pink flamingo sanctuary. The shrimp of these ponds turn pink due to what they eat and this in turn is why flamingos are pink. The young birds are not so pink as they have not eaten enough shrimp to develop the darker color. This beach area is also the only area you find some shade, plenty of trashcans and cooking pits.

The salt industry began in the 19th century with slaves working them and living in tiny quarters called slave huts. Next to the huts were obelisks of orange and blue so incoming ships would know where to make their pick up. The salt industry also required the use of donkeys for carrying heavier items. Once the operation became mechanical and their need ceased, they were turned loose. Now the wild donkeys are found in several places on the island and in particular a reserve that provides food and medicine, educates the public and allows them to feed the animals. This preserve, the Donkey Sanctuary is indicated on the coastal road heading south from the airport. The admission is free and it is open from 10:00-12:00, link, offers a snacks and gifts with the money going to the care of donkeys. Just as a side note it is a $750 fine for hitting one of these creatures. Dawn and dusk you will find them crossing the roads.

Departure tax is $20, goods and service tax is 5%, room tax is $5.50-6.50 per person per day and tipping for diving, taxis, restaurants etc… is 10-15%. Because of what I felt was such personal service while diving, I tipped very well and…Read More

Departure tax is $20, goods and service tax is 5%, room tax is $5.50-6.50 per person per day and tipping for diving, taxis, restaurants etc… is 10-15%. Because of what I felt was such personal service while diving, I tipped very well and am sure it is appreciated. A visa and onward ticket is required. Languages spoken are papiamentu (local), Dutch, English and Spanish. Invariably you can get your point across and/or questions answered. Dress code is casual, but beachwear worn downtown is frowned upon. Tap water is from treated seawater and is safe to drink. Post office is located at JA Abraham Blvd across from the shopping plaza and two buildings away from the tourist center.

Transportation- Taxis are not readily available but can be arranged. Bikes are about $10 per day to cover a 7 x 24 mile island. Vehicle rentals are reasonable around $40 per day, but reservations are advised to make sure a one is available. The car agencies don’t bother to inform you of the type of fuel so ask as the stations have leaded, unleaded and an oil/gas mix. Foreign driver’s licenses are accepted. The distance between Kralendijk and Hato, two main cities are a couple miles. This is an easy island to bike around, but shore diving makes vehicle rentals popular. The two places that a vehicle comes in handy are Washington Park to the north and Lac Bay to the south.

Low season is mid-April to mid-December with the rainy season from Nov-Jan. Bonaire is typically breezy making a nice hairstyle a waste of time. The evenings are balmy and a little less breezy. At 8:30 I was still walking in a t-shirt and shorts.

Shopping is closed on Sundays and during about 12:30-1:30 during the remainder of the week. Restaurants are frequently closed from 2:00-5:00.

This one way inland trail around is 24km and takes approximately 1 ½ hours with little to no stopping. Hiking and wildlife viewing are the opportunities in this part of the park. Brandaris Mountain, my first stop is 241 meters, somewhere around 760…Read More

This one way inland trail around is 24km and takes approximately 1 ½ hours with little to no stopping. Hiking and wildlife viewing are the opportunities in this part of the park. Brandaris Mountain, my first stop is 241 meters, somewhere around 760 feet high with two false tops before reaching the real top. I took 45 minutes each way for this trek and it is moderately strenuous around the large boulders. From here the view of Pos Nobo Lagoon feeding into Wayaca Beach and Playa Funchi Lagoon are breathtaking. Continue down the road to pass Boka Slagbaai and you reach Gotomeer. This is a large flamingo sanctuary with hiking trails for better viewing. These shy birds are heavily protected not only because of there numbers (which are increasing), but because little disturbance can reek havoc with their mating habits.

The inland trails of this park offer several footpaths off the main dirt road. I commend those that mountain bike the entire park, but I would rather pull a bike out of the bed of my truck at certain points. Neither fresh water nor any other facilities exist in the park except for the infrequent trashcans. Among the scrub brush and cactus are plenty of large lizards and iguanas, which will race to the shade under your parked vehicle and hopefully get some water from the air conditioner you have been using along the drive.

The park is open from 8-5 with the last vehicle entering at 2:45 and costs $10. This park covers nearly 30% of Bonaire.

National Park Washington-Slagbaai link hours 8-5, entrance from Rincon City

Many of the dive sites on the main island off the western coast can be accessed by either shore or boat. From the one way paved road along the shoreline, rocks are painted yellow indicating the name of the dive site. Average diving…Read More

Many of the dive sites on the main island off the western coast can be accessed by either shore or boat. From the one way paved road along the shoreline, rocks are painted yellow indicating the name of the dive site. Average diving depth is 45-50 feet with a very mild current. The sites along here are where you find the smaller brightly colored fish such as butterfly fish, trunkfish, angelfish, gobies, and even seahorses.

The cost for a boat dive is $20 and includes a one tank dive. If you are renting a vehicle a tank hold is usually included in the back of the truck. Bonaire Marine Park charges $10 a year park entry fee that goes to the preservation on the park. The money pays for research and promoting ecological awareness. For additional information: link or limk.

Ol’ Blue’s shore access is a little tricky, but it can be done. There is ledge with staghorn coral and pencil coral as well as mushroom like coral. Wrasses and filefish come out from the shallows to great you.

La Machaca is a step off Captain Don’s Habitat (dive shop). In 30-40 feet of water you will find snappers and grunts, anemones and lettuce sea slugs (about 1 to 1 ½ inches long, but very cute). In the sandy areas you will see the yellowhead jawfish peering up from their holes. I rather thought they looked like little angels myself.

1000 steps does have a long staircase down to a beach area for shore diving, but I preferred to do this one as a boat dive. Because it is shallow and has a beach, this is also a good place for snorkeling. Trunkfish, trumpet fish, wrasses, gobies, filefish and spotted eels abound. Often the trumpet fish (master of disguise) would follow an eel in hopes of getting a meal scared up.

North Island Shallow Dive Sites Sand Dollar Dive & Photo Kaya Gob N. Debrot #77 599 717-5433 599 717-5252 fax link link

Town Pier is the most photographed night dive in Bonaire. Because it is a working pier with tug boats that tie up, you need to contact the harbor master or schedule the night dive with a dive shop as I did. The lights…Read More

Town Pier is the most photographed night dive in Bonaire. Because it is a working pier with tug boats that tie up, you need to contact the harbor master or schedule the night dive with a dive shop as I did.

The lights from the pier make it much easier for a first time night diver. Concrete steps lead into the beach area, which is another plus. You can decide where to have your gear on and walk down or sit on the bottom step to put it on. Afterwards a brief snorkel, you are under the pier. The bright orange cup corals on the pilings were nearly blinding. Looking closer we found frogfish, fire worms, sponges and more. In the old tires on the bottom were eels that were easily coaxed out by tapping on the tire. Since nighttime is their feeding time you are much more inclined to see the entire spotted eel rather than just it’s head from behind a rock. Trumpet fish and trunkfish were active as well. For me, the colors during the night were the most spectacular part of the dive. The divemaster picked up a trunkfish and gently set in on the palm of my hand. I was fascinated petting this creature that was neither slimy nor weird nor confined to me in any way. This same man also petted the eels that were inside the tires.

The cost for the dive was $20 including transportation for an hour dive in a maximum of 20 feet deep water. The time in the water was from about 7:30 to 8:30pm.

Sand Dollar Dive & Photo Kaya Gob N. Debrot #77 599 717-5433 599 717-5252 fax link link

Some of my favorite diving in Bonaire was on Klein Bonaire which is a small island directly off from Sand Dollar. Catch a water taxi or just hire a local to ferry you over to the island for a great time snorkeling and…Read More

Some of my favorite diving in Bonaire was on Klein Bonaire which is a small island directly off from Sand Dollar. Catch a water taxi or just hire a local to ferry you over to the island for a great time snorkeling and just beachcombing. I don't know if the only resident (a rastapharian) still lives there but the divesite named for him "Yellow man" is a nice dive. I was able to hold 2 illusive Frogfish here. I personally did NOT like diving under the town pier. Lots of trash, old tires and bottles not to mention the loud noise of tugboats docking and undocking which can be nerve racking. Pink Beach dive near the airport is a great shore dive but I understand the hurricane may have wiped it out. Thousand Steps and Ol' Blue are also good shore dive sites. If you like wreck diving check out the Hilma Hooker. Be sure to look for the garden eels in the sand near the wreck.   Close

Bonaire is a great place to go if you are a scuba diver. We stayed at Lion's Dive Resort and loved being so close to great diving. We stored our gear in a locked room off the dock. We could jump off the dock and…Read More

Bonaire is a great place to go if you are a scuba diver. We stayed at Lion's Dive Resort and loved being so close to great diving. We stored our gear in a locked room off the dock. We could jump off the dock and dive anytime of day or night. The shore diving on the island is fabulous. Each dive site is marked by rocks painted yellow and marked with the name of the dive site. ome of them had a fair surface swim, but most had easy entries.

The coral reefs are amazing. The mountains of bright green coral, tube sponges up to eight feet tall in bright purple, pink, orange, and green - soft corals, sea fans - being under the water felt like being in a page out of someone's fairytale book. The best stuff was from 45-65 deep. We did a few boat dives, but the shore diving was so good that we decided to save money and do mostly shore dives.

The convenience of staying in a resort with gear storage and diving on site is worth a lot. We were able to do at least four dives each day. At night, a huge tarpon named Charlie followed our dive lights to help him catch his supper. He was about six feet long and followed so close I could almost reach out and touch him. Since he was bigger than me, he had no fear of me.

For a snorkeler, Bonaire has some good snorkeling sites. However, the best corals are below 40 feet and that is hard to see from the surface. Snorkelers would probably prefer Hawaii (lots of sea turtles and more to do above water), but for scuba divers, Bonaire is truly a diver's paradise.

Bonaire is one of the ABC islands of the Netherlands Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao 50 miles from Venezuela. The island is approx.112 square miles and it is a best secret for friends who like stress relief and to meet friendly people in a…Read More

Bonaire is one of the ABC islands of the Netherlands Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao 50 miles from Venezuela. The island is approx.112 square miles and it is a best secret for friends who like stress relief and to meet friendly people in a wonderful environment.

While visiting Curaçao or Aruba, a short trip to Bonaire is also very attractive. Catch a Mini Cruise on the Fast Ferry ChoGoGo or take one of the daily flights offered by the Island Hopper.

Touring the island offers a lot of unique highlights.

Driving the south you‘ll come upon the historic Solar Salt Works and see the salt pans with colours you've never seen before backed by the snow white salt hills and decorated by Flamingos. Make a break at Pink Beach. Take a refreshment and enjoy the Marin Bleu, Azur, Green, Mint, Pink and White. Visit the Slave Stone Huts from the 19th century. Follow the way along the sea and see the oldest Lighthouse named Willemstoren. Reach Lac Bay and make a stop at Lac Bay Snacks. You‘ll see more Flamingos while eating the Catch of the Day and viewing hills of Conch shells on the Lack Bay border.

Drive in the direction of Lagun you will pass the Flamingo sanctuary with a population of approx 40,000 birds and also find some Donkeys on your way. You can see very nice DiviDivi Trees along the way to Lagun Hill. Walk around Lagun beach and then return to Kralendijk.

Driving the Northern Route of the island you can reach National Park Washington-Slagbaai domain of ancient nature, animals and plants. Taking the route in the direction of Bonaire Petroleum Corporation pass the Drinking Water Destillation Plant, the Transmitter park from Dutch World Radio and Oil Storage tanks from Bopec, you will arrive at the most beautiful salt lake in the region named Gotomeer where you can see Flamingos. Rincon, the oldest village at Bonaire, offers you the occasion of taking some food or drinks before entering the National Park.

Start visiting the Washington-Slagbaai National Park in the morning by using an all-terrain car, jeep or pick-up. There are two routes laid out in the park. The Long Route is 22 miles, 2 ½ hours at least, only driving time. Allow more time to stop at sites. The National Park delivers exciting views, mystic places and nature encounters. Playa and Boka, Chikitu, Malmok and the Light Tower ruins, Pos Mangel with the Birds the Leguan, Dragons the Goats, you have to see. During our visit buildings at Slagbaai were still not in use after demolition by Orkan Lenny but they will be soon restored.

I did not mention all the possibilities for diving and so on, not the beautiful Salines and ancient stone walls, flowers, dessert plants, trees all around... Just driving the rugged roads is an adventure that will keep you busy!

The indian tribes that called Bonaire their home left paintings around the island. The ones in the attached picture are found on the ocean (rough) side of the island. The Sorobon is the nudist beach. Out past the airport you…Read More

The indian tribes that called Bonaire their home left paintings around the island. The ones in the attached picture are found on the ocean (rough) side of the island. The Sorobon is the nudist beach. Out past the airport you will find oblisks which marked anchorages for ships picking up salt as cargo. Nearby to them are small buildings which are either for slaves or to store items. The mountains of salt are unusual sights. Salt farming is still thriving here.   Close

I would imagine you can arrange a structured tour to view the flamingos here in Bonaire but I was here for diving and viewing the flamingos was an afterthought. Near the salt mountains in the shallow ponds you can see many of…Read More

I would imagine you can arrange a structured tour to view the flamingos here in Bonaire but I was here for diving and viewing the flamingos was an afterthought. Near the salt mountains in the shallow ponds you can see many of these graceful birds fishing for critters. I was able to approach them within 50 yards or so without them getting spooked.   Close