Bon Bini! When you arrive at the Bonaire International Airport, you’re sure to be met with warm smiles, and a light breeze, and you’ll be greeted with this phrase. It means “welcome” in the local language, Papiamentu. Bonaire is part of the ABC Islands along with Aruba and Curacao and they are located in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela. As these tropical islands are part of the Netherlands, you’ll find a heavy Dutch influence on these islands. Bonaire is well-known for diving and is nicknamed “Diver’s Paradise”, but there is much more to the island than diving and snorkeling! Definitely take advantage of the pristine beaches and crystal clear waters, but there is plenty of things to do in Bonaire other than diving.

Chances are that if you tell someone you’re going to Bonaire, most likely they haven’t heard of it. But at the same time, that is the draw of Bonaire! Bonaire feels like a real hidden gem, away from the crowds and mass tourism. It is the Caribbean’s best-kept secret and truly one of those places where “if you know you know”.

How To Get to Bonaire

There are several flights a day to Bonaire! You’ll be flying into the Flamingo Airport in Kralendijk and most likely will be the only plane there when it lands which means customs is pretty quick. If you want to expedite your entry process, go ahead and pay the visitor entry tax and have that ready to skip the line.

From the US, you can fly direct to Bonaire from Atlanta, New York City (Newark), Houston, and Miami. Other international flights come in from Amsterdam and service from Brussels beginning in December 2022.

How to get around Bonaire

I highly recommend getting a rental car while you’re in Bonaire. While the island is small (only 111 square miles), the major attractions are spread out so you need a rental car to get around. There are several car rental companies on Bonaire and you can pick up your car at the Flamingo Airport. The car rental facility is only a short walk from the airport.

Fun fact: There are no stoplights in Bonaire so driving is a breeze 🙂

Where to stay in Bonaire

Because the island is so easy to get around, you can honestly stay in any area. However, most hotels and resorts are on the west side of the island near Kralendijk. I stayed at Harbour Village Beach Club and I highly recommend staying there! The property is beautiful and right on the beach. I had a beautiful beachfront room with a balcony and loved waking up to a view of the ocean every day!

Check out other hotels and resorts on Bonaire!

Best Things to do in Bonaire

1. Explore colorful downtown Kralendijk

Downtown Kralendijk is a lot of fun to explore! It is filled with boutique shops and restaurants and is great to walk around. The buildings downtown are very colorful with fun murals at every turn. Be sure to stop by the Bonaire Tourist Center to find out if there are any special events taking place or learn about other fun things to do in Bonaire.

Tip: Kralendijk is also where the major cruise ships dock so I would find out when the cruise ships come in to avoid the crowds during that time.

2. Adventure through Washington-Slagbaai National Park

Washington-Slagbaai National Park is a nature sanctuary and ecological preserve that occupies most of northern Bonaire. If you’re traveling to Bonaire, you have to visit this national park!

You can drive through this national park and there are two routes that you can take: the shorter one or the longer one. The shorter route takes you directly to a trail called Subi Brandaris Trail to climb to the highest point on the island, Brandaris. The longer route takes you to natural attractions throughout the park including gorgeous coves, rocky beaches, and blowholes. In my opinion, you should absolutely take the longer route as it loops so you can still climb Mount Brandaris if you want.

Here are the points of interest you shouldn’t miss in Washington-Slagbaai National Park:

• Brandaris: The highest point in Bonaire that you can hike to taking the Subi Brandaris Trail
• Playa Chikitu: A beach with gorgeous white sand dunes, plus sea turtles regularly nest here
• Boka Kokolishi: Unique beach with sand made out of crushed shells and rock formations scattered on the shore
• Wayaka 1, 2 ,3: These three beaches have crystal blue waters and are great for snorkeling
• Boca Slagbaai: Beautiful bay and a great place to snorkel, go cliff jumping, and have a picnic

3. Go on a south tour of Bonaire

While Washington-Slagbaai National Park occupies most of northern Bonaire, there is plenty to see in the south side of the island! The best way to see these sights is by driving the southern loop. You can start from Kralendijk and drive south and it’ll make a loop back to Kralendijk.

These are the must-visit stops during your self-guided tour of southern Bonaire:

• Pink Salt Pyramids: Did you know that salt is the number one export out of Bonaire? You’ll see massive salt pyramids as you drive south! You’ll also see pink waters by the salt flats as this is a natural phenomenon caused by the bacteria in the salt waters.
• Old Historic Slave Huts: These yellow and white huts are reminiscent of old slave huts that remain on the island. They were used as sleeping quarters for slaves that worked in the salt ponds to collect and shop salt. It’s a place to learn and recognize the history of Bonaire and the hardship the slaves endured.
• Flamingo spotting: Although this isn’t a specific location, you’re likely to see lots of flamingos during your drive! They like to hang out here so be sure to keep an eye out.
• Lighthouse: You’ll see a lighthouse en route as well and it is a great spot to step out and snap some photos of the lighthouse with the waves crashing in the background!

4. Visit the donkey sanctuary on the island

This might come as a surprise to you, but there is a donkey sanctuary on Bonaire! The donkeys were brought over by the Spaniards in the 1600s for labor and farming, but they’ve been abandoned since then due to the adoption of modern technology. Now they’re left roaming freely around the island and you’re sure to run into some! But because Bonaire is very dry and hot, many of the donkeys die of dehydration and hunger. Hence the donkey sanctuary is founded!

Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire is a non-profit that takes in the hurt and injured donkeys and gives them a home! It is a great place to visit and also support them in their efforts! Over 480 donkeys live in the donkey sanctuary, and they are provided with food, water, shelter, and medical care if needed.

It’s a drive-through park, but you can get out anytime you want! The donkeys will come up to your car for petting and food and they are such gentle creatures. I genuinely had so much fun visiting and recommend this to anyone!

5. Explore Rincon

While Kralendijk is the capital of Bonaire, Rincon is actually the oldest village on the island. Rincon is filled with colorful buildings and I recommend walking around the town. I recommend stopping by the Cadushy Distillery which is a one-of-a-kind experience because they make cactus liquor!

6. Try local foods

Be sure to try out local foods like goat, iguana, and local fish while you’re on the island! They’re usually served in a stew or with sides like rice, potatoes, vegetables, and funchi. I highly recommend stopping at Posada Para Mira or Maiky Snack for the best authentic local cuisine! It’s a great way to support local businesses and families while trying delicious foods.

7. Experience a sunset dinner cruise

Boating and boat excursions are very popular on Bonaire, and one of the best ways to get out on the sea is by going on a cruise! I went on a sunset dinner cruise with Melisa Sailing and it was one of my favorite things I did in Bonaire.

Experience a luxury cruise while enjoying a 6-course tasting menu from Rick Baak, one of the award-winning Caribbean Chefs. Sip on delicious wine while taking in the sunset view from the boat. Not a better way to spend your evening!

8. Kayak through mangrove forests

Did you know you can go kayaking through mangrove forests in Bonaire? The mangrove forest of Lac Bay is one of the best-preserved mangrove forests in the Caribbean! You can find three different species of mangrove trees in crystal clear waters. What makes this experience really unique is snorkeling through the mangroves as well! I’ve been kayaking many times before but this was by far the most unique kayaking experience I’ve done.

Visit the Mangrove Info Center to book your kayaking excursion!

9. Visit Sorobon Beach

There are tons of beaches all over Bonaire, but I wanted to specifically share about Sorobon Beach because I loved this area that much! Sorobon Beach is a laid-back spot for people to hang out, grab a bite, and enjoy the sun. Its white sandy beach and turquoise blue waters make it a great place for any water activity. You can choose to get into the waters or eat at one of the many beachside restaurants. It is a very casual and fun atmosphere!

10. Go windsurfing

If you enjoy windsurfing, then I have great news for you! The winds in Bonaire make it a great place to windsurf. You can rent equipment at Jibe City at Sorobon Beach and windsurf to your heart’s desires.

However, if you’ve never tried windsurfing (like me before visiting Bonaire) then this is a great place to learn! You can ask for lessons before you head out into the waters and it is a lot of fun to learn. I recommend trying windsurfing to see if it’s for you!

11. Experience adrenaline by landsailing 

As mentioned earlier, Bonaire is a windy place…which means it is also great for landsailing! If you’ve never heard of landsailing, then you might be wondering what exactly that entails. You basically get into these karts with sails attached to them and they are powered by the wind! Bonaire Landsailing Adventures has its own track that you can drive around in and it is a lot of fun driving around the track and even racing your friends and family.

12. Go horseback riding in the sea

This is not your typical horseback riding! At Horse Ranch Bonaire, you can enjoy a horseback riding tour that takes you to the beach where you can go swimming with your horse. Enjoy a 3.5-hour trail ride through the varying landscape of Bonaire’s countryside and stop at Lac Cai to get into the waters with your horse!

13. Go caving

See a different side of Bonaire by going caving! Go on an adventurous guided tour inside the island’s caves and explore places where not many others have ventured before. During the tour, you’ll climb into a cave and also go swimming through the waters within the cave. The best part is that you’ll get to stick your head underwater and snorkel in the cave!

14. Snorkel at the many beaches

Bonaire is one of the best snorkeling places in the world! The island is especially known for its shore snorkeling which means you don’t have to take a boat out to sea to snorkel. That’s because a huge portion of the island is surrounded by a barrier reef, which means there are tons of spots where you can just walk directly into the water and into world-class snorkeling. You can go snorkeling just steps from the shore!

Here are the top spots to go snorkeling in Bonaire:

• Klein Bonaire
• 1000 Steps
• Sorobon Beach
• Lac Bay
• Wayaka II
• Bari Reef
• Karpata

15. Go Diving! Or learn to dive!

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention diving because Bonaire is known for having the best diving in the Caribbean. It is the world’s first blue destination which means it has received the highest remarks for being a place where sustainable use of the ocean’s resources and protection of the health of the ocean’s ecosystem is achieved. With a focus on ecotourism, Bonaire welcomes visitors while still protecting the natural resources of the island.

If you’re a diver, then chances are you’ve heard of Bonaire and are visiting Diver’s Paradise for this exact reason! But if you’re not a diver and want to learn, there are plenty of opportunities to learn on Bonaire. What better place to learn than the best diving destination in the world?

Final Thoughts

I love that Bonaire is uniquely Bonaire. That’s the best way I can summarize it. If you’re looking to go to a standard cookie-cutter resort island, then Bonaire might not be the place for you. But if you’re wanting to go somewhere that is authentic and eco-friendly and adventurous and off-the-beaten-path, then you have found your paradise!

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