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About Bonaire
Where is Bonaire?
You'll find us at the southern edge of the Caribbean; just 50 miles north of the coast
of Venezuela. Bonaire is located not far from Aruba, and lies outside the Caribbean
hurricane belt.
Our island is 24 miles long, and the width varies from 3 to 7 miles.
What's life like on Bonaire?
We're known for our laid-back, tranquil life style and the easy way we make friends.
You won't find crowds and rampant commercial development on our island, but you will
discover a treasure of water, sun and natural beauty.
Our climate is very appealing, with an average temperature of 80 degrees.
The sun shines EVERY day.
Our wild donkeys are gentle and friendly!
We love our marine resources, and protecting them is the law on Bonaire. We're recognized as
being the leader in the Caribbean for preservation of all our coastal waters.
Our capital is Kralendijk (that's pronounced 'Crawl-en-dike'), on the west coast,
just south of mid-island. You'll see the Dutch colonial influence in our homes and public
buildings; it's part of our history. There's a complete selection of shops, boutiques,
galleries, and dining spots.
Our largest (13,000 acres!) nature preserve is Washington-Slagbaai National Park, at
the northern end of the island. Its home to hundreds of species of birds and wildlife, and is
a wonderful way to learn about our flora and fauna.
Come to the party!
That's the party on Lac Bay Kai. The locals get together
here every Sunday afternoon, with music, outdoor food stalls, and dancing. It's a great way
to meet and talk with locals.
Klein Bonaire
is our largest offshore island, lying just west of Kralendijk. It's
undeveloped, and an interesting site for a picnic or day journey, or for scuba diving
--its surrounded by great dive sites.
A must see for visitors are the Pekelmeer salt flats. Salt harvesting played a major role
in the history of our island, when our early settlers sold Bonaire salt around the world.
The flats are home to large numbers of flamingoes, as well as dozens of other bird species.
Beautiful and Bountiful Bonaire Water
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Bonaire ranks at the top of SCUBA destinations in the Caribbean, and its no surprise.
With one of the Caribbean's first marine parks, and a dedication to protection of our
pristine reefs, we have preserved the marine environment as it was before the popularity
of SCUBA.
Many first-time visitors are surprised at how easy diving is on Bonaire: with hundreds of
shore diving sites, dive boats and scheduled excursions are rarely required.
Our water is clean, clear, and calm; absolutely perfect for underwater photography. With
365 days of good conditions annually, you don't have to worry about a specific "dive season".
Bonaire swept the 2003 Rodale's Scuba Diving Reader's Choice Awards. The island received the
#1 ranking in 7 out of 15 categories, including the readers' choice as the TOP DIVE DESTINATION
in the Caribbean/Atlantic
More information about Bonaire:
Bonaire Travel Guide
Bonaire Tourism Authority
Car rental:
Bonaire Budget Car Rental
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Copyright Lori Pottinger
Copyright Tom & Ginnie Reynolds
Copyright Tom & Ginnie Reynolds
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