The Caribbean island of Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands, which is part of the Leeward Antilles. Part of the Netherlands Antilles until the country was dissolved in 2010, the country's official language is Dutch and the US Dollar is the official currency. The island's Flamingo International Airport, near the main town of Kralendijik, is served by flights from other parts of the Caribbean, the US mainland and a number of flights a week from the Netherlands itself. Bonaire is often referred to as the “Diver's Paradise” thanks to the underwater features and marine species that can be found in its waters. Diving is particularly popular around the smaller, uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire, which is located off the western coast of Bonaire itself.
There are few sandy beaches on Bonaire, as the island is surrounded by the coral reef that makes diving so popular in this part of the Caribbean. Bonaire has dozens of diving experts who will be willing to provide lessons, hints and tips or even take you out on their boats if you prefer deep sea diving to snorkelling. There are over 80 official dive sites on the island, each marked by a yellow stone at the side of the road. These stones mark beaches or tracks leading to beaches, where diving is permitted, though all divers are required to pay a fee which goes towards the preservation of the marine environment on Bonaire.
If you don't like diving, there are many other activities that you can take part in on the island of Bonaire as well as several sites of outstanding natural beauty. Explore the rainforests that make up the interior of the island by kayak, on horseback or via one of the many hiking trails that cross Bonaire. Experienced hikers may want to tackle the island's highest point, Brandaris, offering breathtaking views across Bonaire and even as far as the neighbouring islands of Aruba and Curacao. Travelling around this compact island couldn't be easier, as local taxi drivers will be happy to take you for a tour or you can hail one of the colourfully-decorated buses that drive circuits around the coast road. This is a cheap and fun way to see Bonaire, as well as getting to some of the more remote diving spots.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Bonaire? Then below is a selection of apartments in Bonaire and villas in Bonaire that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
