BQ
Kralendijk & Bonaire
Bonaire’s small, colourful capital and the base for some of the Caribbean’s best shore diving
Bonaire’s small, colourful capital and the base for some of the Caribbean’s best shore diving
Yellow-painted stones along the coast road mark the dive sites. Reefs with corals, turtles and tropical fish begin a short swim from the shore.
Use reef-safe sunscreen and do not touch the coral.
Photo: Chris Coccaro / NOAA, Public domain
An uninhabited island about a kilometre off Kralendijk, reached by water taxi, with a white-sand beach and reefs all around.
There is no shade or shop; bring water and shade.
Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
In the south, tiny stone huts recall the enslaved workers who harvested salt in the 19th century. Nearby, pink salt ponds attract flamingos.
Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
In the north, a rugged park of cacti, salt lakes, flamingos and rocky coves, reached on unpaved roads.
A high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Photo: amanderson2, CC BY 2.0
Fresh fish such as wahoo and mahi-mahi is the speciality, along with Dutch and Caribbean dishes like stoba (stew) and pastechi.
Kralendijk’s waterfront has most of the island’s restaurants.
Flamingo International Airport (BON) is a few minutes from Kralendijk, with flights from Amsterdam, the US and nearby islands. Hire a car or pickup truck to reach dive sites and parks.
Bonaire is part of the Netherlands but not the Schengen area. All visitors pay a visitor entry tax (US$75 for adults), best paid online in advance, and divers and snorkellers need a STINAPA nature fee. Check current rules before you travel.
Bonaire uses the US dollar. It is a fairly expensive island, as most goods are imported; self-catering apartments help keep costs down.
Prices are approximate.
Reefs, salt and cacti.
Explore the waterfront and Fort Oranje, and snorkel at a nearby site.
Take a water taxi to Klein Bonaire for a beach and snorkelling day.
Drive past the salt pans, flamingos and slave huts to Lac Bay.
Explore Washington Slagbaai National Park and the north-coast dive sites.
Divers and snorkellers must buy the STINAPA nature fee.
Do not leave valuables in cars at dive sites.
There is little shade; bring water and a hat.
Pay the visitor entry tax online before you fly.
Quick answers for planning time in Kralendijk.
Yes, US$75 for adults (US$10 for children), best paid online in advance.
Yes, divers and snorkellers need the STINAPA nature fee, valid for the calendar year.
The US dollar.
It is part of the Netherlands but outside the Schengen area.
Any time of year; January to September is driest, and Bonaire lies outside the main hurricane belt.
Dutch and Papiamentu are official; English and Spanish are widely spoken.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Bonaire travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.