'''Bonaire''' is a Caribbean island east of Central America and north of Venezuela. The island is part of the Netherlands Antilles together with Curacao and the distant trio of Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. It is a flat, riverless island renowned for its dive spots. Its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit).
Cities
Kralendijk - The Capital City (including 11 suburbs)
Boven Bolivia
Rincon - A village near Washington-Slaagabi National Park
There are also many named neighborhoods. These neighborhoods do not have formally established boundaries, and do not represent a governmental level. They are used for convenience of navigation.
Antriol
Belnem
Hato
Lima
Nikiboko
Noord Salina
Republiek
Sabadeco
Sabana
Tera Kora
Understand
Climate
Tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation. "Rainy" season lasts from the last week of October to the end of January, but it is still relatively dry. During rainy season, late night and early morning rains are common, usually clearing shortly after sunrise.
Terrain
The island is flat with a few hills, scant vegetation and neglible natural resources other than white sandy beaches and salt. The northern part of the island is a arid protected park. The southern tip of the island is a great field for sea salt production.
Get in
By plane
[http://www.klm.com KLM] offers five weekly non-stop service from Amsterdam to Bonaire on the way to Quito. [http://www.aa.com American Eagle] also offers daily non-stop flights from San Juan to and from Bonaire and other major U.S cities. In December 2005, [http://www.continental.com Continental Airlines] launched weekly non-stop flights from Newark and offer connections in Houston. [http://www.delta.com Delta Airlines] offers weekly flights between Bonaire and Atlanta on Saturdays. Several smaller airlines connect Bonaire with the neighbouring islands including [http://www.flydae.com/ Dutch Airlines Express] and [http://www.arkefly.nl/arkefly/search/searchFlight.do;jsessionid=GYvT8j1sTmjC2R2Q5LTBhpLK21mp12vbmlL3stVQhf91pT1Fnzyr!-326149393 Arkefly].
Charter Airlines include [http://www.tiara-air.com/ Tiara Air].
Departure Fee for all international destinations is USD $33.40 per person, payable in cash or debit/credit card at the airport prior to check-in. MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Maestro, are all accepted, but American Express is not.
By boat
There are not currently any passenger ferries operating to or from Curacao or Venezuela. Cruise ships do occasionally and increasingly visit Bonaire, epecially "in season". Some shops and restaurants may remain open extra hours to cater to their passengers.
You can also use different Bonaire Water Taxis including [http://www.bonairenauticomarina.com/ Kantika di Amor] and the Seacow Watertaxi.
Private boat moorage is available. Dive operators operate boats to many dive sites including those located off the small uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire. Some boat operators also specialize in snorkel tours and their are regularly scheduled passenger boats to Klein Bonaire. Some include the [http://www.woodwindbonaire.com/ Woodwind], [http://www.remarkable.com/bonaire/pirates.html Bonaire Pirate Cruising], [http://www.bonairesailing.com/oscarina/ Oscarina], [http://www.bonairesailing.com/oscarina/ Bowalie] and more.
Get around
By car
Automobiles can be shipped to Bonaire and Rental cars are available at the airport and at selected hotels. Reservations are strongly suggested as, especially during peak times, all vehicles may be rented. You can drive around the entire island in a couple of hours!
By bus
There is an informal bus system on the island that utilizes vans. There are a small number of medium sized tour buses on the island as well.
By taxi
The island has a growing fleet of cabs that at least service cruise ships.
See
Iguanas (wild)
Disused Slave Shelters
Washington-Slagbaii National Park
Rock art
Salt flats
Flamingoes
Do
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Fishing
Windsurfing
Kiteboarding
Mountain Biking
Sea Kayaking
Sailing
Bird Watching
Buy
There are a few shops on Bonaire:
3 Bookstores
3 Department Stores/Hardware/Household Goods
1 Electronic/Appliance Store
3 different flower shops
Jewelry: [http://www.atlantisbonaire.com/ Atlantis], [http://www.bonairelittmanstores.com/ Litmans] and a few more typical for cruise ports.
3 hospitals/pharmacies
Around 23 Souvenir/Clothes Shops
Eat
Bonaire has many restaurants and quite varied cuisine given the overall island population. "Aki ta Bende Kuminda Krioyo" will inform a visitor that local-style food is available, generally heavy on soups, stews, fried foods and fish. Traditional foods that may be found on the menu include conch, cacti, wahoo and rock lobster. Much of the fish is caught locally by line fishermen in season. Though traditionally eaten, iguana is not generally served in restaurants.
Bonaire has no real fast food, though there is the "smallest KFC franchise outlet in the world" in a shopping plaza by the
Kralendijk and a Subway sub shop. Check out "Swiss Chalet", a local favorite serving Fondu. Bobbejan's is an extremely popular weekend-only barbeque joint. Other cuisines common on the islands are Argentine, Italian, Indonesian, Suriname, and lots and lots of Chinese. Island-made ice cream is available in many places, with Lovers Ice Cream being a local favorite. Arrive before noon, as they often sell out.
Almost all eateries are open for limited hours during the day, and all close briefly during siesta time between 2-3pm. Call or check ahead to determine if a restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, both, or only open on weekends. Some are closed certain days of the week, such as Sunday.
Sleep
Despite the small size of the island, Bonaire has a lot of possibilities when looking at placed to stay, from large resorts to small privately owned houses which you can rent on a daily basis. Along the coast you have multiple places that combine a dive school with cabanas where you can sleep for a moderate price.
For reservation of over 45 houses, condo's and resorts [http://www.bonairepartners.com/ Bonaire Partners]
You can find the latest [http://www.bonairepros.com/bonaire_specials.php Bonaire Specials] here.
Most of the accommodations on the island are relatively small, averaging 15 rooms or less. Properties in this range include
[http://www.coralparadise.com Coral Paradise Bonaire Resort]
[http://www.happyholidayhomes.com Happy Holiday Homes]
[http://cocopalmgardens.com Coco Palm Gardens]
[http://www.roomerbonaire.com Roomer Bonaire]
[http://blackdurgon.com Black Durgon Inn]
[http://diversparadisebonaire.com Diver's Paradise]
[http://www.caribinn.com Carib Inn]
[http://www.goldenreefinn.com Golden Reef Inn]
[http://www.kontikibonaire.com Kon Tiki ]
[http://www.lizardinnbonaire.com Lizard Inn]
[http://www.sunny-bonaire.com Sunny Bonaire]
[http://www.wannadivehutbonaire.com Wanna Dive Hut]
[http://www.yachtclubbonaire.com Yacht Club Bonaire]
Several mid-size apartment complex devoted to tourists exist. These tend to be a bit more upscale than the smaller accommodations.
[http://www.bellafontebonaire.com/ Bellafonte Bonaire]
[http://www.belmar-bonaire.com BelMar]
[http://www.denlaman.com/ Den Laman]
[http://www.propertyalert.org/villasbonaire/ Villas Bonaire]
There a several larger, more resort like places as well. These are still somewhat small, with only the Plaza and Captain Don's Habitat having over 100 rooms:
[http://www.habitatdiveresorts.com/bonaire/ Captain Don's Habitat]
[http://www.plazaresortbonaire.com Plaza Resort Bonaire]
[http://www.buddydive.com/ Buddy Dive resort]
[http://www.diviflamingo.com/diviflamingo/resort.asp Divi Flamingo Resort]
[http://divesanddollar.com/ Sand Dollar Condominiums]
[http://www.hamletbonaire.com/ Hamlet Oasis Resort]
The construction of a new Hilton Hotel is already underway and is scheduled to be finished around the summer of 2012.
Get out
Venezuela is only a short distance away, as are fellow Antille Curacao and former Antille Aruba.