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A land of varied terrain and outdoor adventures, Bonaire awakens the spirit of discovery in its visitors. Another truth is the statistic that over 30% of arrivals on Bonaire are repeat visitors! Kralendijk is a lovely little city with a Dutch heritage. Strolling its streets and admiring its colorful buildings constructed in the Dutch-colonial style is a pleasant pastime. Kaya Grandi, the main street, is particularly attractive with its cobblestone pavement and interesting storefronts. From this point, you can wander off down narrow streets and alleyways to discover art galleries, boutiques, cafés and bars. Along the water is a promenade just perfect for a relaxing stroll.

South of town beyond the Customs House lies Fort Oranje, easily recognized by its stone lighthouse, which now serves as the harbor office.The tiny fort was built around 1639. Its four cannons, dating from the 19th century, have never fired an unfriendly shot, although they’ve been used in salutes to mark holidays and special occasions.

Exploring Bonaire’s northern side, you’ll come upon Rincon, Bonaire’s first Spanish settlement. This small town is the oldest city on the island.Impressive century-old buildings scattered among quaint cottages and the Loudres Grotto are among the attractions you’ll find here.

Goto Meer, a saltwater lake with its own island, is a good place to spot flamingos. Hundreds of pink-plumaged birds congregate in the vivid blue waters, creating a splendid scene. Just off the road that passes alongside the lake is a lookout point where you can relax, enjoy a stunning view of the lake and photograph Bonaire’s untouched beauty.

Washington-Slagbaai National Park is the kind of nature center where you can easily spend an entire day. At the entrance, informative displays and a small museum describe the park’s natural elements and the island’s history. The 13,500-acre preserve has some 22 miles of dirt roads, which make getting around easy. The northern coast is the most impressive, with its limestone coves, or bocas, that have been sculpted into intriguing shapes over time.

Visitors will be overwhelmed as they watch turbulent waves rush in and crash against the jagged coast before gently retreating waterfall-style back to the sea. Inland, towering candle cacti and low-growing shrubs dominate the landscape throughout the park. Seru Grandi, a huge rock formation, is another natural wonder not to be missed. The park also has special bird-watching areas from which you can spot many of Bonaire’s 189 species. At the salt flats, on the south end of the island, you’ll see glistening snow-like mounds of salt. A thriving salt industry dominates this undeveloped area, which includes a 135-acre flamingo sanctuary. From roadside, visitors can observe the stately birds bathing and foraging.

Beaches:
In Washington-Slagbaai Park, there are three different beaches. Playa Chiquitu is a sugar-white beach perfect for sunbathing and beachcombing. Because of its heavy undertow, swimming is not permitted. The name Boca Cocolishi means “shell beach” in the local Papiamento language; here shells are strewn all over the black sand, and swimming and snorkeling can be safely enjoyed close to shore in calm waters. Because of strong currents, swimming in deeper water is not allowed. Boca Slagbaai is a small inlet with a sand-rubble beach. It’s a favorite spot for picnicking, snorkeling and diving.

On the island’s west side, Playa Lechi is known for its wide expanse of white sand. Several water-sports options are available here, including windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling and diving. West of Kralendijk lies Klein Bonaire, a round island encircled by a turquoise ribbon of water. Located on the north side is a white-sand beach referred to as No Name Beach. This 300-yard-long stretch is a popular spot for picnics, snorkeling and diving.

Pink Beach, so named because its fine sands take on a pinkish hue when wet, is in southern Bonaire. This is a good place for swimming, snorkeling, diving and picnicking. The best time to visit Pink Beach is at sunset, when the rose-hued sands are their prettiest. On the east coast, Lac Bay provides visitors with two beaches. Sorobon Beach, located on its south side, is considered by many the best sandy strand on the island. This beach serves as Bonaire’s windsurfing hub. With clear, waist-deep water and crosswinds at 15-to-25 knots per hour, Sorobon offers some of the best conditions in the world for windsurfers, particularly beginners and intermediates.

Activities:

Onshore winds make it easy for first-time windsurfers to learn the sport. On the north side of the bay is Lac Bay Beach, with its fishing village, cay and sandy stretch. To reach this beach, you have to drive past scenic mangroves where waterfowl are plentiful. The beach is marked with piles of conch shells, a part of the island’s national heritage. Picnic shelters and beach bars add some creature comforts to this area.

The Bonaire Marine Park is without a doubt the main draw on the island, and diving is the number one sport. Encompassing the entire coastline (up to depths of 200 feet), this aquatic wonderland is home to an incredible array of marine life. The park was established to preserve and manage the fragile coral reefs that fringe the island. It has been one of the most successful efforts in marine conservation in the Caribbean.

Divers can choose from more than 80 varied sites, and snorkelers can easily wade out to reefs, where an array of coral and colorful fish await them. The Deep Blue View is Bonaire's newest most distinctive island stay in a quiet residential neighborhood that overlooks a magnificent view of the Caribbean Sea.

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