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Bonaire / Special Interests / Cruise

By Sara Macefield

One of the Dutch ABC Islands, Bonaire sits in the shadow of its brighter and more developed sister islands Aruba and Curacao which tend to attract more mainstream tourists and more cruise ships. However, it outstrips them when it comes to marine life and has built up an awesome reputation for offering some of the world’s best diving. Beyond this, the island is a peaceful haven centred on its natural attributes.

Most people visit Bonaire to go diving, but other activities include kayaking through the mangroves, and windsurfing. Island tours take visitors north to see the flocks of flamingos at Gotomeer and into the Washington Slagbaai National Park, which is also popular with hikers and birdwatchers. A more adrenaline-fuelled alternative is to explore the hinterland on a quad-bike tour.

Cruise ships dock a few minutes walk away from Wilhelmina Square in the island’s capital Kralendijk, where local craft-sellers congregate. From here, visitors can take taxis to local sights such as the Donkey Sanctuary or a nearby beach.

Cruise on Bonaire

Browse Cruise on other islands

Anguilla | Antigua and Barbuda | Aruba | Barbados | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Curacao | Dominica | Grenada & Carriacou | Jamaica | Montserrat | Nevis | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad

Or read our other island guides

Anguilla | Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Bermuda | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Cuba | Curacao | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada and Carriacou | Guadeloupe | Haiti | Jamaica | Martinique | Montserrat | Nevis | Puerto Rico | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Eustatius | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad | Turks & Caicos Islands | US Virgin Islands

island_map View on map

Bonaire’s weather

Bonaire weather chart

When to go and weather

Looking for inspiration?

  1. Dive the magnificent waters and unspoilt reef
  2. Find solitude in the independent inns and guest houses
  3. Explore the beaches on horseback

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Bonaire Events

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