Bonaire is a casual and low-key Caribbean island; you will not find any high-rise buildings on Bonaire! On October 10, 2010 Bonaire officially became part of the Netherlands, giving it a different status than the sister ABC islands of Aruba and Curaçao. The island is sparsely populated with only 16,500 people. (Nearby Curaçao is somewhat larger but its population is nearly 10 times higher.)
Our official languages are Dutch and Papiamentu, spoken by 75% of the population, with English and Spanish widely understood. The currency on Bonaire is the US dollar.
Climate
We are about 50 miles from the coast of Venezuela. Thankfully we are outside of Hurricane Alley, yet easterly trade winds blow consistently from mid-December through August, making Bonaire a top destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding. But nature is fickle, so periods of low wind may also occur at any time.
We receive rain, but not much, about 20 inches (50 cm) per year; the climate is therefore arid and cactus is common. Since we are only about 800 miles (1300 km) from the equator the temperature is comfortably warm all year, ranging from mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (25 to 31 Celsius).
Mecca for diving and snorkeling too
Bonaire also attracts scuba divers and snorkelers throughout the year, with 63 designated dive sites and another 26 off the uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire. Questions about diving? Your host Marco is a dive instructor!
Costs first time visitors are sometimes not aware of
Both windsurfers and divers must pay an annual fee to STINAPA, the non-profit foundation charged with protecting Bonaire's marine and park resources. This annual fee is $10 for windsurfers and $25 for divers. Annual entrance to Washington Slagbaai National Park is $25 per person (included for divers, an additional $15 for windsurfers).
Our official languages are Dutch and Papiamentu, spoken by 75% of the population, with English and Spanish widely understood. The currency on Bonaire is the US dollar.
Climate
We are about 50 miles from the coast of Venezuela. Thankfully we are outside of Hurricane Alley, yet easterly trade winds blow consistently from mid-December through August, making Bonaire a top destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding. But nature is fickle, so periods of low wind may also occur at any time.
We receive rain, but not much, about 20 inches (50 cm) per year; the climate is therefore arid and cactus is common. Since we are only about 800 miles (1300 km) from the equator the temperature is comfortably warm all year, ranging from mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (25 to 31 Celsius).
Mecca for diving and snorkeling too
Bonaire also attracts scuba divers and snorkelers throughout the year, with 63 designated dive sites and another 26 off the uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire. Questions about diving? Your host Marco is a dive instructor!
Costs first time visitors are sometimes not aware of
Both windsurfers and divers must pay an annual fee to STINAPA, the non-profit foundation charged with protecting Bonaire's marine and park resources. This annual fee is $10 for windsurfers and $25 for divers. Annual entrance to Washington Slagbaai National Park is $25 per person (included for divers, an additional $15 for windsurfers).
Lac Bay, seen from Jibe City, Sorobon. Photo courtesy of Mangrove Casita guest Ken Smith