| Bonaire | |
 | |
Location  | |
Coat of arms and flag .svg/45px-Blason_de_Bonaire_(Antilles_néerlandaises).svg.png){kind=small}  | |
| State | Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Region | Netherlands Antilles |
| Capital | Kralendijk |
| Surface | 288 km² |
| Inhabitants | 18.905 (2015) |
| Tourism site | |
| Institutional website | |
Bonaire is one of the Netherlands Antilles.
To know
Bonaire is second in area among the Netherlands Antilles; it is located about fifty kilometers east of Curaçao and is about eighty km from the coasts of Venezuela.
It is an island as dry as its neighbor Curaçao. Its southern part is flat while the northern one is hilly and culminates in Mount Brandaris established as a national park. Agriculture is not practiced and the vegetative mantle is reduced to bushes and cacti.
Despite its uninviting appearance, Bonaire constitutes on par with Curaçao a paradise for those who love scuba diving. Its depths are in fact rich in coral formations and host a colorful underwater fauna. There are also many bird colonies stationed in Bonaire, which attracts fans of "bird watching".
The north-eastern coast is deserted as it is exposed to the trade winds. The small capital, Kralendijk and the hotel complexes are all located on the leeward coast.
Territories and tourist destinations
Bonaire: full screen map.Urban centers
- 1 Kralendijk - The small capital surrounded by non-exceptional beaches. They are all narrow but artificial arena has been added to those facing the hotel complexes. Among the most popular beaches for diving there is Salt Pier, south of the center.
- 2 Rincon - The other inhabited center of the island is a village of 1700 inhabitants just north of the capital. It is popular for holidays and a Saturday market that occurs in the first week of each month.
Other destinations
- 1 Boca Slagbaai - Located within the national park, Boca Slagbaai is an equipped beach, a destination for excursions from the capital. It boasts beautiful backdrops and behind it is a small lake with a colony of flamingos.
- 2 Klein Bonaire - An uninhabited island in the bay of the capital with excellent opportunities for diving enthusiasts.
- 3 Lac Bay - Surrounded by mangrove forests, Lac bay is located on the east coast, near Sorobon Beach and, thanks to the winds, is a destination for surfers.
- 4 Washington Slagbaai National Park - It occupies the northern part of the island and is characterized by arid landscapes with numerous succulents. At the extreme northern tip stands a tall lighthouse.
- 5 Sorobon Beach - Beach on a bay on the south-east coast sheltered from the winds but not too much It belongs to the hotel complex, Sorobon Beach Resort, part dedicated to those who practice naturism. However, access to the hotel beach is also allowed for non-customers but for a fee.
How to get
By plane
- Flamingo International Airport ((IATA: BON,). As of 2019 flights from Amsterdam they were operated on KLM and from TUI Netherlands. Other airlines:
- American Airlines — You love me
- Aruba Airlines — Aruba, Curaçao.
- Delta Air Lines — Atlanta.
- Divi Divi Air — Curaçao, Aruba (charter).
- EZAir — Aruba, Curaçao.
- Sky High Aviation Services — Santo Domingo–Las Américas.
- Sunwing Airlines — Toronto–Pearson (seasonal).
- United Airlines — Houston–Intercontinental, Newark.
- Winair — Curaçao, St. Maarten.
How to get around
By car
Car Rental Agencies in Bonaire:
- Bonaire Rent a Car, Kaya Den Haag 44, ☎ 599 717 7752, 599 786 6090, @[email protected].
- Fox Bonaire Car Rental, Flamingo International Airport Bonaire, ☎ 599 - 717 4940.
