General Information about Bonaire
Bonaire is a special municipality (officially public body) of the Netherlands, consisting of the Caribbean island of Bonaire and, nestled in its western crescent, the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire. Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles. The name Bonaire is thought to have originally come from the Caiquetio word ‘Bonay’.
The early Spanish and Dutch modified its spelling to Bojnaj and also Bonaire, which means “Good Air”.
Bonaire was part of the Netherlands Antilles until the country’s dissolution on 10 October 2010, when the island (including Klein Bonaire) became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands.
Tourism on Bonaire
Bonaire’s economy is mainly based on tourism. The island caters mainly to scuba divers and snorkelers, as there are few sandy beaches, while the surrounding reefs are easily accessible from the shore. Bonaire is world renowned for its excellent scuba diving and is consistently rated among the best diving locations in the world. Bonaire’s license plates carry the logo Divers Paradise (in English). Bonaire is also consistently recognized as one of the best destinations for snorkeling. Wind surfers also make a strong group of island tourists, as the east side of the island (facing the Caribbean Sea) has the large waves and wind gusts needed for windsurfing. Lac Bay, in the south east, is shallow, yet windy, and hence is considered an excellent place for intermediate sailors to improve their skills. Tourism infrastructure is contemporary and based on time-share resorts. There are a few small bed and breakfasts. Most resorts have an on-site dive shop. The rest are affiliated with a dive operation.
Language
Dutch is the official language, since it is part of the Netherlands. Nevertheless, Papiamentu is recognised as another language on the island.
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Dinner at Sea
Join us for an unforgettable adventure! We depart from the harbour with cold drinks and snacks showing you the beauty of our island from the sea. Arrive at our snorkel destination and let our crew guide you along the way with information about the Marine Park. Welcome back on board to a full *BBQ including burgers, steaks, local seafood and house made salads. Sit back and feel the warm Caribbean sunset as we make our way back to the harbour. Departs 2:30pm. *Special food requests accepted.
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Sail to Washington Slagbaai Park
Begin this excursion with breakfast on board while we sail north to the National Park. Join in for a guided snorkel tour with our crew or simply relax in the sun. Let our chef prepare a delicious *BBQ lunch for your group with all of your drinks included for the day. We’ll depart Slagbaai at 3pm and sail the journey back to the harbour just in time to catch the magnificent Caribbean sunset. Departs 8:30am. *Special food requests accepted.
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Two-Stop Snorkel and Sail
Enjoy four hours of incredible sailing along our pristine coastline with a guided snorkel at Klein Bonaire and another favourite stop on Bonaire. This trip includes an open bar, sandwiches and all of the gear you’ll need for the water. Departs at 9:00am.
We want to give our guest the time of their life. Our excursion has a 5 star rated on Tripadvisor and we are very proud of that.