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Bonaire
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Bonaire is a
small, 112 square miles, Dutch island just 50 miles north of Venezuela in the
Caribbean Sea. Lightly inhabited, it is a quiet destination where visitors
appreciate the natural environment. It's desert-like landscape is home to
abundant birdlife...it is a birdwatchers heaven. But its real claim-to-fame is
diving, and it is the reason most people visit. The entire island is surrounded
by a protected marine park which offers underwater splendor. This quiet island
is trying hard to protect itself from overdevelopment in order to preserve it's
unique natural beauty, both on land and sea. |
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The island capital
is a clean, neat, small town called Kralendijk, Dutch for coral dyke. When the
Dutch took Bonaire from Spain in 1636, they set up a salt industry to take
advantage of the fine harbor at Kralendijk. Bonaireans called their main town
Playa, Spanish for beach. On its two streets, you will find restaurants, bars,
shops and government buildings. Fort Oranje, built in the 18th century, never
saw any action. However, its four cannon balls remain ready for use, just in
case. Laid-back, easy-does-it Bonaire has excellent roads from end to end, an
airport named Flamingo and most important of all...good, affordable hotel
accommodations are also available. |
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Snorkeling
programmed is available so that you can rent snorkeling equipment, see
snorkeling demonstrations and receive instructions. Other options include
bicycling, and big game fishing for wahoo, marlin, swordfish, tuna, and smaller
fish such as bonefish. Boat trips and charters are available. A Chinese junk is
famous for its night and "moon" trips, with Thai dinners aboard ship as an added
attraction. Just south of Flamingo Airport is a kunuku, Papiamento word for
country or farm. Here, you can go horseback riding, use a swimming pool and golf
driving range, visit a small aviary, and entertain the youngsters with a kids'
playground, complete with pony rides. |
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Bonaire offers
several fine stores, boutiques and a mini-mall for shopping. For food shopping,
the largest supermarket on the island is called Cultimara. In the area of
entertainment, there are occasional folklore performances and a small selection
of nightclubs, bars and discos. Bonaire has two casinos, one at the Divi
Flamingo Resort and the other at Plaza Resort. The island capital also sports a
two-screen cinema. Think pink and "birds of a feather flocking together." That's
what it's all about on Bonaire, island home of thousands of pink flamingoes.
They mate and nest annually in shallow lagoons at both ends of the island,
particularly in Great Salt Lake on the southern side. |
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 Bed
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