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Do you want to visit A Caribbean Island called Bonaire? Then read on and check the best places to see in this lovely paradise spot!
About Island Bonaire
Island Bonaire is a Dutch paradise on the north side of Venezuela and east of Central America. An island renowned for its dive spots, parks, and other thrilling, mainly marine, activities. Trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean blow continuously, relieving its tropical environment.
Do you want to visit? Here’s what you need to know beforehand!
How to get to Isla Bonaire and Its location
Bonaire is well connected with direct flights to some of the other Caribbean islands, particularly Aruba and Curaçao, and to the United States. It is also well connected to Europe by direct KML flights from Amsterdam.
Entry requirements to Bonaire Island:
Here you can find the requirements to enter Bonaire Island, documents, taxes, and more:
Bonaire Tax for Tourists:
Visitors are required to pay a Tax known as Bonaire Tax. The Tax does not apply to Bonaire citizens with a current identification card.
Bonaire tax applies to all non-residents aged 13 and above. However, the visitation tax is much lower for children under 13. Visitors must pay the Bonaire tourist tax in advance.
Visa requirements:
You can find an up-to-date Visa requirement page and security and safety for the US on the official website Travel.state.gov.
According to statistics for the year 2021, 56.6 thousand people visited the Caribbean Sea by cruise ship, and more than 100 thousand people traveled by air. As compared to 2020 and 2019 travel data, fewer individuals traveled in 2021 because of the Covid pandemic.
(Source: longreads.com)
Islands/islets connected to Bonaire
Three colonial lands are linked together and referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands, including Bonaire, sometimes referred to as the “BES islands.”
Also called “The Caribbean Netherlands,” comprises the three Dutch Caribbean islands: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
All three islands provide fantastic diving, swimming, snorkeling, and trekking options, attracting many travelers and nature lovers.
Who is Bonaire Island for?
Bonaire is the place to go if you’re looking for a peaceful vacation, a positive travel experience, or something a little more exciting.
According to the statistic for January 2022, the Caribbean Netherlands had a population of approximately 27 thousand and increasing. This rise in population is mainly due to people migrating to Bonaire Island.
The locations highlighted in this article are:
- The Mangrove Kayak Tours
- Klein Bonaire
- Lac Bay
- Bonaire National Marine Park
- Washington Slagbaai National Park.
Bonaire National Marine Park
One of the most thrilling marine protected areas worldwide is the Bonaire Marine Park due to its exotic marine life full of various species. It is the best diving location in the Caribbean Sea and comprises a network of fringing reefs, sea grass beds, beaches, and lagoons.
This park encircles the entire island of Bonaire and is renowned for its crystal-clear water, tranquil seas, and variety of fish life.
The depth of the marine water is 200 feet (60 meters). Samples of the three globally endangered coastal ecosystems that are coral reefs, sea grass beds, and mangroves, can be found in the Bonaire National Marine Park.
This park is well-known for housing more than 470 different kinds of fish, 57 various kinds of hard and soft coral, and an untold number of other marine invertebrates.
Link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-turtle-in-underwater-photography-2435728/
Washington-Slagbaai National Park
The Washington-Slagbaai National Park includes cactus-covered slopes, mangroves, beaches, and sand dunes, taking up nearly one-fifth of the island of Bonaire.
Due to the rough dirt roads, it is preferable to travel through the park in a four-wheel drive vehicle like an off-roader or mountain bike.
The island’s highest peak, Subi Brandaris, provides a beautiful perspective of the surroundings. On sunny days, you might even see Venezuela’s shore.
This is a great location to see some of the diverse bird species that inhabit the island.
Link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/broken-branch-of-a-plant-on-shore-9871164/
Klein Bonaire
Klein Bonaire is a flat, deserted islet part of the Bonaire National Marine Park. It is located about 800 meters off the island’s concave west coast.
This island is a favorite among snorkelers and divers due to its white sand beaches, clear waters, and coral reefs filled with marine life.
Daily water taxi service along this river will deliver you to No Name Beach, a spotless white-sand beach. You could also use the ‘walkway’ to arrive at the beach as an alternative. As a legally protected natural reserve, the deserted island Klein Bonaire has been included in the underwater park.
Lac Bay
The Caribbean Dutch Island of Bonaire has a shallow bay on its southeast coast called Lac Bay. Excellent windsurfing conditions for both novice and experienced riders are offered here due to calm waters and consistent breezes. It is one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved mangrove forests to be found in Lac Bay.
The only large mangrove population on Bonaire is located in the lagoon of Lac Bay. Button mangroves, as well as red, black, and white mangroves, are found here.
The mangrove forest in Lac Bay has improved its tree life by increasing tidal exchange through stream restoration.
Mangrove Kayak Tours
Kayaking is a safe and enjoyable activity because of the calm Caribbean Sea on the west coast. The Lac Bay mangrove forests are accessible by guided kayaking and snorkeling tours from the Mangrove Information Center.
The clear, shallow waters are ideal for snorkeling, and the seagrass beds here are a fertile home for marine animals like conch, stingrays, reef fish, and green turtles.
For individuals who don’t want to paddle, tours are also available in solar-powered crafts.
Ready to visit this marvelous spot in the Caribbean?