Making the most of Bonaire
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Three cruise ships can berth alongside in the center of Kralendijk with water depth to 15.2 meters. An attractive waterfront promenade allows guests to walk from the port to the main street and hotel stretch. There is no terminal building. Nearby is the South Pier Mall that consists of various jewelry and souvenir shops, you'll find the ATMs and a tourist information desk where you can get Bonaire maps and all the information you need.
Generally, taxi fares to either the north and the south of the island are about $25.00.
Please note: Bonaire was part of the Netherlands Antilles until the country's dissolution on 10 October 2010, when the island became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands.
Printable map to take along.
Bring an umbrella and a light jacket as rain showers can suddenly appear.
Today, Bonaire is well known to scuba divers and bird-watchers. There is little agriculture and most of the island is covered in scrub and cacti.
Often called simply "Playa" or "Beach" by local residents, Kralendijk is the sleepy capital of Bonaire, an island in the Dutch Antilles. Strung along one of Bonaire's many attractive beaches, Kralendijk is lined with delightfully pastel stucco houses, in pinks, oranges and lime greens.
Famous for its diving - the island is surrounded by a Marine Park - Bonaire also offers such treats as flamingos, pink beaches, hiking and casinos. Swimming and snorkeling requires a fee of $10 and diving $25 payable at any dive shop.
Under water webcam.
Getting around
There are many snorkeling tours, which all end up at the same spot to moor or anchor: Klein Bonaire, it is a small island - within view of the ship. There are plenty of vendors offering water taxis at the cruise dock. The snorkeling is so close to the shore/sand that you really do not need fins or a life jacket. A simple mask and snorkel are all that is needed. Guided snorkel tours are about $50-60.
Some sandy beach areas are available at nearby select resorts.
Nearby places
You'll definitely want to see Bonaire's genuinely pink beach, located just south of Kralendijk. The color comes from corals which have been ground into sand by the sea. Also pink are Bonaire's famous flamingos which, in mating season, number in the 15,000s.
Washington Slagbaai National Park is the place to go and, with its varied terrain, you'll also have a chance to see a wide variety of other bird life, from the bananaquit (a cheeky little yellow breasted bird known locally for stealing sugar off diner's tables) to the Caribbean parakeet.
The salt pans or salt flats of Bonaire have been used for the extraction and exportation of salt for centuries. These natural ponds were first worked by African slaves who were brought to Bonaire to work the salt pans and plantations.
Food and shopping
A stroll along Kaya Grandi in Kralendijk offers a wide variety of interesting bargains, on things like gemstone jewelry, wood, leather, silver and ceramics. You'll also find prints and paintings, painted fish and island dolls.
Money
US Dollar.
Staying connected
Official languages Dutch, English, Papiamento, Spanish
Opening Hours and
Stores on the main streets are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, although some are closed for lunch between noon and 2 p.m. Shops in the malls and shopping centers are open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some stores are open on Sundays and holidays when cruise ships are in port.