“Bonaire isn’t just a scuba diving paradise,” replied a woman who vacations on the island each year. “It also has wild natural beauty, with otherworldly landscapes of cacti.”
“Cacti?!” I gasped. I didn’t realize Bonaire had cacti!”
“You’re in for a whole lot more surprises,” the woman smiled. “You haven’t seen a Caribbean island like this one.”
Bonaire wasn’t on my radar at all, until the random afternoon I won a solo trip to the island. (Check out the full story here — it involved a contest posing with inflatable flamingos.)
After winning the trip, I began to read up on the island. Turns out, Bonaire is a “special municipality” of the Netherlands, and lies 50 miles north of Venezuela, and a fortunate distance south of the Caribbean’s Hurricane Belt.
The island is just 114 square miles in area (slightly larger than my home city of Boston), meaning it takes less than half a day to drive around the entirety of Bonaire, exploring its nooks and crannies. That’s exactly what I did on my third morning there, equipped with a camera, van, and new buddy named Rodrigo, who I’d met at my heavenly Bonaire hotel.
As we started our circle around the island, the first thing that stood out was how quiet, calm, and private Bonaire feels. With under 19,000 inhabitants (most of whom are in the main town of Kralendijk), you can drive for miles and not see anyone. In fact, more than 20% of the island’s land and all 100% of its surrounding water are protected National Parks. No high-rise hotels here!
The second clear element was the Dutch flavor of the island. Check out the Dutch “Donkey Crossing” sign, above! Though Dutch is the official language of Bonaire, Papiamentu is also recognized, and English and Spanish are also widely spoken.
The color of Bonaire’s ocean floored me. In the sun, the azure waters are so bright, they swirl the head. Though there aren’t endless sandy beaches, the island is one of the best in the world for scuba diving, and its snorkeling shines, too.
There are other bodies of water besides the crystal sea, however, and the shallow lakes on either tip of the island house the most famous animal of Bonaire…
Given that one enters Bonaire through “Flamingo Airport”, it’s easy to surmise that the pink birds are a favorite on the island. While the official flamingo sanctuary is found at the southern tip, I also ogled some excellent flamingo struts on the north side of Bonaire.
As our van puttered stealthily along Gotomeer (Goto Lake), I kept asking Rodrigo, “Please pull over! There’s a flamingo I’d love to photograph!” In keeping with the quiet feel of the island outside of Kralendijk, we did this for a full hour, and hardly saw another car.
Eyes full up from flamingos, we continued our drive to circumnavigate the island. From the tiny northern village of Rincon, to the salt flats in the south, and back up to Kralendijk, Bonaire’s combination of cacti, bright blue sea, and quiet were, indeed, unlike any other Caribbean island I’d ever seen — or even imagined.
This isn’t the kind of vacation destination where you’re forced to march from tourist attraction to tourist attraction to check off a list, because the best way to explore Bonaire (when one isn’t scuba diving or relaxing by the ocean) is a slow, free-form wander through its wild beauty. Check out these photos from our drive to see what I mean!
These photos epitomize the calm solitude I felt on Bonaire, and the pull of its nature. I didn’t pick any of the pictures from the bustling main town, because for me, what I most appreciated about Bonaire was its opportunities for solo reflection, meandering through the island’s unique terrain.
So what about you? Does Bonaire seem like a place you’d be curious to visit? Have you been? Are you a flamingo fan? I’d be curious to hear about your thoughts in the comments!
Click here to check out my first Bonaire article, and here to see all my ABC Islands posts.
I was a guest of Tourism Bonaire, but all opinions and penchants for photographing things growing upwards are my own.
Theresa Akerman says
As a diver who enjoys the island and the surrounding waters annually, I am thrilled for someone to be able to express and appreciate all the beauty of the island, who isn’t a diver. I try to explain to others the lurk and attraction but when you go to Bonaire, you know!
Lillie Marshall says
Aww, thanks, Theresa! Yes, it’s a really intriguing island, and I’m glad to help spread the word that it’s neat on land as well as by sea! Perhaps someday I’ll venture under the water…
Kate Lubinski says
Wow, Bonaire definitely looks like a wonderful place to visit! I heard it is amazing for diving, especially the area at the Salt Pier and I’m happy to see the whole island has so much more to offer when it comes to nature and exploring! I really hope I’m gonna make it there soon!
Lillie says
I’ve heard such great things about the Salt Pier. Let us know how it is if (or WHEN) you make it there!
Agness says
Wow! This island seems so picturesque and definitely worth visiting. I fell in love with it from seeing your pictures! How many days would you recommend staying in Bonaire?
Lillie says
That’s always a tough question to answer because every person is different. I was there for three nights and was able to see and do quite a bit because of the small size of the island, but if you’re into Scuba diving, you might want more days to do more dives.
cheri newbold says
Came across your article. I’m looking into a destination for 4 single ladies in april2018. This place looks like I may have hit the jackpot. Any advice I’d welcome. We want non touristy. If ships don’t come there, that’s where I want to go. Is any hotel we choose to stay a good, safe location? Thank you! Cheri
Lillie says
Hi Cheri,
Sounds like an exciting trip you are planning! Please do know that there IS a cruise port in Bonaire, and so there is the cruise activity from the big ships. The hotel where I stayed is here: https://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2017/07/27/bonaire-resort/ . I’ll email you with more details.
Joan Pilonero says
Cruise ships port on Tuesdays and I think it was Fridays? So on those days simply stay out of town, there is so much else to see! I would recommend using airbnb or something of the like. The only chain hotel I saw on the island was a Marriott Courtyard. Just be sure to have air conditioning and a parking place! Another great thing about this island is that it is safe to explore! Enjoy your girls trip, and rent snorkel gear for the week, you won’t regret that decision.
Lillie Marshall says
Thanks for adding your thoughts and suggestions Joan! I do want to be careful categorizing places as “safe” or “not safe,” though, since safety is relative, but I do agree that I felt very comfortable while traveling on the island alone.
Jones Around The World says
This island looks so gorgeous! Would love to make it there sometime. Great post :-)
Lillie says
Thank you!
Katja says
Love that cacti fence almost as much as the amazing colour of the water! I knew very little about Bonaire before reading this so thanks for educating me :)
Angelique says
You discribe iT exactly like iT is. I am in Love with Bonaire! In the last 18 months i was there 3 times and every time iT was fantastic.
Dave M. says
Gorgeous photos! And I had no idea Bonaire is basically the size of Boston!
Lillie says
Thanks! Indeed, it is a petite island.