Bonaire Travel
For us Bonaire travel is very unique. Most important, the people are just nice. There is such a mix of race, income levels, and languages on Bonaire, and yet we felt so much less tension considering of all of these differences than anywhere else we have traveled.
We did not feel out of place because we were white, and only spoke English, and we never felt any anger from the less happy "locals", which is so common in Hawaii and Belize and other locations we have traveled to.
We also did not get harassed to buy anything when walking around the town. And that is great. It is one of the things I like the least, being approached aggressively to try to get us to listen to some time share scam, or to buy something I don't want. Sure, when the cruise ships come in, Bonaire comes alive in an attempt to sell stuff to those folks. But once the ships are gone, they all take a nap!
Bonaire just a wonderful place to vacation to. And if you are planning a snorkeling trip here, you are probably going to want to know some basic info that will help you plan.
Bonaire Travel Tips
Bonaire Seasons
High Season
Winter/Spring: Dec. 15 - Apr. 14
Low Season
Summer/Fall: Apr. 15 - Dec. 14
Windy Season: May - Aug, moderate wind Jan-Apr
Rainy Season: Nov. - Jan.
Bonaire Travel Tips
Landscape
Bonaire is pretty tiny, at only 25 miles long 5 miles wide. It is pretty much a desert island, built on old coral formations. It does have some hills, with it's highest point being 800 feet. We were very surprised to see many of the same plant species that grow well in Arizona on Bonaire. The island is covered with cactus and drought tolerant shrubs.
How to Pronounce Kralendijk
(the main town on Bonaire)
Kra-len-dike, or Craw-len-dyke
Money
As of Jan. 1st, 2011, the entire island is switching over to the US dollar as the only legal tender. Previously the Guilder (or Florin), was the legal tender. It is tied at 1.77 to the US Dollar. You can spend either dollars or Guilders most everywhere.
We brought U.S. dollars and traveler's checks. When we ran out of dollars we got some Guilders from the cash machine. Our debit card would work at one bank, but not at another. You can also use your credit cards and debit cards at most restaurants and businesses. Keep in mind though that your bank or credit card company will likely charge you as much as 3% per transaction in "foreign exchange fees". Capital One is one of the only credit card companies that doesn't charge those fees (last I checked). We avoid using debit cards when traveling (or anywhere) because it is much more difficult to dispute a false charge and to reclaim your money from a bank vs. a credit card (speaking from experience).
Bonaire Travel Tips
Language
Most everyone speaks Dutch, and the locals also speak Papiamentu, Spanish, and fortunately for us, most everyone also speaks English.
Weather
The weather is hot and wonderful on Bonaire. Expect it to be between 80 to 84 degrees F (and the just about the same for the water temperatures). It is humid at around 73%. Fortunately there are regular trade winds that keep things cooler.
Drinking Water
The water on Bonaire is all safe to drink, and it is very tasty. We bought no water on Bonaire. It is produced on the island by distilling seawater.
Time Zone
Bonaire time is GMT -4. That is the same as Atlantic Standard Time, which is the same as the US East Coast. But keep in mind that Bonaire does not use daylight savings time.
Bonaire Travel Tips
Electricity
The power from outlets on Bonaire is 127 Volts at 50 Cycles (Hertz). In the U.S. we run 110V at 60Hz. For the most part, any electronics you bring from the states is going to work fine (ours all did). There is a chance that you may fry something, but most everyone just plugs in and does not worry about it. If you look, most charger's these days are made to handle a range of voltage and hertz. For example our netbook and camera battery chargers can all handle anywhere from 100-240 volts, and 50-60 HZ. We charged things every day for weeks. But we did attempt to leave things plugged in the minimum amount of time possible. Don't bother bringing a surge protector because everything is two pole.
Internet
Many accommodations offer free WiFi. We used the internet extensively in Bonaire with our netbook.
Bonaire Travel Tips
Crime
Generally Bonaire is a very safe place. We walked around at night and felt no concern. But petty theft is pretty common. Particularly when you leave your car out alone at a snorkel spot. We had no issues because we followed the advice of leaving nothing of value in the car, and leaving our windows down and the car unlocked. But our apartment landlords did recommend we lock our windows and doors whenever gone and at night.
Shots - Vaccinations & Other Health Concerns
We have never needed to get any shots or other vaccinations for Bonaire. There is no malaria, which is nice, because there are plenty of mosquitoes. Check this link at the CDC for current vaccination suggestions for traveling to Bonaire.
Bonaire Travel Tips
Emergency Numbers
Dial 911, just like in the states. They have a decent hospital also.
Hospitaal San Francisco
Kaya Soeur Bartola #2, Kralendijk
Tel: +599 717 8900
Fax: +599 717 7990
E-mail: hospitaal@bonairelive.net
Bugs
Mosquitoes are common on Bonaire. It is a well practiced habit to spray exposed skin before going out to dinner at a restaurant, and all the restaurants have some available. We got so annoyed with mosquitoes in our room that we bought an electric tennis racket and had very satisfying time hunting them down and listening to the snap and fry.
Population
There are only about 14,000 people on Bonaire.
Bonaire Travel Tips
Industry
The main industry of Bonaire is tourism, mostly diving and snorkeling. There really is not much else. But salt has been the dominant product of the past, and it is still exported.
Telephones
We bought a calling card at the phone company (Telbo), and used their phone booths to call the states. We also noticed that you can rent a cell phone in Bonaire, which might be a great way to go. Learn more about making calls here.
Wildlife
On land look for lots of wild goats and donkeys. More beautiful are the pink flamingos that you will find in several parts of Bonaire.
You may also get a chance to see the endangered Yellow-shouldered Parrot. The Brown-throated Parakeet is very common (and loud). And there is a very interesting raptor commonly seen in the national park, the Crested Caracara.
If you are interested in seeing more about the birds on Bonaire, this is a great site.
Of course, it is the underwater wildlife that is most interesting on Bonaire.
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