12 Best Things to Do in Bonaire (Beyond the Dive Sites)
“Undiscovered” might be one of the most overused words in travel writing, but if there’s any place still worthy of the title, it’s Bonaire. Perched just 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela and forever basking in Caribbean sun, this multicultural island nation slips through the fingers of most travelers. Even seasoned globetrotters and those in travel circles often respond with puzzled looks when the island’s name comes up in conversation. Bonaire is the “B” in the ABC Islands (along with Aruba and Curaçao), where you can float in electric blue waters, spot wild flamingos on your morning drive, eat fresh lionfish ceviche at a roadside stand, and be on first-name terms with the bilingual chef by dessert. This little slice of the tropics is brimming with one-of-a-kind pleasures, and because the island sits safely outside the hurricane belt, there’s never really a bad time to visit. These are the best things to do in Bonaire for a first trip, including the island’s famous underwater world and the surprisingly good reasons to get out of the water.
Bonaire quick picks
- First visit: Snorkel or dive, drive the south loop, and spend time in Kralendijk.
- Best snorkeling: Klein Bonaire and 1000 Steps are easy places to start.
- Best nature day: Washington Slagbaai National Park.
- Best wildlife: Flamingos, donkeys and the protected marine park.
- Best non-diving water activity: Windsurfing or mangrove kayaking around Lac Bay.
- Best cruise-day approach: Pick one loop and leave enough time for a real snorkel stop instead of trying to circle the entire island.
1. Picnic, snorkel, and be merry on the largest uninhabited island in the Caribbean
Just a short bob across the sea (about half a mile) from downtown Kralendijk (Bonaire’s capital) lies Klein Bonaire, a six-square-kilometer splash of undeveloped beauty and the largest uninhabited island in the entire Caribbean. Though its name means “Little Bonaire,” there’s nothing small about the experience of visiting this coral-fringed outpost.
Accessible only by water taxi from Kralendijk’s waterfront promenade (a quick 15–20 minute ride), this pancake-flat coral island is part of the Bonaire National Marine Park, fiercely protected and blissfully undeveloped. Klein Bonaire boasts blindingly white sands, crystalline waters, and some of the healthiest coral reefs in the region. There are no bars, no beach clubs, and no running water, but a big draw is No Name Beach, the island’s show-stealing shoreline that’s earned legendary status among snorkelers. The reef hugs the island so closely that you can slip on a mask and fins and wade straight into a technicolor world of coral forests, sea turtles, rays, and parrotfish. There are no facilities here, so you’ll need to bring your own picnic, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkelling gear, and whatever else you need for a few carefree hours in paradise.
For a special slice of island life, time your visit with the annual Swim to Klein Bonaire, a fun-filled community fundraiser where swimmers cross from the main island, flanked by a flotilla of cheering boats. Also, note that water taxis to Klein Bonaire fill up fast when cruise ships are in port, so aim to go on a quieter day.
2. Visit a royal-approved distillery that makes cactus vodka by sun-drying it in a car windshield
On a tiny Caribbean island where cacti outnumber people, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to literally bottle the spirit of Bonaire. That someone was Dutch entrepreneur Eric Gietman, the visionary behind Cadushy Distillery, the island’s only spirits producer.
Tucked away in Rincon, the oldest village in Bonaire, the Cadushy Distillery stands in what was once a small picture house. Gietman and his wife Jolande transform Bonaire’s ubiquitous kadushi cactus into a smooth, slightly vegetal vodka that is described as having a “spiny character.” In a move that seems fittingly island resourceful, the cacti are sun-dried in car windshields, letting the Caribbean heat coax out the moisture and concentrate the flavor before fermentation begins.
Visitors are welcomed to explore the leafy distillery garden and sample a flight of housemade liqueurs, each inspired by a different island in the Dutch Caribbean: Cadushy of Bonaire, Kukui of Aruba, Calbas of Curaçao, Gold of Statia, Spices of Saba, and the vibrant orange-hued Royal Orange of Orange, the latter of which earned a royal nod of approval from the Dutch monarchy during their 2011 tour of the island.
3. Descend ‘one thousand steps’ to reach a world-famous diving and snorkeling site
Don’t let the name scare you. 1000 Steps Beach, one of Bonaire’s most iconic dive and snorkel sites, has less than 80 steps, but after a long day in the sun or surf (or after hauling a scuba tank back up), it’s easy to see how the name stuck. This limestone staircase, gracefully carved into the cliffside, leads you down to a secluded cove where sea turtles glide and parrotfish shimmer over coral gardens. Even if you’re not diving, this beach (comprised of coral rubble, bleached driftwood, and polished pebbles) is worth visiting for the view alone. From the top of the steps, the water looks like it’s been Photoshopped, like a palette of turquoise, sapphire, and cobalt you can’t quite believe is real.
4. Attend a 26-hour music and fire festival just for people named Juan and Pedro
How often do you get to go to a party that exists just because of someone’s name? Each June, Bonaire throws not one but two vibrant, round-the-clock street festivals where the guests of honor are anyone named Juan or Pedro, or any version thereof (think Juana, Johan, Johanna, Pedro, Petra, and Piet). These back-to-back celebrations, San Juan (June 23) and San Pedro (June 29), span a joyful 26 hours of nonstop music, food, and fire-jumping, with revelers parading through the villages of Rincon, Nikiboko, Antriol, and Nord Saliña.
During the nights, roving musicians make their way door to door, serenading those blessed with qualifying names. They sing a playful traditional song in Papiamentu, “Habri Porta” (Open the door), which urges the named resident to let them in. Most people open their homes (and their pantries), rewarding the musicians with food, rum, and applause. For those performing, the event is a test of both spirit and stamina. At the heart of the celebration is fire-jumping, a symbolic act of soul purification and a prayer for rain or calmer seas. This extraordinary island ritual is part block party, part musical pilgrimage, and entirely unlike anything else in the Caribbean.
5. Choose between 54 marked dive sites that are accessible right from the shore
For three decades, Bonaire has earned the coveted title of Best Shore Diving Destination in the Caribbean, as voted by Scuba Diving Magazine readers. With 86 marked dive sites, 54 accessible directly from shore, Bonaire is pure marine magic for both seasoned divers and first-timers. “Divers Paradise” is printed on all car license plates in Bonaire and every snorkeling and diving site is clearly marked with a yellow painted rock on the ground. Uniquely, the entire coastline of Bonaire is protected as a national marine park, making it one of the healthiest and most biodiverse underwater environments in the region. Expect coral gardens, neon-hued sponges, and over 350 species of fish in consistently crystal-clear waters. To date, the waters of Bonaire are the clearest I have ever snorkeled in.
6. Flamingo fever from airport touchdown to souvenirs
Bonaire doesn’t just love flamingos, it’s besotted with them. The island’s obsession with its elegant national bird starts the moment your plane kisses the runway at Flamingo International Airport, a pastel-pink hub that sets the tone for your stay. Flamingo fans can book a room at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino or catch a match with SV Atlétiko Flamingo, the island’s aptly-named football team. Kralendijk’s boutiques on Kaya Grandi overflow with flamingo-shaped souvenirs, from kitschy keychains to wearable plumage, should your wardrobe be lacking a tropical twist.
But Bonaire’s flamingo affair isn’t all novelty. Bonaire is one of the rare places in the world where the Caribbean flamingo breeds in the wild, and large swaths of the island are preserved just for them. Prime flamingo-spotting locations include Playa Funchi, Gotomeer, and the shimmering saltpans at Slagbaai, where their pink hues pop against the stark white flats.
7. Windsurf with the legends who put Bonaire on the map
Bonaire is one of the top windsurfing destinations on Earth, and on a quiet stretch of Sorobon Beach, you can take a lesson with the sport’s royalty. Taty and Tonky Frans are Bonaire-born brothers who made waves literally and figuratively across the globe. Carving up coastlines everywhere from Turkmenistan to Norway, they’ve competed in over 25 countries, wowed judges in world freestyle championships, and have now returned to the breezy bay that raised them. Their school, The Frans Paradise, opened its doors in 2018, and you can book a private session with one of the brothers or join a group class and learn about their story in the documentary Children of the Wind (2013) before your arrival in Bonaire.
8. Drive Bonaire’s south loop for salt flats, flamingos and history
The south end of Bonaire is one of those drives where the landscape keeps changing even though the island is small. You move from bright salt ponds and towering white salt pyramids to flamingo habitat, old slave huts and a long, open coastline. It is an easy way to understand how different Bonaire feels from a typical Caribbean resort island, and it works especially well for visitors who only have a day.
9. Give Washington Slagbaai National Park at least half a day
Washington Slagbaai National Park protects a large part of Bonaire’s rugged northwest, with cactus-covered hills, beaches, salt pans and wildlife. This is not a quick drive-through attraction. Roads are rough and slow, so allow several hours and use a vehicle with decent ground clearance. STINAPA currently lists the park as open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with entry until 2:30 p.m.; always check the official STINAPA site before you go.
10. Paddle through the mangroves at Lac Bay
Lac Bay is best known for its shallow turquoise water and windsurfing, but the mangrove system is another side of Bonaire worth seeing. A guided kayak trip gives you a close look at the nursery habitat that supports the island’s marine life and is a strong choice for non-divers who still want a water-based experience.
11. Meet Bonaire’s donkeys
Donkeys are part of Bonaire’s history and still roam the island, sometimes appearing where you least expect them. The Donkey Sanctuary gives visitors a more structured way to see them while supporting care for sick, injured and orphaned animals. It is especially easy to pair with the south loop.
12. Slow down in Kralendijk and Rincon
It is easy to treat Bonaire as a collection of dive sites, but leave room for its towns. Kralendijk is compact, colorful and walkable, with the waterfront, shops and restaurants clustered close together. Rincon, the island’s oldest settlement, feels quieter and more local. If your trip is all reef entries and rental-car stops, you miss part of what makes the island memorable.
What first-time visitors should know
Nature fee: Bonaire’s protected parks are managed by STINAPA, and visitors using the marine park or Washington Slagbaai should check the current nature-fee requirements before arrival. Car or golf cart? A car is the more flexible choice for a multi-day stay and is the safer bet for rougher roads. Golf carts are popular with some cruise visitors for the paved island loops, but STINAPA does not allow golf carts inside Washington Slagbaai National Park. Cruise day: do less. A south-island loop plus one good snorkel stop is usually a better day than trying to cover every headline attraction.
Discovery Sessions Editors
Discovery Sessions is a curated travel and freedom lifestyle site for globally curious people who want more stamps in their passports and more say in their schedules.