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Anyone can travel to Bonaire without a negative Covid-19 test, vaccination card or recovery certificate. Check our Travel & Safety page to stay up to date on travel requirements.
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Located in the sunny Southern Caribbean approximately 30 miles from Curacao, 86 miles from Aruba and outside the hurricane belt.
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The island's total area is 288 square kilometers (111 sq mi); it is 38.6 kilometers (24.0 mi) long from North to South, and ranges from 4.8–8 kilometers (3.0–5.0 mi) wide from East to West.
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Truck or scooter rentals are the best way to get around the island. Foreign and international licenses are accepted.
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English, Dutch, Papiamentu (local language) and Spanish are widely spoken on the island.
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Atlantic Standard Time (UTC -4). Bonaire does not change time for Daylight Savings.
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Sunny year round with 12 hours of daylight and average temperature of 82ºF/28ºC.
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The potable (drinking) water is very clean and pure having been distilled from seawater.
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Power is 120 volt, 50 Hz.
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Known as Diver's Paradise and is rated the #1 Shore Diving Destination in the world.
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Ocean water temperature ranges from 84ºF/29ºC in the summer to 76ºF/24ºC in the winter.
1. What days are "cruise ship days" so we can avoid Klein Bonaire (if you advise)?
You can view the schedule here: https://crew-center.com/kralendijk-bonaire-cruise-ship-schedule
2. Where do you purchase the "snorkel permits" for $25?
Purchase your snorkel permits ($25) or scuba permits ($45) here: https://stinapa.bonairenaturefee.org/
Scuba permits include access to the National Park. Permits are sold on a calendar year basis. The fee is used to preserve and maintain the marine park and national park.
3. Where do you board the ferry to Klein Bonaire? Is there more than 1 company that you recommend?
- Epicwater Taxi (across from It Rains Fishes) This one is the closest to us and they have a parking area for your car or you can walk there. http://www.watertaxikleinbonaire.com/
- Caribe Watersports (leaves from Eden Beach) http://www.caribewatersportbonaire.com/nl/water-taxi/
4. Is there access to fresh fruit and vegetables (farmers market)?
There are, however, the selection is limited.
Magazina di Rei has a market the last Saturday of every month. You can also check out their museum while you are there. https://www.facebook.com/mangazinadirei/
5. Our plan is to eat majority of meals at the property (definitely breakfast and dinner), can you recommend a supermarket that would have the fresh produce and fresh fish?
We shop at following:
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Warehouse: Best prices.
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Pietersz: Great bulk and quality meats.
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Van den Tweel: Most modern style with good vegetarian options
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Zhung Kong: Great selection of American products
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Best Cellar: Best prices on wine & liquor
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Fresh fish can be bought directly from the fisherman about 30 seconds away from your door.
6. Does the property have access to beach chairs and/or a cooler to take drinks and lunch with us during the days?
Yes, you have a cooler & under the kitchen sink. There are larger ones underneath the sink in the outside kitchen that you are welcome to use.
7. Can you recommend a beach that is especially good for relaxing/sun tanning?
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Sorobon (fun to watch windsurfers),
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Lac Cai (the weekend bar is open on Sundays),
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Pink Beach (tumbled coral beach),
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Atlantis (fun to watch kitesurfers),
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No Name beach at Klein,
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Slagbaai in Washington Slagbaai Park
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Donkey Beach (very busy on Sundays with local people)
8. Any particular advice regarding driving and safety of vehicle and contents outside of common sense of not leaving valuables in the vehicle?
Leave your doors unlocked with the windows at least partially down so people know that the doors are unlocked. Don’t hide anything in the vehicle. Take everything out unless you don’t mind if it goes missing. Never lock your glovebox. Most rentals are manual transmissions. Make sure you use the parking brake so the vehicle doesn’t end up in the ocean. There are no traffic lights. There are many pedestrians & people on bikes & scooters. People beep here to say hello to their friends.
9. Any particular areas/activities/restaurants on the island that are "must see"?
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Echo Parrot Sanctuary tour
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Donkey Sanctuary – buy a few bags of carrots & cut them into quarter size pieces so you will have plenty to feed the donkeys. Don’t give them all out in the beginning or you won’t have enough to give by the end of the drive.
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Snorkel – You need thick sole dive boots & open heeled fins.
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Bari’s Reef at the broken down pier – it’s like swimming in an aquarium.
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In front of our property - you will see turtles, pufferfish, filefish, parrotfish, trunkfish, eels, sea urchins, tarpons, sergeant majors, bonefish, goatfish, angelfish, blennies, and if you can spot them you’ll see octopus, lobsters, spotted eagle rays, ocean triggerfish and lots of juveniles.
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Lac Bay – walk out through the shallow bay to the reef and check out the beautiful reef, swim to the left to see the elk corals & on the way in you will see large conch.
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La Dania’s Leap – take a jump into the pristine corals & drift to Karpata.
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Wayaka – spend that day snorkeling at Wayaka I, II & III in Washington Slagbaai Park.
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Klein – we suggest going to Klein with SeaCow (if you are more independent) or Woodwind (if you like more guidance) or do both – but then do Woodwind first then SeaCow.
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Mangrove kayak & snorkel – we think the snorkel is the best part of this tour, but you want to go with a small tour company & be the first to go on the snorkel. Otherwise, everyone will kick up the sand and you can’t see anything – especially when there are a lot of people.
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Sit at the boulevard with a cold drink & watch the sunset.
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Enjoy ice cream at Luciano’s or Gio's in town.
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Yhanni makes authentic Venezuelan arepas behind Budget Marine.
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Hike up Brandaris – you have to take the short route in Washington Slagbaai Park because you can’t get there from the long route & you can’t backtrack.
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Bird watching – see flamingos, parrots, parakeets, herons, egrets, pelicans, laughing gulls, ducks, etc.
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Weekend Bar has live music on Sundays at Lac Cai.
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There is so much more! Just ask!
10. Where can we get food that the locals like to eat?
We think Pietersz has the best fresh meats. Get fish from the local fishermen. One lives over on the next street and they will filet the fish for you. We have a 5 burner gas grill that you are welcome to use. It also has a rotisserie so you can put a whole chicken on.
11. Does the property have current converters that will allow the use of laptops and electronics from the USA?
We have standard US plugs. The hertz is 50Hz, not 60Hz (in the US) so you will find that whatever you have plugged in will charge fast & will get hot. Don’t leave phones, laptops etc plugged in for more than a few hours at a time. Plug them in to charge, then unplug them when not in use.
12. Are the guesthouses separate units?
No, all of our guesthouses are attached side by side at Treasure by the Sea (Kas di Alegria, Kas di Amigu, Kas di Amor). They're perfect for families and friends that want to stay together but stay in their own accommodation.
13. Can I snorkel anywhere along the shore?
Yes!! The water is only a 5-second walk away from the property so you can snorkel whenever and wherever you want!
** The only places you can't snorkel are the town pier, south pier, the salt pier (when there is a ship), & the reserves
14. What do I need to bring with me to snorkel?
We recommend bringing a snorkel mask, booties, fins, and of course a bathing suit! As the shores are quite rocky, it will be safer and easier to get in and out with booties. Not required but highly recommended: spit spray (to keep the mask from fogging), skin suit/rash guard (to be protected from the sun and anything that might sting you). By not wearing sunscreen it protects the reefs from harsh chemicals.
**If you don't own any snorkel gear, don't fret! There are plenty of dive shops on the island to rent gear from!
15. How do I get around the island?
You can rent a scooter or a car. If you are diving, we would highly recommend renting a truck. We also have complimentary bikes on site for guests to use.
16. What can I use in the common area?
Our common areas are for all guests to use. These include the outdoor kitchen with a large bbq grill, a spacious backyard with a dining table and chairs, a clothesline, and a hammock. We also have an outdoor shower so feel free to take a quick rinse to get the sand off.
17. Are there any taxes or fees to enter Bonaire?
Yes. As of July 1, 2022, Bonaire has implemented a new entry tax. This tax replaces the 'tourist tax' and 'car rental' tax that visitors paid. Visitors will have to pay $75.00 per visit per person for ages 13 and above. For ages 12 and below and former Netherland Antilles residents, will have to pay $10.00 per visit per person. This tax can be paid digitally https://tourismtax.bonairegov.com/ or upon arrival at the airport.