Bonaire is a Caribbean island located 80 km north of the coast Venezuela. The island is part of the Netherlands Antilles, which also includes Curacao, Saba, Saint-Eustatius and St. Martin.

The main advantages of this miniature island (40 km from north to south and width of 8 km) - pristine nature and a unique underwater world, which makes Bonaire an ideal tourist destination for diving, snorkeling and windsurfing.

Despite the fact that the island is more focused on a quiet relaxing holiday, lovers of adventure and fans of active pastime, they will also find a lesson for themselves here. In addition, Bonaire has beautiful sandy beaches, many small cozy hotels and restaurants for every taste.

The capital is Kralendijk.

How to get to

There are no direct flights from Russia and CIS countries to Bonaire. The easiest option is to fly through Amsterdam. KLM operates 5 times a week direct non-stop flights to the international airport Bonaire - Flamingo Airport Bonaire. The duration of the flight from Amsterdam is about 9 hours. Total travel time from Moscow is from 14, 5 to 24 hours depending on the selected flights.

In addition, American Airlines, Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines operate weekly flights from major US cities.

On all international flights, an airport fee is charged upon departure. If the final destination of the passengers of Curaçao, Saint-Martin, Saba, Saint-Eustatius, Saba or Aruba, the airport charge is 15, 50 ANG or 9 USD. In all other areas - 63, 10 ANG or 35 USD. Children under two years from the payment of the fee are exempt. A discount of 50% is given to children from 2 to 12 years old and persons over 60 years of age. Cards are accepted for major payment systems except American Express.

Visa in Bonaire

Russian citizens to visit Bonaire need a visa, which is issued at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The visa is valid for 30 days. If a visa is required for a longer period, it can be extended upon arrival at a local police station.

Customs office

Import and export of local and foreign currency is not limited, but amounts over 20 000 florins (or equivalent in foreign currency) must be declared.

Persons over 18 years of age are allowed duty-free imports of up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos (up to 3 grams each) or up to 250 grams. tobacco, as well as up to 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages, 2, 25 liters of wine or 3 liters of beer. The import of perfume and perfume is not limited.

It is forbidden to import weapons, explosives, drugs and narcotic drugs. It is prohibited to export objects and things of historical and artistic value, including those found on the seabed, without special permission.

Climate Bonaire

The climate is tropical marine with small temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The rainy season lasts from late October to late January. As a rule, during this period the rains go late at night or early in the morning, and with the rising of the sun the sky clears up.

Look at the "Thinness" weather forecast for the main resorts of Bonaire for the coming days.

Hotels in Bonaire

Local hotels, according to the level of service and the variety of services provided, occupy one of the leading positions. Most of them have international diving schools, where qualified instructors work.

Beaches

Most of the beaches on Bonaire are municipal, the entrance to them is free. The exception is only the beach near the resort of the Harbor Village Resort (guests - free of charge, the rest - for a small number of florins) and the beach Sorobon - a private resort that specializes in nudism (which is everywhere in the country except this beach is prohibited). Bathe and sunbathe topless is not prohibited, but also not approved. Most tourists do not pay attention to the approval of local authorities and on isolated small beaches boldly get rid of the top of the swimsuit.

The best beaches on the island: Playas-Chikita, which is located on the territory of the Washington-Slagbai National Park and is considered not the safest place for swimming due to strong currents and high waves; in the north-west of the island Playa-Funchi beach with excellent opportunities for diving; Rocky beach of Boca Slagbai, surrounded by charming houses of the mid-19th century .In addition, it is worth exploring the quiet little Playa-France beach near the national park, Boka Kokolishi with round shallow lagoons, the northern shore of the Marine Park - Boca Bartol beach with excellent snorkeling .The

Hardly accessible, but insanely picturesque is the beach of Sauzend-Steps; and good infrastructure and infrastructure is famous for Pink Beach (it also has great opportunities for snorkeling and diving).

Sea turtle

Nature of Bonaire

Beaune Beaches

Entertainment, excursions and attractions in Bonaire

Kralendijk is the capital of Bonaire, the commercial center and the main port of the country. From the sea, Kralendijk is only a small group of low-rise buildings, painted in pastel colors. However, it is here that most government offices, as well as shops, hotels, restaurants and bars on Bonaire. The main attractions of the capital: Fort-Orange, which now houses the port office, as well as the adjacent stone lighthouse and the museum Bonaire (Museo-Boneriano).

Rincon - the oldest settlement on the island, founded by the Spaniards in the early 16th century, is located in the valley to the north-west of Kralendijk. Today the town is a small group of houses in the traditional Dutch style with one automatic telephone and a gas station.

The uninhabited island of Little Bonaire (Klein Bonaire), which is located 750 m from the west coast of the main island, is interesting. The islet is inside the crescent formed by the great Bonaire. Remains of ancient slum huts are preserved here. In 1868, the island was sold and privately held until 1999, when it was bought by the government of Bonaire, the World Nature Fund for the conservation of the island's natural environment for 9 million guilders.

Diving in Bonaire

Transparent (visibility from 30 to 50 m), all year round warm water (+ 25 ... 28 ° C), a huge variety of corals, steep underwater walls, an abundance of underwater flora and fauna invariably attract thousands of divers to the island of Bonaire .More than 450 species of fish are recorded in the local waters, four species of sea turtle and about 70 species of algae .In addition, you can not just dive (day-diving), but also go to a dive safari or dive tours to the east coast of the island and the Washington Slagbai National Park .The extended coral reef that surrounds the island of Bonaire, since 1979, has the status of the National Marine Park, and under the protection is the entire underwater world from the sea surface to a depth of 60 meters .Total number of dive sites in Bonaire exceeds a hundred .The

The dive sites are marked with yellow markers or buoys and usually have romantic names: Country Garden, Fantastic Food, Yellow Mens Reef or Bloodlet. The best dive sites: the Pink Beach area on the southwestern coast, the Hilma-Hooker Rack at 30-meter depth in Salt-Pierre in the north of the island, the waters off the Sauzend-Steps beach, the Rappel shoal, the reefs off the island of Klein- Bonaire, as well as shallow waters of Boca Slagbai.

Windsurfing and yachting in Bonaire

Constant, "right" strength and direction winds make Bonaire one of the best places for windsurfing and yachting. Sailing here, as a rule, are engaged in the bay of Kralendijka, Lak Bay, Sorobon Beach and other open areas of the southeast coast.

Lak Bay in the east of Bonaire is considered one of the best places for windsurfing in the world. This sheltered shallow bay has several professional shops with equipment. 90% of the time here is windy weather, which allows you to ride not only professionals, but also beginners.

From the middle of December to August, when particularly strong winds blow, on the island there are competitions on windsurfing. In October, a sailing regatta is traditionally held, within which sailing and surf racing are organized.

Holiday pictures Bonaire (27)