On seeing Bonaire’s capital city, Kralendijk, my travel companion
immediately thought of a small Cape Cod town of his memory.
The “B” of the Southern Caribbean’s “ABC islands” is, indeed, peaceful
and picturesque, with its clear blue water sprinkled with sailboats, a
promenade along the harbor and tropical foliage. Just a block from the water is
a street lined with vivid colored buildings housing boutiques and upscale
tourist shops.
Bonaire is decidedly, too, one of the more European of the Caribbean
ports, save, perhaps, for St. Barts. Dutch is the primary language and it’s
everywhere. Outdoor cafes with their blackboard easel signs tout the day’s delicacies,
like wahoo, barracuda and iguana soup.
Sweetening the pot is that each time we’re in Bonaire, we’re the only
ones there. In fact, a local told us they can go days without seeing a cruise
ship.
It’s also among the few Caribbean islands not in the hurricane belt. It’s
actually quite dry, with only 20 or so inches of rain a year, giving it an
unusual mix of desert and tropics.
In so many ways, it’s the ideal port to visit—stuff to see without an
excursion and a quiet spot to laze over a coffee or beer, or stick your head in
some chic shops.
If you’re into more active activities, you’ll appreciate knowing that
Bonaire is renowned for its scuba and snorkeling—the island itself is built on
a reef.
Then there are beaches to bathe in, salt flats to visit, flamingo
sanctuaries to photograph…
A visit to Bonaire is usually combined with stops at “A” and “C”—Aruba and
Curaçao.
If you do see the itinerary, grab it. Aruba and Curaçao are great destinations, and
Bonaire is truly memorable. Its tourism office says it best, “Once a visitor, always a friend.”*
* Island motto, Tourismbonaire.com
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