Is the Caribbean calling? Are you dreaming of leaving the world behind and getting sand in your toes on unspoiled beaches?
Forget following the herd to Jamaica or the Bahamas!
I’m recommending a visit to Bonaire instead.
According to new figures by CaribJournal, Bonaire has seen great tourism growth this summer, with 1.5% more arrivals than last year and a whopping 9.4% more arrivals than pre-pandemic figures.
However, while many other Caribbean islands are overwhelmed with American tourists, just 21% of visitors to the island are from the U.S.
This means this is a great place to enjoy unspoiled beaches without the crowds. Here’s why the Caribbean’s best-kept secret is a great place to explore this fall.
Uncovering Bonaire
Bonaire is an incredibly small island, covering an area of only around 11 square miles.
It is the lesser known of the Dutch Caribbean ABC Island chain, but it’s something of a hidden gem.
From its stunning beaches to being home to one of the best-preserved mangrove forests in the Caribbean, the geography of Bonaire is outstanding.
It also boasts epic snorkeling and scuba diving, and its capital city of, Kralendijk, is incredibly photogenic.
It’s a picturesque port town with vibrant colored colonial buildings, and well worth exploring if you’re on the islands.
This is the kind of Caribbean getaway most of us can only dream of!
Breathtaking Beaches
Nearby Curacao gets all the credit for having the best beaches, but the beaches in Bonaire deserve some recognition too.
The beaches here are rugged and unspoiled.
They are natural, understated, but still breathtakingly beautiful.
Bonaire boasts 20 different named beaches. Not all of these are sandy beaches, but the coral and rocky beaches on the island have their own charm too.
Lac Cai is on the north side of Lac Bay and is a stunning white sand beach that doesn’t attract the crowds of Lac Bay itself.
Chachacha Beach has its own petrified coral reef, is a great place for scuba diving, and has some of the best sea views on the island.
For something a little different, visit Pink Beach which is one of a few pink beaches in the Caribbean.
Bonaire is a paradise for water sports and diving enthusiasts, so if you’re a certified diver (or if you want to become one) then there’s no better place to be!
Bonaire Scuba has a great reputation and a one day PADI Discover Scuba Diving lesson will cost $175 per person.
Wildlife Explorations
When you’re tired of relaxing on the beach, this island is a great place to get close to the local wildlife.
Bonaire is famous for its pink flamingos.
In fact, the island is so proud of their pink feathered friends that its airport is named after them.
The Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary is one of 4 places worldwide where flamingos breed, and the shrimp that the flamingos feed on in the water here turn it a gentle, rosy shade of pink.
You can’t actually go into the reserve as it’s a restricted area, but you can watch the birds from afar. The Pink Beach is the best spot to do this.
Equally fun is the Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire, which is home to more than 800 donkeys.
Entry costs $9 per person, and you can buy a bucket of grass pellets for $2.50 to feed the animals.
The sanctuary is open from 10am to 5pm and has a garden home to iguanas, tortoises, and flamingos. It’s a great place to see these creatures up close!
Getting To Bonaire
Although not as well known as other Caribbean destinations, Bonaire is just as easy to get to with regular flights from the U.S.
American Airlines flies to Bonaire from Miami, Delta Airlines from Atlanta and JetBlue from New York JFK.
United Airlines offers direct flights from Newark and Houston.
I did a little research to work out how much direct flights would cost for a winter getaway.
A direct American Airlines flight from Miami to Bonaire from December 7 to December 14 would set you back $576. This flight has a 3 hour 20 minute flight time.
For the same dates, a direct flight from New York JFK with JetBlue would cost $428. This flight has a 4 hour 38 minute flight time.
It’s worth noting that as well as your flight and accommodation costs, visitors to Bonaire have to pay a $75 entry tax per person and per visit.
You’ll need to pay your visitor entry tax before you arrive on the island, so although it’s not a huge sum in the grand scheme of things, don’t forget to do it!
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