Have you ever wanted to travel somewhere off the beaten path? Maybe somewhere warm with crystal clear, turquoise waters and untouched white sand? If this sounds like you, Bonaire is a destination you must visit. And no visit to this hidden gem of an island would be complete without checking out the 9 best activities to do while in Bonaire below.
Bonaire is located between Aruba and Curacao in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea. It is an island that is unknown by many travelers and is a true hidden gem in the Caribbean. When visiting this untouched island, you’ll feel like you are the only visitor and truly immersed in the Dutch Caribbean culture.
Bonaire is dedicated to conservation and protecting its environment for future generations. It currently leads the Caribbean in renewable energy. Because of this effort, tourists are required to pay a Visitor Tax on entry. To avoid stress, we recommend paying it before arriving (we forgot, oops!). You can find the form here.
1. Go Scuba Diving
If you have to choose one thing that Bonaire is known for, it’s its world-class scuba diving. Bonaire is known to have the best diving in the Caribbean and has won many awards. There are 85 dive sites on the island, with over 50 of them being shore dives.
If you are planning your trip around scuba diving, then there are many dive resorts on the island you can choose from. While we aren’t scuba certified, we stayed at Delfin’s Beach Resort which has a 5-star dive center with a reef just off the pier.
2. Kayak Through The Mangroves
This experience is one of the best activities we did while we were in Bonaire! There are several different companies you can go through, but we did the Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak and Snorkel Tour booked through Viator and it was the perfect tour. While you can opt to have them pick you up from your hotel, we decided to drive to the launch point since we had a rental car. This might have been a mistake. The road isn’t really a road. It’s a dirt path that is full of potholes. It did make the adventure more exciting, but we were concerned about getting our $2,000 (yes, you read that right!) car rental deposit back. Luckily, we did.
Once we arrived at the launch point, we were given snorkeling gear and wet bags to store our clothes and other items we didn’t want to get wet. We were then paired up, given a kayak, and off we went with our knowledgeable guide Stan. As we kayaked, Stan talked about the island and the history of the mangroves. Paddling through the tight tunnels of mangroves was such a unique and exciting experience! Before we exited the mangroves to head back to shore, we were given the opportunity to snorkel through one of the tunnels. There were so many fish amongst the mangrove roots! We ended the tour back on land with some tropical juice and stroopwafels.
3. Drive Around Bonaire
If you really want to experience the island of Bonaire, then renting a car is necessary. The island is small and only takes 3-4 hours to drive around, but there is still so much to see. The most popular route is the island’s south loop, which is what we did during our trip to Bonaire. There are so many cool things that you will see along the way, including Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary, Willemstoren Lighthouse, and the salt pyramids. Another unique site you will find along the way are the many small slave huts. These huts were built in 1850 and were the homes to the slaves working on the salt ponds.
If you aren’t planning on renting a car, but still want to see the sights, check out this tour.
4. Start The Day At A Cute Coffee Shop
If you know anything about us, then you know we love our coffee. We couldn’t fully enjoy exploring a new destination without our daily dose of caffeine. When we arrived in Bonaire, the first thing we did was search for the perfect place to get our fix. It wasn’t easy as there did not seem to be many on the island, but we did happen to find The Coffee Bar. This cute little cafe has a massive back patio lined with plants making you feel like you aren’t in the middle of town. And the best part? The coffee was delicious! They have all the options from lattes and cappuccinos to drip coffee. They also serve food if you are looking for something to go along with your coffee.
5. Visit The Island’s Donkey Sanctuary
One of our favorite and most unique activities we experienced in Bonaire, was visiting the donkey sanctuary. Donkeys were brought to the island in the 1600s by Spanish settlers as a way of transporting goods. As technology advanced, the donkeys were no longer needed and were left to roam about the island. The Donkey Sanctuary was started in 1993 to help care for sick and injured donkeys on Bonaire. Now it is home to over 800 donkeys!
To visit the donkeys, all you have to do is drive up to the entrance, pay the fee, and you are good to go! To make your experience more exciting, you’ll want to stop at a grocery store before and purchase some snacks (apples, carrots) for the donkeys. You are guaranteed to make a few (hundred) friends this way! So roll down your windows and make some new friends!
The sanctuary is open 7 days/week to visitors for a $9 entrance fee. All proceeds go directly to the care of the donkeys.
6. Book A Sail And Snorkel Tour
Growing up, whenever I would go on a beach vacation with my family, we would always book a snorkeling trip. This is probably where my love of being on boats comes from. Bonaire is no different and is actually one of the best places to go on a snorkeling tour. There are so many different options to choose from depending on what you like and how long you want to be on the water. You can see all the options on Viator by clicking here.
We chose the Grill and Chill Catamaran Tour and it was the best way to spend our day and one of our favorite activities in Bonaire. We met the boat at the marina, hopped on board, and off we went. As soon as we were moving, the crew offered up drinks and a light snack. After sailing for a while, we stopped at our first snorkel spot, Bonaire Marine Park. Here we could either snorkel on our own or with one of the crew members as our guide. The coral and the marine life were stunning and made me wish I knew how to scuba dive. After everyone was back on the boat, we were taken to another snorkel spot. While we enjoyed the underwater views, the crew prepared and grilled us a fantastic dinner. Then, as we sailed back to the marina, we watched the sunset over the ocean.
7. Wander Around Downtown Kralendijk, Bonaire’s Capital City
One of the best ways to experience Bonaire is to wander around its main city, Kralendijk. The adorable downtown streets are lined with brightly colored buildings that are home to boutique shops and restaurants. Make sure to walk along the water looking for fish and turtles or stop by one of the many restaurants for a bite to eat. If you are in town on one of the days that a cruise ship is docked, then enjoy the local market of island-made products on Wilhelmina Square.
8. Enjoy The Islands’ Fresh Cuisine
Due to its history of being at the crossroads of multiple different trade routes, Bonaire is home to many different cuisines from around the world, but with a Caribbean flare! The country was designated a Culinary Capitol in 2022 by the World Food Travel Association. If you are anything like us, then eating is one of the best activities and Bonaire is one of the best places to do so.
Here are some of the island’s restaurants that you need to try out (make sure to make reservations for almost all of these):
- Brass Boer – Voted the #1 Best Restaurant In The Caribbean by Caribbean Journal, this beautiful beach restaurant is located on Delfins Beach Resort.
- Rum Runners – Located right on the ocean, the views are gorgeous! The food is great, but be sure to go here with lots of patience as the service is not great.
- Senang Restaurant – Another restaurant part of Delfin’s Beach Resort, we visited this place several times because the sushi was that good!
- Cactus Blue Food Truck – This simple food truck on the side of the road by the beach is the only lunch place that serves Lion Fish burgers.
- Sebastian’s Restaurant – Beautiful oceanfront dining serving the freshest ingredients, this place is the perfect spot to watch the sunset!
9. Connect With Nature On An Adventure Tour
Bonaire is a nature-lover’s paradise. With its near-daily sunshine and warm trade winds, you will surely have perfect weather for exploring the island. And there are endless ways to do so! Here’s a list of some of the best nature activities in Bonaire:
- Hike Washington Slagbaai National Park – a plantation turned ecological reserve, this national park offers hiking path for all abilities. Explore on your own or take this tour!
- Go golfing – Bonaire’s golf course, Piedra So, is truly unique. Instead of grass, the course is covered in native vegetation
- Explore Bonaire’s many caves – the island has an extensive system of over 400 caves that you can explore (and even go swimming in) with a guide. Check out this tour!
- Experience the island on horseback – there are two options for those who want to explore Bonaire on horseback, Rancho Washikemba and Horse Ranch Bonaire. Both offer different types of trail rides and cater to all riding levels.
Bonaire is a remarkable destination that offers a unique experience that is hard to find anywhere else. With its natural beauty, serene atmosphere, and unexplored feel, it is a place where visitors can connect with nature and appreciate the world’s natural wonders. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, a beach lover, or someone in search of a peaceful retreat, Bonaire is a perfect destination that will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. So now that I’ve convinced you to book a trip to Bonaire, which of these best activities are you trying first?
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