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Bonaire
Over the last two decades, Bonaire has consistently ranked as the finest snorkeling and scuba diving destination in the Caribbean. A major reason for this prominence is the island's diligent stewardship of its marine resources -- all of the waters off Bonaire's coast have been legally protected since 1979, and it shows. But there is plenty more to do here. The unusually steady trade winds that wash over the island create ideal conditions for world-class windsurfing, and the sere beauty of its semi-desert landscape is home to an outlandish assortment of wildlife. Iguanas meditatively toast themselves atop the desert rock formations of Washington Slagbaai, while vast orange-pink clouds of flamingoes drift across bone-white salt flats. Divi-divi trees bend into surreal sculptures of the wind itself, and towering cacti stand as reminders of the Caribbean's diverse ecology. We invite you to explore all these aspects of Bonaire -- and more -- in the pages that follow. Our dive pages offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive coverage of Bonaire diving on the world wide web, including site descriptions, service providers, and a Marine Park profile. Welcome to Bonaire, or, as we say in Papiamentu, Bon Bini! Location 30 miles (48 km) from Curacao; 50 miles (80 km) north of Venezuela and 86 miles (129 km) east of Aruba, outside of the Caribbean hurricane belt. Size 24 miles (39 km) long by 3-7 miles wide, 112 square miles (290 km2). Highest elevation is Brandaris Hill, 784 feet (240 meters). Climate Yearly average temperature is 82°F (27.8°C); water temperature of 80°F (26.7°C); rainfall of 22 inches (56 cm); humidity of 76%. Sunny, all year round. Air Field Flamingo Airport has a runway of almost 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length, long enough to accommodate 747 Jumbo Jets. The airport's designation is BON. Banks Bonaire has a number of banks, all of which have ATMs located conveniently around the island. Banking hours are Monday through Friday 8 or 8:30am until 3:30 or 4pm. Many are opened during the lunch hour. Currency Click Here For Currency Exchange The Netherlands Antilles Guilder (NAFl.) is fixed at the exchange rate of 1.77 to the dollar for cash and 1.78 for traveler's cheques. Most stores and businesses exchange it at 1.75. You can spend dollars everywhere, but will likely receive your change in guilders. Traveler's checks and credit cards are widely accepted. Be sure to have your passport or positive ID when changing Traveler's cheques at banks. Climate The average air temperature is 82º Fahrenheit (30ºC) and 75% relative humidity. Average water temperature is 80ºF (29ºC). Rainfall averages 22" (52.8cm) per year. There is a constant trade wind that generally makes the evenings cool and comfortable. Average windspeed is 15 mph (25kph). Customs Besides articles for personal use, visitors over 15 are allowed 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco, 2 liters of distillated beverages, 2 liters of wine. Dress Code Casual (but no beach wear) downtown. Evening clothes are casual to casual nice. Topless sunbathing and nudity is prohibited on beaches except for Sorobon Beach Resort (a privately owned nudist resort). See our Religion page for appropriate church attire. Drinking Water The water is distilled from seawater and is perfectly safe to drink. Driving License Foreign and international licenses are accepted. Electricity 127 volt, 50 cycle. 220 volt is also available at some resorts. Most U.S. appliances will work, however a bit hotter. Dive shops and resorts have stations for guest use for charging camera batteries, etc. It is recommended that you use them to avoid damage to delicate equipment. Emergencies Bonaire has the 60-bed hospital, Hospitaal San Francisco, and a number of doctors. There is an ambulance plane on call for emergencies. A recompression chamber is located adjacent to the hospital and is run by a highly trained staff. The emergency phone number is 191. Entry Requirements US and Canadian citizens must have a valid Passport and a return or ongoing ticket. A Birth Certificate with a picture ID is also acceptable. Ferry Services Many people ask but unfortunately there is NO ferry services of any kind between Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, and Venezuela. Scheduled travel between these destinations are limited to air travel. It might be possible to charter a boat for your own personal tour. Internet E-mail access is available through local providers. A VIP hook-up can be arranged through BonaireLive. For arrangements and more information contact the vendor at 011-599-7-5180. There is also a public e-mail terminal at the Harbourside Mall and a cyber cafe, de Tuin, is located in the center of town. Language Papiamentu (local language), Dutch, English and Spanish. Location 50 miles (80 Km) north of Venezuela and 86 miles (94 Km) east of Aruba, well outside of the hurricane belt. Population +/- 15,000 people Size Bonaire is 24 miles long (38.6 km) and 3-7 miles wide, 112 sq. miles (180 sq. km) in area. Klein Bonaire, an island off our west coast, is 1500 acres. Store Hours Most stores are open Monday through Saturday from between 8 or 9 AM until 12 noon when they close for one to two hours, then remain open until 6 PM. Hours vary widely and some stay open during lunch hour. The larger supermarkets are open from 8 AM until 8 PM (may close during lunch) and some may be open on Sundays from 11 AM to 2 PM. Taxes. tipping, service charges There is a 5% tax on virtually all goods and services (NAOB tax). A room tax of US$ 5.50-$6.50 is also charged per person per day. A departure tax of US$10 is levied for international destinations, US$5.75 for other Antillean islands except Aruba. Car rental tax is US$4 per day. Tipping is much the same as in the States. Some restaurants add a 10-15% service charge automatically, so if in doubt, ask. Taxis - generally a 10% tip is greatly apppreciated. In dive shops, etc. 10% is also the norm. Taxi Taxis are available at the airport. From other locations you may call the taxi stand at the airport at Tel. 8100 Telephone Direct dialing is possible from most resorts. AT&T, MCI, etc. can also be accessed. The local telephone office, TELBO can also place calls to all locations. For on island calls, dial just the last four digits. For cell phone users, you can use them here by contacting Obersi Electronics at 011-599-717-8741 to make arrangements at least two weeks in advance. Or you can rent a cellular phone for the length of your stay with Cell.Rent tel. 09-5692244 /6999 Television Hotels offer 22 cable channel viewing including premium movie channels, ESPN. CNN, Disney, Spanish and German language channels as well as the local station TV 11. Bonaire uses the NTSC system Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time. Same time as the United States East Coast during Daylight Savings Time (mid-Spring to mid-Fall). Bonaire does not change time for Daylight Savings, as is the custom in the US and Europe. Tourism Seasons High Season Winter/Spring: Dec. 15 - Apr. 14 Low Season Summer/Fall: Apr. 15 - Dec. 14 Windy Season: May - Aug, moderate wind Jan-Apr Rainy Season: Nov. - Jan. |
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