BONAIRE: RESOURCES GUIDE
About Bonaire:
Bonaire, a small island located in the southern Caribbean Sea, is a true hidden gem and a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an unforgettable tropical adventure. With its crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and unique cultural heritage, Bonaire offers visitors an experience like no other.
One of the most famous attractions in Bonaire is its world-renowned marine park, which covers nearly 20% of the island's waters. This park is home to over 400 species of fish and 120 species of coral, making it one of the most diverse and pristine marine ecosystems in the world. Visitors can explore the park's underwater world by snorkeling, scuba diving, or taking a glass-bottom boat tour, and see everything from colorful parrotfish and seahorses to massive manta rays and sea turtles.
Bonaire is also known for its unique cultural heritage, which blends Dutch, African, and indigenous influences. Visitors can explore the island's charming capital city of Kralendijk, with its colorful buildings, historic landmarks, and museums like the Bonaire Museum and the Salt Museum. They can also experience traditional music, dance, and food at festivals like the Bonaire Regatta and the Dia di Rincon.
For those who love outdoor adventures, Bonaire offers a wealth of activities to choose from. Visitors can go windsurfing, kitesurfing, or kayaking in the island's calm and clear waters, or explore the rugged terrain of Washington Slagbaai National Park, which covers nearly a fifth of the island. This park features hiking trails, scenic vistas, and unique flora and fauna, such as the Bonairean iguana and the yellow-shouldered parrot.
Finally, Bonaire is known for its hospitality and warmth. The island's friendly and welcoming locals make visitors feel at home, and the vibrant culinary scene offers a chance to savor the flavors of the Caribbean. Visitors can try local dishes like stobá (a stew made with goat or beef), sip on refreshing cocktails like Bonaire's famous Cadushy of Bonaire liqueur, and relax and unwind in the island's laid-back atmosphere.
Bonaire is a true tropical paradise that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and warm hospitality. Whether you're looking for relaxation, adventure, or a taste of Caribbean culture, Bonaire is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an unforgettable travel experience.
Welcome to Adventure Fares' Resources and Information Guide. These guides are compiled to provide a great "starting place" for planning. Here, we try to help you with the 4 big planning goals for any destination: Where to Stay / Where to Eat / What to See and Do / How to Budget. We even try to include some great itinerary links. Have fun planning your travel adventure! These resource pages are always being updated. If you would like to see a country / city / place not already in our resource guides, please email your requests or suggestions to: [email protected]
BUDGET RESOURCES:
We typically go to Budget Your Trip to research budgeting! We highly recommend their website. They do a fantastic job of compiling data from thousands of travelers around the world! This data is so useful for anyone who’s wanting to make the most of their travel budget. If you sign up and enter your own expenses - you contribute to the data and also get to access their fantastic planning tools - with charts, maps, graphs, and tables of your trip finances. Bookmark their site, and go there for a lot more in-depth budgeting research: BudgetYourTrip.com
With this chart, we just wanted to give you an idea of how your budget might look compared to a few familiar places here in the U.S
Rentals / Hotels / B&B Lists
Finding the perfect accommodation can make or break a trip. That's why we compile so many lodging lists - to help you find reliable and affordable recommendations for AirBNBs, VRBOs, boutique hotels, and B&Bs. These lists should give you a great starting place, and hopefully make that trip even better!
AIRBNB Resources:
airbnb.com - It has become a very popular resource for travelers. We try to limit our lists to rentals in great locations, with good pricing, and great views when we find them. We use AirBNB a lot. ALWAYS double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings most of the time. Be sure to double check for air conditioning in the summer, and feel free to reach out to the owner for tips / questions!
VRBO Resources:
vrbo.com - VRBO is another great one to use. Sometimes you find rentals here you won't see on AirBNB - its always great to have more options, especially during peak seasons when rentals book up fast. Always double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings when possible. The VRBO system won't let us filter neighborhoods as well as some others, so always double check location after finding a good property.
Bed and Breakfast Resources:
Booking.com - this is often our “go-to” for this category. We find their customer reviews to be very reliable!
bedandbreakfast.guide (B&B Guide) - this one screens out the worst-reviewed places, so their lists are pretty reliable.
bnbfinder.com - this one is promising, but they don’t have near as many listings as the others here. We hope they grow!
Boutique Hotels Resources:
BoutiqueHotel.me - this one is usually our favorite. However, their list will only provide you with hotels who allow booking through booking.com - so some great hotels won’t be on their lists.
MrandMrsSmith.com - This is fantastic and inspirational resource for finding places to stay around the world. Much of their focus is on premiere hotels (and not what we would call “budget” finds), but it can be a fantastic place to search. It’s fun to just click on their “Inspiration” tab and find some new places around the world.
TheHotelGuru.com - This site also links to booking.com, and can be a complimentary resource.
GreatSmallHotels.com - Another resource the books through booking.com, this one tends to go a little more upscale, especially in large European cities.
Some More Interesting Lodging Guides:
gounusual.com - Great Resource for those trying to find unique places to stay: Castles, igloos, boats, more!
eruoglamping.com - Just what it sounds like - a resource of upscale camping places in Europe:
goglamping.net - GoGlamping / More upscale camping experiences - UK and Europe
NOTE: No matter what form of lodging you book, we recommend you always confirm your booking one last time a week to 10 days ahead of your travel.
Restaurants / Dining Lists
Choosing dining options can be confusing and intimidating. We've compiled these lists to help you start planning some memorable meals. Lists are organized by city and include some of the best and most affordable dining destinations in each city/area. Every adventure deserves some great meals!
TripAdvisor Dining Lists:
TripAdvisor.com - We recommend using TripAdvisor’s dining directories whenever you find yourself needing good food in a place with which you’re unfamiliar. They have a huge volume of reviews, great genre help, and mapping.
Michelin Guide - Dining Lists:
Michelin Guide - For respected and relevant reviews of restaurants around the world, Michelin has been the Iconic dining guide since the 1800s. If you find a 1 star near you, book it. If you find a 2 star, you’re in for a treat. If you find a 3 star - make a travel detour if you need to and get there!
Wanderlog Dining Lists:
Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities. Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, but we’ve come to really like their restaurant lists. They’re just a little pickier than TripAdvisor, but not as exclusive as Michelin. They’re worth checking out in most towns.
When trying to get a nicer restaurant into your travel plans, we recommend making reservations at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. Some of the Michelin star restaurants might even require more advance (varies).
Things to See and Do Lists
Finding what to see and do is always a travel priority. We've compiled lists/links from the world's most credible sources to help you find the best adventures for your destination. These lists will help you find the most popular attractions (and some hidden gems) for your travel adventures.
Things to See and Do Resources:
These are some itineraries and itinerary resources from sources we trust. Even if you don't find the exact itinerary you need, they will give you some great places to start. Rank your priorities (and your travel friends' priorities), see what works for your schedule, and plan an amazing travel adventure. *Don't try to cram too much in - it's those "unplanned" moments that often product the best adventures.
FodorsTravel.com - In our experience, Fodor’s is the best overall place to start when planning a trip. Once you search and find their guide to a city - they break the guide down into Sights, Nightlife, Shopping, Performing Arts, and Sports and Acitivities. There’s not tons of inspiration here, but good, reliable information. There are ads, but they do a good job of keeping the content credible. They also have a great “Map View” feature for the different sections so you can always check to see what’s close. Their Hotels and Restaurants guides are also pretty good.
RickSteves.com - Rick Steves has been an awesome resource for budget travelers for decades, and his content just keeps getting better. His reviews are reliable, his itineraries are fantastic, and his reputation for credibility is great. We check out his information on any destination we're thinking about visiting.
AtlasObscura.com - This is our favorite guide source! We don’t know how the team at Atlas Obscura finds so many cool, interesting, and odd things to see around the world - but they do it. It’s easy to find those top few things to do in any location, but these guys go beyond - and get you some off-the-beaten path adventures.
TripAdvisor - Trip Advisor is pretty commercial in nature, but they have really high traffic - so it's easy to see what's popular pretty much anywhere in the world. That can be helpful for planning what to see, and sometimes what to avoid. It's one of our go-to resources for seeing what might be in the town ahead on a road trip.
Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities. Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, and we really like their “THINGS TO DO” lists. They’re pretty much ranked from most popular to least - so its a great place to figure out a priority list of things to see.
GetYourGuide.com - We really like this one! Get your guide is becoming a great source for planning as well as inspiration for travel adventures. Even if you aren’t looking for things to do on your trip, it’s a good place to get new trip ideas and browse exciting things to do. They have some "decent" pricing on local activities - worth considering for booking.
Nomadicmatt.com - Matt travels as much as any blogger / content creator we follow. He's a good writer, a good planner, and delivers entertaining content. We certainly recommend you check out his travel guides. If he's been somewhere, he shares great stuff!
OTHERS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
The Crazy Tourist - This is a travel resource that covers destinations all over the world. Just type the name of a country or city in their search section, and they have good
CultureTrip.com - This one is pretty commercial (lots of ads), but its also pretty reliable. They’ve been a travel industry leader for a long time, so there are enough reviews on things to know if you’re making good decisions. We always check out the Culture Trip guide for any location we’re planning on visiting.
Itineraries to Get You Started
Building an itinerary for your travel adventure can be a daunting task. Here are a few resources to help you get started without all the "noise" associated with online research. These are sample itineraries from travel pros who are credible, reliable, and know the places they're writing about. Itineraries are made to be broken, but hopefully these will start you out on the right path.
If you're planning a trip to Bonaire, there's so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To help you plan your itinerary, here's a comprehensive checklist of must-see destinations and off-the-beaten-path gems to explore. Below our checklist, you'll find several sample itineraries we recommend.
DON’T MISS:
- Snorkeling or scuba diving in Bonaire's Marine Park, which is known for its stunning coral reefs and diverse marine life.
- Exploring Washington Slagbaai National Park, which offers hiking trails, scenic drives, and opportunities to spot wildlife like flamingos and iguanas.
- Relaxing on the white sandy beaches of Bonaire, such as Sorobon Beach or Lac Bay.
- Visiting the salt flats of Bonaire, which produce high-quality sea salt and provide a unique backdrop for photography.
- Enjoying a sunset sail or snorkeling trip on a catamaran or sailboat.
IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME:
- Taking a guided tour of Bonaire's cultural and historical sites, such as the 17th-century Fort Oranje or the Museum of Bonaire.
- Trying your hand at windsurfing or kiteboarding, which are popular water sports in Bonaire.
- Visiting the neighboring island of Klein Bonaire, which is only accessible by boat and is known for its pristine beaches and excellent snorkeling.
- Sampling local cuisine, such as fresh seafood and Dutch-inspired dishes like bitterballen and stroopwafels.
- Shopping for souvenirs and handicrafts at local markets and boutiques.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
- Exploring the mangrove forests of Lac Bay, which are home to a variety of bird species and offer a unique kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding experience.
- Hiking the trails of Gotomeer, a saltwater lake surrounded by lush vegetation that is a popular spot for birdwatching.
- Visiting the donkey sanctuary of Bonaire, which provides a safe haven for abandoned or mistreated donkeys and offers a chance to interact with these friendly animals.
- Taking a scenic drive around the island, which offers stunning views of Bonaire's rugged coastline and desert landscape.
- Attending a local event or festival, such as the annual Carnival celebrations or the Bonaire International Dance Festival.
ITINERARIES FOR BONAIRE:
Itineraries can be tough to build, but the process can also be really fun to research. We read hundreds of these a month - and are always looking for better ones for our resource guides. Here are a few we found that might be helpful to get you started. Some of these are from favorite sources, and few we just found for this country. Start planning that adventure!
Itineraries / Island of Bonaire
Planning a Trip in Bonaire / Frommer's
MORE RESOURCES:
Complete Guide to Snorkeling in Bonaire
Nomadic Matt: Aruba Budget Travel Guide
Best Trails and Hikes in Bonaire / AllTrails
20 Bucket List Things to do in Bonaire
The Ultimate Bonaire Travel Guide / ordinary traveler
Bonaire Trip Planner / Wanderlog
13 Best Things to do in Bonaire / U.S. News
Divers Guide to Bonaire / Scuba Diving
Bonaire Fishing Charters / Fishing Booker
VIDEOS TO WATCH:
7 PLACES IN BONAIRE YOU WON'T BELIEVE EXIST / ERIK CONOVER
BONAIRE TRAVEL GUIDE: 30 BEST THINGS / IF WE GO TO
THIS IS OUR ISLAND: BONAIRE / BONAIRE ISLAND
BONAIRE TRAVEL VLOG IN 4K / WOUT OF THE WORLD
*photos from pixabay.com, pexels.com, unsplash.com and Darrell Potts
EMAIL Us - We Want to Hear From You!
We believe that the best travel advice comes from those who have experienced it firsthand. That's why we're inviting our members to share their travel tips, and recommendations with us. Whether it's a hidden gem of a restaurant, a must-see attraction, or an off-the-beaten-path adventure, we want to hear about it. Your contributions are helping us build a new database of "Member Suggestions." Email us when you get a chance - links, maps, and reviews all help! Email us at [email protected]
These resource pages have been fun to work on! We hope they keep getting better. Are we missing something? Are we missing one of your favorite travel resources? Please email me - I'd love to learn anything that can help make travel adventures even better! Darrell Potts.
