And why it's a top destination for cruisers, divers, and adventurers!
The Captain and I spent the hurricane season (July-Nov) in Bonaire and completely fell in love with this magical island! We love it so much, we think we are going to stay awhile. 🙂
To be honest, I had never heard of Bonaire until we put the island on our cruising schedule. I was (somewhat) familiar with neighboring island, Aruba, but I had never personally visited this part of the Caribbean, which lies just north of Venezuela.
Heck, I didn't even know they were Dutch islands. 🤣 I've since outgrown (some) of my ignorance, and here are some interesting facts I have since learned about Bonaire:
Bonaire is one of the "ABC Islands" - Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao - known for their close proximity to one another.
It is only 24 miles long and 9 miles wide, with a population of roughly 20,000.
Bonaire lies outside of the hurricane belt, which makes it a popular destination for cruisers (like us!)
The average temperature on Bonaire is 81 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate is warm, dry, and windy.
Bonaire has produced several world champion Wind Surfers and Kite Surfers. It's one of the best places in the world to learn these sports, alongside the pros!
There are more than 400 caves under the island, some of which you can explore alongside a local guide.
Bonaire provides some stunning scenery for hikers. The Washington Slagbaai National Park is one of the best spots on island to for hiking & walking.
The main port is called Kralendijk, which comes from the Dutch word for "coral reef".
The entire coastline of Bonaire was designated a marine sanctuary in 1979.
There are more than 350 species of fish 60 species of coral living in Bonaire's reef.
Bonaire has one of the largest Flamingo populations in the world!
Bonaire has several nicknames, among them: "Diver's Paradise", "The Velcro Island", and "Dushi Bonaire".
Dushi is a complimentary phrase that means "sweet", "sweetheart" or "tasty". It is derived from the Spanish word "dulce" for candy.
Bonaire is truly a melting pot of culture and there are 4 main languages spoken on the island: Dutch, English, Papamientu & Spanish.
All of these things make Bonaire a fantastic destination for cruisers, divers, and adventure travelers. Put Bonaire on your list and when you get here, join us for a sail!
Until then...get a sneak peak for what Bonaire has to offer with our Season 4 teaser video:
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