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Sightseeing in Bonaire - what to see. Complete travel guide

Klein Bonaire The name of Bonaire Island can be literally translated as “good air”. It is the second biggest island of the Netherlands Antilles. Bonaire is 80 km far from the Venezuelan coast. Beautiful sea landscapes, crystal clear and picturesque coastline, rich underwater world, and a lot of comfortable fishing villages... This is how travelers imagine the island.
Excursion over cultural sights of Bonaire - 'must visit' points of interest
Not without reason, Bonaire is considered one of the best centers of water sports in the world. Not so many people know that there are a lot of important historical attractions, the … Open
Most of the tourists are divers and fans of water sports but the island attracts hikers too. The best places for diving here are the Alice-in-Wonderland and Angel City Reef where you can see the sunken ship Hilma Hooker.
More than 300 years ago, salt started to be produced on the island. Today, there is the “Cargill Salt” Factory in the southern part of Bonaire. The road leading you to the factory goes through unusual turquoise and pink ponds that belong to the company. They are also some of the most important local attractions. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Your active city break in Bonaire. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here
Bonaire offers its guests vast opportunities for active holidays, in particular, for water sports. The most beautiful and most popular beach, Playa Chikitu, is located on the territory of … Open
In the southern part of the island, there is the most popular Witte Pan Beach that is perfectly suitable for family holidays and sports entertainments. When walking along the coastline, you can see old huts built in the middle of the 19th century. Over a hundred years ago, slaves working on local quarries lived here.
Perhaps, the most “colorful” dwellers of the island are flamingos. Today, the largest breeding site of these birds is located on the territory of the Pekelmeer Park. Over 100 thousand birds dwell here. This breeding site is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Near the park, there are the ruins of the Willemstoren Lighthouse that was built on the island in 1837. Everyone can reach the observation platform and admire the marvelous panorama of Bonaire.
Advices to travellers: what you should know while being in Bonaire
1. Besides standard guesthouses and hotels, there are quite unusual hospitality venues, cabañas, on the island. This is something between a budget hotel and a water sports center where … Open
One of the nature attractions here is the Washington Slagbaai Park opened in 1969. It occupies 20% of the island. There are thickets of cacti, beautiful beaches, and salt lagoons... On the territory of the park, you can see almost 100 bird species and 70 rare plant species. You can acquaint with the dwellers of the underwater world during your excursion around the Sea Park. Some part of its territory is allocated to scuba diving. In any part of the island, you can see attractive snow-white beaches, so tourists successfully combine sightseeing tours with peaceful recreation at the coast.
The capital of the island is Kralendijk. Here, travelers can have fun and see a lot of attractions. In the city, there are beautiful preserved constructions of the colonial period, which you can explore when hiking here. Today, many historic buildings serve as hotels, restaurants and shops. The main historical attraction in the capital is Fort Orange. Different government institutions have been opened in the building of the old fort. There is an old lighthouse near it. In the vicinity of the fort, there is the Bonaire Museum that will tell its visitors about the most interesting events happened on the island.
Best beaches and recreation areas around Bonaire
One of the important distinctive features of Bonaire is the rich underwater world. The picturesque island has long become very popular with diving and snorkeling fans. Almost all the beaches … Open
Those who want to explore historical places should certainly visit Rincon. It is the oldest settlement on the island. It was founded by Spanish colonizers in the first half of the 16th century. Now, there are several beautiful historical houses preserved on the territory of the small town. Almost all Spanish constructions were destroyed in the period of the Dutch colonization. The unusual attraction of Rincon is an old telephone box located in one of the central streets.
You can forget about people and enjoy the natural beauty on Klein Bonaire Island. It is 750 m far from the coast of the main island. You can easily reach it by boat. Now, the entire territory of the island is a national park. On its territory, there are several old huts where slaves lived once. Now, the island is desert.
Top hotels in Bonaire for business trip or short vacation
Bonaire will delight fans of peaceful recreation with a worthy choice of attractive hospitality venues. Fans of upscale beach recreation will be certainly impressed by the hotel Bellafonte … Open
One of the main nature attractions on Bonaire Island is Mount Brandaris. Near it, there are a lot of interesting hiking routes. Here, you can hike, see rare plant species, and admire exotic birds and animals. You can also take an interesting off-road tour to submontane districts. Some parts of the island are quite inaccessible and you can reach them only by bus. One of the most favorite excursions of active tourists is the ascent of the mountain that has a spectacular view of the island.
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Sightseeing in Netherlands Antilles: things to see

Travelers, who want to get acquainted with local flora and fauna, are recommended to visit the island of Bonaire. This island has quite an unusual nature - its northern part is covered by hills and dense forests, while the southern part is mostly a steep one. Thanks to such a unique contrast, it's possible to see many different species of animals and numerous types of plants. There are particularly many birds on the island - more than 200 species. Fans of scuba diving will also fall in love with this place as local waters are home to more than 500 species of fish, rare sea turtles and more than 70 types of seaweed. … Open
Reference information
Map of all parks
National and city parks around Bonaire
♥   National Park 'Sierra de San Luis' , 177.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sights around Bonaire from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Pink Beach

From the series “The Hidden and Hard-To-Reach Beautiful Beaches”
Check on the map:   Distance from Bonaire center - 6.8 km.
It must be noted that the water on the Rosa beach is quite warm all year round. Its temperature is at least 25 degrees. A few years ago, few small hotels were built next to the beautiful beach, which did not harm the natural harmony and splendor of the island. On the unique coast there is still no infrastructure, which makes the rest in this area very quiet. … Read further

Sightseeing in regions nearby Bonaire

Willemstad
When you visit all main sights of Willemstad, take an excursion to the city’s suburbs. Just one hour of driving from the city and you will reach Curacao Aquarium that features a large collection of marine fauna. You can also make a ride on a yacht here. West to the ... Open »
Curacao
The local cuisine will greet tourists with roasted fish and stew goat meat, chicken and beef. According to the tradition of this place, you will be offered to try the local soup that consists of beef, plantain, onion, potato and spices. Another traditional dish of ... Open »
Oranjestad
Besides attending places of interest of Oranjestad, it’s really worth visiting local restaurants and cafes, the majority of which are opened near hotels. Here you will find a variety of shopping pavilions that will please any traveler - they have products and ... Open »
Caracas
Caracas is a Latin American city that is developing dynamically in our modern times. However, before starting their adventure in this Venezuelan megalopolis, tourists need to keep in mind that the crime level here is quite high, just like in most large cities. That ... Open »
Isla Margarita
Another great way to appreciate the panorama of the city is to visit the ancient lighthouse of Punta Balena. It is located near the fort. Visiting the lighthouse is traditionally free. From the observation deck on its top, open one of the most beautiful panoramic ... Open »
Ponce
The second largest city of the country, it was founded in the middle of the 17th century. Ponce has been named the "national treasure", as its territory is rich in historical and cultural monuments. While walking through the streets of the city you can see the ancient ... Open »
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