On Bonaire, the license plate slogan — “Diver’s Paradise” — seems to sum up the island.
Bonaire is well-known for diving, of course, and for being perhaps the most laid-back of the three “ABC” islands in the southern Caribbean. Visitors don’t come to Bonaire for sprawling all-inclusive resorts or tourism developments. Most of the lodging options skew independent and boutique, and most of the activities are focused on the island’s natural gifts, such as clear waters and breezy shores.
U.S. visitors will also enjoy the convenience of no foreign exchange — although the island is a municipality of the Netherlands, the U.S. Dollar is the official currency of Bonaire. (Neighbors Aruba and Curacao are more autonomous constituent countries of the broader Kingdom of the Netherlands and have their own local currencies).
Reef renewal efforts are underway in Bonaire.
Credit: 2022 Tourism Corporation Bonaire
The island is open for visitors in 2022, and there are a few developments in the small local visitor industry to share.
Sustainable Development
The ocean is so much of the island’s attraction that Bonaire is the first island in the world to achieve the Blue Destination designation, which grades local tourism businesses and the island overall in sustainable practices.
Single-use plastics will be banned beginning in March, and visitors can also support reef renewal efforts. More than 15,000 corals (including the critically endangered staghorn and elkhorn corals) are currently growing in underwater nurseries to be transplanted to the reefs around the island.
Entry Requirements for Bonaire
As the pandemic enters its third year, many travelers have become more accustomed to health and safety protocols for international travel. At press time, a PCR test within 48 hours of departure or an antigen test within 24 hours of departure is required for vaccinated travelers to enter Bonaire. Travelers who are not fully vaccinated must provide a PCR test within 48 hours of departure. All travelers are also required to fill out a health declaration form shortly before departure.
As entry requirements are expected to further evolve in 2022, travelers should review the full details of Bonaire’s entry requirements at the Bonaire Government COVID-19 website prior to booking travel.
Passengers returning to the U.S. can arrange for an antigen test while on the island, or get a rapid test available at the airport upon departure (results are provided within 15 minutes).
New Places to Stay in Bonaire
Bonaire is known for intimate, non-chain hotels and resorts, and there are several new properties slated to open this year.
Chogogo Dive & Beach Resort now has its first phases open, offering accommodations ranging from studios to multi-bed villa apartments, each with kitchen appliances. The oceanfront property is convenient to Kralendijk, the capital city of Bonaire, and features a lazy river connecting two resort pools, a dive center and two resort restaurants. All phases are planned to be complete by the end of March. Chogogo also operates a resort on neighboring Curacao.
Later in the year, Bloozz Resort Bonaire will open, with 46 apartment-style units, each with a full kitchen with direct access to Bachelor’s Beach near Kralendijk. The resort will also have a magnesium pool with covered cabanas and outdoor lockers for dive equipment.
What to Do in Bonaire
Bonaire Landsailing Adventures, which offers visitors a thrill ride across the island’s breezy flats in a “blo kart” (a land sailing vehicle) now offers a combo tour in partnership with Cave Tours Bonaire. The full seven-hour tour combines both experiences, starting with a three-and-a-half-hour caving experience, where visitors will explore both dry caves and snorkel through wet caves, followed by the popular land sailing experience. Later this year, visitors will be able to try the land sailing experience during the evening hours.
Cadushy Distillery is selling limited edition bottles.
Credit: 2022 Tourism Corporation Bonaire
Cadushy Distillery, another popular Bonaire experience, is now selling limited edition bottles from distiller Eric Dietman’s private stock, aged in small barrels. The limited-edition rum is only available at the distillery and select stores on the island. Located in Rincon (the island’s oldest community), the distillery, which is housed in a former cinema and party hall, is a popular visitor attraction. In addition to rum, Cadushy also produces vodka, whiskey, and gin (which uses island cactus among its botanicals), plus liqueurs themed for each of the islands in the Dutch Caribbean.
How to Get to Bonaire
This year sees the return of nonstop air service from the U.S. mainland. American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines all serve Bonaire nonstop from their eastern U.S. hubs.
The Details
Tourism Bonaire
