One of the smaller and more low-key Caribbean islands, Bonaire is also quite unusual in that it’s nearly flat and doesn’t have many sandy beaches to speak of. There are a few nicer resorts on the island, but most of the visitors are divers, snorkelers, and wind-surfers so you can expect a more informal vibe.
Bonaire is officially part of the Netherlands, and Dutch is an official language along with a local island tongue, but English is widely spoken and understood in the tourist areas. For this reason Bonaire is quite popular with Dutch citizens as well as adventure seekers from North America.
Bonaire is quite cheap compared to other Caribbean islands, but don’t expect to have a bargain beach holiday here as that’s really not what this place is about.
| Population | 16,000 |
| Area | 16,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-4 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | Flamingo International Airport (BON) |
| Local Breakfast | If you choose to eat outside of the hotel, you'll find little cafes and bakeries that offer coffee, cappuccinos and more. | $3.50 - $10.00 |
| Local Lunch | Conch, lobster and other seafood items are common lunch options as there is no real fast food in the area. | $9.00 - $15.00 |
| Local Dinner | Soups, fried fish and stews are common dinner options if you wish to taste some local flavor. | $12.00 - $27.00 |
| b | Beer, both domestic and imported, are can be purchased during lunch and dinner time. | $3.00 - $5.00 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 85 | 77 | 1.0 |
| February | 85 | 78 | 0.5 |
| March | 86 | 78 | 0.3 |
| April | 87 | 80 | 0.3 |
| May | 88 | 81 | 1.8 |
| June | 88 | 81 | 0.3 |
| July | 88 | 81 | 0.6 |
| August | 89 | 82 | 0.6 |
| September | 90 | 82 | 0.6 |
| October | 89 | 81 | 1.3 |
| November | 88 | 80 | 2.3 |
| December | 86 | 78 | 1.3 |
This tropical island has very little seasonal variation, if any at all. There are typically only two ‘seasons’, one being the rainy season and the other being the windy season.
The rain lasts from the end of October to the end of January. But even during this time of year you’ll still find that the land is relatively dry with rain tending to fall during the night or early morning. The rest of the months tend to see a bit more wind.
| 21 Mar | 6:37am | 6:44pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:10am | 7:00pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:22am | 6:30pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:49am | 6:14pm |
Bonaire is certainly one of the cheaper Caribbean islands for accommodation, with only a few fairly pricey resorts at this point. There are quite a few mid-level small hotel or apartment complexes offering cheap rooms, and some informal guesthouses as well.
Winter sees the most visitors as well as higher hotel prices coupled with higher flight rates. December through April is generally the time with travelers swarm the area due to the sunny days and mild temperatures.
If you’re looking to save a few bucks, consider visiting during the off season, during the summer and early fall, for lower hotel prices. September and October tend to be the quietest months of the year with some of the restaurants closed down so be sure to keep that in mind when planning.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 75.00 - 156.00 |
| 80.00 - 198.00 |
| 120.00 - 167.00 |
| 201.00 - 278.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | - |
All flights to Bonaire land at Flamingo International Airport, which has a runway long enough to serve wide-body planes, but is now served exclusively by mid-sized and smaller aircraft.
Nonstop flights from:
Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Newark, Amsterdam