Bonaire is the cool Caribbean island you didn’t know you were missing out on

By Breanna Wilson , From Forbes

Klein Bonaire Breanna Wilson
Klein Bonaire, Bonaire’s tiny uninhabited island, and the perfect place to escape to for a few hours.
Bonaire just might be the last of its kind.

Because not only does this tiny Caribbean island sit just below the Hurricane Belt, it also hasn’t been spoiled by tourists…yet.

And with the winter blues setting in right about now in full force, you’ve probably been dreaming of a Caribbean vacation anyways. And while you’re probably ready to book a trip to Bonaire, like yesterday, trust me when I say this – there’s really never a bad time to go there.

And don’t worry, if you’ve never heard of Bonaire, you’re not alone. While this tiny Dutch-ruled island has been an escape for Nederlanders for years, and just ask any diver – they’ll immediately recognize the name (Bonaire’s waters are known as being some of the best in the world for underwater explorations) – outside of that, not many travelers know the name. But that’s all about to change.

A dive concierge, clear bottom kayaks, and walking on water, need I say more?

As soon as you lay your eyes on the island you’ll know this – this is an island for water lovers.

Start with the diving. And my new favorite kind of concierge: a Dive Concierge. Because Harbour Village, one of the top hotels on the island, is taking the painful parts out of diving by offering this service with divers in mind. And diving is big at this resort, you can book a room with an unlimited dive package attached to it (yes, that’s right – unlimited dives and unlimited tanks) for an added cost on a regular room rate. Great Adventures Bonaire is the on-site dive shop that will set up your equipment, take it down, get it on and off the dive boat for you, lead you on your boat dives, and just be your general diving buddy in general in Bonaire. After all, Bonaire is home to 86 dive sites, so it’s always good to have a local at hand to make sure you don’t miss anything good. (I recommend Salt Pier and Klein Bonaire as two sites not to miss.) You can even have them help you cross your Open Water Certification, or even your Advanced Open Water Certification, off your bucket list during your trip.

Hilma Hooker Tourism Corporation Bonaire
A diver exploring Hilma Hooker, an advanced deep water dive.
This is also the place to cross a night dive off the old bucket list. (You’ll be on a roll this trip!) Especially just after a full moon when tiny ostracods (little mini crustaceans) begin their mating rituals, causing a bioluminescent affect that lights up the water. Basically you’ll feel like you’re in a world straight out of a Marvel comic book.

Fun fact: Bonaire is a National Marine Park, so the waters are as protected and monitored as it gets. Which is great news for you, because that means plenty of thriving coral and wildlife. There’s a coral reef restoration project from Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire worth checking out, but before you do, all divers and snorkelers are required to pay a Nature Fee, and wear a Nature Tag at all times in the water.

Clear bottom kayaks and snorkeling through the Lac Cai Mangroves on the southeastern tip of the island are another adventure worth going on. Plus, while you’re there, try your hand at windsurfing or standup paddle boarding at Sorobon Beach in Lac Bay, which if you ask me, also happens to be one of the most interesting beaches in the world. What makes it so good? Well, the bay is so shallow that you can walk out into the water for hundreds of feet. (Yes, you’ll look like you’re performing a walking on water miracle.) Plus, walking out of the water and straight to the bar at Sorobon Beach Resort doesn’t hurt either.

Windsurfing Lac Bay, BonaireTourism Corporation Bonaire
Windsurfing boards at Jibe City, a windsurfing center in Lac Bay.
Plus, a tiny uninhabited island and cliff jumping in a National Park.

Talking about Bonaire as an undiscovered paradise roughly translates to: less crowds, more locals. Which is just the way you like it.

And for a real undiscovered paradise, just take the $15 roundtrip water taxi over to Klein Bonaire. Klein Bonaire, which is Dutch for Little Bonaire, is an uninhabited island that sits off the west coast of the island, beautifully protecting the waters between the little island and the big island so that marine life can thrive. Seriously, it’s gorgeous down there – which is why it’s one of the best dives on the island – it’s thriving with coral, beautiful fish and sea turtles.

Above water, you’ll be one of a handful of people on the entire island. There’s not much there, so pack everything that you need, especially drinking water.

Washington Slagbaii National Park, on the northern end of the island, is also worth checking out. But you’ll need a sturdy ride to get through the park – there are virtually no paved roads once you get inside the park – but the dirt roads that are will lead you right to the coolest place to take a leap. Once you hit the cluster of yellow buildings at the tip of the park, you’ve made it to Boca Slagbaai Beach, and a place where you can make the 25 foot cliff jump into the crystal blue waters. Just be sure to watch the locals first so that you know how it’s done.

Washington Slagbaii National Park, BonaireBreanna Wilson
Cliff jumping in Washington Slagbaii National Park.
With plenty of places to refuel and unwind – from a cerveceria with a spot-on garden patio oasis to a distillery that specializes in cactus vodka – there’s just as much to do on land.

Start at La Cantina Cerveceria, where you tell them what you like to drink and they craft a cocktail just for you. The only thing they do better than cocktails? That would be fish. Because all of their fish comes straight from their own Fish Market. Plus, their darling garden patio is one of the best spots to spend an evening on the island. Try the Bonaire Blond while you’re there, it’s brewed in the restaurant’s brewery, which happens to also be Bonaire’s first and only beer brewery, just out front.

La Terrazza offers up another one of the island’s best outdoor patio setups, but with a completely different feel. Sitting right on the street, there’s no menu here – you tell them what you don’t like and any food restrictions that you might have, and then they serve you until you’re full. Every plate is $6, or $10 if you go for the wine pairing (which comes with a healthy pour).

Italy in the World is another island favorite, especially among locals in the know. The tiny wine shop magically transforms into an even cuter restaurant at night. Their handmade pastas are all that anyone can talk about, but their wine selection is also worth noting. But what else would you expect from a place that thinks about wine 24/7?

For something more fast and casual, perhaps a post-dive snack, the burgers – especially the Lionfish Burger – at Cactus Blue Bonaire, a food truck regularly found at Donkey Beach (which you’ll pass if you’re heading back from a dive at Salt Pier), is a must. Especially if you haven’t crossed tasting Lionfish of your (foodie) bucket list yet.

Cactus Blue BonaireBreanna Wilson
A burger from Cactus Blue Bonaire food truck.
And you can’t leave out a visit to Cadushy Distillery, where they make the famous Cadushy Vodka made from cactus. It’s a family owned and operated business, and the master distiller, Eric, is happy to tell you everything you’ve wanted to know about the distillation process. Plus, they’re really onto something with their cactus vodka.

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For more on this story go to: https://www.forbes.com/sites/breannawilson/2018/01/17/bonaire-is-the-cool-caribbean-island-you-didnt-know-you-were-missing-out-on/#2f6ce6496b9b