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Bonaire from Curaçao

Bonaire from Curaçao

Curaçao's quieter eastern neighbour: world-class shore diving, flamingos, salt flats and a slow island rhythm.

Photo: Senor Luis Bertran, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • DistanceNext island east, visible from Curaçao on clear days
  • Getting thereFrequent short flights; no scheduled ferry
  • CurrencyUS dollar
  • EntryUS$75 visitor entry tax (age 13+), paid online

Bonaire, the B in ABC, lies just east of Curaçao and is visible from the eastern tip on a clear day. Since 2010 it has been a special municipality of the Netherlands itself, which is why the currency is the US dollar and not a local guilder. It's smaller, quieter and greener underwater: the whole coastline is a protected marine park.

How to get there from Curaçao

Curaçao–Bonaire is the busiest inter-island route, with Divi Divi Air flying several times a day and Z Air (formerly EZ Air) also operating daily; Winair adds a few weekly flights. The hop takes around half an hour. There is no scheduled passenger ferry. Seats sell out around holidays, especially late December, so book early: compare on Trip.com or Omio.

Good to know: Visitors pay a Visitor Entry Tax online before arrival: US$75 for ages 13+, US$10 for children. It covers return visits within a month of first arrival. Divers, snorkellers and swimmers in the marine park also need a STINAPA nature fee. Bring a passport; check whether your ID card is accepted (Bonaire's official tourism info says the Dutch ID card isn't).

What's different from Curaçao

  • Underwater first: Bonaire is famous for shore diving: yellow-painted stones along the coast road mark dive sites you can enter straight from land.
  • Smaller and calmer: one small town, Kralendijk, and very little nightlife.
  • Wildlife: flamingos breed here, in a sanctuary within the salt works in the south.
  • Few sandy beaches: many shores are coral rubble; Curaçao has more classic beaches.

Best of Bonaire

  • Shore diving and snorkelling along the west coast and around uninhabited Klein Bonaire, reached by water taxi.
  • Washington Slagbaai National Park in the north: rough roads, cactus, lizards and lookout points.
  • The south: pink salt ponds, white salt pyramids and the historic slave huts.
  • Lac Bay on the east coast: shallow, turquoise water, a windsurf hub with mangroves to kayak.

Not a diver? A guided snorkel trip is the easiest introduction: see Bonaire snorkel tours. Most accommodation is in and around Kralendijk: compare Bonaire hotels.

Getting around: there's little public transport, so rent a car or pickup at the airport. Watch for donkeys and goats on rural roads.

Combining with Curaçao

Three or four nights on Bonaire fits well into a longer Curaçao trip. See ABC island hopping for routes. Back on Curaçao, the reefs at Klein Curaçao and our snorkelling and diving guide keep the underwater theme going.

Tours: Bonaire from Curaçao

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the flight from Curaçao to Bonaire?

Around half an hour in the air. Allow extra time for check-in on small aircraft.

Do I need a car on Bonaire?

For shore diving and the national park, yes; a pickup is popular for carrying dive gear.

Is Bonaire good for non-divers?

Yes, if you enjoy snorkelling, nature and quiet. Beach and nightlife lovers may prefer Curaçao or Aruba.

Bonaire from Curaçao
Photo: LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, CC BY 2.0

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