Bonair

Snorkel Quest

Looking for a great snorkel destination, try Bonaire. Bonaire is a small Caribbean island located in the southern Caribbean Sea, just north of the coast of Venezuela. As a special municipality of the Netherlands, it boasts a unique blend of Caribbean charm and Dutch influence. Known for its stunning coral reefs and vibrant marine life, Bonaire is a haven for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. The island also offers opportunities for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and other water sports along its pristine beaches. Bonaire's arid climate and diverse ecosystems, including its protected national parks, make it an ideal destination for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers alike.

The Adventure - We traveled to Bonaire in February and the weather was in the mid-80s every day. The restaurants we dinned at were amazing. Bonaire is safe and the people are friendly. It is an easy place to drive and navigate. Snorkeling sites are accessed from the shore and are marked with yellow-painted stones. We would go again.

The Ordeal - The wind is usually from the east but as luck would have it the wind was blowing from the west during most of our visit. This created some big waves and made it difficult to get in and out of the water when we snorkeled. Some days the underwater visibility wasn't that great. We were flexible and changed some of our snorkel sites depending on the wind.

Tips - I would recommend making dinner reservations before your trip. Get yourself some good water shoes, this makes getting in and out of the water much easier. We stayed at Casa Montana in Kralendijk, It is close to all the grocery stores and ideally location to downtown and some very good restaurants.

Our 10-day Itinerary

Art at Casa Manatana

Day 1

Arrive at Hotel Casa Mantana Bonaire
Stop at a grocery store, buy food for breakfast and packed lunches and snacks
Explore the capital city, Kralendijk. Take a stroll along the colorful waterfront, visit the historic Fort Oranje, and explore the local shops. Stop at Smooth Operator for a smoothie.
Stop at the Tourism office for a map of Bonaire
Dinner at Cuba

School of Blue Tangs

French Angle Fish

Day 2

Drive to the snorkel site Karpata (morning) and 1000 Steps (afternoon)
Dinner at Bon Tapa Restaurant

After our diving course

School of French Grunt

Day 3

VIP Diving, J. A. - Take the Discover Scuba Dive course
Dinner at La Cantina
Dessert at Luciano – Ice cream
Explore the town, drinks at Sugar Thief open (5:00-10:00)

Flounder

Snorkeling at Salt Pier

Day 4

Drive to the Snorkel site Salt Pier (morning) and Tori’s Reef (afternoon) Stay for sunset @ 6:30
Dinner at Joe's Restaurant

Andrea I

Andrea II

Day 5

Drive to the snorkel site Andrea I and II morning
Lunch at a food truck – King Kong
Drive to the snorkel site Bachelor’s Beach and Te Amo Beach
Dinner at It Rains Fishes

Washington National Park

Cadushy Distillery

Day 6

Visit Washington National Park – Hiking
Stop at Cadushy Distillery for a cactus drink
Dinner at El Mundo

Parrot Fish

Flamingo Sanctuary

Day 7

Snorkel Reb Beryl, Margate Bay, Tori’s Reef
Visit Pekelmeer and the Flamingo Sanctuary
Dinner – at Sebastian's Restaurant Bar & Lounge, watch the Sunset, and Green Flash

On the way to Klein Bonaire

Pink Beach

Day 8

Take a boat trip to Klein Bonaire with Epic Water Taxi, Do a drift snorkel from 10 am to 2:30, take lunch and water
Dinner - Drive to Pink Beach and have a picnic and watch the sunset