Kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, sightseeing, and more. Whether you're staying a week on Bonaire, or visiting for the day on a cruise, Bonaire has something to offer everyone. Located about 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Bonaire is the "B" of the Dutch Caribbean "ABC Islands" (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao) and has long been known among scuba enthusiasts as a diver's paradise.
Due to the island's forward-thinking preservationists, all of its surrounding waters have been strictly environmentally protected — which makes for resplendently healthy reefs and thriving marine life. Bonaire's diving is seriously world-class. But for non-divers, there's also plenty to see and do.
Above water, the island opens up an equally rich playground. Lac Bay on the eastern coast is one of the world's top spots for flat-water windsurfing thanks to the steady trade winds and shallow turquoise lagoon. The mangroves around the bay invite slow paddling by kayak or stand-up paddleboard — a serene, otherworldly experience surrounded by tangled roots and tiny reef fish.
For land-based adventure, Washington Slagbaai National Park covers nearly twenty percent of the island, with rugged hiking trails, hidden inland bays, and the highest viewpoint on Bonaire: Mount Brandaris. And anywhere you stop, you're likely to spot one of the island's signature pink residents — the Caribbean flamingo.