10 Best Things to Do in Bonaire • Top Bonaire Attractions

Jan 22, 2021by Sarah Peterson

Looking for things to do in Bonaire?

This Caribbean island is a dream destination for divers, snorkelers, and nature lovers alike.

Bonaire promotes sustainable tourism. The island has a long history of nature preservation which resulted in diverse and abundant marine life. In fact, its entire coastline is a marine park with fascinating turquoise water and amazing coral reefs.

Create amazing memories with unforgettable eco-friendly and aquatic adventures like swimming, scuba diving, kitesurfing, windsurfing, snorkelling, hiking, and more.

Here are the best Bonaire attractions to maximize your trip to this amazing island.

Check out: The Ultimate Bonaire Travel Guide • Plan Your Trip to Bonaire

10 Top-Rated Things to Do in Bonaire

Bonaire is best known as a diving destination, but it is a well-rounded area with a variety of activities and tourist spots suitable for different types of travelers of all ages.

Explore the list and find the best places to add to your itinerary!

#1. Best Bonaire Beach: No Name Beach

Things to do in Bonaire

Yes, this beach is actually called no name beach.

Move away from the city noise and enjoy the Caribbean experience at No Name Beach. It is located at Klein Bonaire (aka Little Bonaire), just a short ferry or boat ride away from the main island.

This little paradise has soft and white sand and an unspoiled island landscape. Pack a lunch and have a unique picnic. Bring your own refreshments and snacks in the area since there’s nothing except nature on this little island.

Take a stroll, sunbathe, take a snooze at the wide open space. If you have more time, ready your snorkel gear and enjoy the colorful coral reef species and fish!

Category: Beach
Neighborhood: Klein Bonaire
Hours of operation: Water taxis to Klein Bonaire are available from Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Best for: Sun-worshippers, beach bum, amateur snorkelers
Time to spend here: Klein Bonaire is available for day trips only, so spend as much as you can!

#2. Best Hike in Bonaire: No Name Beach

Lace up your hiking boots and climb some rocks to reward yourself with a majestic view at the top of Subi Brandaris at Washington Slagbaai National Park.

Trekking on this trail is open for all levels. The start is easy and as you go higher, the trail will become rockier.

Once you reach the highest peak of Bonaire, you can see some exotic flora like the Divi Divi trees or get a spectacular view of Curacao and the Paraguana Peninsula of Venezuela on a clear day. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Category: Hiking
Neighborhood: Situated Washington Slagbaai National Park near the city of Rincon
Hours of operation: Noon until 5 PM
Best for: Hikers
Time to spend here: The trail is approximately a 45-minute hike to the Brandaris

#3. Best Outdoor Activity in Bonaire: Windsurfing

Things to do in Bonaire

Bonaire is not called the home of world champion windsurfers for nothing!

Tons of beaches are great for windsurfing, but Sorobon at Lac Bay has the perfect combination of continual winds, weather, and shallow crystal clear water is a great surfing condition for windsurfing.

Windsurfing classes are available so if you’re interested to try it and haven’t been before, you can learn here.

Category: Beach, Windsurfing
Neighborhood: Located at the eastern side of the island near Lac Bay
Best for: Beach lover, beginner to advanced windsurfer, families with children
Time to spend here: 2-4 hours or spend your entire day learning windsurfing!

#4. Best Diving Spot in Bonaire: No Name Beach

Things to do in Bonaire

See one of the best underwater landscapes at Karpata! Divers and photographers will love the large coral formations, Elkhorn corals, sea horses, Snappers, Triggerfish, and other species found at this site.

Karpata is suitable for all levels of divers. The depth ranges from 6 to 30 meters so you can find a comfortable place for you to explore the marine life at Karpata.

Category: Beach, Diving spot
Neighborhood: North of Kralendijk on Bonaire's west coast
Best for: Sea lovers, amateur to advanced divers
Time to spend here: 2-3 hours or more!

#5. Best Restaurants in Bonaire: CHEFS Bonaire, Mezze, and Kite City

Eat to your heart's content at CHEFS Bonaire. You can choose from European, Seafood, International, or Japanese Fusion cuisine. The portions are served in decent size so you'll have a satisfying meal.

The Middle Easter cuisine available at Mezze is a must-try if you want to have a taste of Turkish Kebab or Lamb Shank.

Check out: Bonaire’s Best Restaurants • Where to Eat in Bonaire

For a cheap and quick bite, stop by at Kite City Food truck. People line up for their seafood and sandwiches.

Category: Restaurant
Neighborhood: CHEFS Bonaire is at Bamboo Bali Resort. Mezze is located at Playa Pariba and Kite City Food Truck can be found at Te Amo Beach near the Flamingo Airport.
Hours of operation: CHEFS Bonaire: Thursday to Sunday, 7PM to 11 PM. Mezze: Wed-Sun, 6PM to 10:45 PM, Kite City: 12PM to 3PM
Best for: Foodies, couples or groups
Time to spend here: 1-2 hours

#6. Top Attraction in Bonaire: No Name Beach

Things to do in Bonaire

Bonaire's symbol is the flamingo so it'll be a shame to miss having a glimpse of them at Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to around 10,000 flamingos and it is one of the four areas in the world where flamingos breed.

Even if tourists are not allowed inside the sanctuary, you can still watch them using binoculars from the road or at the Pink Beach. Witness these vibrant birds in the wild, and bring your camera.

Category: Wildlife
Neighborhood: Located at the vast salt pans at the Kralendijk
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Best for: Families and groups, photographers
Time to spend here: Enjoy the view for 1 hour or less.

#7. Most Popular Museum in Bonaire: No Name Beach

Gain new knowledge about Bonaire at Terramar Museum! Discover the history of Bonaire 7,000 years ago through narrated tales, exhibits, and collections.

Countless photographs and drawings on a 20-meter long timeline will take you on a journey back in time.

Category: Museum
Neighborhood: Located at Terramar shopping mall in the center of Kralendijk
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM
Best for: Art and history enthusiast, families
Time to spend here: 1 to 2 hours would be enough to see what the museum has to offer

#8. Must-Visit Landmark in Bonaire: No Name Beach

See Bonaire in a different light by exploring Lac Bay’s Mangroves at Mangrove Info and Kayaking Center. See the brilliant water and three different species of mangrove trees that grow in this forest.

The Mangrove Info Center offers guided kayak and solar boats for this area so you, and your friends and family can enjoy the scenery better.

Category: Mangrove
Neighborhood: Bonaire's western coastline
Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM
Best for: Families or large groups and nature lovers
Time to spend here: 1 to 3 hours of kayaking and snorkelling

#9. Best Cultural Experience in Bonaire: No Name Beach

Things to do in Bonaire

The Mangazina di Rei was built in the 19th century, making it the second oldest stone building in Bonaire.

Have a fascinating experience and learn about Bonaire's culture in Mangazina di Rei. Listen to the music performed using locally handcrafted instruments or get a chance to play them too before touring the rest of the museum.

Category: Museum
Neighborhood: Rincon, Bonaire
Hours of operation: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM
Best for: Art and history buff, children
Time to spend here: At least 1-2 hours so you can enjoy the performance and cultural events or roam around the museum.

#10. Best Snorkelling Spot in Bonaire: No Name Beach

Things to do in Bonaire

Have a great aquatic adventure with your friends and family even without diving deep underwater at Lac Bay.

Be amazed at the healthy marine life at Lac Bay. Some of the corals you’ll see in the area are Elkhorn, Lettuce, Staghorn corals. You can even spot some fish like Parrotfish, Snapper, Soldierfish, and other species.

Category: Beach, Snorkelling spot
Neighborhood: Close to Jibe City which has one of the coolest bars on the island. Drop by for some snacks and refreshments.
Best for: Snorkelling beginners, non-divers
Time to spend here: Take around 1 to 3 hours of snorkelling or simply relaxing at the beach with your group.

Sarah Peterson

@sarah

Sarah Peterson

@sarah

Sarah Peterson is the co-founder and head of marketing at FLIGHTFŪD. She's a travel health expert and after having visited 20+ countries as a digital nomad and flying every 4-6 weeks for business, she became passionate about empowering others to protect their bodies on the go.