OVERVIEW

See the historical attractions in southern Bonaire on a panoramic drive and then relax at Sorobon Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand that juts far into Lac Bay. The Spaniards first gathered the island’s natural sea salt deposits to preserve meat in the 16th century, and salt is still collected in huge quantities as you will discover while pausing at the salt pyramids that line the coast. Nearby, you will see the huts where the African slaves that once worked the salt pans lived. At the island’s southern tip, you will find Willemstoren, the first lighthouse built on Bonaire. It dates to 1837. Heading up the immensely scenic eastern coast, you will soon arrive at Sorobon Beach, a popular windsurfing area because of the steady offshore breeze. The waters there are crystal-clear, relatively shallow and partially enclosed by a coral reef, so the setting is ideal for a relaxing beach break.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the massive pyramids of salt that line the shore in southern Bonaire.
• View the island’s oldest lighthouse and former slave huts built around the salt pans.
• See the first lighthouse on Bonaire, which was built at the southern tip in 1837.
• Enjoy free time at Sorobon Beach, an idyllic setting on Lac Bay.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes with non-slip soles.

Snap selfies and plenty of other picture-perfect photos at the most scenic spots on Bonaire and really wow your followers on social media. The island’s natural beauty is spectacular and you will visit many of the most picturesque settings, including the idyllic beaches Chachacha and Te Amo near the port. If you wish, the guide will offer suggestions as to the best camera angles to capture the beauty of Bonaire.

One of the most panoramic inland views will be from the observation point on the hill Seru Largo in the center of the island. From there, you can see all the way to the salt pans on the coast, which you will soon visit for a much closer look. Two of the most historical sites are nearby—the huts of the slaves that once worked the salt pans and a 19th-century lighthouse, the oldest on Bonaire.

A different sort of beach setting awaits you at Sorobon, a stretch of sand that juts far into Lac Bay.

OVERVIEW

Race around a specially designed track in a three-wheeled wind-powered vehicle that offers the thrill of sailing but on land. On the way there, you will watch a video that shows the basics of landsailing, an exhilarating activity in a land yacht from New Zealand. During the briefing that follows, you will learn even more about this unique sport and get tips that will help you maximize the experience. You will then ease into your own Blokart®, a vehicle whose trade name refers to the blowing wind and its resemblance to a go-kart. You will be surprised by easy it is to maneuver around the wide sandy track that overlooks the Caribbean Sea. Go as fast as you like because it is easy to control the speed, which can top out at three times the wind velocity. No experience required.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive a three-wheeled wind-powered vehicle known as a Blokart around a seaside track.
• Be surprised by how easy it is to operate the open-air vehicle.
• Enjoy an exhilarating ride as you race around at a speed that you find comfortable.
• Receive a souvenir eco-friendly water bottle filled with refreshing water plus an ice-cream treat.
• Download complimentary pictures and video of your ride later that day.
• Pass an area where flamingoes often congregate on the return drive to Kralendijk.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a towel, hat, sunglasses and biodegradable sunscreen. Flipflops and sandals are accepted.

OVERVIEW

Drive your own electric mini-car around Bonaire with stops along the way to experience local life and to behold the island’s stunning natural beauty. After a briefing to ensure that you are comfortable driving a Fiat Topolino, you will follow the guide in a convoy of these tiny, zero-emission vehicles. The views will be spectacular as you travel up the coast to Goto Lake, a favorite gathering place for pink-plumed flamingos. In the nearby village of Rincon – which the Spanish founded in 1499 – you will drop by Cadushy distillery for an enlightening behind-the-scenes tour and to sample its unique cactus liqueur. You will also visit Gruta di Lourdes, an outdoor church built into the rock that has become a Catholic pilgrimage site as it resembles the famed grotto in Lourdes, France, that is said to have healing powers. You will enjoy yet another perspective of Bonaire from atop Seru Largu, the island’s highest accessible point.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive throughout Bonaire in your own Fiat Topolino, a tiny electric vehicle.
• See some of the island’s most beautiful coastal areas and perhaps flamingos at Goto Lake.
• Enjoy an insider’s look at Cadushy distillery and taste its bright-green cactus liqueur.
• Pause at a cave with a statue of the Virgin Mary that has become a pilgrimage site.
• Gaze out over Bonaire from the Seru Largu lookout point.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes is mandatory, no flip flops or crocs.

Pedal along Bonaire's stunning coastline and enjoy the stunning view of the wild coastline, the oldest lighthouse, the pink salt flats and the slave huts. This 12 mile green adventure bike ride will take you on flat roads through fascinating landscape with amazing color contrasts. The white Salt mountains are a must to see in Bonaire. At Te Amo Beach relax on the sand and cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise waters. After a safety briefing, and your helmet and get ready to ride.

Discover how injured parrots are rehabilitated at the Echo conservation center and then hike through a reforested area looking for yellow-shouldered Amazon parrots. As an introduction to the island’s natural wonders, you will take a circuitous route to the center, driving along the ocean, and on to Goto Lake, where you may spot flamingos. You will delve deeper into the challenges of protecting Bonaire’s birds, especially parrots, when touring the center with a naturalist. It will be inspiring to see how the birds are rescued, rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild. To enhance your experience and understanding of Bonaire’s endangered Amazon parrots, you will follow the naturalist into a replanted section of dry forest looking for these magnificent birds. Chunky and brightly colored, they are easy to identify. The birds are usually seen in pairs that remain monogamous throughout their lives, which typically last about 40 years on Bonaire.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour a conservation center that rehabilitates yellow-shouldered Amazon parrots.
• Hike through a replanted forest looking for parrots with a naturalist guide.
• Admire Bonaire’s extraordinary natural beauty on a panoramic drive around the island.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable trekking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover the cultural heritage in Bonaire’s northern half through immersive experiences that natural attractions beautifully complement. The farther north you travel from Kralendijk, the more hilly and the terrain. The guide may point out desert foliage such as candelabra cacti and drought-resistant mesquite trees that can reach as high as 30 feet. Consequently, you may be surprised by the sight of Goto Lake, a sprawling saltwater lagoon that attracts pink-plumed flamingos in large numbers. The local culture will take center stage in the Rincon Valley, once home to the Arawak Indians. In the Mangazina di Rei culture park, you can browse exhibits that showcase the island’s early history and learn to play a handcrafted musical instrument in an entertaining workshop. You may also see how cacti are used as fences. For the ultimate view of Bonaire, you will drive up Seru Largu, a mountain in the interior of the island.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit a culture park that highlights Bonaire’s early history and indigenous people.
• Join a hands-on workshop and learn to play a traditional musical instrument.
• Look for flamingos feeding in the shallows of Goto Lake.
• Take in the sweeping views from atop Seru Largu in the island’s interior.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an introductory look at the capital Kralendijk from several perspectives and unwind at a private beach club with breathtaking views in every direction. While driving through the city, you will hear how it developed around Fort Oranje, a still-standing fortification that the Dutch built in the 17th century. As you ascend Seru Largu mountain in the island’s interior, you will be treated to a more sweeping panorama that takes in your cruise ship and Klein Bonaire, the large island directly off Kralendijk. On the descent, you may spot Bonaire’s iconic flamingos dining on brine shrimp in the shallows of the brackish lagoons. You will find the turquoise waters off the Eden Beach Club wonderfully inviting during free time there. While you are welcome to spend your entire stay luxuriating on the beach and swimming in the sea, you might also dine on your own at the club’s waterfront restaurant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for a panoramic drive through Kralendijk, Bonaire’s Dutch-influenced capital.
• Take in the sweeping views from atop Seru Largu in the island’s interior.
• Look for flamingos wading in the shallows of the coastal lagoons.
• Spend hours relaxing however you please at a private beach club.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride through Bonaire’s relatively uninhabited eastern shore in a Utility Task Vehicle made for adventure. After a brief orientation to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will race off in a two-person UTV. You can drive, ride along as the passenger or switch seats during one of the stops. The scenery will be ever-changing and spectacularly picturesque as you travel caravan-style along the coast and through the former Bolivia plantation, a sprawling landscape that blankets 10 percent of the island. This huge undeveloped property contains many different ecosystems – including a rare tropical dry forest – ancient inscriptions from the island’s earliest inhabitant and countless caves. You will be free to explore one of those caves, which is home to an endangered species of endemic bat. You will also stop at Spelonk lighthouse, a soaring solar-powered beacon that stands next to a stone building that was once the residence of the lighthouse keeper.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through largely undeveloped eastern Bonaire in a two-person Utility Task Vehicle.
• Admire the gorgeous scenery, which includes coastal areas and a former plantation.
• Stop to explore a cave and a lighthouse that is now solar-powered.
• Look for animals such as wild donkeys, goats and iguanas.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing, including long pants.
• Wear closed comfortable walking shoes.

Discover the most fascinating aspects of Bonaire’s history on an enlightening walk through downtown.

While strolling through the heart of Kralendijk, the island’s capital, you will see how the 17th-century Dutch-built Fort Oranje has been converted into the island’s main courthouse. Similarly, the Parliament House was once the private residence of a prominent family. As revealing as these architectural insights will be, few experiences will be quite so revealing as listening to the museum’s historical actors describe what life was like in the past. You may hear about the Dutch colonizers, how slavery was abolished and the origins of the island’s traditions. The exhibits cover more than 7,000 years of history through artifacts recovered from shipwrecks, 3D reconstructions, descriptive timelines and historical photographs.

After your walk through main street, you will have time for shopping at a market near the harbor.