
Bon Bini na Bonaire!
Welcome to Bonaire! For all your island facts and travel information we have this all at your fingertips.
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Nature Awareness
Nature conservation is high on Bonaire’s agenda. More than 20% of the total land area of Bonaire and 100% of the waters surrounding Bonaire and Klein Bonaire are National Parks and are protected. Therefore, once on island, please remember that you must pay a Nature Fee before entering the Bonaire National Marine Park...
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Animal Shelter
Bonaire Animal Shelter is a refuge for dogs and cats that can no longer be cared for by their owners, have been abandoned, or were born in the wild and brought to us by concerned citizens and tourists...
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Banks & Local Financial Institutions
Banking hours are Monday through Friday from 8.00 or 8.30am to 3.30 or 4.00pm....
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Buying & Building
Interested in buying or building a home on Bonaire? Bonaire has a selection of realtors and...
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Drinking Water
Bonaire's seawater is distilled and purified to become one of the purest drinking waters in the world. Bottled water is available.
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Education & Schools
Bonaire offers education for children ages 4 – 18. Grade schools vary from Public, Catholic and a private tuition based Dutch school. Bonaire has public and private high schools. In addition, various local daycares are found throughout Bonaire.
The language of instruction in school is Dutch and Papiamentu. Further details are available by contacting the schools directly...
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Electricity
127/120V, adapters are available in the hotels. Many dive shops have adapters for charging lights...
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Emergency Numbers
Police 911 Hospital & Ambulance 911 Fire Department 911 -
Wi-Fi
There are several spots where free Wi-Fi is available. In Kralendijk there are various restaurants that offer Wi-Fi....
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Investing
Investing in a foreign country can be a bit daunting, however, Bonaire’s climate for both private and businesses sectors has always...
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Island Life
Bonaire is a great place to live. Yet, island life does take some getting accustomed to. Bonaire has a...
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Languages & Population
There are four languages spoken on Bonaire today. While Dutch is the official one used in government...
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Living
One of the charms of Bonaire living is the island’s size. Being small, everything is accessible making...
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Location
The island lies 30 miles from Curacao, 50 miles north of Venezuela, 86 miles east of Aruba...
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Medical Facilities & Pharmacies
San Francisco Hospital is fully equipped to respond to any emergency. There are a number of medical doctors on the island and air ambulance service is available...
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Nature Fee
Users of the Bonaire Marine Park are required to buy the Marine Park Tag: US$45.00 for divers and US$25.00 for all other users...
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Personal Safety
Bonaire has a reputation for being one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, however visitors should take normal precautions...
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Friends of Nature Foundation
The Friends of Nature Foundation (FNF), a non-profit organization has been publishing a beautiful “Agenda”. The first Bonaire Nature Agenda was printed in 2000 and has been published non-stop every year since...
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Religion & Churches
Religion plays an important part in the lives of the Bonaire residents. We are a mixture of many cultures and persuasions...
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Shopping Hours
Monday through Saturday 9.00am to noon and 2.00pm-6.00pm. Some shops stay open through lunch hours, Sundays and Holidays. Most supermarkets are open until 8 pm, and usually open on Sundays and holidays.
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Television
Cable TV is available. They offer an assortment of popular stations.
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Temperature
Visitors enjoy a temperate climate. Average yearly temperature is 82°F...
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Time Zone
Atlantic Standard Time (AST), one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same as Eastern Daylight Time.
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Volunteer
Since Bonaire has a long history of reef conservation, it is an ideal place for marine biologists to conduct research programs. Not only is the research confined to the sea, there are other projects in...
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Working on Bonaire
The island of Bonaire has a small but vibrant economy. The majority of employment is associated with tourism while a small segment relies on the salt or oil trans-shipment industry. Work permits must be obtained for foreigners. Licenses, for those who wish to engage in businesses, are also required...
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Biodegradable/Reef Friendly Sunscreen
You can now buy Biodegradable/Reef Friendly Sunscreen & Body Care on Bonaire. These products are sold at VIP Diving, Goood Diving and Nature Discount. For more information click here.
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Airport Parking Rates
The Flamingo Airport stipulated the following parking rates...
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Currency & Credit Cards
US dollar is the official currency. Only dollars are dispensed at bank ATMs and counters.
Major credit cards are accepted. -
Diving Emergencies & Safety
For diving emergencies, Bonaire has a Hyperbaric Chamber located behind the Centro Medico Office...
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Passports, Immigration & Visas
Citizens from most countries do not need a visa to enter Bonaire. U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. Colombian citizens that do not have a valid American visa would need to apply for a tourist ...
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Taxes: Departure & on island
International US$ 35.00 and local destinations (Aruba and Curacao)...
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Tipping/Gratuities
Most restaurants include a service charge. Tipping is up to the customer.
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Basic Papiamentu
Planning a trip to Bonaire? Why not learn the basics in Papiamentu?.
Communication with locals can open up new opportunities or experiences, or simply help you figure out where you are. Click here.