BONAIRE IS ON THE 2023 BUCKET LIST FOR SAVVY TRAVELERS
Bonaire Invites Travelers to Explore the Dutch Caribbean Island
Kralendijk, Bonaire: Dec. 2022: Explore Bonaire in 2023 and discover an exciting array of vacation options from after-dark experiences and wellness events to new hotels and restaurants dishing up local favorites. Long known to divers as one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, the Dutch island is a win-win with its vibrant culinary scene, sailing, windsurfing, biking, and caving. Bonaire also launched its destination pledge, The Bonaire Bond, showcasing a continued commitment to preserving the environment while simultaneously attracting like-minded travelers. Sustainability has always been a part of the island’s ethos, but the destination felt a need to extend its commitment to visitors and in support of this initiative, will be adopting coral trees on behalf of all who sign the Bond through Earth Day 2023. As a result of a newsworthy year, the island was listed as one of the fastest-growing Caribbean destinations in popularity according to ForwardKeys. wwww.bonaireisland.com
Sips and snacks
Bagel & Bloom offers a high tea experience on-site or at your location of choice. The new go-to place for local food in Rincon, loved and frequented by (mostly) locals, Cactus Fence is open on Sunday for lunch only and the go-to for goat stew and salted fish. The island’s award-winning Cadushy Distillery has installed a new distillation plant in the old Cinelandia Theater to meet increased demand from exports of its products to Europe. The tour company, H20 Visions Bonaire, launched a ‘Snacks of Bonaire’ tour – a combination of island history and local lifestyle with visits to small open-air places for drinks and food in various Bonaire neighborhoods.
Beds for Heads
A new boutique hotel scheduled to open in early 2023, Belnem House Bonaire is a coastal property featuring apartments, penthouses, and suites with terraces and a shared pool. Art Hotel Bonaire, a new 14-room hotel located in the heart of Kralendijk, features Tostibar, an onsite restaurant serving European meals. Courtyard Marriott Bonaire Dive Resort r opened the WhatSup Water Sports Center and will offer boat tours, watersports, wakeboard, waterski, sea scooter snorkeling, stand-up paddle, and diving equipment.
Out and about
Dedicated to 7,000 years of history in Bonaire and the Caribbean, Terramar Museum is expanding its collection, focusing more on exhibits that appeal to locals as well as tourists and adding workshops for children and adults to their offerings. The new collection is scheduled to be completed in 2023. Bonaire Landsailing Adventures now offers weekly night sailing from 6 pm – 10 pm. New from Bonaire Bird Photography Tours is a full day’s birding in Washington-Slagbaai National Park including breakfast and a picnic lunch. . Bee Caribe’s The Street Art & Street Food Tour is powered by emissions-free electric scooters by Green Bikes, but can also be done via car. The colorful self-guided tour allows participants to decide the pace of the route and where to eat while learning about the Street Colors Project as well as local food. Bee Caribe has also introduced an Island Escape Game Tour, inviting visitors to sightsee while solving puzzles along the way that eventually lead gamers to a hidden location. Yoga and other ‘zen’ activities are now available at Bind, a new holistic wellness center. Morning Ocean Yoga is now offered at Sorobon Beach Resort along with seaside massage sessions at an outdoor beach hut.
Save the date
Bonaire Rum Week is back in June 2023. Bonaire’s Inaugural Yoga Festival will also be held in June 2023 in collaboration with the island’s wellness partners, yoga centers, and spas. Bonaire TeK!, the 11th annual week-long technical diving event, filled with presentations, demos and lots of technical diving, will be held at Buddy Dive Resort from September 30 – October 7, 2023. The 21st Annual Swim to Klein Bonaire , the uninhabited island located off of the main island, will return in September 2023 to fundraise for Jong Bonaire.
About Bonaire
The world’s first Blue Destination, surrounded by shores renowned for scuba diving as well as year-round sunshine, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire is a blissful beach escape bursting with history and culture as colorful as its architecture and tropical fish. Long recognized as a diver’s paradise, Bonaire’s renewed focus on celebrating its pristine ocean, abundant nature, and rich heritage, has helped evolve the destination into one of luxury, culture, and adventure. Bonaire’s animal sanctuaries, National Parks, and interesting landscapes, ranging from salt-flat coastlines to cactus-filled stretches of desert, is a must-visit for nature lovers. Abounding with outdoor activities such as kayaking, caving, and kite surfing, the island is also a hotspot for adventure seekers ready to explore. wwww.bonaireisland.com
