Day 01
North Bonaire Highlights Tour
- Start the tour at the Cruise Ship Port and meet your guide 15 minutes before your tour departure. When you exit your ship, walk to the security gate (there will be only one security gate), and straight ahead, you will see a sign that says, "Internet Booking". Someone from our team will be waiting for you there with your name on a sign. (Non-cruise passengers: We will pick you up at your accommodation. Please be ready to depart 15 minutes before the start time of your tour.)
- Explore the below-listed tourist attractions:
- Kralendijk Bonaire Town Tour - Downtown Kralendijk consists of a few streets and is easily walkable. Kaya Grandi is the main street, where you will find most shops, restaurants, and cafes. After the tour, we can drop you off in the centre if you would like to do some shopping and walk around. If you're from a cruise, the ship port is about a 5-minute walk from the downtown district, and you will easily be able to see and walk back to your ship before departure.
- Harbour Village Marina - Harbour Village Marina is one of two marina facilities on the island where both local and visiting yachts can book moorings and stay on the island. It's also a haven for surrounding boats during storms to seek shelter and calmer water. We will share more about the role of the marina on our tour.
- Trans World Radio Bonaire (TWR) - Trans World Radio plays an important role in global radio and features a beautiful mural that you won't be able to miss. We'll tell you more about it on the tour and give you a chance to take a photo.
- Hato - Many of the island's hotels are located in a neighborhood called Hato. We'll be passing through parts of this neighborhood and sharing information as we head north.
- Sabadeco - Here, you will see some of the largest homes on Bonaire. Your guide will share why people from all over the globe are moving to this area in particular and why this area is valued so highly.
- 1000 Steps - At 1000 Steps, we will be making a stop where you will be able to get out, walk around, and take some pictures of the beautiful scenery and clear blue ocean. Whether you choose to descend the steps to the ocean or stay on top, you will still have a nice view of the area and coast.
- Tolo Dive Site - Tolo Dive Site is one of the best dive sites on the island due to the large reef and schools of fish that inhabit this area of coral cliffs. From a distance, you will see interesting boulder patterns, and your guide will point out lines on the cliffs that show you where the water level was thousands of years ago.
- Landhuis Karpata - From the 17th century up until 1863, Bonaire, like many islands in the Caribbean, relied on slave labor to work plantations and the salt pans. Throughout the island, you will see remnants of this time that serve as reminders of the hard work and hands that built the island's economy during this dark period. Here at Karpata, you will see a building where the women and children would stay during the week.
- BOPEC - Like all places, oil and resources play an important role in daily life on Bonaire. But unlike many places, islands do not allow for a natural supply found locally. Here at BOPEC, your tour guide will show you some of the island's oil tanks and the reason for their placement here on the island.
- Goto Lake or Goto Zout or Flamingo Meer - Goto (pronounced Go-To) Meer is a beautiful protected reserve area where you will often see flamingos and native birds in their natural habitat. You will also see the sparkle of salt deposits and the dense greenery in this northern part of the island. As this is a protected area, we will not be exiting the vehicle, but you will have the chance to take photos and spot the flamingos. In the distance, you'll be able to see Brandaris, which is the tallest point on Bonaire, located in the Washington Nature Preserve Park.
- Rincon - Rincon was the first official town established in the 16th century. Here, you will see some of the oldest buildings on the island, typical local architecture, and learn why this location was chosen many years ago to be the first official settlement when Bonaire was discovered by the Spanish.
- Cadushy Distillery - You will visit locally made liquor and spirits of Bonaire.
- Bonaire Land Sailing Adventures - After Rincon, we will embark to the windy and breathtaking east coast of Bonaire where you can feel the crashing waves and often see roaming wild donkeys. We'll also pass Bonaire's Land Sailing Adventure track where you can see people zipping around in their sail karts.
- Seru Largu - We will be on top of a hill where you will be able to see Bonaire from a high point in the middle of the island.
- Noord Saliña - This is the second old neighborhood on the island where the Indians moved to.
- Antriol - This is the largest neighbourhood in Bonaire.
- Inter Bonaire Main Street - Here, your guide will tell you more about Inter Bonaire Main Street. This will be our last point of interest.
- Later, return downtown, ask questions, and we will share more about the island.
Tour ends.
