THE 10 BEST Free Things to Do in Bonaire
Best Free Things to Do in Bonaire
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38 places sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Reefs
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Speciality & Gift Shops • Shopping Malls
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses
Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries
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What travellers are saying
- Gryphons98Guelph, Canada35 contributionsThank you to Marten at Cadushy Distillery for providing us with a tour and tasting after a long day driving and snorkeling through Washington-Slagbaai National Park. We were able to sample all of the liqueurs as well as several rums... delicious! Our kids enjoyed a Sprite while watching the birds and playing with the cats. All in all, a great way to wrap up the day.Written 13 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BoleslavColorado1,878 contributionsLac Bay is one, yet there is Lac Bay for the windsurfers and there is Lac Bay for snorkelers.
The snorkelers have to walk for a bit to get to the deeper part, but if you catch the right conditions, the current is not that strong, you will be rewarded by the best underwater life.
We went there 3 times and the conditions were not favorable on the last trip, the current was very strong, we ended up fighting it instead of enjoying the corral and the fish,
However on the second trip there, we kept swimming and exploring the healthy and beautiful corrals with large variety of fish, all very near the surface, one feels like swimming in the aquarium.
It was our favorite place in all of Bonaire for the snorkeling.Written 21 July 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Gryphons98Guelph, Canada35 contributionsDrove up to 1000 Steps to start our day before heading off to Washington Slagbaai National Park. We were happy to find the snorkelling of decent quality. Managed to play hide and seek with several sea turtles and saw some massive parrot fish amongst a plethora of other species. There were a few jellyfish, but no one in our family was bothered. There are sections of the coral that have clearly been impacted by disease and human activity, but there is still plenty that is thriving. Water shoes are ideal for beach entry, but that doesn't mean people should step on the reef.Written 12 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Tamading6 contributionsBeautiful salt mounds and pink waters! A must see! I had high blood pressure just looking at it. It stretched for miles, a must visit!Written 29 February 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Vicki11 contributionsRight by our hotel Chogogo Bonaire, we were able to see an incredible variety of different fish species while snorkeling!Written 8 June 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Voyager586915517094 contributionsGreat fun store with almost all you need. Nice and clean and easy to shop. Please note bring your own bags as they do charge if you need bags.Written 14 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- AHotalingChelsea, MI70 contributionsI’d long known about Bonaire’s flamingo sanctuary and was finally excited to see it in person. I let my husband know to bring his mega camera lens, and I brought binoculars in order to see the birds. These are crucial for viewing the flamingos because the sanctuary waterway where they gather is set well back from the road and, with just the human eye alone, you’ll be lucky to see pink. A short path, bordered by chunks of coral, sets the limits for human approach. It’s illegal to bother, approach, or harass these amazing birds, and there is signage posted — sparsely — on the road indicating this. Pekelmeer is a Ramsar site — a wetland site designated of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO. With more than 100,000 flamingos here by the salt flats (the northern section of Lac Bay is also a RAMSAR site), it’s completely understandable why this area is protected.
Still, there will be clueless tourists who either are ignorant of the local laws or simply could care less. While we stood in that short pathway, well back from the birds, a family of Venezuelans marched right towards the flamingos, becoming quite vocally dismayed that these shy, skittish birds moved far back upon their approach. My husband and I were glad we’d managed to get a few photos before these people’s arrival, since they completely disturbed the birds. Don’t be like these tourists! Bring a telephoto lens, bring binoculars, and observe these beauties quietly from a distance.
I might have had a little talk with the grandmother of the family, who stayed in the car, parked behind our own. She seemed surprised that it was illegal to approach the birds and laughed about her family’s frustrated efforts (no apology on their behalf for ruining our viewing). The four stars instead of five results from the lack of signage. Visitors will tend to park by the lighthouse, where there is space, then cross the street to view the birds. There is no signage at all here. There is one sign further down the road, and one closer to the salt flats, and that’s it. More signage regarding the sanctuary’s laws is needed, especially near the lighthouse, and in multiple languages: not just English but Spanish and Dutch as well, since there are so many visitors from nearby Venezuela and from the Netherlands.
Definitely worth renting a car for the day to visit the flamingos, the lighthouse, and the Cargill salt flats!Written 13 March 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Wander025470469604 contributionsGood wreck dive . Ship lies in 60 -109 feet of water depending on which end you are on. Open cargo hold with easy access. Accessible from shore but do it as a boat.Written 22 December 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- W&MDeventer, The Netherlands781 contributionsThis area is nice to visit. You see the Brandaris, the highest point on the Island. We did not see flamingo's.Written 27 March 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- GRZChicago, IL10,092 contributionsWe came here to see the conch stacks to be perfectly honest on our very last day in Bonaire... but had we known there is a nice beach here weI would definitely visit earlier - depending on the tide the water does flood quite a lot, even on the way to the beach from the Mangrove Center (it actually completely flooded a part of the road on the way back and if I not for the fact we drove on it before and saw how it looks dry I would probably freak out a bit as a non-familiar visitor heheh)
There is a small beach bar/restaurant called Lac Bay Bar but this is not the touristy type of area like the Lac Bay area by Sorobon/Kite City so I encourage you to bring something with you to drink or eat in case the bar is on "island time" and you can't get anything as the beach is very inviting and provides some nice shallow waters and plenty of shade.
Drive carefully while passing the Mangrove Center as there may be some flamingos passing the road or donkeys roaming around!
TIP: We visited "on the way" to the Mangrove Center (you will pass MC first, about half way through) as these two locations are about 5 minutes away from each other - the dirt road that takes you to the Mangroves is what you simply continue until the road ends at the Lac Cai Beach - no need for an SUV/turck, passenger car will do it easily
TIP: on the way back stop at Mangrove Center even if you don't plan on taking the tour - it's a pretty educating experience and worth a short stop - the closest by food there is Foodies which I highly recommend as well for a great lunch with a viewWritten 9 November 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - SittaHelsingborg, Sweden284 contributionsYellow huts and blue sea, made for some interesting photos. Although the history is worth thinking about, not in the least when on holiday.Written 30 November 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Allen BMuskegon, MI1,221 contributionsBeautiful clear water, very little current, and convenient location close to the airport and town. However, tons of people. If you want to party some, go in the evening. People are usually playing music with sound systems on their vehicles.Written 3 January 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- VaAlleyCatAldie, VA1,093 contributionsBeautiful monument with lovely views of the island. You can drive right up to the platform, so not much walking required.Written 14 July 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Paul H1 contributionAlways great service
Always time for a social talk
Always good to come back for clothing, bracelets and presents!
See you soon!!!Written 1 June 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Annemiek KAmsterdam, The Netherlands2 contributionsThe people at the jungle concept store are very helpful. They have a variety of clothes, jewelry, bikinis. I recommend visiting this store.Written 21 October 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.