THE 10 BEST Cheap Things to Do in Bonaire
Best Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Bonaire
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What travellers are saying
- Gryphons98Guelph, Canada35 contributionsWhat a unique way to spend a few hours on the beautiful island of Bonaire! The preservation of mangrove forests around the world is something we all need to take ownership of. What better way to get people to pay attention than to have them paddle through the magic that is a mangrove forest.
From the moment we arrived at the centre (after a typical Bonaire dirt road drive), we were greeted by flamingos, roosters and even a pair of donkeys playing tag.
Our guide, Erik, was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to make sure everyone understood the significance of our experience. I highly recommend you do this tour through the Mangrove Centre itself and not one of the other operators.
It was breathtaking to paddle quietly through the dense mangroves...it felt as though we were in another world. If that wasn't enough, you also get to experience the beauty beneath the water with a short snorkel session. It was very different than snorkeling on a reef, but the abundance of fish was amazing to see. We also really enjoyed seeing the jellies, the sponges and oysters connected to the mangroves.
We paddled as a family of four (two teens) in double kayaks. Our entire group was only 10 people, making for a very intimate excursion.
All in all, this ranks as one of our top two experiences on Bonaire. Thank you!
P.S. We purposely selected to go on a day when there was no cruise ship in port as we did not want to deal with crowds of people.Written 14 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Aimster77Austin, TX220 contributionsThey are doing a great job at the donkey sanctuary and we had so much fun that we adopted a donkey and returned the next day. This is a fun activity for the whole family.Written 15 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Brooke BLatham, NY2 contributionsI've been to 14 Carribean islands and this is my favorite beach. The water taxi is a fun 15 minute ride where we saw dolphins. The snorkel is beautiful and easy, the current pushes you all the way back so you barley have to swim but there is no current at the beach. You need to bring your own food and water however there is noting there as it's a national park.Written 10 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Robin KWashington DC, District of Columbia14 contributionsThis was one of our cruise port stops so we had limited time. We rented golf carts from Bonaire Cruisers - excellent service and a fair price. We only had enough time to take the south loop on the island but the scenery was absolutely breathtaking! It was VERY windy so make sure your hat is secured. There were plenty of places where you could stop and get into the water if you'd like to take a swim or go snorkeling. There were areas for kite-surfing, wind surfing, etc. I could see it would be a destination for people who love water sports. Really no bathrooms or places to stop until we got to the far side of the island. Then we found a great stop over by Lac Bay - Sorobon Resort. They had a nice waterfront bar and restaurant as well as bathrooms. Everyone was stopping there though. We arrived there around 10:30 in the morning when they opened. By the time we left it was packed. I'm looking forward to going back to see the north loop but I might opt for renting an SUV just so we can get around faster and we have plenty of time for stops.Written 14 April 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- 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.
- Gryphons98Guelph, Canada35 contributionsWe had an amazing day exploring the rugged beauty of Washington Slagbaai National Park. The incredible coral formations that have shaped this island are something to behold. Be sure to take the "Long Route" so that you don't miss anything! Be sure to have a vehicle that can handle rough terrain. Also ensure that you have ID and have paid the STNPA fee. Some highlights for our family:
- The whale skeleton at the park entrance
- Salina Matus, Salina Bartol and Salina Slagbaai (lots of flamingos)
- Seru Grandi (an almost 200 hundred foot tall limestone wall that contains remnants of ancient coral reefs)
- Suplado Blow Hole (the power of nature is breathtaking)
- Wayaka II (there are three Wayaka) - for some decent snorkeling. You need to leave this area by 3:30 p.m.
- Boca Slagbaai (we wanted to do the cliff jump, but it was closed). You need to leave this area by 4:00 p.m.
Upon leaving the park we were greeted by several donkeys. We then headed out of the park and made our way to Cadushy Distillery for a quick tour and tasting.Written 12 March 2024This 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. - Gryphons98Guelph, Canada35 contributionsWe enjoyed a great snack/lunch at Jibe City after spending the morning at the Mangrove Centre. We were able to secure a table with a view of the water immediately upon arrival.
Our wait staff were very attentive and friendly and we were pleased to have ice cold margaritas in our hands within a few minutes. Since we were only stopping in for a brief snack, we shared the sampler platter (love the bitterbollen) and some loaded fries (we are a family of four).
It was lots of fun to watch the talented windsurfers work their magic in the beautiful blue waters along Sorobon beach. We would love to come back for their Thursday night BBQ.
Not sure what this place would be like when a cruise is in port ..we have heard that the beach gets very busy on those days. We elected to head to this part of the island specifically on a day with no cruise.Written 14 March 2024This 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.
- 6t1Saint John, Canada124 contributionsThe museum is good for about an hour in the middle of a hot day in Bonaire. You will get a sense of the early years of the island and of course colonialism and slavery.Written 10 February 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.