Docks | Terminal | At Walking Distance | Things To Do. Pink Beach, the longest beach on the island, has fine pink sand. Kralendijk Cruise Excursion to Klein Bonaire. Choose what activity you want to do and how many in your party up to 10 participants! We won't send you spam. This marks an open area in the coral reef where you can enter the water. You can see the schedule and reserve seats online, but most days, especially in low season, it does not sell out in advance. You can rent from AB Car Rental. This experience runs from 9 AM to 1 PM. Apr 1, 2014. But its also a fantastic place to snorkel. Choosing one of these DIY Bonaire shore excursions will give you maximum freedom to explore the island on your own. Discover all Reviews and Travel Guides to The Most Popular Cruise Ports in the Caribbean. ;). Reserve your dining now. The cruise terminal is located within 5-15 minutes walking distance from the main citys historical landmarks. Norwegian Communications Center. See the list of Mangrove reserve kayak and snorkel toursMangrove reserve in Lac Bay National ParkThe unspoiled beauty of Lac Bay National Park. Coastal cruise on board a 44-foot sailing boat, marine toilet available! The water taxi drops you off at No Name Beach, one of Bonaires best beaches. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Being off the beaten path appealed to us. Which is usually great, but dont you find that sometimes you want to bust out of the pre-baked itinerary and do your own thing? Wear water shoes as you have a long walk through shallow water to make it to the reef. 735. Some of the buildings there date back to 1869. All snorkel equipment including mask, sterilized snorkel tube/mouthpiece, fins and flotation vest (if required)! With a constant wind blowing and warm waters year round, it is the perfect spot for windsurfing all year. Considering that cruise ship dock next to Kralendijk, there is no need for a shuttle. Ocho Rios is the Editor's favorite Cruise Port in Jamaica close to many highlights, attractions and many hidden gems of the Island. Although Bonaire cannot be considered a completely off-the-beaten-track cruise port, not all cruise lines include it in their itineraries. Kralendijk is a small town of about 3,000 people, so there are few walking around attractions. There are several cruise lines that visit the island, so you can find a southern Caribbean cruise stopping there if you want to see more than just Bonaire. When I went there, I remember that a taxi driver charged us around 6 $ per person one-way (we shared a vehicle with a few other people). Wildlife includes parrots, flamingos, parakeets, iguanas and all four species of Caribbean nesting turtles. Bonaire just had that little something extra that makes us want to go back and stay there for longer one day. Take the road from the church in Kralendijk to Sorobon (Kaya Nikiboko Zuid). Based on the options, we chose a Suzuki Jimmy for $38 a day. Don't forget your camera and picture the beauty of this place. Chachacha, named after a local woman, is a small beach with a wooden pier. Although small in size, Bonaire is such a wonderful place to visit, full of natural beauties and an incredible underwater marine world. WebBook inspiring Excursions & unforgettable Tours in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, Cabo, Vallarta, Montego Bay, Liberia and Hawaii with Amstar. Open Bar at the boat: soft drinks, fruit punch, beer, wine (rose and white) and rum punch! The city's name means "coral reef" and Bonaire is an island country and one of the overseas territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (aka Holland). Cruise visitors will find that it has a few qualities in common with its sister islands: nice beaches, plenty of snorkeling and diving, and an arid landscape. Visualize yourself and other slaves crammed 12 to a hut and then be glad for the comfort of your cruise ship. Welcome to a laid back port of call. The houses are painted various shades of pink, orange, and white which contrast with the blue waters beyond them from the road. The obelisks guided ships to the type of salt they wanted to purchase. The posted signs about danger and death need to be taken seriously. Photo by Bella. The sanctuary is not accessible to tourists, but you can enjoy the flamingos from the road without entering the sanctuary. Your sliver of paradise! We spent the majority of our day in the southern part of Bonaire. There are no services on the island but it has a nice sandy beach. Head back north and stop to check out the Cargill salt ponds You cant tour them but it is worth it to stop and spend time viewing them because they are such a striking feature of the landscape. Check out the Bonaire Landsailing tourif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'adventourbegins_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-leader-2-0');Land sailing tour. The Donkey Sanctuary four miles south of Kralendijk is a non-profit foundation that provides care for more than 700 donkeys. MOST INTERESTING ITINERARIES We get you up close so you can experience the real thing. 2 tank dive to see some of the incredible underwater sights! Local snacks at a Unique Local Stop on the tour! Round-trip transportation from your Bonaire cruise ship terminal! Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has available 22 shore excursions. Thats why I recommend booking a scuba diving tour with your cruise ship because you can get all the necessary information from the Shore excursions department and a diver onboard. Bonaire boasts a mangrove reserve that is part of the Lac Bay National Park, located a 20-minute driving distance from the cruise port. Apparently the sand used to be much more pink, but that changed after a storm in the late 1990s. It has only slightly more rain than the nearby Aruba. 2022 INDEPENDENT QUEST LLC Florida - USA. Docking at Heritage Quay | Taxis | Top Attractions. Naturally, it is always a delight to walk down the gangway right into the city center but even when docked at the Southern Pier the cruise passenger is at less than 300 feet (100 meters) from the start of the Plaza Wilhelmina and the Sea Promenade officially known as Kaya J. N. E. Craane. Right at the edge of the Salt Ponds, youll find Salt Pier. Bonaire might be a small island but it offers a lot of snorkeling and sightseeing. Fort Oranje, which was built in 1639, never saw action. Take plenty of sunscreen as well as there is little shade on the island. The waters of the pools look pink because of the brine shrimp that live in the water, giving both the water and the flamingos their pink coloring. As you drive along the southern part of the island, you will see pink lakes on one side of the road and the clear blue waters of the ocean on the other side. It still has the beautiful beaches and crystal clear water you would expect in the Caribbean but without the crowds. Explore Bonaire National Marine Park tours and activitiesBonaire National Marine Park. July 10, 2011. My husband is certified, but Im not. If there are two cruise ships docking, the larger one will always moor on the Southern Pier and the smaller on the Northern Pier. The cruise traveler contemplating the idea of exploring the island at leisure may look into renting a car, a scooter or a bicycle. Photo stop at 1000 Steps, Flamingo Sanctuary and Rincon! You can take a 10 minute walk southto the Divi Resort. There are various boat/catamaran tours offered (with/without lunch, drinks, etc.) If so, check out these 27 things to do in Arubaand look sharp on your cruise with this packing list. Playa Funchi is a highly recommended snorkeling site because of coral formations, attractive fish and calm waters. We hiked along the rocks and enjoyed watching and hearing the waves crash, but swimming was out of the question. The island has a population of less than 20,000 people, so its no surprise that public transportation is minimal. The slave huts stand along the waters edge. Close by, there are small, secluded and scenic beaches but not all are suitable for swimming. Agreed :-) We loved visiting all of the ABC islands, but we especially loved Bonaire because it was less commercialized and more quiet. But there are other ways to explore this pristine beauty of Bonaire's crystal clear waters - on a water taxi to Klein Bonaire to snorkel, on a semi-submarine or on a glass bottom boat. Bonaire Beaches. At the end of the day, we simply dropped it back off and headed back to the cruise port. DIY Excursions for the Bonaire Cruise Port 1. But Flamingo spotting is one of the main reason to visit the Washington Slagbaai National Park. The small size of the town and the island means that Bonaire has few historical and cultural attractions to visit. On 1/7/2023 at 5:47 PM, phoenix_dream said: Hearing the Bonaire port cancelled on at least one cruise being reported due to Bonaire deciding one ship only as of January 1st. Bonaire National Marine Park (aka BNMP) is one of the top-rated snorkeling and diving destinations in the world. Terminal | Water Taxi | Philipsburg and Beyond. Go ~8 miles (12.5/k)miles south to the slave huts. If you are looking for more snorkeling options, walk down the beach to the south until you find a yellow post. The average low temperature, which takes place mostly at night, is 78 degrees Fahrenheit or 26 degrees Celsius. Find the most popular adventures, water activities, boat tours, sightseeing tours and other Things to Do during your vacation in one of our tropical destinations. Don't forget your cameras, for some great photo opts. The Bonaire cruise port is a destination now and then with Panama Canal and southern Caribbean cruises. Most of the sites are marked with yellow stones and are found on the roadside. From there, you can catch the Caribe Watersport taxi over to the island. Because we dont plan ahead, we walked in and asked what was available. Just added Bonaire to the list! It takes about a 20 minute walk to reach the reef, but Lac Bay is one of the best snorkeling areas in Bonaire. But the downtown area is small and it wont keep you busy all day. Pink Beach gets its name because of the pink tint the sand has thanks to millions of crushed shells. Not far, the restaurant It Rains Fishes is a gourmet delight with impeccable service. This is a working dock for loading the salt. Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency, and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Or, if you cruise is stopping in Curacao, check out this list of things to do there. Get the chance to sail and snorkel, visit the popular beaches, the salt flats and many other sites! However,the feedoes not include use of the timeshare guest pool. They are both locateddowntown. Taught a love of travel at a young age, I married my husband in 2010. We only saw about ten cars the entire time we drove the southern coast, including stops. From there, snorkel with the current back down to No Name Beach. WebBON | Shore Excursions | Carnival Cruise Line Bonaire Bonaire F A Q s Already booked your cruise? If you prefer above water sports, Windsurfing at Jibe City, Kayaking, Kite-surfing, Sailing or Fishing are top activities to enjoy in Bonaire. Small groups only of a maximum of 7 guests per vehicle! Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. Basics | Docking and Terminal | Getting Around | Walk To Historical Town. Stops for snorkeling are usually in the open sea and you will use a ladder to go down into the water.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'adventourbegins_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-banner-1-0'); See the list of the best catamaran and snorkel tours in BonaireCatamaran sail & snorkel, rel="sponsored nofollow noopener". When we first arrived, we picked up a map with beaches and suggested snorkeling spots. The cruise lines normally offer catamaran shore excursions, but these are usually fully booked, so if you want to join your cruise ship shore excursion, make sure you book in advance! At the south end of the island, you will find sparkling mountains made of salt and large pink lakes near the salt flats. Open bar and snacks served on board this 3-hour sailing boat excursion! There are more than 85 scuba diving and snorkeling spots in Bonaire. Turn to the left in the direction of Lac Cai and you will see the signs to the garden. Then peddle back into town for an afternoon coffee, ice cream or beer before catchingyour ship. Its located right at the edge of the airport. Car rentals, scooters, and bicycles are available within walking distance of both piers. There are many Banks, most with ATM's, in Kralendijk. Flamingo spotting is another major attraction. You will find Tourist Information Kiosks near the exit gates of the Cruise Piers but these tend to close early (after most passengers exit the ship). Opening hours are from 9 am till 5 pm. Sail to Klein or to the South Coast, snorkel or just relax, you choose where to go! The beach has been featured on the cover of Caribbean Travel. The pilings create a vertical column which brings the fish right up to the surface of the water. You can also see them from Pink Beach sometimes if you plan to stop there. Choose one of the six beach transportation options and enjoy the island life for a day! Maximum speed in towns is 25 mph (40 km/h) and 35 mph (60 km/h) outside the urban areas. You can view the whole fleet and the prices here. When you are a certified diver, we offer our two-tank certified shore dive excursion. Living in Florida makes cruises and flights to the Caribbean easier and cheaper than from other parts of the United States or the world. If you want to rent dive gear and do a DIY shore dive, use this guide to the best. You can find full directions including maps of the walking routes and best snorkeling areas here. The Southern Pier aka New Pier is parallel to the coast and to get to the main street the cruise traveler will have to walk through a well maintained, small cruise terminal. Beloware the main Bonaire attractions: Explore Bonaire sightseeing toursif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'adventourbegins_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-adventourbegins_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');Slave hutsSalt flats. Then drive up to the Goto Meer lake to see the flamingos and head into Rincon for a visit to the local Cadushy distillery. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. For those interested in mother nature's travails, the Echo's Conservation Centre is an attraction to check and so is the Mangrove Center. Dar & Bob. The best part is the tour is family-friendly and everyone can join it, as you control your own speed and its super safe! 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