Travel To Bonaire

Bonaire is the second-largest island in the former Dutch Antilles, and has desert-like terrain offset by inviting turquoise waters. Beneath the water's surface, rainbow-hued fish drift in between coral, and many believe argue that the diving and snorkelling here is the best in the Caribbean; Bonaire's relative lack of tourism means much of its coral has gone undisturbed. For those seeking sailing or windsurfing, the characteristic windswept postures of the divi divi trees show that Bonaire's warm, dry and breezy climate is ideal for these sorts of activities.

Bonaire is highly eco-friendly and keen not to impair the fragile infrastructure of the coral, nor unsettle the island's serenity with heavy development and glitzy nightlife. Consequently, Bonaire's beautiful beaches and safe waters have remained intact. Flamingos wander the landscape of multi-hued salt plains, and multitudes of birds enjoy this paradisiacal sanctuary.

Food and Drink in Bonaire

The restaurants serve predominantly Creole cooking, particularly seafood dishes, including conch shell meat, grilled spicy fish and lobster. A variety of Chinese, French, Indonesian, Italian and international cooking can also be found. There are several hotels, restaurants and bars in Kralendijk to choose from.

Regional specialities:

• Iguana soup.
• Kabrito stoba (goat stew).
• Pika Siboyo (a popular sauce made with onions marinated in vinegar and hot peppers).
• Pastechis (plump pastries filled with spicy meat, shrimp or fish).
• Cocada (sweet cocunut candy).

Things to know:
Restaurants and bars are usually closed by midnight.

Tipping:
There is typically a 10% service charge in restaurants and a 6% tax.

Hotels in Bonaire

Hotels: There are excellent hotels and resorts on the island with good facilities for the holidaymaker, particularly in the provision of watersports equipment etc. Rates for accommodation will be approximately 20 to 40% cheaper in the off-peak season (mid April-mid December). A small room tax is added to the bill. An additional service charge of 10 to 15% may also be levied.

Bonaire History and Culture

Although 'discovered' by the Spanish explorer Amerigo Vespucci in 1499, rock inscriptions in the north of the island indicate a much earlier Amerindian presence. Spanish colonisation, which started in 1527, lasted little more than a century. By 1634, the Dutch had settled and, within two years, had consolidated their position as colonial rulers, by conquering and occupying the neighbouring islands. The Dutch West Indies Company introduced economic development schemes for which they imported hundreds of slave workers. The abolition of slavery and the end of the plantations which depended on slave labour heralded a long period of economic depression, during which the principal source of income for the bulk of the island's population were the remittances sent home by migrant workers. An indigenous economy began to emerge in the 1950s and Bonaire entered its current phase of comparative prosperity (see Business Profile).

After the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, Bonaire became a 'special municipality' or public body of The Netherlands and is under the direct administration of the European country.

Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority. There are many evangelical churches of different denominations, and a new mosque has also been erected on the island.

Social conventions: Dutch customs are still prevalent throughout the islands, although they are increasingly subject to US influence. Dress is casual and lightweight cottons are advised. Bathing suits should be confined to beach and poolside areas only. Nudity is prohibited on beaches except at Sorobon Beach Resort, a privately owned nudist resort.

Source: http://www.worldtravelguide.net