Up until a few months ago, if someone had asked me if I had ever been to or heard of Bonaire, an island in the Dutch Caribbean, I probably would’ve given them a puzzled look and answered, “Bon-where?”
Today, that’s no longer the case; I not only know where Bonaire is, but I also know firsthand that this colorful island, cruise port and increasingly popular wellness destination has a lot to offer for those looking for a relaxed and off-beat vacation spot in the Caribbean.
Located just off the coast of Venezuela, Bonaire is one of six Dutch Caribbean islands, which consist of Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. It’s also known as one of the “ABC Islands,” which stands for Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, and they make up the most well-known of the Dutch territories in the Caribbean Sea.
The Dutch Caribbean islands may not necessarily be the first sun-and-sand destinations U.S. travelers think of when planning a trip to the Caribbean. However, recent data shows that Bonaire is starting to catch on as it grows in popularity among American tourists.
U.S. travelers made up 26 percent of inbound arrivals to Bonaire in November 2024, with a total of 4,361 visitors, according to Tourism Corporation Bonaire. That’s a 60 percent increase over U.S. arrivals in November 2023, when just 2,726 Americans traveled to Bonaire.
Traveling on the streets of Bonaire. (Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo)
The tourism organization says the significant rise in U.S. travelers visiting Bonaire comes amid growing direct flight connectivity to the island.
In November 2024, JetBlue launched its first direct flight service to Bonaire from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, making it the only nonstop service to the island from New York. The twice-weekly roundtrip flights operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays and join JetBlue’s other direct flight options to Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten from the Empire State.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines also offer direct flights to Bonaire from their hubs in Miami, Atlanta, Newark and Houston.
Cruising to Bonaire is also popular, and several major cruise lines offer itineraries to the Dutch Caribbean islands, including Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line. In 2023, Bonaire’s cruise industry brought in more than 447,000 visitors to the island.
A Colorful Day in Paradise
I made the trip to Bonaire in early November and was surprised to see how harmoniously the Dutch, Caribbean and regional Latin influences blended throughout my experience.
Everything from the island’s architecture to its cuisine, even down to the local language—called Papiamentu, a mix of Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, French, English, Caribbean Indian, and various African languages—signaled to me that Bonaire was a rich melting pot of vibrant cultures.
As we glided over the clear turquoise waters before touching down at Flamingo International Airport, I could see an overview of the island’s terrain. Lush green hillsides near Washington Slagbaai National Park at the mountainous northern end of the island gradually flattened out into lagoons, wetlands, salt flats and the popular areas where residents and tourists frequented.
Grand Windsock Bonaire. (Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo)
The Dutch influence was immediately apparent to me as we drove through different parts of the island, so much so that at times I felt like I was in the heart of Amsterdam, passing streets lined with canal houses. New home developments we passed by were modeled after those famous canal houses, but instead of the darker colors I was used to seeing, these homes were painted in bright pastels of orange, pink, yellow and blue, and evoked a true sense of place on the island.
During my three-night visit, I stayed at the Grand Windsock Bonaire, a sprawling family-friendly beach resort with spacious, apartment-style rooms and villa-like bungalows, located about 10 minutes away from the airport.
One of the highlights of the Grand Windsock is Ocean Club, the property’s beach club and restaurant that provides private access to the crystal-clear waters of the sea for hotel guests.
The hotel also offers guided diving tours and has an equipment rental station and shop located on the property as well. Diving is a huge attraction in Bonaire, and accounts for 13 percent of inbound travelers’ reasons for visiting the island, according to the tourism bureau.
But for those who don’t dive, snorkeling is always on tap just about anywhere in Bonaire, whether swimming off the private access point of your waterfront hotel or spending the day on a chartered boat and exploring the surrounding waters.
Windsurfing in Bonaire. (Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo)
I took up a lesson in windsurfing on the southeastern end of the island in Sorobon, known for its pristine white beaches and calm waters that make learning how to windsurf there an ideal spot.
A Bite (or Two) to Remember
I remember my first meal in Bonaire vividly, probably because it was around lunchtime when I landed at the airport, but more likely because of how tasty one of the local dishes was to me.
At the Blue Lagun Cafe Bonaire, located just steps from the airport across the street, I tried a local dish called Kabritu Stoba, a traditional goat stew that was served over polenta. The goat was slow-cooked and melted in my mouth like butter, full of rich savory flavors, herbs and a familiar tomato base that reminded me of the kind of cooking my West Indian grandmother typically makes.
One of my favorite meals on the island, and hands down the most impressive, was at Zara’s Bonaire, where executive chef and owner, Janos Vermaat, treats his kitchen like a science lab and guests are treated to his delightful culinary experiments.
Informed by his Dutch roots and Caribbean surroundings, Vermaat fuses traditional local staples, like seafood and goat stew, with modern, innovative ideas to create new twists on classic dishes. I remember having a version of Kabritu Stoba that featured a poached egg nestled into a crunchy handmade shell modeled after a clam and evoked a calming sense of the nearby sea.
A delectable dish and cocktail in Bonaire. (Photo Credit: Nicole Edenedo)
A matcha cake I had for dessert seemed like a lesson in perfect proportions due to its impeccable cubed shape and flawless coating of the green tea powder that dusted the cake’s exterior.
For a truly immersive and experiential dining experience at Zara’s, I highly recommend sampling the cocktails, especially the El Mo-Ji-To, which shows off Vermaat’s mad scientist skills as he concocts the drink right in front of you, complete with beakers and an Erlenmeyer flask.
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