Where is bonaire

Rincon, the island's other major town, is located in the northern part of Bonaire. It's just south of the Washington Slagbaai National Park , a nature sanctuary that covers the entire northern tip of Bonaire. Looking at a Bonaire map , it's striking how small the island is. Bonaire covers about square miles and is just 24 miles 39 kilometers long and about 9 miles 11 kilometers wide at its widest point.

Much of its land, outside of Rincon and Kralendijk, is uninhabited. A small island called Klein Bonaire sits about a half-mile off the western coast of Bonaire. It's uninhabited but is a popular destination for day trips. The earliest residents of the island were Venezuelan Indians, who arrived there in the 11th century. Explorer Amerigo Vespucci visited Bonaire in and claimed it for Spain, but the island became Dutch property by Although other nations staked claims on Bonaire throughout the s and s, the island has been continuously ruled by the Netherlands since the early s.

Although Bonaire's population includes only about 18, people, the island is known for its diverse cultural identity. Some of the latter group are descended from African slaves who were brought to Bonaire in the late s and made to work in the salt pans on the southern end of the island.

English is widely spoken on the island, especially among workers in the tourism industry. The same is true of Spanish, although neither of these is an official Bonaire language. That distinction belongs to Dutch , which is the official language used by the island's government. Papiamentu is the language used by many locals. Papiamentu's roots date back to 15th century West Africa, but the language evolved over centuries and incorporates elements from Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and a few others.

The U. Bonaire is perhaps best-known among diving enthusiasts. The island is famous for its dive sites, and much of Bonaire's tourism industry is built around scuba diving. Other water sports are popular too, and visitors can try out kitesurfing, windsurfing, water skiing, snorkeling and boating.

Nature enthusiasts shouldn't miss the opportunity to take a glass-bottom kayak tour through the centuries-old mangroves in Lac Bay and tour the trails of Washington Slagbaai National Park. Wandering through Kralendijk, shopping and enjoying the brightly colored Caribbean architecture, are other popular activities. Privacy Policy. Listen to the sweet sounds of Papiamento, the local language and enjoy local stobas stews while sipping a cold drink.

Stare at the starry filled nights while the warm ocean breeze comforts your skin. Let us show you the magic of Bonaire. Previous Next. Bonaire is a small island located in the Caribbean Sea. Bonaire is located 50 miles off of the coast of Venezuela.

Languages in Bonaire. Schools in Bonaire. Photocredit: WeShareBonaire. Sustainability on Bonaire. Junior Rangers. Green Power. Photocredit: Contourglobal. Blue Destination. Bonaire is a progressive Caribbean island in terms of synergizing people, culture and nature.

Economy of Bonaire. Tourism in Bonaire. Salt Mining in Bonaire. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email. Related Posts. The Mangroves of Bonaire. PCR Testing in Bonaire. Sea Turtles in Bonaire. The explorers considered the three ABC Islands to be worthless and therefore deported the Indigenous inhabitants as slaves to the copper mines on Hispaniola Island.

The British gained control over the island twice during the Napoleonic Wars. The island served as a government plantation from to In , Bonaire became a part of the Netherland Antilles. In October , the Netherland Antilles was dissolved and after its dissolution, each of the three Islands of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius were given the status of a special municipality by the Government of Netherlands. Tourism forms the backbone of Bonaire's economy.

Its tropical climate, stunning natural scenery, beaches, well-preserved coral reefs offering scuba diving and snorkeling make it a tourist hotspot. Many cruise lines also use Bonaire as one of their ports of call in the Caribbean. Bonaire used the US dollar as its currency as it is the most convenient currency for tourism in the area. The US dollar replaced the region's former currency, the Netherlands Antillean guilder in