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| Sights & Attractions |
| WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE CRUISE PIER
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| Downtown Bonaire: The island's main town is small, making the cruise pier a perfect launch site for a walking tour. The overall impression is of a Dutch village with a distinctly Caribbean twist. While some of the buildings date back a century or more, others date back to yesterday. Restoration is always underway with strong civic approval for maintaining a Dutch colonial look to the town. Notice, too, the flamingo images embedded in the sidewalks throughout downtown.
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| Wilhelmina Park: Find yourself a shady tree in this city-center park and take in the passing scene. The scene passes very slowly here in Bonaire - precisely the reason for your vacation. An attractive church and several government buildings face on the park.
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| The Venezuelan Fruit Market: Boats from Venezuela come to Bonaire each week to sell fresh fruit, vegetables, and Venezuelan handicrafts. The weekly event is a favorite pastime for tourists and locals alike.
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| Fort Oranje: The Dutch built the fort to defend Bonaire in the 1600s, but it has never seen any action - apart from the administrative offices within and the curious tourists nosing around outside.
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| Divi Flamingo Beach: This resort, just south of the cruise piers, offers a peaceful, comfortable place to stretch out on the beach.
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| BEYOND WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE CRUISE PIER
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| The Bonaire Museum: The museum features photos from popular celebrations and festivals (Bonaire Sailing Regatta, etc.), historical exhibits, and the works of local artists.
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| Washington-Slagbaai National Park: Parrots, parakeets, seven species of lizards, wild goats, donkeys, and flamingos all live in this 13,500-acre habitat. Slagbaai translates as "slaughter bay." Not to worry, however. Cattle - not flamingos or parakeets - were once butchered here at this site. Two plantations, the Washington and Slagbaai, closed and were later combined to create the park.
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 | | Goto Meer: Here's the best place to view Bonaire's national symbol: the flamingo. They're most plentiful during the breeding months of January through July.
Donkey Sanctuary: Donkeys, introduced centuries ago by the Spanish, once roamed free on the island. This sanctuary protects them from the hazards of island living: namely car accidents.
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| Rincon: Welcome to Bonaire's oldest village. As a protection from marauding pirates, it was located well inland. Few people, however, settled on Bonaire willingly. Most early residents of Rincon were either convicts or slaves.
Playa Funchi: The perfect Caribbean beach. The waters are so clear you can spot parrotfish and coral from the high cliffs overlooking the beach.
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| Boca Onima: The cliffs near this small seaside inlet are carved with 500-year-old Arawak Indian inscriptions.
Sunset Beach: One of the most popular snorkel beaches on the island. | |
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