Bonaire strives to stand out with active vacations, new resorts

What’s happening in Bonaire? How has this southerly island, with a population just topping 20,000, fared in the past year and maintained visibility in the marketplace crowded with larger island destinations that all had a similar goal?

Turns out a lot has been going on, despite the months-long border shutdown, the  lockdown for residents and the loss of jobs and revenue.

Bonaire made the most of a challenging 2020, using the time to renovate, expand and improve its offerings to provide an even better guest experience when tourism resumed.

The border reopened in October 2020 for European visitors. The U.S. came later, via flights from Aruba and Curacao that connected with a local carrier. That lack of easy, seamless access to the island has hindered the island’s recovery start for the U.S. market, although KLM flights from Amsterdam have done well.

The U.S. situation likely will improve once American resumes its nonstop service from Miami, tentatively planned for early May.

“There’s been a lot of demand and inquiries from the U.S., and we did have some Americans who own homes here stay during the winter months,” said Crystel Pourier, the U.S. and Canadian representative for Tourism Corp. Bonaire. “Our main U.S. markets are the tristate area, Colorado and the Chicago area, and that’s where we have primarily targeted our marketed messages.”

Visitors who arrive in Bonaire these days will find most of the inventory of 2,500 hotel rooms open, a growing culinary scene that ranges from fine dining to beachside food trucks, several new private villas with direct ocean access and a new focus on voluntourism and sustainability, with 40% of the island now using clean energy.

Coming in the second half of the year is Chogogo Dive Beach Resort Bonaire, an oceanside, family-friendly resort with 196 units, five villas, two restaurants and a lazy river that will connect the property’s two pools.

Senses Boutique Hotel Apartments opened in the center of Kralendijk, the capital, last fall with apartments, penthouses, a pool and cabanas. The resort offers complimentary use of bikes and snorkel gear as well as water taxi access to the beaches and the small island of Klein Bonaire.

Auriga Ecolodge and Outdoor Bonaire, an adventure company, has opened a second ecolodge to meet the demand for private accommodations with minimum impact on the island’s ecosystem.

“What we emphasize is that Bonaire has so many activities that go beyond scuba diving, including hiking, kitesurfing with instruction at three kite schools, caving, kayaking, biking and snorkeling,” Pourier said.

One of the most intriguing activities is called landsailing, also known as sand yachting, land yachting or dirtboating — moving across flat land in a wheeled vehicle powered by wind through the use of a sail. “It’s very popular and our visitors love it,” she said. “Bonaire Landsailing Adventures gives lessons to visitors and locals on its special track near a beach.”

Still, the island has always been a favorite among divers, she said. “Of the 160,000 air arrivals in 2019, 23% were from the U.S. and many of that number were divers,” she said.

“We maintained contact with our repeat visitors, dive groups, other consumers and travel advisors through videos that showcased our dive sites as well as our land attractions and the full range of activities and culinary offerings.”

More than 50 businesses came together on an island-wide campaign offering a 10% discount on accommodations, dining, activities and more, listed at www.bonairemissesyou.com.

Bonaire’s entry regulations are similar to other Caribbean destinations and include an online health declaration, proof of medical insurance that covers Covid-19 and a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure.

Vaccine rollout began in February and should be completed for all residents by early May.

“Our health and safety protocols are firmly in place. Masked are mandated indoors. Our case levels have been low and we’re ready to receive Americans again. We have missed them,” Pourier said.