Bonaire | Travel Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
CUSTOMS Visitors older than 15 years are allowed to bring in 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250g of tobacco, two litres of distilled beverages and two litres of wine.
For more information call the customs office (Douane Bonaire) at 599/717-8206 or 717-8320.
Also see the section in General Info: Illegal items.
IMPORTING ANIMALS You can temporarily import animals with a health certificate and a record of inoculations, which must include a rabies shot. Parrots and pets from South and Central America are prohibited.
For more information call the agriculture/veterinary department at 599/717-5300 (central government phone number).
GETTING THERE BY AIR Flights arrive at Bonaire International Airport, known locally as Flamingo Airport (airport code BON; tel 717-5600), which is about 5km south of Kralendijk. You cannot fly direct from North America, but when you transfer in the Caribbean, your connecting flight can be as short as 25 minutes from Curaçao. Flying time from Houston is about five hours; from Amsterdam, nine hours; and from Caracas, Venezuela, about 45 minutes.
Airlines that service Bonaire include Air Jamaica (tel 800/523-5585 or 717-7447), American Airlines/American Eagle (tel 717-3668), ArkeFly, Continental Airlines (tel 800/231-0856), Divi Divi Air (tel 717-2121), Dutch Antilles Express (tel 717-0808 or 715-3471), Insel Air (tel 717-2004 or 786 6750), KLM (tel 717-8500), Tiara Air and charters (tel 297/58-TIARA) and Transaven Airlines and charters (tel 717-8446 or 717-9944).
Note: The phone numbers listed above are local access numbers unless otherwise stated.
BY CRUISE Cruise lines that call on Bonaire include Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Hebridean International Cruises, Holland America, Majestic Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises Germany, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Sea Cloud Cruises, Windjammer Barefoot Cruises and Windstar Cruises.
The Bonaire Tourism Corporation maintains a cruise ship schedule.
GETTING AROUND BY CAR There are plenty of car rental agencies on the island, and bicycles, scooters and motorcycles can also be rented. Roads are generally in good condition, but can be slippery in the rain. Watch out for goats and wild donkeys crossing the road.
To rent a car you will need to provide an international driver's license or any valid driver's license held for at least two full years, and you must be at least 21-25 years old depending on the rental agency. Most rental cars are manual/standard transmission.
Driving is on the right. It is illegal to turn right on a red light. Seat belts are mandatory. At a "T" intersection, the traffic on the upper part of the "T" has right of way. Helmets are mandatory for riders on scooters and motorcycles.
In Kralendijk, gas stations are located at Kaya Industria 10 (Gabriela Enterprises) and Kaya Korona 107 (Mentor Gasoline Station). There's also a service station in Rincon at Kaya Gratitut 6 (Pomp Station Rincon).
CAR RENTALS (country code 599) Airport: A B Car Rental, 717-8980 or 717-8994; Alamo/National, 717-7907; Bonaire Motorcycle Shop, 717-8420; Budget/Economy Rent a Car, 717- 5588; Everts Car Rental, 717-8719; Hertz Car Rental, 717-7221; Inter Island Car Rental, 717-7221; Island Car Rental, 717-2100; Lions Car Rental, 717-2222; New Island Rentals, 717-2100
Kralendijk: Budget/Economy Rent a Car, 717-4700; Everts Car Rental, 717-8099; Hertz Car Rental, 717-6020 or 717-3331 (Divi Flamingo Beach Resort); Highway Transport & Rentals, 717-6810; Inter Island Car Rental, 717-3331 or 717-6020; Netty's Car Rental, 717-5120; Rento Fun Drive, 717-2408; Samara's Car Rental, 717-8188
Elsewhere on the island: Naf Naf Car Rental (Antriol), 717-6670; Telerin Rental, 717-4108
SCOOTER AND MOTORCYCLE RENTALS Kralendijk: Bonaire Motorcycle Shop, 717-7790; De Freewieler, 717-8545; Hot Shot/Rento Fun, 717-7166; Macho Scooter Rentals (Plaza Resort Bonaire), 567-0239; Rento Fun Drive, 717-2408; Tropical Travel Bonaire, 567-0239; Vento Motorcycles, 717-4459 or 780-1010
BICYCLE RENTALS Kralendijk: Cycle Bonaire/Bonaire Dive & Adventure, 717-2229 or 717-2227; De Freewieler, 717-8545; Rento Fun Drive, 717-2408 or 717-7166
BY TAXI All taxis have their number and the letters "TX" on their license plates. The Central Taxi Dispatch (tel 717-8100) is located at the airport.
There are no taxi meters. All rates are fixed by the government and the taxi driver should have a rate list available. A minimum charge of US$7 applies. Rates include up to four passengers, unless there's too much luggage. Additional passengers cost 20% extra.
Rates increase by 20% on Sun, official holidays, for an open trunk (due to luggage) and between 7pm and 12 midnight, and increase by 50% from 12 midnight to 7am.
From the airport to most hotels expect to pay about US$7-US$18. Island taxi tours are available for about US$25/hr.
BY WATER TAXI Bonaire Nautico Marina (tel 786-5399 or 786-2474, or VHF 68) operates the Kantika di Amor water taxi between Bonaire and the island of Klein Bonaire, Mon-Fri at 10am, 12 noon, 2 and 4pm, with return trips at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30pm. On Sun it departs at 10am and returns at 4:30pm. The price is US$14 for adults and US$7 for kids under 12 years. You can catch the boat from your hotel dock or from their marina in front of the It Rains Fishes restaurant along the waterfront in the centre of Kralendijk. Schedules and rates are subject to change.
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
HOME >
Bonaire
MAIN PAGE >
Bonaire
TRAVEL INF0
