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Travel
To Bonaire
By Air
From
North America
American Eagle
currently operates daily nonstop flights from San Juan,
Puerto Rico to and from Bonaire, with originating gateways
from major U.S. cities.
On
February 9, 2008, Delta Airlines will commence their weekly
non-stop flights from Atlanta to Bonaire and return.
Flight
#371 will depart Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport at 10:00 AM, and arrive at Bonaire’s Flamingo
Airport at 3:20 PM. The return flight #370 will depart
Bonaire at 4:15 PM and arrive in Atlanta at 7:45 PM. The
equipment will be a Boeing 737-800 with 150 seats (15
in Business Class and 134 in Economy).
Air
Jamaica flies to Bonaire via Montego Bay on Saturdays.
Gateway cities from the U.S. include Boston, New York,
Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Ft.
Lauderdale, Miami and Los Angeles. Air Jamaica can be
reached at 1-800-523-5585. Please note Air Jamaica will
cease service to Bonaire on March 8th, 2008.
Continental
Airlines offers two non-stop weekly flights. The first
is a round-trip flight between Newark and Bonaire, utilizing
a Boeing 737 with 124 seats, the weekly flight departs
Newark on Saturdays at 11:55 PM, and arrives Bonaire on
the following Sunday morning at 5:40 AM.
Continental
Airlines also flies weekly non-stop flight from its
Houston hub. Flight #1898 departs Houston on Fridays at
11:30 p.m., arriving in Bonaire on Saturdays at 6:15 a.m.
The return flight, #1899, departs Bonaire on Saturdays
at 8:00 a.m., arriving in Houston at 10:50 a.m. Continental
Airlines also uses a Boeing 737 airplane with 124 seats
including 12 first class seats. Continental Airlines is
the world's sixth largest airline.
American
Airlines flies direct, non-stop to Curaçao
from Miami. Passengers then use Dutch
Antilles Express to connect to Bonaire. Flying time
between Curaçao and Bonaire is approximately 15-30
minutes. Or, Divi Divi, which flies between Bonaire and
Curacao numerous times on a daily basis, can be reached
at: +599-9-839-1515 or fax +599-9-868 1949. Currently,
Insel
Air flies between Curaçao and Bonaire on Fridays
and Sundays, and they should be increasing their service
to daily flights on or about October 15, 2007. Until that
time, charters are available. Their offices can be reached
in Curaçao at phone: +599-9-733-1521 or +599-9-733-1522,
or at the airport at +599-9-868-4400 or 868-6600.
Another
routing option is to fly on any of a number of major U.S.
and South American carriers to Aruba and then take Dutch
Antilles Express or Tiara
Air from there to Bonaire.
Contact
Dutch
Antilles Express at their new call center, which can
be reached at +599-717-0808, and which is open Monday
through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Payment can
be made with debit or credit card, with an e-ticket sent
by email or fax. Reservations on DAE can also be made
by emailing reservations@flydae.com
or faxing +599-717-0880. They fly several times daily
to Bonaire from both Curaçao and Aruba. Tiara Air
flies non-stop flights six times each week from Aruba
to Bonaire and back.
From
Europe
KLM
flies direct from Amsterdam to Bonaire several times each
week; the flight continues on to Quito, Ecuador.
Arkefly
provides weekly service from Amsterdam to Bonaire during
the high season. They utilize aircraft that can accommodate
200-plus passengers.
From
South America
From Ecuador, the same KLM
flight returns to Bonaire with non-stop flights.
From
Venezuela, Transaven
flies from Caracas or Valencia to Bonaire. Their reservation
office can be reached by calling +(599) 717-8446 or +(599)
717-9944, or via FAX at +(599) 786-1086. They can accept
reservations via email at bonaire@transaven.com.
Charters can be also arranged.
From
Brazil, Varig
and Avianca
fly from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Aruba, which
connect with Dutch
Antilles Express. Avianca
also flies from Bogota to Curacao, from which connections
to Bonaire can be made.
From
Colombia, Avianca
has flights from Bogota to Aruba, which connect with Dutch
Antilles Express. Also, Dutch
Antilles Express has recently announced they will
soon begin service to Bogota, via Caracas.
Entry
Requirements
Citizens of most countries in the world do not need a
visa for their entry to Bonaire.
Nationals of the following countries need to be in possession
of a "landing - permit" on arrival, unless granted
permanent entry in another country not belonging to this
category:
Albania
Bulgaria
China (except holders of HKSAR passport)
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Kampuchea
North Korea
Libia
Rumania
Vietnam
All former Soviet States
Armenia
Azerbeidjan
Belorussia (White Russia) |
Georgia
Estonia
Kazachstan
Kirgizie
Latvia
Lithuania
Moldavia
Urkraine
Oezbekistan
The Russian Federation
Tadzjikstan
Toerkmenistan
Bosnia-Hercegovina
Jugoslavia (Serbia Montenegro)
Kroatia
Macedionia |
For LANDING PERMITS one has to send a petition to:
Mrs. Lucita Moenir Alam
Bureau Buitenlandse Betrekkingen
Curacao
Phone: +599-9-4613933
Fax: +599-9-4617123
Nationals of the Dominican Republic and Colombia need a
visa to enter the Netherlands Antilles.
Nationals of the United States and Canada may submit for
their entry to Bonaire, either:
Nationals of the United States and Canada may submit for
their entry to Bonaire, either:
A valid Passport
An official birth certificate or an affidavit of birth,
plus a valid driver's license
A certificate of naturalization for citizens born outside
the United States, plus a valid driver's license
A re-entry permit to the US, a valid non quota immigration
visa or an Alien Registration (green card) for non USA
citizens residing in the USA, plus a valid driver's license.
NOTE: As of January 8, 2007, all United States citizens
are required to have a passport to return to the U.S. (see below)
**New Travel Requirements**
The
Department of State and Homeland Security have announced
a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" in
which they are proposing to require all U.S. Citizens,
Canadians, citizens of Bermuda and citizens of Mexico
to have a passport or other accepted secure document to
enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008.
Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S.
citizens, traveling by air between the United States and
Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean,
and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport,
Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.
As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S.
citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico,
Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda
by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to
present a valid passport or other documents as determined
by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative
changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State
and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements
as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided
to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards
for land/sea entries.
Travel
Information and Tips
Transportation
Bonaire has no public transportation. You'll have to choose
between taxis, a rental car, moped or bicycle to get around
the island. Main roads are paved. Most of Bonaire's unpaved
roads are decent, but some areas, including Washington/Slagbaai
Park, become impassable after rain. Local driving habits
are casual: Occasionally two drivers, traveling in opposite
directions, stop to have a "Bonaire meeting."
You may also find that the roads are sometimes blocked
by goats or donkeys.
Auto rental agencies are available. US, Canadian, and
European driver licenses are valid for use on the island.
Be careful of the goats, donkeys and pedestrians that
roam the island's roads. All traffic keeps to the right,
and international highway signs are used. Speed limit
is 40 km per hour (25 mph) in town and 60 km to 80 km
per hour (38-50 mph) in the countryside.
Banking
There are several banks downtown, all of which have ATMs.
Walk-up hours are generally Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4 pm.
Most banks remain open during lunch.
Telephones
Phone service on the island is generally good. International
calls, faxes, telegrams, telexes and other overseas communications
services are available (at considerably less expensive
rates than resorts charge) at TELBO, Kaya Simon Bolivar
8. Phone 599-717-7000.
Time Zone
4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT). Daylight
Saving Time is not observed.
Tipping
Tip 15% in restaurants if a service charge hasn't already
been included in the bill. If a gratuity has been added,
it's customary to leave another 5% or so for your waitperson
if the service is good. Tip cabdrivers 10% and bellhops
US$1 per bag. If you go diving, tip the dive shop about
10%.
Electricity
127 volts (with surges up to 140 volts), 50 cycles. Some
quick chargers and old-style hairdryers overheat, although
newer 50/60 appliances pose no problems.
What to
Wear
Bonaire is generally an informal island. Still, courteous
visitors wear at least shorts, a shirt and sandals everywhere
except on beaches and at poolside.
Shopping
Duty-free items (especially watches), T-shirts, jewelry,
local art and handicrafts are about all there is to buy
on Bonaire. Of these, the art may be the best choice:
In recent years, Bonaire artists have been busy creating
distinctive works.
Most of the good shopping is on Kaya Grandi in Kralendijk.
Besides the usual trinket marts, there are several shops
carrying authentic local art. Check out the flamingo memorabilia,
painted driftwood and handmade jewelry at Jenny's Souvenirs
and Gifts, across from the post office.
Don't expect to bargain in Bonaire's shops, but feel free
to do so with the Venezuelan fruit vendors in the market
(you'll do better there if you speak Spanish). Most stores
accept and list prices in U.S. currency. Prices are in
guilders if the number is preceded by "fl,"
in U.S. dollars if preceded by "$."
Restaurants
Bonaire is experiencing lots of growth, so new restaurants
open frequently -- and not all stay in business. If you
stroll along Kaya Grandi, Kaya J. N. E. Craane (the waterfront
road north of the piers) and Kaya L. D. Gerharts, you'll
pass many eateries serving Caribbean, Dutch, Indonesian
and U.S. foods. All are informal. Even the more upscale
restaurants are fairly casual on Bonaire: Coats and ties
are seldom worn -- usually just for weddings and funerals.
On the menus, you'll find mostly fish and some vegetables
and fruits -- most of it excellent and well seasoned.
Be sure to ask about the local fare: soups and stews made
with salted meat, goat, conch, plantains, okra, cactus
or the occasional iguana. (Many restaurants serve local
dishes, but they don't necessarily list them on their
menus.) Everyone should try a rijsttafel: A kind of Indonesian
buffet, it consists of rice accompanied by 6-20 small
meat, vegetable and fish side dishes. Dutch cheeses, chocolate
and coffee are also good, and Dutch beer is widely available.
Bonaire
National Marine Park
Fee
In order to continue its important work and institute
new programs that will preserve Bonaire’s environment
above and below the water, STINAPA Bonaire, the non-governmental,
not-for-profit organization that oversees the Bonaire
National Marine Park (BNMP) and Washington-Slagbaai National
Park has proposed a restructuring of the BNMP Fee, collected
annually from divers.
Beginning April 1, 2005 a new Nature Fee will be introduced
giving people year-long access to both National Parks.
As of this day all scuba divers entering the BNMP will
pay a fee of $25.00 per year. The current fee is $10.00
per year for divers only. Divers will continue to receive
the coveted BNMP Tag. All others who use the waters of
the BNMP including snorkelers, windsurfers, kayakers,
sport fishermen, kite boarders, etc., will be charged
a Nature Fee of $10.00 per year and will also receive
a specially designed tag similar to the current BNMP Tag.
With the new Nature Fee, in addition to being allowed
to enjoy the Marine Park for a period of one year, all
persons who pay the Fee (both divers and other users)
and show their tag along with their printed receipt will
receive complimentary admission to Washington-Slagbaai
National Park throughout the year their tag is valid.
Funds collected from the Nature Fee will continue to be
for research, monitoring, education, law enforcement,
information distribution and maintenance of the areas
STINAPA Bonaire oversees.
For more information visit http://www.stinapa.org
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