What’s New on the Island of Bonaire

Bonaire, a Caribbean hidden gem, has announced several developments for 2024, including new flight routes, outdoor activities, upgraded accommodations and more.

Nature-Based Activities

In 2024, the island is offering some fun opportunities for visitors to step out of their comfort zone and into nature. These include Nature Cooking School, which opened in 2023 to provide experiential learning for individuals or groups to connect with nature and build community through cooking and planting edible landscapes. Think kneading dough and foraging vegetables from the garden for a Food Forest Pizza while sharing a meal and a deeper connection to Mother Earth.

For adventure lovers, Packraft Trip Bonaire organizes various itineraries consisting of hiking, beach hopping via pack raft, mountain biking, jeep riding, sailing, snorkeling at Klein Bonaire and more. Team-building activities can also be arranged.

Bonaire Tourism
Bonaire’s longtime emphasis on sustainability and protecting the environment invites visitors to step out of their comfort zone and into nature (Tourism Corporation Bonaire)

Epic Tours has joined forces with Buddy Dive Resort to offer its guests a “Sail, Dive & Dine” tour. Additionally, Epic has added a two-hour “Sunset Bliss” catamaran cruise every Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. which includes food, drink, and entertainment. Additional new sailing options include the Lady Bellaïs, a wooden Brazilian schooner offering sailing experiences ranging from boat rides at brunch to snorkeling excursions and sightseeing trips.

In 2024, Buddy Dive Resort will celebrate 40 years of Hilma Hooker Diving with a weeklong historic underwater adventure in September. The wreck dive site is easily accessible from the shore, as well as by boat. The Hilma Hooker cargo ship was originally built in 1951 and sunk in Bonaire in 1984.

Getting Around

For those looking for a more eco-friendly way to get around the sustainable island, Hopp Bonaire offers electric or carbon-neutral bikes and scooters. Golf Cart Rental Bonaire opened in 2023 and is a fun way to enjoy 360-degree island views.

Epic Tours Bonaire Water Taxi is also offering a new departing location with the launch of daily services from the recently opened Watersport Center Bonaire at the Courtyard by Marriott to take hotel guests to Klein Bonaire.

Nikol Luxury, a Navigator 53 classic yacht, can be booked for up to 30 guests. It has a primary bedroom, en-suite bathroom, a staple bedroom, and a queen bedroom for charters.

Bonaire_Hiking
For adventurers looking for a little island challenge, Packraft Trip Bonaire offers a range of outdoor experiences (Tourism Corporation Bonaire)

Redesigned Retreats

Delfins Beach Resort has upgraded stays with the addition of new three- and four-bedroom villas featuring private plunge pools, expanding its offerings to a total of 20 villas. The resort features two pools, a diving center and five dining options.

The family-friendly, all-inclusive Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino has undergone major renovations with newly updated studios. A new pier is coming to the property soon as well. Also joining the makeover train is the seaside boutique hotel, The Bellafonte, Captain Don’s Habitat and Sorobon Luxury Beach Resort.

Flight Updates

Bonaire is more accessible with newly added flights out of the United States and Canada. WestJet now offers its first-ever non-stop flight from Toronto. This new route will operate once weekly, every Tuesday, until mid-April 2024. United Airlines will offer extra flights between January and April out of Newark on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Through April 6, 2024, Delta Air Lines has added to its usual Saturday flight by offering four new flights per week from Atlanta on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. American Airlines will also introduce an additional flight day in June and July of 2024, supplementing the existing Wednesday and Saturday flights with a new Friday service out of Miami.

Commitment to Sustainability

In 2022, the island launched the Bonaire Bond and reminds visitors to sign this pledge before exploring the destination. Designed to serve as a reminder of how critical sustainable tourism is to the local community and the next generation, the Bonaire Bond is another step in a long history of conservation efforts. The island will continue its supporting campaign by adopting coral trees through Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire on behalf of all those that sign.

For more information, visit www.bonaireisland.com.

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