This tiny Dutch island is one of the top places for exploring below the waves. This is likely due to the fact that Bonaire protects its marine environment resulting in healthy reefs thriving with sea life. In fact, the whole island is surrounded by the Bonaire National Marine Park.
So, during our time in port we went on a snorkeling excursion and it was wonderful. We highly recommend this. Or perhaps go scuba diving. We actually revisited Bonaire to do just that. See our post: Diving the Pristine Reefs of Bonaire National Marine Park
After our snorkeling excursion we had plenty of time to take an island tour. We went (round trip from Kralendjik) with the local tour bus and stopped at various landmarks.
Our first stop was at the Salt Pans where we saw the old Slave Huts. It’s hard to believe that six men had to share this small space to sleep after a long hard day harvesting salt!
Then we continued on to the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary, a refuge where flamingos feed on the tiny shrimps found in the water. This is actually what gives them their pink color.
A final point of interest before getting back to the cruise port was Lac Bay which is the largest lagoon of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao). This is a popular spot for windsurfing or kayaking in the mangroves. Kite surfing is also popular around the island.
Since the ship was docked nearby, we had plenty of time left to explore downtown Kralendijk and admire the colorful buildings.
Alternatively, if you don’t go scuba diving or snorkeling, you may want to head-out to the Washington Slagbaai National Park on the northwest tip of the island.
See our post: Scenic Drives to Take in Bonaire