Travel Facts

© Lonely Planet Publications Travel Facts Bonaire’s motorcycle club members watch the sunset at White Slave on thier Sunday ride GETTING THERE value should be hand carried if going through San Juan until the blatant theft Many international airlines service is addressed. Luggage sometimes gets Bonaire on a daily basis. There is one- delayed here as well. stop service (via San Juan, Montego Air Jamaica flies to Bonaire via Mon- Bay, Aruba, or Curaçao) from the United tego Bay on Saturdays. States and non-stop service from One great new US option, which we Europe (Amsterdam) as well as from took when researching this book, is the Ecuador and Peru. The hot pink Fla- Continental Airlines weekly nonstop mingo Airport has a runway of more round trip flight between its Houston than 1.5 miles (2.9km) in length, long hub and Bonaire. Flight 1898 departs enough to accommodate 747 Jumbo Houston on Friday at 11:30pm, arriving Jets. The airport’s designation is BON. in Bonaire on Saturday at 6:15am. The American Eagle has five nonstop return flight, 1899, departs Bonaire on flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Saturdays at 8am, arriving in Houston and from Bonaire each week connected at 10:50am. Continental Airlines uses a via Boston, New York, Newark, Philadel- Boeing 737 airplane with 124 (tightly phia, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Ft packed) seats including 12 (more Lauderdale, Miami and Los Angeles. spacious) first class seats. The flight is a Divers have had problems with theft direct shot, avoiding the less depend- of expensive camera and dive equip- able and theft-ridden stops. Continen- ment going through San Juan and tal Airlines is the world’s sixth largest complaints to the airport management airline, so it connects in Houston to flights don’t seem to be heeded. Anything of from all over the US and the world. 136 Travel Facts 137 American Airlines flies direct, nonstop far southern beaches and also near to Curaçao from Miami, and Delta flies some of the northern dive sites where there from Atlanta. Passengers then use the road runs along a cliff line. Here you either Dutch Antilles Express to connect must slow down and yield where ap- to Bonaire. Flying time between Curaçao propriate. There are places to pull over. and Bonaire is approximately 15 to 30 There are also some earthen roads. minutes. Again, reports of delayed lug- The entire northern fifth of the island gage come from this connection. is national park and it is just about as Another routing option is to fly on natural as it can be. It is laced with one- any of a number of major US and South way dirt roads that run along the shore American carriers to Aruba, and then lines and into the heart of the park. Al- take Dutch Antilles Express to Bonaire. though there are paving plans, a truck From Europe, KLM flies direct from with high undercarriage clearance or Amsterdam to Bonaire up to twice daily. 4WD vehicle is required here. You will One flight continues on to Quito, Ecua- not be allowed access with a conven- dor, and the other to Lima, Peru. tional car. From South America, via Ecuador and Finally, many of the more central Peru, the same KLM flights return to Bo- parts of the island, especially those east naire with nonstop flights. of Kralendijk and north of Rincon, are From Venezuela, nonstop charter also unpaved. Rainy season is rarely wet flights from either Caracas or Valencia enough to make roads impassable, but to Bonaire are available with PAS (Pro- they can become muddy. The road near gressive Air Service). Additional service the mangrove at the Lac is one such from Adventure Travel & Tours is avail- road. able with nonstop flights between Bonaire has a good variety of rental Caracas and Bonaire. options, including twin cab trucks from From Brazil, Varig and Avianca, fly known names like Budget Rent-a-car, from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to to small scooters, which can transport Aruba, which connect with Dutch Anti- one person and snorkel gear. Many folks lles Express. continue the Dutch tradition of bike rid- From Colombia, Avianca has flights ing as most of Bonaire is flat and easy to from Bogota to Aruba, which connect pedal around. If you’re not used to the with Dutch Antilles Express. tropics, though, be sure to bring plenty If you are coming by sailboat, there is of water. no anchoring allowed on the reef and Taxis are available but certainly not moorings for visiting yachts are avail- ubiquitous. Many hotels can arrange able on a first-come basis. drop off in town and later pick-up for those wanting to remain unencum- GETTING AROUND bered. Some hotel packages even come An intricate network of good roads with room, meals, diving and truck as makes it easy to get around the island. part of the package. As shore diving is Bonaire is not the most overbuilt island, a lifestyle here, a good truck is a requi- which is part of its charm. The main site for those who want pick their own roads are paved but don’t always have favorite sites and not be part of the boat centerlines. For the most part, Bonaire crowd. drivers are courteous and drive within Taxi drivers get a 10% tip as the norm. the posted speed limits. In dive shops and that sort of service, In some parts of the island, the road 10% is also the norm if your guides were narrows to a single lane, like along the attentive and helpful. .

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