The transition from winter to spring awakens in many people the need for more sunshine and more pleasant temperatures. Thus, in February 2023, our colleague Hanny decided to plan a vacation to Bonaire, a beautiful island in the Caribbean. Part of the ABC Islands, Bonaire offers summer temperatures almost year-round, making it an ideal destination. We asked Hanny about her Bonaire car rental experience.
Arriving and picking up a rental car at Bonaire International Airport
The island of Bonaire welcomed us with a pleasant and relaxed ambiance, after a comfortable flight of about 11 hours. The airport, although small, made it easy to pick up our luggage and only a short walk took us to the car rental area. A charming pink building housed all the car rental companies together. Our choice was a car from Alamo through Autoshuren.nl. Upon arrival, a friendly staff member greeted us warmly and even knew our names. Our rental car, a spacious and comfortable red KIA Sportage, was ready for departure. Some slight scratches were visible, which is normal given the unpaved roads in the national park.
Discoveries by car to Sorobon, Kralendijk and beyond
Sorobon, on the other side of the island, is a true surfing paradise with a constant breeze sending surfers across the azure waters. Even if you are not into surfing, it is a joy to behold. The laid-back surfing atmosphere makes it wonderful to enjoy lunch with your feet in the sand. Along the coastline, we admired numerous paragliders taking advantage of the cooling breeze. With our rental car we drove further to our accommodation below Kralendijk via the south coast. Along the way we passed the yellow slave huts, a reminder of the history where king slaves from Rincon walked long distances to work on the salt flats. In Kralendijk, Bonaire's capital, we discovered a cozy center with various stores and eateries. An imposing cruise ship regularly docked at the harbor, and from there the water cab departed for the enchanting Klein Bonaire.
Underwater adventures for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts
Both Klein Bonaire and Bonaire itself are true paradises for lovers of diving and snorkeling. More than 63 diverse diving and snorkeling sites can be found along the coastline. Through openings in the reef, we entered the sea and were able to snorkel comfortably with the current along colorful coral and countless fish species. During our adventures we saw turtles at Thousand Steps, the colorful Caribbean doctor fish, parrotfish, juvenile emperor fish, pearlfish, jewel fish, sergeant major fish and more.
Tips for Driving on Bonaire
If you are considering renting a car on Bonaire, it is advisable to choose a (larger) SUV. For example, we opted for an SUV such as the KIA Sportage, which turned out to be an excellent choice given the state of the roads on Bonaire. The speed limit is 60 km per hour. My tip? Take a drive through the adventurous Washington Slagbaai National Park. Although the route is breathtaking, the dirt road through the park is littered with rocks. In our case, this made for a story to tell back at home about a flat tire! After consulting with Autoshuren.nl, we took the rental car to a local garage the next day, where the repair cost only 20 Dollars. This allowed us to quickly get back on the road and enjoy the convenience and comfort of our rental car in Bonaire for the rest of our vacation.
