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Travel Report
Bonaire Is Breathtaking Take the Plunge
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Bonaire
eyond divers, few people know much about the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. And that’s a pity, because it’s a real gem. It’s a quirky little place outside of the hurricane belt, with seldom more then 20 inches of rain per year. And though it is arguably one of the best places in the Caribbean to learn how to dive due to its pristine protected reefs close to shore, there are ways to view the colorful marine life without even getting wet! There’s a glass bottomed semi-submarine, and a cool ship called Aquaspace with glassed in walls. But really, you need only stroll along the downtown boardwalk to see tons of colorful tropical fish right below your feet! And of course, the snorkeling there is superb! Take Epic Tours – a luxury craft that only takes small groups for a cool drift snorkel off an uninhabited island called “Klein Bonaire” (“klein” means small), or snorkel around the beach bar at the Divi Flamingo Resort. See tons of fish, pop up for a local beer, and then snorkel around it again to see more. Surreal!
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But there’s more to Bonaire than fish-seeking; there’s world class windsurfing, too. Conditions are so ideal at Lac Bai that’ll you’ll even see toddlers tearing it up on the waves. In fact, this island has spawned more than one world champion. They also offer health and wellness retreats, and Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations now offers special packages for autism spectrum visitors as well. There are also scads of interior land adventures. Hiking and exploring the semi-desert outback is a blast. There’s also a fabulous artisan distillery that makes liqueur called Cadushy from cactus, and a trip to the pink lake full of flamingoes is also must-do. Take a guided tour there with Bon-Tuk’s eco-friendly electric carts. And though the capital city of Kralendijk is a sleepy little outpost, it has some surprisingly good gourmet dining. Historically, Bonaire hasn’t been that easy to get to, but now Sunwing offers direct flights from Toronto, which is sure to bring more Canadians to its enchanting shores this winter. Visit: www.tourismbonaire.com