Best Things to Do in Bonaire on a Cruise – One Day Itinerary

Are you looking for the best things to do on a cruise in Bonaire? Then I got you covered in this amazing Bonaire One Day Itinerary!

Bonaire is a beautiful small island located in the Caribbean Sea. Together with Aruba and Curacao, it forms the ABC-island chain.

Many Caribbean Cruises have Bonaire listed as a port-of-call in their itinerary. As an avid cruiser, I know how hard it can be to plan for every single port.

To make this easy for you, I have created an amazing cruise itinerary featuring the best things to do on a cruise in Bonaire!

Let’s dive right in (pun intended)!

Bonaire Cruise Port Guide

Cruise ships dock in one of two piers in Bonaire. Both piers are located right by the capital city of Kralendijk. They are called the Southern Pier and the Northern Pier.

The two piers have a capacity for up to three cruise ships, although this does not happen very often. If there are two cruise ships docking, the larger one will always dock on the Southern Pier.

The smaller one will then dock on the Northern Pier.

The ports are small and intimate – no tender boats necessary!

Both Piers are located within walking distance of the capital city Kralendijk. Cruise passengers have access to amenities such as:

• Tourist Office
• Local tours operators
• Scuba diving operators
• Terramar Museum
• Shops
• Cafés
• Restaurants

Northern Pier

The Northern Pier is perpendicular to the coast. It is just over 200 feet long. The exit gates are opening directly into a pedestrian street.

The pier is located right next to the Old Fort. It is only a few steps away from the Sea Promenade and Kaya Grandi. This is the biggest shopping street in Kralendijk.

Southern Pier and Terminal

The Southern Pier is also referred to as the New Pier. It is located parallel to the coast and it has a small cruise terminal adjacent.

The Southern Pier and Terminal has a small, open-air shopping complex, called Harborside Mall, attached.

It is located about 300 ft (100 m) away from the Plaza Wilhelmina and the Sea Promenade.

Best Guided Shore Excursions and Day Trips in Bonaire

If you have decided that going out on your own is not for you, don’t worry.

I have tried a couple of tours in Bonaire, and here are my three favorite shore excursions that will take you to all my favorite spots on the island!

I have created an in-depth post about the best boat tours for snorkeling in Bonaire. Bonaire is famous for its beautiful marine life, so snorkeling needs to be on top of your list of things to do in Bonaire on a cruise.

Private Klein Bonaire Snorkel Tour (5/5*)

Private North and South Tour with Local Guide (4,5/5*)

Highlights of Bonaire and Cultural Experience (4,5/5*)

Explore The Island By Yourself With a Rental

Another great way to discover Bonaire is with a road trip. The island is quite small, so you can explore everything in one day.

Lots of people rent golf carts in Bonaire to explore the island. There are some upsides to this. There is not a lot of traffic on the island and the carts are easy to navigate.

However, the golf carts are usually already booked months in advance. Scooter rental is another alternative you can try.

We preferred renting a car. This gives us the opportunity to bring more stuff along and to lock our valuables away while we sit at the beach.

There are quite a lot of things to do in Bonaire for non-divers, and I have created an in-depth post if you need more inspiration.

Here are our favorite stops during a one-day Bonaire road trip marked in a helpful map! You can either go out on your own with the map or find my detailed itinerary further below!

1. Washington Slagbaai National Park

We’ll start off our day in Bonaire at the Washington-Slagbaai National Park. It has three major beaches—Boca Cocolishi, Boca Slagbaai, and Playa Funchi.

Boca Cocolishi Beach is located on the north coast. Keep in mind that it is not well-suited for swimming. There is a strong surf. However, it is a black sand beach with lava-formed pools. It is very appealing for hikers.

Boca Slagbaai is especially popular because of the flamingos. It is above all a good swimming and snorkeling site. It has facilities and you can buy some drinks there.

Playa Funchi is an amazing snorkel site. There are stunning coral formations, lots of tropical fish, and calm waters. It has no sand or facilities. There are flamingos.

There are many more things to see in Washington-Slagbaai Park besides flamingos and beaches. See hidden bays, geological caves, and super-tall Kadushi cacti.

The Park is open every day from 08:00 am to 05:00 pm. The entrance fee is USD 45,00.

There are two driving routes in the Park that you can check out on your visit. The shortest one is 1,5 hours long, the longer one takes about 2.5 hours.

2. Visit the Best Beaches in Bonaire from Cruise Ship

By driving around on the island we discovered many small but beautiful beaches. So while heading to the next stops of our itinerary, make sure to stop from time to time to enjoy the beaches.

Most beaches in Bonaire are rocky or stoney. The water quality is amazing and you can bring your snorkel gear to all of the Bonaire beaches.

The nearest beaches to the cruise port are the following: Coco, Bachelor’s, Te Amo and Flamingo, and Chachacha Beach.

Some of the nicest sand beaches in Bonaire are Playa Lechi, Seven Body Beach, and Te Amo Beach. These beaches are great to relax and get that picture-perfect Caribbean Beach moment.

If you love snorkeling or diving, head over to Wayaka Beach, Playa Benge, or Chachacha Beach. These beaches offer the best access to Bonaire’s amazing marine life.

3. See the Flamingos of Bonaire

There are a couple of different locations to see the flamingos in Bonaire outside the Washington-Slagbaai National Park.

The best spots to see them are the Pekelmeer in the south of Bonaire and Lac Bay. You can also encounter them at the Gotomeer which is located in the north of Bonaire.

Make sure to get your expectations straight before going. The flamingos of Bonaire are not as accessible as they are in Aruba, so you will most likely only see them from a distance.

A great place to see the flamingos is at the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary.

4. Lunch in Kralendijk

After all that exploring, you are probably eager for lunch – and there is no better place to eat than Kralendijk, the cute capital city!

The city is super small, so you can just spend a nice hour walking around there and exploring the colorful buildings and the lovely street art.

The biggest shopping street in Kralendijk is called Kaya Grandi. You can buy authentic souvenirs there.

The Caribbean-style houses in Kralendijk are well-preserved – and they make for amazing pics! There are nice water-front eateries that are perfect for lunch!

Check out the Plaza Wilhelmina and the Bonaire Museum. You can see impressive seashells there and learn about Bonaire’s history. A great souvenir from local production is bath salt.

5. Visit the Pink Lakes by the Salt Mines

After lunch in Kralendijk, it is time to explore more of the island!

The pink lakes by the salt mines are called Gotomeer. Technically, it is a saltwater lagoon separated into small salt pans. It is located in the northern part of the island.

There are also quite a few more saltwater basins in the southern part of the island. The lakes turned pink as a result of the salt mining.

The effect happens because of the evaporated seawater.

6. Visite the Donkey Sanctuary

Visiting the donkey sanctuary is one of my favorite things to do on Bonaire.

The donkey sanctuary provides a home to a huge amount of donkeys rescued from the street. They were used by the slave drivers a long time ago and then simply left on the island.

You can drive through the sanctuary and feed them from your car. Such a sweet experience! We could even pet some of them from the car.

Make sure to donate at the end of the tour, so these great people can keep doing this important work!

7. See the Slave Houses

The former Slave houses can be found all over the island, and it is an important spot to visit!

Most of them are super small and white and barely fit a grown person in them.

They are an interesting reminder of the gruesome time that Bonaire had to endure during the slave trade.

8. Explore Bonaire’s Nature

Visit Lac Bay before heading back to the cruise port!

It is not only a popular spot for windsurfing but also a nature reserve known for its mangroves and bird-watching opportunities.

There are some lovely viewing platforms that will give you an amazing view over the area.

Wrap-Up: Best Things To Do in Bonaire On a Cruise

There are many fabulous things to do in Bonaire on a cruise and I hope you like them as much.

I suggest renting a car and checking out the most amazing points of interest. See the Gotomeer, the flamingos in their natural habitat, and the slave houses. If you are adventurous, you can have a lot of fun in Bonaire with a rental car.

Booking a guided day trip to Klein Bonaire is also a great option for one day in Bonaire. Guided shore excursions are a great way to get to know the island without having the hassle of arranging things for yourself.

Lastly, you may just want to walk over to the colorful capital of Kralendijk and have a fun day shopping and exploring.

Check out my Aruba Cruise Itinerary and Curacao Cruise Itinerary for your Caribbean Cruise. Headed to the Dominican Republic next? I got you covered with a report about the Dominican Republic Cruise Ports.

Bonaire is one of the best Caribbean Islands to visit in December – give it a go.

Frequently Asked Questions