Bonaire
Bonaire is a small Dutch Caribbean island, and most people come to dive from the shore inside its marine park or to see flamingos on the southern salt pans.
Bonaire is a small island in the Dutch Caribbean, part of the Leeward Antilles and south of the hurricane belt. Its whole coastline is a protected marine park, so much of the diving and snorkeling starts from the shore. Kralendijk is the capital. Dutch is the official language, and Papiamento is widely spoken.
Inland, the land is dry, with cactus scrub, salt flats and low hills. The national park lies in the north, where the terrain is rougher than in the south. Flamingos feed on the southern salt pans. The island suits travelers who want to dive, snorkel and spend time outdoors, and the days are hot and dry, so plan for sun and water. A few days covers the reef. A longer stay leaves room for the national park and the salt pans.
Five things to know before Bonaire
- Pay the $75 visitor entry tax online
Bonaire's tourism site says visitors pay a $75 tourist entry tax per person per visit. Pay it on the official government portal, and check the portal for children's rates, timing and accepted payment. Official tax portal
- Pay the nature fee before you get in the water
Diving, snorkeling and other water use in Bonaire National Marine Park requires the STINAPA nature fee. Buy it online or through a dive shop before your first dive.
- Rent a pickup for shore diving
Most dive sites are entered from the shore and marked by yellow painted stones by the road. A pickup lets you carry tanks between sites on your own schedule.
- Pay in US dollars
Bonaire uses the US dollar as its currency, so there is no exchange to worry about for US visitors. Cards are widely accepted.
- Drive south for the salt pans and flamingos
The south of the island has the salt works, the slave huts and flamingo feeding grounds. Keep your distance from the birds and stay on the roads.
Bonaire travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Visa-free stays and the $75 visitor entry tax.
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical, evacuation and storm cover to check for Bonaire.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans, roaming charges and coverage between islands.
Read the guideMoney and costsUS dollars, dive costs and the marine park nature fee.
Read the guideGetting aroundPickup trucks, scooters and reaching the dive sites.
Read the guide
When to go
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, breezyJanuaryClear
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, windyFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, windy
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry, sunnyMarchClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- AprilPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, quieterAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, quieter
- MayPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Dry, low seasonMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, low season
- JunePartly cloudy4 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Hot, breezyJunePartly cloudy
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, breezy
- JulyPartly cloudy3 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Hot, dryJulyPartly cloudy
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh34°Low25°HottestAugustPartly cloudy
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low25°Hot, calmSeptemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, calm
- OctoberRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low25°Short rainsOctoberRain
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Short rains
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Wettest monthNovemberRain
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest month
- DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Showers, busyDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers, busy
Average daily high and low in Kralendijk, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Bonaire
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 19 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 88%
Klein Bonaire
07:22 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today31°25°88%Monday: Rain. High 31°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Tue31°27°54%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Wed31°27°65%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Thu32°25°83%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Fri30°25°84%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Sat30°25°87%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 87%.
- Sun31°26°71%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 71%.
Updated 05:59 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Bonaire
Bonaire FAQ
How much is the Bonaire tourist tax?
The tourist entry tax is $75 per person per visit. The rate for children, the payment deadline and how to pay are set on the official government portal, so check it before you fly.
Do I need to pay a fee to dive in Bonaire?
Yes. Divers, snorkelers and other water users pay the STINAPA nature fee for Bonaire National Marine Park. Dive shops can sell it, or buy it online before you arrive.
Does Bonaire get hurricanes?
Rarely. Bonaire lies south of the main hurricane belt, which makes it popular with divers from June to November. Distant storms can still bring swell to the west coast.
What currency does Bonaire use?
The US dollar. It is part of the Caribbean Netherlands and switched to US dollars in 2011.
Can you snorkel from the beach in Bonaire?
Yes. The reef starts a few meters from shore along most of the west coast, so you can snorkel straight from the beach at many marked sites.