At Villa Mi Casa Bonaire every day starts at the water. You walk down the stone steps for a dive right in front of the house, or you take the car and pick one direction: the south with its salt pans, Kralendijk for the boat to Klein Bonaire, or Lac Bay on the east side.
The villa sits on the south-west coast at Punt Vierkant, which puts the sea, Kralendijk and the open south on a single route. Below is what guests most often do from the house, plus the official information to arrange before you travel.
Bonaire is known for shore diving. Yellow stones along the coast mark many access points, although conditions differ by site. Arrange a local briefing before your first dive and check current STINAPA rules. At Mi Casa, stone steps lead directly to the sea and gear can be rinsed outside.
Kitesurfing belongs in the designated zone at Atlantis, while windsurfing takes place at Lac Bay. Both areas have local schools and equipment rental. Protected zones are deliberately limited, so check current marine park rules and entry points before leaving.
Kralendijk is compact enough to explore on foot. Waterfront restaurants, terraces and water taxis to Klein Bonaire sit close together. Plan the crossing on a calm day and bring shade and drinking water. Facilities on the uninhabited island are limited.
Start early and choose one side of the island. From Mi Casa, follow the south coast towards the salt pans, the slave huts and the designated kitesurfing area at Atlantis. Many stops are open and without shade. Bring water and watch flamingos from a distance without entering the salt areas.
For the north, combine Kralendijk with the coastal road to 1000 Steps and Rincon. Keep a separate day for Washington Slagbaai. Its unpaved route takes longer than the distance suggests and requires a suitable car.
If you want to enter the water, choose one main activity. A dive briefing, snorkeling site or lesson at Lac Bay can easily fill a morning. This leaves time for a quiet drive back, groceries and returning to the sea before sunset.
What should you bring? A refillable water bottle, sun protection and shoes with good grip are genuinely useful on Bonaire. Many shore entries consist of rock or coral rubble. Before a day in the water, check the current nature fee and STINAPA rules through the official link further down this page. Do not touch or stand on coral, and leave everything you find in the sea.
How do you keep the day relaxed? Avoid filling every hour. Wind, heat and the condition of an unpaved road can make an outing take longer. Choose one place each day that you truly want to see and leave the rest open for an unexpected stop. Refuel in good time, download your route before leaving and turn back when conditions feel uncertain. That pace suits the island and avoids a rushed drive home.
Which beaches are close by? Bachelor's Beach in Belnem sits below a low cliff, with steps down to the water. It is good for swimming and snorkeling. At Te Amo Beach, near the airport, you walk in over sand and snorkel above the reef. Further south, Pink Beach has pink sand and little shade. On the east coast, Sorobon on Lac Bay has shallow, warm water behind the reef. It is the island's best-known windsurfing spot. Boutique Villa Bonaire describes more beaches around the island in its Bonaire beach guide.
At Sea is a good choice for a special evening. Ocean Oasis on EEG Boulevard is close to the villa, and Brass Boer at Delfins Beach Resort in Belnem is only a short drive away. On the Kralendijk waterfront, It Rains Fishes serves fish and seafood.
Daily Catch is a useful stop for fresh fish or lunch, while Van den Tweel is practical for groceries at the villa. Check current opening hours and book popular restaurants in advance.
Taxes, nature fees and access rules can change. Check the official source shortly before departure.
Practical information reviewed on
Bonaire charges a Visitor Entry Tax. Arrange it through the official Public Entity Bonaire website and keep the QR code for your trip.
Public Entity BonaireAnyone entering the sea on Bonaire to swim, snorkel, dive or kayak pays the STINAPA Nature Fee. It also gives access to Washington Slagbaai National Park. Everyone pays the same 40 dollars per person, valid until the end of the calendar year. Children under 12 are exempt. You buy the fee online from STINAPA.
STINAPA BonaireA rental car makes beaches, dive sites and the south easy to reach. Traffic keeps right on Bonaire. Washington Slagbaai requires a vehicle with sufficient ground clearance.
Tourism Corporation BonaireOn days when a cruise ship is in port, the Arts and Crafts Cruise Market sets up on Wilhelmina Plaza in Kralendijk, with local jewelry, sea salt and hot sauce. On the last Saturday of the month there is a market at Mangazina di Rei, just outside Rincon, with food, music and island produce. Dates change, so check the market schedule before you go.
Arts and Crafts Cruise Market
