Cheap flights to Kralendijk
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Quick summary
Country
Bonaire
Continent
North America
Airport
BON
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-4
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Kralendijk is the capital of Bonaire, an island in the Caribbean Netherlands, and its only real town. The name comes from the Dutch koralendijk, "coral dike"; in Papiamentu it is often called Playa, "the beach". The town stretches along a waterfront facing the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire and is the base for shore diving. SniperAir watches flight prices to BON airport and alerts you when a fare drops below your budget; it does not sell or book tickets.
This page focuses on the town and on getting there: the fort, the shopping street, museums, the boat to Klein Bonaire and diving, with no operators and no prices. The salt flats, Washington Slagbaai park and Lac Bay are covered on the Bonaire island page, which this one complements.
A few general points. Bonaire is described as lying outside the main hurricane belt, but storms remain possible: follow official forecasts. On safety, Wikivoyage reports break-ins to cars near dive sites: leave nothing in view. Before creating an alert and again before buying, read the travel advice of your country of departure, which varies.
Airport and getting into town
Flamingo airport, a few kilometres from the centre
Flamingo International Airport (BON)
This is Bonaire's only international airport. It lies south of the centre, about 2 km according to Wikivoyage (DE) and 2 to 3.5 km on other sites: a few minutes by road. It has few direct flights from the big hubs, and many travellers connect through Curaçao. We publish neither a list of airlines nor fares.
Approximate distance. We publish neither precise transfer times nor taxi fares. Connections change from season to season: check them before booking.
According to Wikivoyage (EN) there is no passenger ferry to Curaçao or Venezuela, so flying is the only way to arrive, apart from cruise ships and private boats. Cruise ships call mainly from December to April according to Wikivoyage (DE), and the small centre gets very busy.
On arrival, taxis wait at the airport and in town, with unfixed rates: agree the price before setting off. There is no public bus, but collective taxis link Kralendijk and Rincon. Car-hire desks are at the airport; book early in high season.
Landmarks and sights
Fort, waterfront, Klein Bonaire and reefs: Kralendijk in pictures
The centre takes an hour or two on foot; most of the island is then explored by car or by swimming. Here are five pictures, followed by more places in text.
Fort Oranje and the yellow tower
Fort Oranje was built in 1639 to defend the main harbour, according to Wikipedia (FR, EN, DE and ES); it is the island's oldest stone building according to Wikipedia (DE). It never saw action, and its cannons are old English guns from 1808 to 1812. A wooden lighthouse was built there around 1868 and replaced by a stone tower in 1932.
The waterfront and its jetties
The seafront boulevard, Kaya Craane, runs beside clear water where the reef can be seen a few metres from the edge. Wooden jetties, terraces and palm-thatched shelters mark the scene; in the evening the light over the bay is one of the town's highlights.
Klein Bonaire, facing the town
A few minutes by boat, the flat, uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire is known for diving and snorkelling. A water taxi leaves from the centre of Kralendijk according to Wikipedia (EN), and most dive centres also take their clients there. As the islet is uninhabited, bring water and sun protection.
Diving from the shore
Bonaire is renowned for beach diving: the tourism office says there are more than 85 sites, more than half of them reachable from the shore according to Wikivoyage (DE). Sites are marked with a yellow rock or a mooring. Wikivoyage (EN) lists sea turtles, reef fish and corals among the animals to watch for. Follow the marine park rules; we name no operator and no price.
The southern salt flats, a short excursion
South of the airport, the salt pans and their white salt pyramids, with the old obelisks and the slave huts of 1850, tell the story of the island. The flamingo sanctuary is closed to the public: watch the birds from a distance. This part of the island is detailed on the Bonaire page.
More places: Wilhelmina Park, the Protestant church (1847, tower of 1868), Kaya Grandi and its late nineteenth-century facades, the old fish market of 1935, British cannons recovered from a ship wrecked in 1829, the island's donkey sanctuary and the public "Windsock" beach, 1.5 km south at the end of the runway.
Museums and culture
Museums, history and traditions
Terramar Museum
According to Wikipedia (FR), the Terramar Museum offers a journey through 7,000 years of Caribbean and Bonaire history. Hours and admission are worth checking before you go; we publish no price.
Tanki Maraka and the Second World War
The Tanki Maraka open-air museum, according to the same source, deals with the Second World War and the former US military camp of 1942 to 1947. In 1940, 461 Dutch and German citizens had been interned south of the fort.
Natural history and the Museo Boneriano
Wikipedia (FR) lists a natural history museum with shells, corals, birds and plantation tools; Wikipedia (EN) mentions the Museo Boneriano, devoted to objects from Bonaire's past. Their opening can vary.
A historical walk
Wikipedia (EN) describes a walk past 25 historic sites in the centre, from the war memorial to Wilhelmina Park and the government building of 1837. A carnival parade crosses the town every year according to Wikipedia (ES).
Food and drink
Stews, funchi and fresh fish
The island's Creole cooking
The phrase "Aki ta bende kuminda krioyo" advertises local food: soups, stews, fried dishes and fish. Conch, cactus, wahoo and rock lobster appear on menus according to Wikivoyage (EN). Cabrito stoba, a goat stew, funchi, a cornmeal dish close to polenta, pastechi and arepitas di pampuna, small pumpkin pancakes, are typical dishes according to Wikivoyage (DE).
Market and neighbourhoods
The old fish market of 1935 is now used to sell fruit and vegetables according to Wikipedia (EN); a Romanesque-style pavilion serves as a fruit market according to Wikipedia (ES). Restaurants cluster on the waterfront and on Kaya Grandi. We give no specific address.
To drink
Fresh fruit juices, rum drinks and local beer: we name no brand. Nightlife stays quiet.
Getting around
Taxi, rental car, bike and water taxi
In town
The centre is done on foot. Bicycles, scooters and golf carts can be rented in town according to Wikipedia (EN). There is no public bus.
Around the island
Renting a car or a pick-up is the best way to explore the island. Driving is on the right, at 40 km/h in built-up areas and 60 km/h elsewhere; watch for donkeys and goats on the road. Taxis are few and have no fixed rate: discuss the price beforehand.
To Klein Bonaire
The water taxi leaves from the centre; dive centres also offer the crossing to their clients. An access fee for the marine park, the Nature Tag, is asked of divers and snorkellers: check the amount with the official bodies.
Budget and precautions
Price level, currency and precautions
What we know
The currency is the US dollar. According to Wikivoyage (EN), non-residents pay a visitor tax on arrival, and divers and snorkellers pay a marine park access fee: check the official amounts.
What we don't publish
Flight, rental, diving or accommodation prices have not been confirmed by two independent sources, so we publish no ranges.
Precautions
Don't leave a wallet or phone in a car parked near a dive site. Always dive with a buddy and within your level. Protect yourself from the sun and wind, which are present all year.
When to go
A semi-arid climate, hot and breezy all year
January to March
Hot and dry, with trade winds almost every day. A busy period, with cruise ships calling until April according to Wikivoyage (DE).
April to June
Still hot and dry; the sea is calm on the sheltered side of the island, good for shore diving.
July to September
Marked heat and steady wind; the island is described as outside the main hurricane belt, but storms are not ruled out.
October to December
The short rainy season runs from October to January and is often erratic according to Wikipedia (EN): showers are mostly at night or early morning according to Wikivoyage (EN).
The mean temperature is about 28 C according to Wikivoyage (EN), and the tourism office quotes 29 C for the air. Kralendijk has a semi-arid climate: rain is scarce and irregular, and sometimes fails altogether in a given year. These are guides only; the weather varies from year to year.
By length of stay
How long in Kralendijk?
A seaside stopover
A walk through the centre, Fort Oranje, a dive or some snorkelling from the shore and half a day on Klein Bonaire.
Taking your time
Add a museum, the southern salt flats and two or three beach dive sites, with a rental car.
Diving and exploring
Combine diving, trips to the north of the island and quiet evenings on the waterfront; leave some margin for the wind.
In pictures
Kralendijk and Bonaire in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Kralendijk
Which airport serves Kralendijk?
Flamingo International Airport (BON), about 2 to 3 km south of the centre. It is the island's only international airport, and many travellers arrive through Curaçao.
Are there ferries to Bonaire?
According to Wikivoyage (EN) there is no passenger ferry to Curaçao or Venezuela. You arrive by air, or by cruise ship or private boat.
How do I get around Kralendijk?
On foot in the centre, and by rental car or pick-up for the rest of the island. There is no public bus, and taxis have no fixed rate.
Can you dive from the beach in Bonaire?
Yes: more than 85 dive sites are listed, more than half of them reachable from the shore. A marine park access fee is required; check the official amount.
When is the best time to go?
The island is hot and breezy all year. The short rainy season runs from October to January. Cruise ships are more numerous from December to April.
Do I need to speak Dutch?
No: Papiamentu and Dutch are the official languages, but English is widely used in accommodation, diving and restaurants.
How much does a flight to Kralendijk usually cost?
The price depends mostly on your departure city, the season and how early you book. The opportunities section above shows real examples of fares SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Kralendijk drops below my budget?
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