Kralendijk (Bonaire)

Where ships dock

Walk, about 2 min to Wilhelmina Park and 5–10 min to downtown Kralendijk.

• North Pier (Town Pier), opposite Wilhelmina Park5 min walk

Best time to go

Ships call year-round. December through March is busiest; May through October sees far fewer passengers.

Short, heavy showers are most likely from December to March. Bonaire sits south of the main hurricane belt, though storms can still pass between June and November.

How far from the pier

One way. Short call OK means 20 minutes or less.

• Wilhelmina Park and the waterfrontWalk2 min
• Fort Oranje and Terramar MuseumWalk5 min
• Kaya Grandi shopping streetWalk5 min

Ship tour or go independent?

Downtown Kralendijk is easy on your own: both piers sit in town and the sights are minutes away on foot. Getting farther out takes more planning. There is no scheduled public bus, taxis can be hard to find quickly, and Washington Slagbaai calls for a high-clearance vehicle. A ship or pre-booked tour makes sense for the national park, or if you don't want to drive a stick-shift rental.

• Once the ship sails, it won't come back for late passengers, so leave a time cushion.
• Taxis wait at the cruise terminal but aren't always available right away. Book a tour, golf cart or car ahead if you need one.
• Bonaire has no scheduled public bus. Minibuses run without a fixed timetable, so don't plan your day around one.
• Washington Slagbaai is closed on Mondays and on public holidays, and may close after heavy rain. Last entry is 2:30 p.m.
• Golf carts, scooters and ATVs are not allowed in Washington Slagbaai.
• Klein Bonaire has no toilets or restaurants. Check the last return boat before you go.
• Anyone who goes in the sea must have paid the nature fee.

Getting around

No rideshare

• WalkWilhelmina Park, Fort Oranje, the Terramar Museum, Kaya Grandi and Chachacha Beach are all within a short walk of the piers.
• TaxiTaxis wait at the cruise terminal but can be slow to find on busy days. They have no meters, so agree the price before you get in; fares are quoted in US dollars. The tourism board lists a taxi number: +599 717 8100.
• FerryWater taxis and ferries run from Kralendijk to No Name Beach on Klein Bonaire. Each operator sets its own schedule and prices.

Uber, Lyft and similar apps aren't available on Bonaire, and there is no scheduled public bus. Use a taxi, a tour, or a rental car, golf cart or scooter booked ahead.

Money, tipping & phones

Money

Bonaire has used the US dollar since January 1, 2011. Credit cards are widely accepted, but cash is handy for taxis and market stalls, so bring some dollars.

Tipping

Tipping is up to you.

Phones

The local mobile networks are Digicel and Chippie (Flow). Check your roaming plan before you sail.

Must-sees

• Downtown Kralendijk and Fort OranjeWalkableWilhelmina Park, the waterfront and the harbor fort (first built in 1639) are minutes from the piers, with Kaya Grandi's shops close by.
• Klein BonaireRide neededAn uninhabited island just off town, reached by water taxi. No Name Beach has reef close to shore and is a turtle nesting site. Bring everything you need.
• Salt pans and flamingosRide neededSalt pans and white salt piles in the south, with pink-tinted pools and the Pekelmeer flamingo breeding sanctuary. Watch the birds from the road; entry isn't allowed.
• Slave hutsRide neededRows of small huts from 1850 by the salt pans, where enslaved salt workers slept, plus obelisks that guided salt ships.
• Lac Bay and Sorobon BeachRide neededA sheltered, shallow bay on the east coast, known for windsurfing, with the largest mangrove forest in the Dutch Caribbean to explore on a kayak tour.
• Washington Slagbaai National ParkRide neededA rugged park covering the island's north end, with flamingos, parrots, salt lagoons and beaches. Tuesday to Sunday only, last entry 2:30 p.m., high-clearance vehicle advised.
• GotomeerRide neededA saltwater lagoon in the north where flamingos gather, seen from a viewpoint on a paved road.

Free & cheap near the pier

• Chachacha BeachA small sandy beach a few minutes' walk from the center, near the south cruise pier, with calm water and reef close by. You need the nature fee to go in the water.
• Wilhelmina Park and the promenadeFreeThe waterfront park right outside the piers, with a market of island-made goods on cruise days.
• Nature fee$10 one day (cruise passengers)STINAPA's nature fee is required to go in the sea and to enter Washington Slagbaai. STINAPA lists a one-day rate for cruise passengers; the calendar-year fee is $40.

Eat like a local

• Fresh fishMany local dishes are built around fish, cooked in lots of different ways.
• Goat stew and soupSlow-cooked goat is a local favorite in stews and soups.
• Iguana stew and soupA traditional island dish if you want to try something new.
• Rum raisin cakeA well-known Bonaire sweet.
• Local ice cream and sorbetLook for Ponche Crema ice cream and tropical sorbets like mango, plus fruits such as soursop, shimaruku and mispel.

Rainy-day backups

• Terramar MuseumSome 7,000 years of Bonaire and Caribbean history and archaeology, in a historic building in central Kralendijk, a short walk from the pier. Check its site for hours.
• South Pier MallShops next to the south pier, close to Chachacha Beach.

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions (as of August 20, 2026)

• Crime is low, but petty theft and smash-and-grab car break-ins happen. Don't leave valuables in a car or alone on the beach.
• Avoid isolated places, including beaches, after dark.
• Taxis have no meters. Use a registered taxi and agree the fare first.
• Bringing marijuana or CBD products into Bonaire is illegal, even with a prescription. Never carry a package for someone else.
• Hurricane season is June–November. Bonaire sits outside the main hurricane belt and has no record of a recent major hurricane, but tropical storms can bring wind, rough seas and rain.
• In an emergency, call 911. For an ambulance you can also call 913.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier

Ships dock alongside the North or South Pier in town, so there is no tender. No official step-free or wheelchair details are published for the piers.

• Wilhelmina Park and the waterfront are about 2 minutes' walk from the piers.
• Washington Slagbaai's roads call for a high-clearance vehicle and can close after heavy rain.
• Klein Bonaire is reached by boat and has no toilets.
• The 1000 Steps beach is reached by about 67 limestone steps.