Regarded as one of the world's premier sites for
shore diving, the tiny boomerang-shaped island of BONAIRE , located
80km north of Venezuela, has much to offer those seeking an active
tropical holiday. Beneath the clear blue waters, divers and snorkellers
are treated to a stunning spectacle: schools of fish of every imaginable
shape, size and colour swim with sea turtles and other marine creatures
in and around the delicate coral and sponge gardens. All this and
more can be found in the waters of the Bonaire Marine Park , which
surrounds the entire island and its neighbouring offshore cay,
the uninhabited Klein Bonaire.
As rugged and barren as the land may seem, the island has a different
character to it depending on where you are. In the hilly north,
the cactus-strewn landscape of Washington-Slagbaai National Park preserves
remnants of the island's history along with a host of local flora
and fauna. To the south, the land opens up and becomes flatter,
and
vast multicoloured saltpans attract the largest colony of pink
flamingos in the Caribbean. If you're after more adventure, there's
windsurfing
at Lac Cai , on the island's east coast, and kayaking in the nearby
mangrove swamps.
Outside of its natural attractions, Bonaire's appeal is low-key.
In the evening you can enjoy the sunset while dining in one of the
many restaurants found in Kralendijk , the island's tidy capital,
also home to a few cultural attractions and numerous shops. |
