Bonaire lies 50 miles off the Venezualan coast with a population of 20,000. It is 111 square miles and 24 miles long and 3 -5 miles wide. Early humans arrived in 3300 BCE and the Caquetio Indians in 500 AD. Bonaire was discovered in 1499 by the Spanish who enslaved the natives and sent them to Santa Domingo in 1515. Spain and the Netherlands fought the 80 Year War and as a result the Netherlands acquired Bonaire in 1636 and built Fort Orange in 1639. Bonaire became a plantation of the Dutch West India Company. A small number of African slaves were brought in. During the Napoleonic Wars the Dutch lost control to the British who brought in many white traders but regained the Island under the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814. All slaves were freed in1862. In 2010, Bonaire became a Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island is essentially a coral reef with hills in the north and large mangrove forests in the south with numerous lagoons and inlets. Bonaire is home to Flamingoes , donkeys and Yellow-Shouldered Amazon Parrots.
The northern tip of the island is occupied by Washington Slagbaai National Park. The southern part has Bonaire Marine Park which is an underwater park. Tourism on the island is heavily into water sports especially scuba diving and snorkeling. 15 cruise lines land 80 tours a year. Salt is exported and evaporates from the system of ponds and pools. The majority of the population is Mulatto. There are no real plantations left and most have been converted into wealthy individual estates. 68% of the population is Roman Catholic and Dutch is the official language but Papiamento is widely spoken.
Pastechis pastries
Sopi Piska fish soup
Sopi Kadushi candle cactus soup with fish
Guiambo soup made with okra and fish
Piska Krioyo fish prepared Creole style
Kabritu Stoba goat stew
Kesha Yena Edam cheese stuffed with beef
Pika Siboyo condiment
Tekibon local spirits
Cocada coconut sweets
Baka Stoba beef stew
Klein Bonaire deserted island with great beaches and snorkeling and scuba diving
Bonaire National Park Underwater
Lac Bay
Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary
Washington Slagbaai National Park
Mangrove Center
Diving and snorkeling
Capital City – Kralendijk
Kralendijk is a small town of just a few blocks. Its buildings are well preserved and colorful and built in the Caribbean architectural tradition.
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