Bonaire travel guide

Getting around

There is no scheduled bus service, but so-called autobuses (AB on the licence plate) pass at certain places in town and take you where want to go for a few guilders. There are taxis at the airport but they are difficult to find around the island. Taxis do not ‘cruise’ so you must telephone for one, T7178100. The best way of getting about is to hire a car, scooter or mountain bike. Distances are not great but the heat can be. Some hotels have a free shuttle service to town. Hitching is fairly easy and safe.

Ins and outs

Getting there

Long-distance regular direct flights come from Amsterdam, Houston and New York, while additional connecting flights from the USA and Europe come via Aruba, Curaçao, Montego Bay, Jamaica and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and there are charter flights from other destinations in season.

Banks

Mon-Fri 0800 or 0830-1530 or 1600. All have ATMs. TCs and credit cards are widely accepted. Royal Bank of Trinidad & Tobago, T7178417, F7178469. Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (Bonaire) NV, T7177249, F7172645, is a full-service Antillean bank, affiliated with Scotiabank of Canada, with a branch in Rincon, T7176266.

Emergency

T911.

Government

T7175300.

Immigration

T7178000.

Internet

Chat n’ Browse, at Kaya Gob. Debrot 79, near Sand Dollar, T7172281, is a ‘barefoot internet centre’. City Cybercafé, offers high-speed internet access at downtown locations. Several hotels offer internet access and wireless hot spots to their guests as well.

Medical services

The Hospitaal San Francisco in Kralendijk, T911 or T7178000, has 60 beds. There is an air ambulance for emergency evacuation and a recompression chamber.

Police

T7178000 or T911.

Telephone

The international code for Bonaire is 599, followed by a 7-digit number. Avoid the ‘blue’ long-distance credit card phones; even short conversations can cost US$25. For information on services, contact Telbo, T7177000, F7175007. You can dial most US 800 numbers from Bonaire, T0101001, then 300 instead of the 800. You may be charged for the international portion of the call. Some firms, especially credit card companies, can be reached toll free by dialling the international access code 00, followed by the normal 1-800 number. You can rent cellular phones at several places at low rates. European GSM phones and USA GSM tri-band phones will work in Bonaire.