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Located eighty-six miles east of Aruba, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire offers year-round sunshine, pristine coral formations and the most thriving fish population in the Caribbean. Ideal for adventurers, explorers and sun-worshippers alike, Bonaire offers myriad eco-adventure activities including world renowned scuba diving and snorkeling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, nature tours, hiking, bird watching, sailing and fishing. And with a selection of accommodations ranging from full-service oceanfront resorts and condominiums to guesthouses and small inns, Bonaire has something for every lifestyle and budget. Culture | History | Diving | Entry Requirements | Restaurants | Shopping | More Information |
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The Bonairean culture is reflected in the faces of her people. Its origins are as varied as are the ethnic roots of the 11,000 plus residents. The real Bonairean culture is based on traditions that go back many generations and are chronicled in the songs and dances that are performed during holidays and festivals. It is also based on strong family ties and a general respect for nature and an understanding of an environment that originally was foreign to those first settlers and slaves that were forced to work the inhospitable, arid land. Those early days of slavery conditioned the people to be strong in the face of adversity. And, it was during this time that the spirit of the people began to develop and they made up songs, invented dances, and began to sing in the old African Tradition. These songs and dances evolved into festivals and have survived to become an important part of life and culture on Bonaire. The dances of the Simidan and the Bari are the best known. The traditional Waltz, Mazurka and the Polka and the local "Baile di Sinta" (ribbon dance) were performed as well as the Rumba, the Carioca, and Merengue which came from other islands. American Jazz also influenced the local traditions of song and dance. Along with an eclectic assortment of homemade musical instruments, those early performers set the stage for a rich, local tradition which continues on to this very day. The cultural tradition continues to be influenced to this day. Visitors may just as well enjoy a Mariacci band or a local group performing on the same venue. Some of the most beautiful music you will hear may be a Mozart or Vivaldi piece played with an Antillean beat. Bonaire's history is deeply rooted in its inhabitants and their culture. The tranquil beauty of the island is reflected in the faces of her people. From the first inhabitants, the Caiquetios (a branch of the Arawak Indians) who sailed from the coast of Venezuela almost 1000 years ago, to the many cultures now living and working in Bonaire today, the island has a distinct character that is all its own. The first Europeans came to Bonaire in 1499, when Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci arrived and claimed it for Spain. Finding little of commercial value and seeing no future for large-scale agriculture, the Spanish decided not to develop the island. Instead, they unceremoniously enslaved the Indians and moved them off to work in the plantations on the Island of Hispanolia, effectively leaving the island unpopulated. The name Bonaire is thought to have originally come from the Caiquetio word 'Bonay', a name that meant low country. The early Spanish and Dutch modified its spelling to Bojnaj and also Bonaire. The French influence while present at various times never was strong enough to make the assumption that the name means 'good air'. Regardless of how the name came about, the island remained as a lonely outpost until 1526. Bonaire's early years were not ones of prosperity. Her inhabitants were mostly convicts from other Spanish Colonies in South America. The only permanent settlement was the village of Rincon, located far inland where it was thought to be safe from marauding pirates. In those years, development was discouraged in favor of the richer, more productive colonies. In 1633, the Dutch took possession of Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba. The largest island, Curacao, emerged as a center of the notorious slave trade. Bonaire then became a plantation island belonging to the Dutch West Indies Company. It was during those early years that the first African slaves were forced to work, cutting dyewood and cultivating maize and harvesting solar salt. Grim reminders of those days still remain in the form of slave huts and salt pans which were laboriously constructed by hand. They are an important part of the island's heritage and have been left to stand mute testimony to Bonaire's repressive beginning. Until 1816, ownership of Bonaire changed hands a number of times, finally being returned that year to the Dutch as a result of the Treaty of Paris. A small fort, Fort Oranje, was built to protect the island's main resource, salt. Salt was one commodity that Bonaire had in endless supply, although it took back breaking slave labor to produce it. In the early days of the industry, the most important use for salt was in the preservation of food, since refrigeration was still centuries away. By 1837, Bonaire was a thriving center of salt production. The government, who by then controlled the industry, built four obelisks, each painted a different color, red, white, blue and orange (the colors of the Dutch Flag and the Royal House of Orange). They were erected strategically near areas of the salt lake. The idea was to signal ships where to pick up their cargoes of salt. A flag of the corresponding color was raised atop a flagpole, thus signalling the ship's captain where to drop anchor. Three of the obelisks can still be seen today. The abolition of slavery in 1863 signaled an end to the era of exploitation of those first Bonaireans. It was almost a hundred years later that the salt industry was revitalized. Today it is a division of Cargill, Incorporated, one of the largest businesses in the world. It also was during this time that the island began to attract visitors. Tourism was born when the island government constructed the first ship's pier in the harbor. It allowed cruise ships to tie up alongside the wharf and discharge passengers. It also made it easier to bring in goods and supplies for the island's residents. Hotels began to spring up and cater to the early visitors who enjoyed the tranquility of Bonaire. In 1943, the construction of a modern airport south of Kralendijk made it even easier for tourists to reach the island. The history continues to be written. The people of Bonaire are part of the past and are proud of what they have accomplished on an island that was abandoned hundreds of years ago and deemed useless by the Spanish. As for the future, Bonaireans welcome progress but have made a conscious decision to take time out and step back and to look at how it will impact their island and their lives. They have learned to balance their growth with the environment.
Bonaire is widely recognized as among the world's best dive destinations. The readers of Scuba Diving Magazine recently ranked Bonaire the #1 destination overall in the Caribbean, top shore diving destination, best beginner dive destination, and best underwater photography destination. The island ranked second in "small animals," marine life, healthiest marine environment and visibility, or clarity of the water. It was also ranked in the top five for snorkeling and value. The island of Bonaire was also featured on CNN in May 2005 as part of a segment that highlighted the four best dive destinations in the world! Citizens of most countries in the world do not need a visa for their entry to our island. However, effective January 1, 2005, visitors from certain countries are required to have a visa for stays of up to 3 months (90 days) in the Netherlands Antilles, since beginning in 2005, the Dutch Kingdom synchronized visa requirements among Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. For the list of these countries, please go to http://www.infobonaire.com/entryrequirements.html. For an island that raises no food products to speak of, it is no small feat that Bonaire's 75 restaurants have taken high honors at international culinary competitions two years in a row. The team of chefs, representing a number of our top restaurants, has brought home many medals and honors to our island. There is a wide variety of tastes and cuisine that are the result of the ethnic diversity of the island's culture. This blend has resulted in recipes and dishes that will please any palate. From haute cuisine to fast food with a local flavor, Bonaire's chefs earn their medals every day. Many restaurants have theme buffets, i.e. local food, Tex-Mex or island barbecues. There are places with barhap (bar – snack) menus, tabletop grilling and even fast food. Don't forget the local restaurants where diners are treated to goat stew, delicious soups, local gumbo or other unusual but tasty fare. For a list of restaurants, go to http://www.infobonaire.com/restaurant.html. One thing you that won't find on Bonaire are endless shops selling the same trinkets and souvenirs at ever changing prices. What you will find is a main shopping avenue, a few mini malls and lots of interesting establishments tucked away just a bit off the main drag. Each store is unique and stocks merchandise that is competitively priced with goods from the United States and Europe. And, fine shopping is not limited to town. Our resorts also have an array of stores. Watches, authorized Rolex dealer, gold jewelry, Dutch cheese, Cuban cigars (enjoy them on-island, not importable into the USA) and fine china can be found at reasonable prices there as well. Check out our local artists and craftsmans. Many of the gift shops carry locally made items that could be your perfect Bonaire memory - paintings, prints, cards, ceramic tiles, painted fish, costume jewelry, island dolls, and even high quality gold jewelry. Check with your home country as to allowances and items you are able to import. For a list of stores, go to http://www.infobonaire.com/shopping.html. For more information on Bonaire, contact the Tourism Corporation Bonaire in the U.S. at 1-800-BONAIRE or the TCB office in Europe at 31-23-543-0705, or visit Bonaire’s official website at www.InfoBonaire.com.
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