One secret among scuba divers comes in the form of a small-but-beautiful, beachy island 50 miles north of coastal Venezuela. Bonaire, part of the Netherlands Antilles and the ABC (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) grouping, boasts some spectacular diving … but it’s also home to the kind of culture, cuisine and sun/surf/sand that sans-scuba vacationers dream about.
stay: The Harbour Village Beach Club offers luxe accommodations with a heaping helping of peace and quiet. Snooze in a hammock before heading to your (pre-booked) torch-lit dinner on the beach. If you’re interested in diving, a respected guide company—Great Adventures Bonaire—has a presence right on the property. If snorkeling is more your speed, join the 9 a.m. excursion to see more underwater life than the afternoon trip (but be prepared for chillier water). Harbour Village Beach Club, Kaya Gobernador N. Debrot No. 71, 599-717-7500, www.harbourvillage.com
see: Head by rental car to Sorobon Beach for a half-kilometre walk through crystal-blue water until you reach the reef. This spot is a windsurfer’s paradise—in fact, the island boasts several world champions in the sport. Take advantage of the shallow water and steady winds to try it out yourself (you can’t go wrong when you’ve got top-notch instruction from competitive pros at the Windsurf Place guiding you). While you’ve got your vehicle, stop for some Instagram photo opps at the pink-tinged salt flats and learn about Bonaire’s history at the circa-1800 slave huts. Windsurf Place, Bonaire, 599-717-2288, www.bonairewindsurfplace.com
savour: “Like” Cactus Blue on Facebook to find out where this food truck will be during your stay: the Lion Fish Burgers sell out fast. In town, check out the cheerful, colourful patio at Rumba Café, which offers a lovely view of the harbour and an affordable, shareable seafood platter of garlicky shrimp, calamari and the catch of the day. Rumba Café, Harbourside Mall, Kaya Grandi, Kralendijk, 599-717-8298
sip: With dance music, canopied lounge beds overlooking the sea and a party-ready crowd, it’s easy to mistake Friday’s happy hour at Spice Beach Club, right next door to your pad at the Harbour Village Beach Club, for a South Beach, Miami, hot spot. For a good time on a Thursday, head to Cuba Compagnie for its weekly salsa and merengue night. Insider tip: sip a glass of rosé and you’ll fit right in. Cuba Compagnie, Kaya Grandi, Kralendijk, 599-717-1821, www.cubacompagniebonaire.nl
That’s the beauty of Bonaire. —Karen Kwan
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