Far Corners of the Caribbean

February 1, 2023

Island Life from North to South: First Port of Call Bonaire Way down South

Beachfront cocktails as pretty as the beaches in Bonaire at the Ocean Oasis Beach Club.

The Caribbean Sea is dotted with island jewels varying in geography from white sand beaches to tropical jungles, mountainous terrain to coral reefs.

Each offers a diverse mix of ethnicities, languages, culture, and cuisine.

Let’s visit two sparkling examples in the far corners of the Caribbean from Bonaire in the south to the Turks & Caicos in the north. The appeal of swaying palms and lapping waves is a common theme, yet the destination details are distinctively different.

BONAIRE: A Blue Destination

Designated as the first Blue Destination in the world, Bonaire is fiercely proud and protective of its waters, wildlife and cultural ways. All visitors are encouraged to sign the Bonaire Bond, pledging to understand and respect the island’s natural ecology both under the sea and on the land.

That means lose the plastic water bottles, choose a reef friendly biodegradable sunscreen, and please don’t feed the flamingos.

Since the water surrounding Bonaire is a protected Marine Park, expect to pay a required Nature Tag fee as a contribution to the eco-conscious mission.

So while tourism is encouraged, this island paradise is serious about preserving the beauty of Bonaire for today and tomorrow.

It’s in Our Nature

One of the most beautiful sights on Bonaire is a flamboyance of pink flamingos – a flock of flamingos. Their diet of algae and tiny brine shrimp brings on the pink and that’s why you’ll see 50 shades from pale to brilliant as a flamingo matures. Bonaire is home to over 200 species of birds including the Caribbean parakeet and endangered yellow-shouldered parrot.

Sometimes protecting nature means eradicating a destructive species. Enter the lionfish (originally from the Pacific Ocean) now on the hit list for destroying Caribbean marine life. Happily, lionfish are delicious to eat but it does take a pro to clean this pesky invader because of its venomous spines!

Doing all of the work and earning all of the smiles, is the Cactus Blue Food Truck famous for serving up lionfish burgers with a spicy sauce and fresh lemonade.

Bonaire Beaches and Beyond

While scuba diving is a major magnet for water sports lovers, Bonaire is great for snorkeling, paddle boarding, windsurfing and a kayak eco-tour through the mangroves. Hop out of your kayak and snorkel around to spot barracuda and other fish nibbling on mangrove roots.

Or perhaps you might prefer the ease of slipping into the clear blue waters of a palm lined beach like the one at the peaceful Harbour Village Resort. Just steps from your lounge chair you can dip below the waves and swim with an aquarium of colorful tropical fish and then raise your hand to signal the bartender for another rum punch.

Craving more water with a side of food and wine? Melisa Sailing elevates a sunset cruise with an onboard chef’s tasting menu including citrus marinated tuna, beef tenderloin with white chocolate garlic sauce and rum baba with banana compote and coconut ice cream.

Traveling inland another world awaits. To the south, witness an expanse of pink salt flats, where the briny stuff is harvested from evaporated seawater. To the north, experience a magical tour of towering boulders, cactus fields, wandering donkeys and tiny villages. In Rinco, founded as a pirate hideout, you’ll find treasure at the Cadushy Distillery known for cactus liqueurs and an award winning rum.

Step into history at the Mangazina di Rei Exhibition to learn how thorny cactus fences are carefully constructed and why the iguana as an island food source is still referred to as “Bonaire Chicken”.

Let’s Go Dutch

Located just 50 miles off the coast of South America, Bonaire is part of the Dutch Caribbean’s ABC Islands with Aruba and Curacao. So get ready to hear a lot of Dutch being spoken and meet vacationers from the Netherlands. Grocery stores are well stocked with Dutch treats such as Gouda cheeses, Heineken and traditional stroopwafel cookies.

Meet the dream team at Ingridients, noted for creative Caribbean meets Mediterranean menus with chefs and front of the house trained in the Netherlands, noted for the world’s best hospitality schools.

The Dutch influence on Bonaire is delightfully expressed in the restaurant scene where many chefs are professionally trained in the Netherlands, but celebrate preparing local fish such as snook, and wahoo with island produce and spices.

CHEFS at the Bamboo Bonaire Resort is an exceptional dining experience with one seating a night for about a dozen guests who watch as the chefs cook, assemble, and serve a carnival of exciting courses. Friends since culinary school, chef owners Han ten Winkel and Mark Tromop take turns describing the exquisite dishes (in Dutch and English) such as Caribbean snook filet with a chicharrón crumble, sweet corn beurre blanc and lobster oil.

Then how about guinea fowl with black truffle sauce and malanga chips? The evening concludes with more drinks while guests and chefs chat about the evening’s menu and other adventures on Bonaire.