Windsurfing and Kitesurfing in Bonaire.
About the island
Bonaire is only gently touched by development. This sleepy island doesn't attract crowds. It is famous for its turquoise waters, colorful clouds of tropical fish and pink flamingos.
The island has a population of about 10,000 which is outnumbered by the flamingos nearby. Unlike some islands, it isn't just surrounded by coral reefs -- it is the reef, sitting on the underwater mountain. In most places around the island the reef system starts where the water does.
This island is close to the coast of Latin America, just 81km (50 miles) north of Venezuela. Part of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire together with Aruba and Curaçao forms a group referred to as the ABC islands. The capital is Kralendijk. It is most often reached from its neighbor island of Curaçao, to the west or from Aruba to the east. Like all the Dutch ABC islands, this one lies outside the hurricane belt. The average air temperature is 28°C (82°F) with the average water temperature 27°C (80°F).
It is a dry, desert-like island with cacti and iguanas. Its northern sector is hilly. However, the southern half is flat containing bays, beaches, and a salt lake that attracts the flamingos.
Although there is a privately owned nudist resort on the island, public nudity of any kind is illegal and insulting to the local people. Topless sunbathing and swimming is tolerated on non-locally used beaches.
When to go:
Bonaire has two wind seasons: very windy and windy, each with their own charms. The very windy season extends from the middle of December through August ; the windy season from September to the middle of December. Every October, the island celebrates Regatta Week, with a series of international sailboat and windsurfing races. There are also professional surf-sailing contests throughout the windy season.
Conditions:
Bonaire has long been known as one of the finest windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations in the world. The island offers near-perfect conditions for all levels of surfers, from beginners to experienced sailors. It has steady trade winds. The boomerang shape of the island breaks the winds current into a range of intensities. Winds blow 12-18 knots September through middle of December and reach 15 to 25 knots the rest of the year.
There are no major wind gusts and if you are a beginner, this will shorten the learning curve. The shallow waters of the major surfing bay also boast favorable on-shore winds making the island the perfect place to learn.
That consistent wind allows sailors to perform jumps, inverted loops, spinning maneuvers, and other "freestyle" moves.
For the most part, the beaches are full of coral and feel gritty to bare feet (booties may come in handy, but not a must have).
The best beaches for sailing:
The best spot for windsurfing is Lac Bay beach which is located on the windward side of the island. Kitesurfing is not permitted at this beach. Lac Bay has the most beautiful turquoise water and balmy breezes. It is approximately 8 square kilometers and free from boat traffic.
It offers near-perfect conditions for all levels of windsurfers. Beginners start out on this beach. The shallow knee deep waters here allow easy recovery from falls, and the bay's protective barrier reef ensures smooth-water sailing. More experienced sailors strike out for the blue-green swells across the bay. In this intermediate area there's still some swell protection offered by the island's outstretched arms, but the energy of the wind and the water are raised a few notches. For experts in search of greater challenge there's an even more adventurous option at Lac Bay's outer edges. Here the mast-high swells of the Caribbean and the steady strength of the trade winds create sailing conditions of unequaled consistency and excitement.
Lac Bay's beaches remain unspoiled by high-rise hotels and casinos.
It has only two resorts nearby which are likely to remain the only developments, since Lac Bay has been declared a protected marine park (Bonaire National Marine Park).
It is necessary for all who use the waters of the Bonaire National Marine Park to pay a Nature Fee of US $10.00 per year. At the time of payment, you will receive a specially designed tag indicating your support for nature preservation and a receipt.
More experienced sailors and kitesurfers should go to Pink Beach which offers flat water sailing and is located on the southern end of Bonaire. Nearby is another good beach for kitesurfing, Atlantis. Also try Klein Bonaire beaches, Bonaira’s uninhabited little neighbor.
Lac Cai beach at the entrance to Lac Bay is used by mostly kitesurfers and wave sailors. It is not easily accessible but worth going if you want wavesailing.

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