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Bonaire, Dutch West Indies |
If a little
peace and quiet is what you want or spectacular diving, windsurfing and
snorkeling suits you, then this is it!
Sorobon Beach Resort, along with
Club Orient in St. Martin, Hidden Beach Resort near Cancun and Eden Bay in
Dominican Republic, comprise the only four true nudist resorts in the
Caribbean, where you can take it all off for 24 hours/day and stay that way for
365 days a year! |
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 U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
 Sorobon
Beach Resort is on Bonaire, about five miles southeast of the island's small
capital and only airport, Kralendijk. Island population numbers about 18,000
and are Dutch residents, since Bonaire is a part of the Netherlands legally.
Sorobon Beach Resort is aptly named after the beach where it's located, a
spectacular expanse of white sand, great for terrific snorkeling and diving
close by. This is one of only two sandy beaches on Bonaire.....most others are
coral outcroppings. You can sun bathe nude, wade out or snorkel into the
Caribbean for many yards to enjoy the calm, aqua blue waters and pure white
sandy bottom.
 There is
not much to do at Sorobon Beach so make sure you take your fins, mask and
snorkel plus a lap top computer and plenty of books to read or you may get
bored. We suggest you rent a car for your visit so you won't feel so isolated,
because the resort is at the end of a long two lane road in the middle of
nowhere, with nothing to see and zero vegetation. The land in that part of the
island is bleak but the beach and water make up for it. Thirty well appointed,
separate bungalow units make up the resort. Built in 1984, the resort is Dutch
owned and operated with 12-14 staff, a hefty population of resident iguanas,
sugarbirds and assorted pink flamingos close by at the salt ponds on the
southern end of the island.
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
Bonaire is part of the Dutch Antilles chain with
Curacao and Aruba in the lower Caribbean, called the ABC islands. Aruba gained
its independence from Holland several years ago while Curacao and Bonaire
retain their colonial status. Bonaire is literally at the door step of South
America, which is just about 50 miles south of the island. The resort is
located away from civilization so if isolation is your aim, you'll have plenty
of it at Sorobon Beach! The resort itself is about 5 miles from town and
literally in the middle of nowhere. A BIG plus for the ABC islands is that they
are way out of the hurricane belt so the islands rarely experience major
storms.
Temperatures are moderate and range from the lower 70s F (24 C)
to 85F (29 C). Rainfall averages 20-25 inches per year with beach water a
perfect 80 F (27 C). Trade winds cool the islands contstantly. For divers, you
don't need a wet suit unless you plan to wrestle with the coral!
Bonaire
and all the ABC islands are easily reached from North America, South America
and Europe with daily flights from Miami, Caracas and Amsterdam. Bonaire is the
least visited of the three ABC islands. Flights arrive at Bonaire's Flamingo
Airport, the gateway to the island. Rent a car to see the island and to visit
the resort.
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The resort's bungalows are located on a 200 yard section
of Sorobon  Beach
facing a shallow lagoon called Cai Lac, with mangrove swamps and a coral reef
about half a mile out. Each single story chalet bungalow contains a separate
bedroom and a fully equipped kitchenette. Up to three adults and a child can
sleep in a chalet. Beds are queen sized and chalets contain a safe, ceiling
fan, clothes storage, a living/dining room with a single day bed, coffee table,
chairs, dinner table , stove and refrigerator. Floors are tiled and a patio
with shade is in each unit with deck chairs and table for wasting away the
days. Maid service is provided. Towels and linens are changed frequently and
beach towels are provided while you're a guest.
Credit cards and
running a tab for your purchases are acceptable and bills can be paid in cash
via US Dollars, travelers checks and via charge cards.
The resort also
provides a free shuttle into town for shopping six days a week. The ride takes
about 15-20 minutes between the resort and town.
NOTE: Please take care
of your valuables, cash, airline tickets and passports while on vacation. Some
vacation destinations are considered "third world" countries and experience
petty theft. Recommendation: Do not take precious jewelry unless you wear it
all times; keep your cash, valuables, watches, travel documentation and cameras
with you and don't expect your in-room safe to be "safe." Just a word of
caution to make sure you remember to practice common sense with your valuables
while you're on vacation.
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 There is
one small Sugarbird Restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and a choice at
night of two, three course dinners. There is a small open air bar and lounge
adjacent to the restaurant. Limited videos, card and board games are available
and "happy hour" is daily from 5:30-6:30 PM, a good time to meet others at the
resort. Since it's so small, you'll probably have met them anyway during the
day.
 Occasionally,
modest theme nights are sponsored featuring barbecues or Dutch evenings
highlighting local favorite foods. Note that most food and supplies have to be
imported anyway so don't expect bargains there. A small shop at the reception
area offers items for souvenirs, beach wear and sundries. Yoga sessions for
free may be held twice a week and massages are available almost any day for a
charge.
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Low season rates start at $150-$175 USD/night for a chalet.
High season rates can run 20-30% higher. A deposit is usually required. High
season in the Caribbean is normally December 15-April 15 annually, when prices
are higher.
Prices, terms and conditions subject to change without
notice. Seasonal specials may also be offered especially for low season during
the summer and fall.
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You will see everyone from babies to senior citizens there,
as this is billed as a family resort. You will find a cross section of the
guests from North and South America with a good percentage from Europe and
Holland, of course.
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 We've been to all three islands several times and rank Bonaire
tops for scuba diving below the surface but at the bottom for things to do and
see on land. With only one small town, there are few diversions to keep you
busy if you like lots of action, shopping, late night parties and bar hopping.
There are a few casinos for modest gambling but don't go there expecting Las
Vegas or Monte Carlo!
 Bonaire
and its adjacent island, Klein Bonaire (uninhabited), rank as one of the top
dive sites in the world. We have dived there and spectacular coral reefs are
literally a few yards offshore, and dive boats are not always necessary to
enjoy a super dive experience.
TIPS
• Rent a car as their is
no public transportation.
• Make sure you see the salt ponds with
beautiful pink flamingoes.
• Go there with a plan to scuba dive
and snorkel, or at least learn. You may be really bored otherwise;so go with
friends if you can.
• Look for the small hand lettered signs around
the island's beach roads for recommended dive and snorkel sites, a nice touch.
You can get a map from the tourist office in town that identifies the numbered
dive locations.
• Take wind surf shoes or sand shoes to protect
your feet along the coast line, since most of it is coral, especially at the
secluded dive sites.
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Drive north of Kralendijk to see the rest of the island.
While the southern half is arid and dry, the northern part of Bonaire has
 lots more
vegetation and a few small villages in the hilly and rugged interior, a great
excuse to stop for a cold beer, Dutch of course. Rincon, an interior town, is a
good place to stop. The northern part of Bonaire has a rocky coastline and in
the interior, a forest of cactus.
One of our most unforgettable
experiences we had was to drive up onto the plateaus over looking the town for
great scenery of the island and  Caribbean
sea. But the biggest surprise was the thousands of small lizards that seemed to
be everywhere.... thousands upon thousands of them. The critters don't bother
you but they do appreciate any left over snacks you might have. We can't
imagine what they found to feed on the rest of the time! For a hilarious show,
drop a bit of food in the middle of the bunch and and see them go for it.
A hint of a bygone, unsavory past is gained by visiting a few of the
restored stone slave huts/villages along the southwest side of the island's
beach road, adjacent to the salt ponds where they used to work. You appreciate
your lifestyle nowadays when you compare and view what civilization went
through there to get where we are today.
Washington/Slagbaii National
Park covers almost 14,000 acres in the north, with rugged plants, exotic birds
and animals within. Goto Lake is a huge salt water, land locked pond which
attracts pink flamingos.
Travel south to Lake Pekel Meer where you'll
see salt flats also favored by flamingos. Salt is stilled mined and processed
naturally from the lake beds so man, machinery and flamingos still manage to
co-exist peacefully. Certain of these southern salt flats are off limits for
tourists as they serve as a protected flamingo sanctuary.
Hit
town at least once or twice for limited shopping and dining. Kralendeijk is
also an infrequent stop for a limited number of cruise ships that make it a
port of call occasionally. You'll see and enjoy plenty of reminders of the
Dutch influence there with waterfront cafes, marina, dive shops, a shoreside
shopping mall and the town just outside for a few blocks of window shopping.
You will enjoy the neatness and attention to detail the Dutch influence is
famous for.
Further north of town, there are several condominium
projects, many fine marinas and a few restaurants along the beach road. For the
diving purist, Captain Don's Habitat is arguably one of the best dive resorts
in the ABC islands. We've dived from that resort where you can literally flop
down the dock with your flippers and equipment on, jump in the water with all
your dive gear and be on the reef about 25 yards away in a matter of
minutes.
To catch the locals, boaties, divers, cruise ship tourists and
to find out what's going on around the island, don't miss the island's best
watering hole to down a cold Amstel or Heineken's at Karel's Beach Bar in
downtown.....but not too many as you can literally keel over the bar stools
right into the Caribbean. (Best beer buzz for the money.....try a "Polar" beer,
brewed in nearby Venezuela...it's plenty strong). What a way to get make a name
for yourself! We've hoisted our share of cold suds there and can attest to the
fact you're never more than a barstool away from the Caribbean. Thank goodness
they've got a board railing around the floor. Karel's, built in 1985, is really
not on the "beach." The bar is on the waterfront adjacent to the cruise dock
and shops in town. Karel's proprietors, the Vissers, own a bistro across the
street called Zeezicht for grilled fish, local dishes and other seafood. Live
music invades the weekends at Karels with soca, reggae, merengue and other
island boogies. Put your clothes on and pay a visit to Karels....especially
around 6 PM, for spectacular Caribbean sunsets.
With thanks to
Caribbean Travel & Life:
Want to scream along the salt flats in
a wind-powered adult version of a Hot Wheel, try Landsailing Bonaire where
they'll sign you up for some fun. Take a look at the fun you'll have at:
www.landsailingbonaire.com
For a little added
variety in town, along the waterfront in Kralendijk, the Salsa Bonaire is a
steamy hotspot on Friday night when a trio plays from 6 to 9 PM. Sunday night,
there's steel drums and a pulsing beat. Try the rum drinks, then head upstairs
for dinner of garlic shrimp followed by desert…lime pie topped with lime
syrup and lime ice cream. That's lip exercise any way you describe it. More
variety downtown includes: Den Laman restaurant and bar and the Cactus Blue Bar
& Restaurant. Try the Cactus Potions…duck in and waddle out after
sampling: Cactus Lemonade, Cactus Banger and Cactus Juice.
For more
windsurfing, Sorobon Beach and Lac Bay are the best for wave jumping and
kayaking on the east side of the island.
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If you aren't a diver, snorkeler or a nude sun
bather, you will find little else to do on Bonaire. |
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We've been to Aruba and Curacao several times and can
help you plan your vacation add on there. |
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The ABC islands are NOT tropical. Most first-time
visitors are surprised to find cactus and arid desert-like terrain on most of
all three of the ABC islands. This is not Jamaica or St. Lucia! |
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Bonaire is so far south that it rarely if ever is
affected by hurricanes. |
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Year round!
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The island is quaint and relatively unspoiled so we hope it
stays that way.
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• View the Photo
Album
We have a small photo album up for Sorobon Beach Resort.
Would you like us to add some of your photos of Sorobon Beach Resort or
Bonaire? If you have some, please go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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• View the Trip
Reports
We're just starting our trip report page for Sorobon Beach
Resort or Bonaire. Check out what we have and if you have been there, why not
contribute go to our Contribute
Trip Report / Photographs page.
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You can arrive any day of the week so call CASTAWAYS TRAVEL
for your vacation. You can stay as long as you like.
Now that you
know, GO! Contact CASTAWAYS TRAVEL via our
quotes / reservations page or
800-470-2020 during the business day to book your trip. Thank you for visiting
our website. We appreciate your kind consideration. |
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