kitesurfing on Bonaire

 

General Info:
The location and the Village

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The Island Territory of Bonaire is one of five island areas (Eilandgebieden) of the Netherlands Antilles, consisting of the main island of Bonaire and, nestled in its western crescent, the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire. Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles.
As part of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire is accordingly a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The structure of the relationship between Bonaire, the Netherlands Antilles and the Kingdom is being considered for change under proposed legislation. The Netherlands Antilles was scheduled to be dissolved as a unified political entity on 15 December 2008, so that the five constituent islands would attain new constitutional statuses within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but this dissolution has been postponed to an indefinite future date. As of December 15, 2008, legislation to amend the charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to define the new status of Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius was still being reviewed.

It is a small island with a small spot and the nearest city is Kralendijk. If you walk on the boulevard you will find allot of restaurants with seafood. On Bonaire you pay with the Gulden. One euro is like 2,5 guldens.


The seasons and Hotel info

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The season is from January till September. The prices are prtty normal like in Europe. There are allot of hotels where you can stay, they are all pretty good hotels.

Possibilities besides kiting

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Next to kiting you can go wake boarding, cycling, you can visit the nature park and the biggest thing next to kiting is diving. Bonaire is one of the best deving spots on the world.


Climate

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Bonaire is blessed with one of the gentlest climates in the Caribbean, with very little rainfall (less than 22 inches annually) and a prevailing easterly trade wind that provides a constistent 15 mph (= 25 Kmh) breeze. This trade wind is also one of the coral reefs best friends and a major reason these reefs are among the most prolific in the world. When the wind blows constinuously from the same direction, one side of the island has "rough" water conditions (the windward side), the other side (the leeside) is almost always clam. Since Bonaire lies at a 90 degree angle to its trade winds, the island's western side (where you'll find all of the snorkeling operations) is always calm and protected.
Not only does this provide perfect snorkeling conditions about 99% (no exaggeration) of the time, it also alows corals to grow prolifically in shallow water (rough water tends to knock some of the corals over, preventing them from attaining full growth). The low rainfall on Bonaire is also a blessing, since fresh water from rivers (there are no rivers on Bonaire) and rain runoff are enemies of the coral reef. Freshwater runoff almost contains sediments, which can harm the coral by literally smothering it.



Spot conditions:
The beach

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The beach is pretty small, and the beach is made from white sand and old dead coral. On the beach is a little kiteschool with a boat. There are further no other (dangerous) objects on this beautifull beach.


The water conditions

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The water (25C) is really clear and the first four meters you can stand. Afther the first few meters the water is to deep to stand and it has some scharp coral under it. The water is super flat.



The wind conditions

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The wind is always offshore (15-30 knots). Early in the day and at the ending of the midday the wind is the best (pretty stable). During the day the wind can be a littlebit gusty.


Facilities

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There is a kite school at the spot Atlantis, there is a boot and you can rent stuff there. (www.kiteboardingbonaire.com).

The spot is most of the time not really bussy, only when there is a big groop of people (15) it can get a bit bussy.



Downwinder and trip possibilites

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There are not really downwinders but you can go to Klein Bonaire with the boot and go kite there.



Travel info

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Inhabitans : dutch, antilian
Currency : NAF
Near airports : Yes
Typical food: iguana soup
Injections: Not needed
Visum: for dutch not needed



Links

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www.kiteboardingbonaire.com

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonaire

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