Kitesurfing Bonaire, the Caribbean
“I went there with my family and we had a blast. It’s great for freestyle and the underwater wildlife is spectacular!”
Jalou Langeree, Naish team riders and Women's 2012 wave World Champion.
The Lure
Part of the Dutch Caribbean, Bonaire is a small island 50 miles north of Venezuela with regular flights from Europe, the US and South America. Atlantis Kitebeach is the main spot on the island’s southern tip with a sandy beach for launching and landing, steady offshore winds and butter flat water.
Catch some Bonaire vibes in the video below
The Setup
At Atlantis Kitebeach you'll find clean, unbroken offshore winds and ultra-flat water, which is the most brilliant shade of blue you could imaginable!
The bay's wide with plenty of space for everyone and though the beach shelves away quite quickly, it's sandy in the shallows so you don't need to wear booties. Because of the obstruction-free water, this is a great spot for beginners, freestyle riders and foilers thanks to the lack of sand bars and low lying reef. Don't be put off by the offshore winds either, the biggest kite school on the island – Kiteboarding Bonaire – is right on the beach with safety boat cover should you need it.
Kiteboarding Bonaire boat support and staff / PHOTO: Kiteboarding Bonaire
Wind, weather & water
Bonaire has some of the best wind stats in the Caribbean with 300+ days of wind a year and the northeasterly trades average 18 knots most of the time, but can ramp up to 30-35 knots in May and June. Conditions carry on through the summer and can be good in October and November as well. The wind dips down from late September onwards, but you can still score fun big kite or foiling sessions.
You’ll be riding nine to 11 metre kites mostly with some seven metre days in there as well. Water temps remain at 26 - 28°C / 79°F - 82°F all year, so you won’t need a wetsuit and air temps are also really warm (in Bonaire you're only 50 miles from South America after all) ranging from 28 - 32°C / 82 °F to 90°F.
Watch Dylan van der Meij shred through the blue in Bonaire
Shop & Schools
KITEBOARDING BONAIRE
are IKO certified and teach all levels at max ratio 2:1 at Atlantis Kitebeach. The longest-running school in Bonaire, they run rescue cover and stock / hire brand new Duotone, Slingshot and CrazyFly gear. There’s also wifi, a chill-out area and a seriously cool office – a renovated American school bus!
www.kiteboardingbonaire.com / info@kiteboardingboanire.com / +599 701 5483
Warm waters and friendly instructors / PHOTOS: Kiteboarding Bonaire
Learn to fly with Kiteboarding Bonaire
Accommodation
For accommodation, there are self-catered houses and apartments – some are close to the spot – as well as a number of high-end hotels and resorts around Kralendijk. The team at Kiteboarding Bonaire are able to offer advice on where best to stay.
Windhoek Resort Bonaire is a great option and just a couple of minutes from the kite spot.
www.windhoekbonaire.com / info@windhoekbonaire.com / +599 777 5483
The Windhoek Resort Bonaire / PHOTOS: Windhoek Resort
TRAVEL AGENTS
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com / info@planettravelholidays.com / +44 (0)1273 921 001
Sportif Kitesurf Holidays provide kitesurfing and multi sport holidays to the very best destinations worldwide. Sportif centres have the latest equipment and highly qualified, experienced staff. Whatever your level, you'll find a range of flexible rental or instruction packages, with a choice of accommodation from budget to luxury 5* hotels, right next to the centres.
www.sportif.travel / info@sportif.travel / +44 (0)1273 844 919
No wind
There's rich marine life in the waters that surround Kralendijk and in the mangroves around the south of the island, all of which have marine reserve status. You can check them out on windless days and go SUPing, snorkelling or visit the National Park that makes up 20% of the island's landmass. The island's capital, Kralendijk, is about nine kilometres away from the kite spot and has a very relaxed feel.
The biggest town is Kralendijk, which is about nine kilometres from the main kite spot and has supermarkets and restaurants (some of them very upscale), with views across to Klein Bonaire and the incredible sunsets.
There’s rich marine life in the bay of Kralendijk and in the mangroves around the south of the island to check out on no-wind days, or there’s beautiful beaches, SUPing, diving, kayaking, wakeboarding, sailing or exploring the island.
SUP sesh in Bonaire / PHOTO: Kiteboarding Bonaire
Bonaire from above
Get around
Bonaire is small, intimate and friendly with a typically-Caribbean pace of life tinged with a Dutch influence. It's only 39 kilometres-long by eight-kilometres at its widest point, so nothing is very far away and renting cars, scooters or motorcycles is a good idea if you want to explore.
Currency
United States Dollar - USD
Food & Drink
In Kralendijk you'll find supermarkets, bars, cafes and restaurants (some of which are very upmarket) with views across to the small island of Klein Bonaire. There are some idyllic spots to grab a drink and watch the sunset and afterwards you can choose to eat anything from pizza to fresh fish straight off the boat.
Airport
Flamingo Airport (BON) is nine kilometres from the airport, serviced by direct flights from Amsterdam with KLM or TUI. United Airlines fly in from Newark and Houston while Delta come direct from Atlanta. Flying in via Aruba or Curaçao are other options and a number of South American airlines fly there too. Most car rentals companies operate from the airport.
TRAVEL AGENTS
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com / info@planettravelholidays.com / +44 (0)1273 921 001
Sportif Kitesurf Holidays provide kitesurfing and multi sport holidays to the very best destinations worldwide. Sportif centres have the latest equipment and highly qualified, experienced staff. Whatever your level, you'll find a range of flexible rental or instruction packages, with a choice of accommodation from budget to luxury 5* hotels, right next to the centres.
www.sportif.travel / info@sportif.travel / +44 (0)1273 844 919