Preparing for a trip to Bonaire is mostly simple, but there are a few things that will help you make the most of your time there. These things either saved me stress, added convenience, or maximized my adventures, and they all got a lot of use while I was there. Here’s my guide on what to pack for Bonaire with all the essentials to prepare you for an epic vacation. I’ve written six main things that are worth having – aka the essentials, and a couple of extra handy tips.
What To Pack For Bonaire – Don’t Travel Without These 6 Essentials!
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
Before we get started, for convenience I created an Amazon list with all these products here.
Waterproof satchel to protect your valuables at the beach
This is probably the most important thing to get for your trip to Bonaire.
A waterproof satchel allows you to keep your valuables on you while you swim or snorkel. No more stressing about your keys or eagle eye-ing your bag on the beach – you can actually be in the moment and enjoy the water.
I use these waterproof satchels. They come in a pack of two and include a waterproof phone holder as well.
I put my keys, ID card, bank card, and a little cash (if I have it) in here when I’m swimming and snorkeling. They’re sturdy, easy to use, and keep everything safe and dry.
If you like diving down in the water, I recommend using a plastic zip lock back inside the satchel as a second waterproof measure. I’ve noticed sometimes when I dive down in the water the pressure breaks the seal of the bag just a tiny bit. I put my valuables inside a zip lock bag first to add an extra layer of protection.
If you’re just floating on the surface of the water, then the extra measure is probably not necessary.
Dry bag
A dry bag is a great addition to your travel kit if you like visiting beachy destinations, taking boat tours, or visiting places with a rainy climate.
I use this 10L bag and use it for a few reasons:
- Paddle boarding, kayaking, or other water adventures
- Beach days
- Separating wet beach gear (e.g. snorkel gear)
- As a backpack on rainy days
- Boat tours
Naturally, it’s a great thing to have in Bonaire since you’ll most likely be in and around the water a lot.
It comes particularly in handy in Bonaire to separate your wet beach gear since the car rental companies can be strict about keeping the car dry and sand free.
You could also snorkel and swim with this bag, but I like to have the smaller satchels because they’re more streamlined.
Lightweight towel
Don’t get caught carrying around a bulky beach towel from the hotel.
They take up a huge chunk of your day bag space, take longer to dry, and the whole inconvenience is completely unnecessary.
Get yourself a lightweight beach towel like this one and it’ll be a game changer for your beach days.
They’re easy to pack even if you only travel carry on (I do too) because they roll up small and weigh next to nothing. On your adventure days they won’t take up much space in your day bag and they dry really fast too.
They’re a convenience win-win-win.
Reusable grocery bag
I recommend taking a reusable grocery bag if you plan to visit the grocery store in Bonaire.
They don’t provide grocery bags at the store, so you’ll need to buy one there or ask for a box. In my opinion it’s just easier to pack your own and be prepared.
I bought this three pack years ago and they’ve stood the test of time. They are lightweight, roll up small, washable, and also double up as a cute beach bag too!
Waterproof camera
If you’re visiting the shore diving capital of the world, a waterproof camera is a no-brainer.
I use and recommend GoPro. Get one and it will give you high quality photos and videos of all your adventures for many years to come.
The cool features and ease of use allow you to get consistently epic footage for your instagram, photo albums, or family movies.
If you will be snorkeling, I recommend getting a floaty selfie stick and this is the one I use. There are three reasons it’s important:
- Wrist strap – whatever selfie stick you get, make sure it can strap to your wrist because they’re very easy to lose in the water
- It floats
- Length – it extends so that you can get closer photos of animals. They will swim away from you faster than they’ll swim away from a small camera on a selfie stick!
For your land adventures, I recommend this compact selfie stick and tripod for travel.
The floaty stick doubles up as a good tripod height for a time lapse sunset video!
Slip resistant sandals
A pair of slip resistant sandals are going to come in handy while you’re exploring Bonaire.
I use these Luna sandals and love how sturdy and reliable they are. These are firm sandals so it’s a good idea to practice wearing them before your trip so your feet can strengthen and adjust.
Specifically for Bonaire, they came in handy in two main ways.
Firstly, some of the beaches were quite rocky whether it was the entire beach area, like Karpata, or walking over sharp rocks to get in the water, like Oil Slick. The sandals made it easy to walk over the rocks and protected my feet.
Secondly, when I was walking around town sometimes there were puddles of water left from the rain and/or slippery mud areas that were unavoidable. The sandals got through those easily. They’re easy to rinse off so I didn’t need to worry about them getting dirty.
A couple of bonus packing tips for Bonaire
Maxi dresses and cover ups
The dress code in Bonaire is beachy casual.
Cover ups are great for during the day as you are beach hopping, then a couple of maxi dresses will take you into the evening.
And, let’s face it, they always look great!
Prepare for the elements
Bonaire is mostly an outdoor destination so the last thing I want to share with you is to pack things to prepare for the elements. You can also buy these when you get to Bonaire if you prefer.
I recommend:
- Sunscreen (reef safe)
- Bug spray
- Hat
- Water bottle (or buy one there and refill it)
Hydration supplements can be helpful if you are a heavy sweater or will be swimming a lot. You can buy online like these ones or get a Powerade or similar drink while you’re there.
Where to stay in Bonaire
Save yourself hours of searching for a place to stay and book at Casa Mantana.
This is where I stayed and it was absolutely wonderful. I’d certainly stay there again in a heartbeat.
Here’s what I loved most about it:
- Convenient location walking distance to restaurants, shops, and water taxis but just far enough away from the noise.
- Shared items like beach chairs, water shoes, cooler etc. I especially loved using the beach chairs at sunset!
- Friendly hosts that make you feel like family and help with any recommendations you need.
If Casa Mantana is unavailable, check out Booking.com for other guesthouses on the island. I always book accommodation through there and can always get a good deal.
Casa Mantana
Casa Mantana
Bonaire travel guides
I have a couple of other articles to make the travel planning easy.
- How to plan a trip to Bonaire – has all your planning and logistics info for stress free vacation planning.
- Best things to do in Bonaire – this one has your itinerary covered with the best things to see, do, and eat while you’re there.
- Best places to snorkel in Bonaire – this is your snorkeling cheat sheet with all the best spots and useful information like GPS coordinates and parking.
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