Your life at home is totally nonstop, and you find yourself daydreaming daily about a Caribbean vacation. In this vision, you're lounging on a beach chair with a piña colada in hand, gazing out at the picturesque cerulean sea and golden sand.
Chilling on the beach is an integral part of any island vacation, for sure — but there's something relaxing and rejuvenating about exploring, too. Finding a spot for your next getaway that can offer you both is the real stuff of daydreams, and Bonaire fits the bill.
This colorful Caribbean wonderland, which is an island municipality of the Netherlands, is brimming with visually stunning activities and exciting hotspots to explore, whether you're staying on land or passing through on a Celebrity Cruise ship.
Ready to turn your vacation dreams into a reality? Watch the video for a virtual tour of bright Bonaire and keep reading for your go-to guide to traveling in color.
FYI: Celebrity Cruises offers excursion bookings to many of the locations you see in the video above. To experience the on-land dining options, be sure to coordinate a private journey or make a reservation directly with the restaurant.
1. Pink salt flats (and flamingos)
Perhaps the greatest example of Bonaire's eye-catching, extraordinary scenery is the expanse of bright pink salt flat ponds set against the backdrop of enormous white salt pyramids. Fun fact: An abundance of tiny shrimp gives the water reserves their vibrant color.
Flamingos also get their color from these little swimmers — and at the end of the salt flats lies the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary, one of four areas in the world where the birds breed. The sanctuary isn't open to guests, but you can catch a glimpse of the flamingos from the road or at the nearby Pink Beach.
2. Beautiful Architecture
Much of Bonaire's architecture is reminiscent of the rainbow-colored houses that line the canals in Copenhagen, thanks to the island's Dutch roots. That's not the only rich history you'll find in the architecture, though — Spanish settlers founded the area in 1547, and you'll see their influence in structures around town. Rincon, the oldest village and cultural center of Bonaire, is known for Spanish-style buildings that are bursting with color.
3. Food with a View
While exploring the monuments and nature Rincon has to offer, don't forget to stop by Posada Para Mira for some traditional Bonaire cuisine. While you're tasting your way through local flavors (think: iguana soup and goat stew), bask in the beautiful, hilly landscape around you.
Greenery isn't the only backdrop for great restaurants in Bonaire — if you want an ocean view while you eat, check out Brass Boer for all the island vibes and Dutch-inspired bites. You can even rent a private table on the edge of the pier to watch the breathtaking sunset. Or for an evening of intimate, luxe dining on the sea, check out the contemporary menu at Luminae, which is an exclusive restaurant for guests of The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises ships.
4. Abundant wildlife
When it comes to natural terrain, Bonaire is a hotbed for untouched wilderness in its truest form. Take a water taxi over to Klein Bonaire, an uninhabited coral island, to sunbathe on the beaches, hike through the beautiful flora and fauna, or catch a glimpse of nesting sea turtles.
For avid snorkelers and divers, the real draw of Klein is its colorful underwater life. The vibrant reefs (where you can find nearly 60 species of coral) are a part of the protected Bonaire Marine Park, which also boasts stunning seagrass beds and mangroves.
Ready to get exploring and travel in color? Take a virtual tour of bright Bonaire, and turn your vacation dreams into a reality.
If you're already dreaming up your ideal itinerary, check out more Bonaire adventures you can experience with Celebrity Cruises and start planning.