Ferry between Curacao and Bonaire

[muzicgirl]

Hello!

I was wondering why there wasn't a ferry/boat service between Curacao and Bonaire. We have to travel between the islands in September and would do just about anything to not have to get on one of those tiny propellar planes. It is bad enough that I am terrified of flying. Has there ever been a ferry or boat service or it wasn't worth it to run? Seems like it could be a popular and relaxing option and add more dive time to a vacation with no flight in between!
-M

 

[mike_s]

There used to be a ferry, but I think it was canceled. (maybe someone can confirm this.)


a quick google search found this....

Ferry from Bonaire to Curacao? - Kralendijk Forum - TripAdvisor



and Info Bonaire - Getting to Bonaire - By plane or ship

Many people ask but, unfortunately, there is NO ferry service of any kind between Bonaire and Aruba, Venezuela, or Curacao. Scheduled travel between these locations is limited to air travel.

 

[DeputyDan]

Every wonder why the ferry between St Marteen and Saba is the vomit comet???

 

[Kukuisa]

There used to be a passengers ferry between the islands of Curacao and Bonaire. But there weren't enough people who took this way of transport (it took about 4 hours, one way), so they went out of business.

Before that we had the "Almirante Luis Brion" who also went to Coro in Venezuela, but that's more than 20 years ago. The Luis Brion could transport cars.

Unless you charter a boat, the airlines are the only way to get to Bonaire from Curacao.

K.

 

[DiverVince]

Unfortunately it was never economically feasible. Additionally, too many folks ending up barfing. The waves in the open ocean are big! Not practical as many folks have later realized.

 

[Cecil]

No ferry but DAE (DAE - Book your flight to Aruba, Bogota, Bonaire, Caracas, Curacao, Santo Domingo, St. Maarten, Valencia - Dutch Antilles Express - Book your flight to Aruba, Bogota, Bonaire, Caracas, Curacao, Santo Domingo, St. Maarten, Valencia - Dutch Antilles Ex) flys medium jets between Curacao and Bonaire.

 

[KY_BOB]

A ferry would be cool. I'm going to be in Bonaire in a few weeks. I plan on doing a lot of diving but it would be nice to take an afternoon or maybe just my no-fly day and see another country.

 

[dvrliz1]

They did have one called "Chigogo" (flamingo in papiamentu). It was a vehicle, person ferry. From what I can see a lot of persons and vehicles utilized the service at the beginning. Unfortunately, it was VERY unreliable. It could take as little as 2 hours to get to Curacao to Bonaire and up to 4.5 hours back (due to high winds, rough seas). If I recall, it was "broken down" a lot, and did not handle the sea very well. Unreliability led to a huge decrease in service, hence going out of business. DAE has ATR's which have 48 seats, and are prop planes, but feel more like a normal plane, rather than a cessna (I love little planes BTW) feel.... and its a really quick flight...

Liz

 

[KY_BOB]

Small planes don't bother me in the least but I'll be night diving on the night before my no-fly day (last day there), so that rules out just about any type of air travel.

 

[cstreu1026]

We tried to do the ferry when we went on our honeymoon since we did a week on Bonaire and a week on Curacao. They told us they did not allow lugage so we ended up flying which cost us 2 days of diving.