How are the beaches in Bonaire or should we go to Caymen?

[ksalay]

Hi ..

We are planning on going on a family vacation to Bonaire. My husband and I dive so we are going to bring the au pair to look after the kids.

We want to find a place that has great beaches for the kids to play on.

How are the beaches in Bonaire or should we go to Caymen?

Any recs for great beaches and great diving? We just got back from Cozomel so we don't want to go there.

thanks in advance
Karen

 

[diversteve]

I'd pick Cayman. Stay on Seven Mile Beach. It's 5.5 miles of white sand beach, in most places it's also really nice offshore. There is some ironshore in a few areas, mostly at the south end so ask about it before you book your hotel. A lot of people book condos instead, they're mostly right on the beach. The diving is as good as Bonaire, maybe better. The vis certainly is. And you'll see more pelagics and bigger stuff there. Diveops will pick you up on SMB also with their vans. And there's the Boatswains Beach/Turtle Farm complex and the Butterfly farm for the kids to see.

Beaches on Bonaire are few and far between since it mostly sits on ironshore. There's a good beach at the Plaza Resort which is on the 18Palms divesite. But it's kind of spread out so a long walk between the divesite, the beach and their dive operation located on the lagoon at the south end of the property. Divi Flamingo has a strip of sand on their property, the casino, and you can walk to town from there.

Harbour Village has a nice beach area but not so great diving. Eden Beach has a decent piece of sand with a few palm trees and is on the Front Porch divesite. On the other side of the island, Lac Bay is a good beach but it's the windsurfers beach also. And the diving from there is back on the west coast about 10mins. away. Nothing in Bonaire is too far away though.

You might also consider Curacao, there's some good beaches there. Especially at some of the resorts in town. The Curacao Marriott comes to mind, it's a very nice Marriott with a nice beach adjacent to a nice pool area. The diving is almost identical to Bonaire except the reef is a little farther out in some areas and the drive between shoredive sites is considerably longer.

For day trips you could all go out to Sunset Waters, they have a nice beach area with a protected cove that the kids (with boots on) could wade in and snorkel while you dive there. There's also a bigger beach area on their property but we didn't go in the water there so I don't know whether it's clear or not - some of the "beaches" on Curacao have ironshore/coral rubble just offshore. Porto Marie is another beach complex with improved facilities, a snackbar and a good beach with diving just offshore. Curacao itself is a little rougher than Bonaire, more crime, bigger city etc.

 

[worlddiver]

The Cayman Islands beaches are just grand. Seven Mile Beach is awesome but there is a deserted beach on the NW area, past a place called Pappagallo where their are no hotels, homes or people. Just make sure you take water with you because there is nothing out there. The snorkeling is great and this is where they do the beach horseback rides.

 

[alashas]

Karen,

As already mentioned, Grand Cayman has many more beaches, and sandy ones at that: http://honeymoon2.smugmug.com/gallery/2388205_mFZeY#125142950

We had a good experience on GC at Lacovia Condos on 7 MB: http://www.lacovia.com/

Bonaire's beaches are smaller, with a fair amount of iron shore, so you pretty much need to wear something to protect your feet: http://honeymoon2.smugmug.com/gallery/2809461_XyQxk#150051739

Great diving at both places! GC tends to have deeper dives, whereas Bonaire has shore diving from 20 to 80' or so.

Cheers, alashas

 

[DiveDad]

I'd add a big endorsement to the condo route, especially for a family. You'll get more space (bedrooms, kitchen, etc.) than a hotel room.

 

[Cecil]

Agree with above but there is another consideration, I found Grand Caymen much more expensive than Bonaire.

 

[Rynomar]

I also agree that the Cayman Islands have better beaches but I thought that the reefs were in much better condition on Bonaire. Seven mile beach on Grand Cayman is very nice but it is also quite crowded with tourists. I was recently on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. Grand Cayman seemed to be pretty developed and there were alot of activities to enjoy.

Cayman Brac was much quieter and had better reefs in my opinion. We stayed at the Brac Reef Beach Resort and really enjoyed it. It was more expensive that Bonaire but enjoyable. I don't know what kind of activities were available for kids at any of the locations but I would guess you will have the most options on Grand Cayman. Have fun.

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

The best beach I saw in Bonaire for the kids to play was probably at the Plaza Resort. The dive site is the 18th Palm and you just walk in off a nice sandy beach. Eden Beach would also be a nice place to stay with the kids.

 

[300bar]

IF you want to go to the ABC islands got to Curacao.
Bonaire has no beaches, exept some very small ones.
This is due to the fact that Bonaire is a National Park
and nature can go it's way.Since hurricane Lenie all the
beaches are gone.On Curacao they put the beaches back.
Furthermore Curacao has a nightlife,Bonaire is closed after
22.00h.