October in Bonaire...

[asxinu]

Ok, I'm going to Bonaire in October and was curious as to whether anyone has had any experience with the area above the water. Yes, I will be underwater most of the time, but you can only stay down so long. So, when above water, are the bugs bad? How about the weather? I mistakenly went to the cdc web site for bonaire and now I'm wondering if I need to wear a mosquito net all the time. They suggest wearing light pants and long sleeve shirt along with 50% deet on exposed skin. Sounds crazy to me, but being so far from home, i want to make sure I stay relatively healthy.

Oops...Posted in wrong forum....

 

[spectrum]

Bugs were nearly nonexistent at the end of April this year, maybe we hot it right. I think that you will be right after the doldrums so the trade winds should be back. Have fun.

Pete

 

[CLEAR BLUE]

We went to Bonaire last year on Halloween and were there for the first 10 days of November. We had very little problems with bugs at all. Never saw any bugs at all at the southern end. The further north we went there were bugs - especially in the evening. Didn't have any bug spray with us at all and didn't really feel like we needed any.

 

[dvrliz1]

Asxina,

It all depends on the rain we get. I personnaly utilize Skin So Soft Bug Guard by Avon and it works for me! Others can only use something with DEET. Bring it just in case. The mosquito here LOVE tourists from the knees down, especially the "no see-um" ones. Also, depending on the Hurricane Season, winds are almost calm the 1st two weeks in October, but we've seen it last through until the end of November. The major time to expect a mosquito attack here on Bonaire is at dusk, until it gets dark.

Hope this helps.

Liz

 

[robint]

definitely take something with DEET in it with you just in case. We were there in June and used it every night at sunset and before bed. The mosquitos were biting! I did get one bite as did my hubby, but others in our group got eaten up from the knees down every night at dinner. We killed a couple of mosquitos each night in our room also...its not as bad as I have ever seen, but they are there so better to be prepared!

robint

 

[Jersey]

Feb had a couple rainy days early on & outside the bugs were an issue. Right around dusk. There were a few in our party who suffered - one girl still has the marks & scars from the Oct 2006 trip. We had an even greater problem inside. During the day we kept the french doors open for air, but kept our bedroom door shut (with towels stuffed under the door). Several nights the buzzing & droning woke us. We both suffered bites to the face & woke with blood drops on pillows. I'm seriously considering netting for the next trip, just in case.

 

[Buc Chick]

Just got back from Bonaire about 2 weeks ago. Used Cutter Max 100 which is 98% DEET. I guess it worked well because I did not get one bite when I had it on. I did not put any on when we were leaving, wouldn't need it on the flight back, right? Well, we got bumped off our flight, was sent to the Plaza and was absolutely eaten alive by mosquitos, and this was during the day! Still got marks on my feet and legs.

 

[asxinu]

Great info. I'm definitely getting much 98% DEET as I seem to attract mosquitos.

 

[ETnScuba]

asxinu - I'm going to be there October 7 - 13 and will be staying at Sand Dollar. I was in Bonaire the same time last year and really didn't have much of a problem at all with bugs. We took some repellant, but usually forgot and left it in our room. I'll be taking some again this year, but am hoping to not have to use it.

I saw in your profile you'll be arriving during the week I'm there. Where are you staying?

 

[oceancat]

I was there in the middle of Oct last year and the bugs weren't horrible. I wouldn't fret about malaria or needing to bring bednets or anything like that. Bring some bug spray for the evenings and you will be fine. The CDC website is covering their tush, so they always give the worst of the worst of what you can catch places. Have fun!