Bonaire - May ?

[czezz]

Hi,
did anyone of you go kiting to Bonaire ?
Im thinking of going there on the beginning of May 2016.

Can anyone advise me:
- where are kite spots there ?
- is it a good time to go there kinting (windy) ?
- suggestion where to stay ? (im a solo traveller)

Cheers

[Frank82]

Wind is great at that time of the year (good between january-august). There's only 1 official spot and it's called Atlantis, it's where the kite schools are and the wind is offshore. They offer a rescue service at 20$ per rescue, with the constant wind you have there you'll barely if ever need it.

[czezz]

Hi Frank,
thanks for reply.

I can see on the map that Atlantis Kite Beach is quite far away south from town.
How to get there ? Rent a car or bus/taxi or some deal with one of the kite schools ?
Any recommendation where to stay/accommodation ?

[Frank82]

Rent a car/scooter, no recommendations on where to stay really. You can try contacting the kite schools but they arrive at the spot early and leave late. It's pretty deserted at the spot.

[POACHER]

Thread JACK:

I would assume Bonaire and Curacao get the same steady, awesome wind that Aruba gets?

I enjoyed Aruba, but wished it had a few more spots to ride with less people. (No offense!) Anyone with suggestions for Curacao as well as Bonaire?

80 degrees and 25mph wind EVERYDAY is kite heaven.

[southflorida]

Bonaire appears to only have one spot with off shore winds. Went around entire island looking...the best bay on the island (Lac Bay) is off limits to kiters, quite a shame. Lots of windsurfing in that bay, absolutely no kiters allowed, they hate kiters is what I was told. One day, when windsurfing gets cancelled , Lac Bay will be the No.1 kite spot in the ABCs. It's almost perfect.

Curacao has a nice bay and spot, which is said to be private property, but earlier this year, it was still open to kiters. Heard it may go "club" and a fee would be required. That is in Sint Joris bay, so no waves, lots of chop. Presumably there are waves spots elsewhere in Curacao.

yes, all three islands are blown by the warm trade winds, but there is a low season (Oct/Nov?) check the stats in ikite or something like that

Lac Bay, Lac Bay, Lac Bay in Bonaire... that will be the place one day...some deep pockets needed to buy access for kiters

[we]

We've stayed at:

www.djambobonaire.com/en/ - Simple but closer to the kiting at Atlantis. Within walking distance of downtown.

www.bamboobalibonaire.com/ - Nicer small cottages, but further from downtown and the kiting (maybe 10mins or so further). Not within walking distance from downtown.

I would say that you have to rent a car. Wind was consistent. A little gusty but we got used to it. Offshore winds took a little getting used to.

Windsurfed in Lac Bay just to check it out. Yeah, it would be awesome.

[POACHER]

Just for grins Kiteforum's members as a collective should send Bonaire (or whatever governing body) a letter/petition letting them know just how much $$$ they are turning away by not allowing kiters to use Lac Bay....

I looked at it on Google Earth and watched a couple Youtube vids of guys windsurfing it. Yeah.....it looks prime.

[Brenkie]

Don't bother the wind, it will be there, it always is.
Atlantis is the spot to be, Lac Bay is a great spot but indeed only for windsurfing.
Some smartass kiter once crashed his kite on the gouverners head when he came to talk about allowing kiters into Lac Bay. That was the end of the discussion.

I stayed at Sorobon beach resort, at Lac Bay. A perfect place to stay, nice apartments surrounded by a beautiful garden on the beach of Lac Bay. http://www.sorobonbeachresort.com/
We choose that location because our little daughter had to take her afternoon sleep and meanwhile we could stay on the beach within reach of the babyphone.
But there are also some more budget options.
When you have a windsurfing background like me it is nice to rent some gear for a few days to soar over Lac Bay, and Sorobon has the best beach of the island.

Rent a Toyoto Hi-Lux at the airport, the most common car and it also can take you into Washington Slagbaai park, where you should go when you stay at Bonaire. The drive to Atlantis beach takes you 10 minutes from Sorobon or Kralendijk.

Bonaire doesn't have any tall buildings which makes it a real getaway. No trafficlights, no traffic jams and the whole island is basically one giant rock of coral with hundreds of divespots. We did a snorkling tour to klein (small) Bonaire. You definitly should take a look under water as well.

I have been told that on the oceanside of the north entrance of Lac Bay, where the boats go out of the lagoon, it is also allowed to kitesurf. But as I was alone and the reef is pretty shallow at several places I didn't dare to risk it.
From Atlantis beach you can also kite to the south of the island and pick up some swell too.
When you tell the guys from the schools on the beach they can keep an eye on you.

Just go there, you won't regret it. But don't forget to buy some mosquito repellent.

[thekoning]

Went to bonaire last last year. But I cannot explain how disappointed I was that lac bai has kiteboarding banned.... The kitespot is at the other side of the island which was inconvient becuase the villa I was at was right on lac bai. Windsurfers have it best on Bonaire for sure.