JetBlue Is Now Flying Nonstop To A Caribbean Island Famous For Diving And Food

More than 80 different dive sites. A food scene anchored by a restaurant with a three Michelin-star pedigree. A fun, carefree, quintessential small-island vibe.

Travelers have been flocking to the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire over the last few years, as a destination that was long something of a secret has started to find its place on the travel map.

Now, it’s a whole lot easier to get there, with just-launched flights between New York and Bonaire on JetBlue.

The new nearly-five-hour flight, which officially started this past week, will be running twice per week, with nonstop flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays out of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

JetBlue has already flown for years to Bonaire’s Dutch Caribbean neighbors of Aruba and Curacao, and now it’s completed the trifecta.

It’s “significant step in our commitment to making our beautiful island more accessible to North American travelers,” said Tourism Corporation Bonaire CEO Miles Mercera, in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal.

So what do New Yorkers need to know about the island?

Well, the island found fame for its diving. What’s unique in Bonaire is that you don’t have to take a dive boat. Practically every dive site on the island is a shore diving spot, mean you can pull up your car right to the coastline, grab your tanks and jump in. (Most hard-core divers rent pick-up trucks for this purpose).

If you’re not a diver, you can dive into a food scene that is among the best in the region. It’s topped by the Brass Boer, the Caribbean outpost of the three-Michelin-star Die Librije in Holland and one that has regularly found its way to the top of the 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean rankings. It extends to everything from food trucks (make sure you go for the lionfish burgers at Cactus Blue) to seafood spots like At Sea.

The Brass Boer, the number one restaurant in the Caribbean last year.

What about hotels?

We love the Harbour Village Beach Club, a resort we named Caribbean Hotel of the Year in 2023 and one that remains the island’s signature place to stay — including the best beach in Bonaire. Rates from $350 right now.

There’s also the fun, sleek Delfins Beach Resort ($226), which, as we just reported, is joining the Hilton portfolio.

For a boutique stay, try the lovely Bamboo Bonaire, an adults-only hotel that’s all about wellness and serenity (Rooms starting at $226)

What about flight prices? You can book on JetBlue for as low as $555.24 for an itinerary in mid-November.

https://www.caribjournal.com/

Winter Is Here, And So Are Great New Flights To Bonaire

Delta and United among Airlines expanding non-stop air service to this tropical island paradise, home of the Caribbean’s premier luxury dive and beach resort

Temperatures may be falling in much of the United States, but the number of flights to the tropical island paradise of Bonaire is soaring. Starting in December, Delta and United are adding non-stop flights from cities including Atlanta, New York and Houston, making it even easier to escape to Harbour Village Beach Club, the Caribbean’s premier luxury dive and beach resort.
Located on a four-acre private peninsula on this unspoiled island paradise, Harbour Village Beach Club has been voted Bonaire's Leading Hotel on behalf of the prestigious World Travel Awards for the past ten years.

The resort’s well-appointed private suites are nestled amid lush tropical gardens, just steps from its dazzling white-sand beach, and feature opulent décor and thoughtful details like secluded lanais and double hammocks. Guests can enjoy world-class amenities that include an onsite First Class 5 Star PADI Instructor Development Center offering onsite scuba certification and a variety of other classes taught by some of the world's top professional dive teachers, and dive sites just off the resort’s beach.

Newly announced, expanded air service to Bonaire includes:
• Delta is offering an additional non-stop flight to Bonaire from Atlanta as well as a return flight on Sundays beginning late December 2015.

The airline also will feature additional non-stop flights to Bonaire from Atlanta as well as return flights on Tuesdays. Specific dates apply. Tuesday flights are available late December 2015 and mid-February through late March 2016. 

• United Airlines now has an additional non-stop flight to Bonaire from Houston, as well as a return flight on Saturdays through Summer 2016. In addition, United will add a non-stop flight to Bonaire from Newark as well as a return flight on Sundays from late December 2015 to early January 2016.

Bonaire is designated as having the most pristine coral reef environment and most species of fish in the Caribbean by the NOAA and is consistently named Best Overall Dive Destination by Scuba Diving Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards. Due to the island’s leeward location outside of the hurricane belt, and its consistently pleasant climate, crystal-clear visibility prevails at any depth and gives an enthralling view of the undersea landscape. Dive sites just off Harbour Village's shore include the shipwreck of the 60-foot "Our Confidence," located just 50 yards out, while another popular dive site, "Something Special," is also a short swim away. The resort also offers florescence night diving, allowing guests to use special UV lights to see the astounding array of florescent colors emitted by underwater animals and corals. Divers can also participate in coral reef educational dives at Harbour Village, a founding member of the Coral Restoration Foundation in Bonaire. In addition to diving, Harbour Village’s concierge can help craft the perfect itinerary of island adventures. Explore natural wonders such as Bonaire's famed solar salt beds and one of the world's largest pink flamingo nesting grounds, or catch a glimpse of the island's rare Bonairean Lora Parrot. Or relax at the resort, lounging at the seaside pool, dozing in a hammock on the beach or taking to the waves with our complimentary paddle boards and kayaks.

For more information on Bonaire and Harbour Village Beach Club, visit the luxury hotel's website at http://www.harbourvillage.com/ or call 1-800-424-0004 for inquiries on the resort's luxury diving packages.