Bonaire Vacation::: Shopping

In terms of shopping on Bonaire, it all depends what you have in mind. Are you looking for caribbean-themed items to give to casual friends? Are you a treasure hunter who's after local artwork and boozy delights that one can't find anywhere else? Do you want to keep your money in the Bonairian economy? Does a Bonairian salt scrub tickle your fancy? How about a "hand-crafted" souvenir flown in especially from China.

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All of the above is offered and much, much more. There are a number of shops lining Kralendijk's main street, Kaya Grande, where you can find the assorted gifts, postcards, salt, cheaply-made goods, expensively-made goods, etc. There are several Bonairian companies that offer truly local products such as:

Onima Aloe grows and processes their own aloe vera on Bonaire to produce pure and effective products. You can find their aloe products at the following locations:

Botica Korona
Cultimara Supermarket
Divi Flamingo resort
Eden Beach Resort
Flamboyant at the Kaya Grandi
Le Ma Se in Rincon
Plaza Resort
Sorobon Resort
Washington park
Warehouse Supermarket

Cadushy of Bonaire Liqueur is made from a large, night flowering cactus that is harvested, dried, and then put into an alcohol extract to produce the sweet tasting, bright colored Cadushy Liqueur. It comes in a distinctive 0.5 litre triangular bottle and costs around US$ 25.

Hand-made candles, Bonaire salt scrubs and oils can be bought from Fundashon Kwido pa Personanan Desabilita, not far from the center of Kralendijk. It's a foundation and home for disabled folk. One can find their handicrafts at Go Green's farmer's market.

Curacao-born artist, Germaine Nijdam creates beautiful pieces of art from driftwood found on Bonaire's shores. Her atelier is in Santa Barbara at Kaya Onix #1.

The Yellow House at Kaya Gobernador sells various driftwood creations such as lamps, sculptures, mirrors, and paintings. This eccentric abode is always worth a visit.

There a number of clothing stores around Kralendijk that boast the latest fashions as well as the not-so-latest fashions. You'll be fine if you're after a pare of slacks or cute sandals, but where Bonaire really shines is their snorkeling and diving gear. Almost all the dive operators have stores that sell gear and other dive-related items; there are also an equal amount of renting options.

Author S.J Rendall - Travel writer.