Anchorage· Bonaire· Other Caribbean

Bonaire National Marine Park Moorings (Kralendijk)

12° 9.4′ N · 68° 16.8′ W · approximate

The only way to overnight on a yacht in Bonaire: a line of bi-coloured STINAPA visitor moorings strung along the Kralendijk waterfront between town and Harbour Village Marina, a few boat-lengths off a reef that drops straight into blue water. You can snorkel off the stern onto a reef most islands would build a park around.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

No anchoring anywhere in Bonaire except in an emergency with Harbourmaster approval (Virgintino 2015; STINAPA: anchoring prohibited except small fisher boats under 4 m). Overnight visitor moorings are the bi-coloured buoys, max 18 m LOA (STINAPA); a Noonsite reply puts the practical limit at 55 ft, bigger boats go to Harbour Village Marina. Register at Customs and at Harbour Village Marina before using one; the marina collects the fee and monitors VHF 17 (Virgintino 2015). Reported fees: USD 10/night in 2018, about USD 35/day in a January 2023 cruiser report (verify locally). Use your own bridle/tie-on line, never tie the buoy loop straight to a cleat; doubling up is wise. Yellow public dive moorings are 2-hour daytime use only, max 13 m. Holding tanks required (Noonsite comment); pump-out was free at Harbour Village in 2023. Speed limit 5 km/h in mooring fields and harbours, 10 km/h elsewhere inside the park; pass at least 50 m from moored boats. Moorings nearer Harbour Village are quieter than those off town. Dinghy landing: Karel's Beach Bar pier or Club Nautico dock (USD 10/week in 2023). Coordinate approx: placed ~150 m offshore of Club Nautico (OSM) within the mooring line; pick up a free buoy by eye.

Best for

Overnighting on the reef within walking distance of Kralendijk

Season

Year-round; the field turns rough in rare SW/W wind reversals (most likely Sep–Dec) - move into Harbour Village Marina

Practical

Best for

Season

Nearby