Cruise from Kralendijk

Kralendijk is the capital of the island of Bonaire in the Dutch Antilles, located in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela. Surrounded by a coral reef that makes its fame worldwide, the city has a rich cultural heritage that attracts many tourists every year, thanks to its rich flora and fauna. The island of Bonaire was discovered by Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci in 1499, it was then part of Spanish territory. Then, in 1633, it was the turn of the Dutch to own the island. Subsequently, the Dutch Antilles became French, in 1805, after the conquest of Napoleon. In 1816, following the Treaty of Paris, it was returned to the hands of the Dutch. The abolition of slavery date occurred in 1863. Almost a century later, in 1943, Flamingo International Airport was built, promoting the development of the island. Bonaire obtained its independence on October 10, 2010. The boomerang-shaped port is full of cruise ships that stop to allow a visit to tourists. The city of Kralendijk offers paved roads with some shops, restaurants, and bars on the waterfront. Nearby is Fort Orange, built in 1639 to defend Bonaire's main port. The center of Kralendijk is the ideal place for shopping, shops are generally open from 8 am to noon and from 2 pm to 6 pm. This place is much quieter and more relaxed than the other ports in the Dutch Antilles. The splendid Bonaire National Park is considered one of the best diving destinations in the Caribbean, while Washington-Slagbaai Park in Brandaris is the highest point on the island. Other popular sites to see are the salt pyramids and the Willemstoren lighthouse.