Location - The island lies 30 miles from Curacao, 50 miles north of Venezuela, 86 miles east of Aruba, outside of the Caribbean hurricane belt.

Size/Population - Bonaire is 38,6 km long by 4,8 – 8 km wide. Approximately 18,000 people live in Bonaire.

Language - There are four languages spoken on Bonaire today. While Dutch is the official one used in government and legal transactions, Papiamentu is used in daily exchanges and commonly spoken under the locals.  English and Spanish are also common.

Currency - As of 1 January 2011, the US dollar became the official currency of the BES Islands. Only dollars are dispensed at bank ATMs and counters.

Drinking Water - Bonaire's seawater is distilled and purified to become one of the purest drinking waters in the world. Bottled water is available.

Electricity - 127/120 volts, 50AC. adapter are available in the hotels. Most U.S. appliances will work on Bonaire, though slowly. Many dive shops have adapters for charging lights, strobes or delicate equipment.

Safety - Bonaire has a reputation for being one of the safest islands in the Caribbean, however visitors should take normal precautions and keep personal property secure.  Hotels have safes, etc. to store passports, tickets etc.