There is no bad month for Bonaire. It is warm all year, it gets little rain and it lies south of the main hurricane belt. What does change through the year is how busy the island is and what you pay. Here is how to pick your dates.

The short answer

Mid-December to mid-April is high season: dry, sunny and the busiest time of year, with the highest prices. Mid-April to mid-December has the same warm water and sunshine, quieter dive sites and lower nightly rates. If your dates are flexible, that second window is the better deal.

Weather through the year

Daytime temperatures sit around 30°C (high 80s °F) all year, and the trade wind keeps it pleasant. September is usually the hottest month.

Rain is limited. The wettest months are October to December, and even then rain usually comes as short showers. The start of the year, around March, is the driest.

Water temperature and diving

The sea is warm all year: around 26°C (79°F) from February to April, rising to about 29°C (84°F) in September and October. Diving and snorkelling are good in every month, and most shore dive sites are marked with a yellow stone along the coast road.

In the quieter months you share the popular sites with fewer people.

Hurricanes

Bonaire lies south of the main hurricane belt and is rarely hit by a hurricane. Storms further north can bring some extra wind or waves for a day or two.

Which dates suit you

• Guaranteed sun and a lively island, and you don’t mind the price: mid-December to mid-April. Book early, both the stay and the car.
• Best value, quieter beaches and dive sites: mid-April to mid-December.
• Coming to dive: any month. The quieter months give you the reefs more to yourself.

Whenever you come, rent a car: there is no public transport you can rely on. Our trusted partner Caribbean Rentals has cars from $40 a day, with your airport transfers included.

See all our apartments and villas, most of them on the water at Ocean Breeze Boutique Resort.

Questions

What is the best month to visit Bonaire?
For the best value, May and June: dry, warm and quiet. For the liveliest season, January to March.

Does Bonaire get hurricanes?
Rarely. The island lies south of the main hurricane belt.

How warm is the sea?
Between about 26°C (79°F) in February to April and 29°C (84°F) in September and October.