Does anyone know if the Plaza has shade trees on the beach. When i'm not diving, I live on the beach.

Thanks
Kevin

There are some palm trees and there's shade around the main area, but it's pretty busy.

While the plaza beach is busy there is no problem getting a beach chair or finding a spot of shade. I was there two weeks in Jan (01/16-01/31).

Kevin,

This is a shot taken from the North end of the Plaza beach looking South. If you look closely, you can see the fuel storage tanks at the West end of the airport. As you can see, there are plenty of palms to sit under.



We will be standing there in the same spot again on September 25th

Is that the same beach that's next to the Governor's "mansion"? I seem to recall that being known as Governor's Beach at one point. I keep getting "Plaza" confused with "Hotel Bonaire" which I believe I read somewhere is all boarded up.

No Brian, the Plaza is south of town and the "Hotel Bonaire" which is boarded up is north of town. The Plaza resort is across the marina from Port Bonaire, which is across the road from the airport.

Brian - Plaza's beach is directly south of the Governor's house, so it's possible that before the Plaza Resort was there it was Governor's beach. Anyone know more about this?

Jake

THANKS ROBERT, YOUR PICTURE HAS ASSURED ME THAT I DID THE RIGHT THING MAKING MY RESV AT THE PLAZA. IT LOOKS PERFECT.

Yes, that beach was known as Governor's Beach when it was a small, natural sand, undeveloped beach, before Plaza was there, and before the blasting to make the channels that are now filled with water. The road went straight along the shoreline all the way to the airport and beyond.

I was there in the days when Plaza Resort was nothing more than a bankrupt shell of a building. The blasting had already occurred. so we had to go the long route (unless of course we were on foot and could take the shorcut through the canals). I'll dig out the pic I have from the air one day - it'll be interesting to see the before & after.

Thanks Jake & Nathalie for clearing it up for me.

Say Kevin you'll do ok at the Plaza the best beach on Bonaire. We didn't stay there but paid the $5 each for about 2 hours of snorkel/lounge chair time they get per day from non guests.

Jerry, where do you go to pay the non guest fee to use the beach? My son is coming to Bonaire for the first time this August (along with his girlfriend) he has been grilling me for sandy beach locations and I never really noticed as I was there for the diving. :D

At the Plaza, go to the activities hut on the Beach. It is in front of the Coconut Crash Beach Bar. They will take care of you there.

It is my understanding that you do not have to pay anything to use the beach. They do require you to pay a small fee if you use the lounge chairs, although this may have changed.