Our trip is unintentionally scheduled for the same time as Regatta week (oops) and I was wondering just how busy the island gets at that time?

Jim, I was there during Regatta this last year. Town is really really crowded. I didn't even bother trying to go near the main town road or any of the shops or streets. We did walk the promenade one night after dinner at La Flambouyant. They had booths set up with food, goods to buy, music, very local flavor. It was fun to see everyone having a good time celebrating.

Diving...I think the most crowded site was Oil Slick...must have been 5 or 6 cars there at the time we were.

Most of the public beaches (Windsock, Playa Cha Cha) were busy with locals and folks that had come in from Curacao and Aruba.

It was a little too "busy" for me. I never even made it to Jewel of Bonaire to buy jewelery

Jim,
The concentration of tourists is the boaty types, and they all stay north. All of the hotels down on the south side were reasonable during that week, and I suspect that Lac Cai was reasonable too.

lol. The place we're staying at is north of town.

Thanks for the replies. Although I'd prefer to be there at a quieter time it should still be an interesting adventure. We'll just plan on making dinner reservations as early as possible and detour around town when heading south.

Jim, detour around town when heading South is a good idea. We didn't have any problems getting dinner (like having to wait, etc.)...so that shouldn't be a problem, just the traffic in town. I do have a picture of the "launch ramp" next to harbor village. I think it's at work. I have been meaning to post a pic of it. I'll see if I still have it when I get to work For those of you who have seen the "launch ramp" just South of Harbor Village you know what I'm talking about ;-0

Town gets crazy, the busiest time of the year that we've seen in 7 two-week trips. Lots of kids come over on the ferry from C and A with their loud cars and motorcycles, take over the area from Karels to the Port Captain's office - outdoor bands (pretty good but crowded). Also we had our car parked on the street in town several times when we couldn't get a parking place inside the gated section of our condo and we had sunglasses and caps stolen. - to tell you the truth we'll never go back during Regatta week.

What are the dates of Regatta week?

Actually Grasshopper that was one of my concerns, how busy it will be around that area. We come down off the hill at the round about and it's where the place we stay at docks their boat. That might pose a parking problem for us when we go out on boat dives. The whole point of our going at that time of year is to do some east side diving during the calmer period. (Special trips with the people we're staying with.) Unfortunately the specific dates we could go during the Sept/Oct window were driven by both work and airline ticket availability.

Bill, or Donna, sounds like you were right in the middle of it. I can understand how you wouldn't want to do that again. Luckily we're staying up on the hill and aren't real big on going into town for much other than eating.

Instead of shopping or hanging around town after dinner we prefer night diving and playing with the tarpon. Hoping to do a night dive on the Hilma this time around if possible.

The week of the October 8th through the 14th.

(Message edited by jim_peters on May 4, 2006)

We "discovered" Regatta week totally by "accident" on our first two week trip to Bonaire. I must say we were "relieved" during the second week (non-Regatta week) to learn that Bonaire is not like "that" all of the time...phew! The second week was so much quieter, more peaceful and much more enjoyable.

Jim, you will still have a great time but keep in the back of your mind how much quieter and more peaceful and serene it will be the NEXT time you visit Bonaire...I'm certain you will want to return....just about everyone does...you will get hooked on her quickly just like the rest of us..we are Addicts. We do go thru Bonaire Withdrawal along with our Post Bonaire Depression when we are ready to leave and for quite a while after we resume our "normal" lives. Have a great time!!! Ayo. Carole

PS We stay at the Divi and there were Harley MC's driving around on the INTERIOR walkways of the timeshare area even at 3:00 a.m.....never saw or heard anything like it in my life! cb

Hehehe, I have Carole, but that was at biker weekend in Laconia, NH where it was expected to be like that. Of course I'd prefer it stay there where it belongs though. :-)

This will be our second trip so unfortunately we already have something to compare it to. I'm sure we'll get through it and have a great time crowded or not. My wife and I prefer to plan and execute are own dives and aren't into following a DM. That's not to say that we don't pay close attention to local knowledge about a site, but we do like to explore on our own. That's the draw Bonaire has for us. And that's a pretty darn big draw considering that I'm of Scottish descent and absolutely hate hot and humid weather.

Happiness is a full rack of nitrox tanks, a place to use them, and a buddy that's as nuts as you are.

Jim, sounds like you and your wife are already having a great time! Enjoy yourselves and go with the flow. Ayo. Carole

Absolutely Carole, since I can't change it I might as well look at it as, "the busiest day on Bonaire is better than the best day at work." I'm sure we'll still have a great time but will come away appreciating how much quieter it was on our first trip. We'll just chalk this one up as a learning experience for when we go back the next time.

Thanks for the input everybody. I have a better idea of what to expect now.

Ahem...I'm as nuts as you are?? I think not! ;-)