What to Pack for Bonaire With Kids: Our Family Packing List
For Japan, the three of us flew carry-on only for 14 days. For Bonaire, we checked a bag. A week of snorkeling with a kid means masks, fins, booties, a wetsuit, a swim vest, and a buoy, and there was no way all of that was fitting in our carry-ons.
The good news is that once the gear is sorted, the rest of a Bonaire packing list is short. We lived in swimsuits and rash guards, wore casual clothes to dinner, and never once needed anything dressy. Here's everything we brought for our week on the island with Jackson, what we'd pack again, and the two things you need to check before you leave: your sunscreen and your chargers.
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Why We Checked a Bag This Time
Bonaire is a shore snorkeling island. You drive to a yellow-painted rock, park, and walk into the water, over and over, all week. You can rent gear on the island, but we wanted Jackson in a mask and fins that already fit him and that he was comfortable in, and we wanted our own gear ready in the car for every stop.
Jackson snorkeling in the gear we brought from home. If you bring your own, have your kid practice in it at a pool before the trip so it feels familiar.
So the snorkel gear went in one checked bag, and everything else fit in the same carry-ons we've used on every trip: a Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack and a carry-on roller. Packing cubes kept the carry-ons organized, and an AirTag in the checked bag meant we always knew where our snorkel gear was. Swimsuits and rash guards take up almost no room, so the clothing side of packing was easy.
Our tip: put the snorkel gear in the checked bag and a swimsuit for each of you in your carry-on. If the checked bag is late, you can still get in the water on day one.
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The bags we brought
Luggage
Packing helpers
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What to Wear in Bonaire
Swimsuits and rash guards, all day
We pretty much lived in our swimsuits the entire trip. Between shore snorkeling, the pool, and the beach, there wasn't much point changing. Pack at least two per person so one can dry while you wear the other.
The sun on Bonaire is brutal. It's close to the equator, there's very little shade at most snorkel sites, and you spend hours face-down in the water with your back to the sky. Long-sleeve rash guards were one of the best things we packed. All three of us wore one every day. They meant far less sunscreen to reapply (and buy), and nobody came home with a burned back. Jackson wore a bright one, which also made him easy to spot in the water when he wasn’t wearing his wetsuit.
Matt wearing his snorkel gear and rash guard, swimming with a turtle near Salt Pier.
Casual clothes for dinner
The vibe on the island is relaxed. We wore casual outfits to dinner every night, shorts or a sundress and sandals, and fit right in everywhere we went. You don't need to pack anything fancy for Bonaire.
Sneakers or hiking shoes for the national park
If you're planning on Washington-Slagbaai National Park, and especially the Brandaris hike, pack closed-toe shoes with real grip. The trail is rocky and the descent is harder than the climb. Flip-flops would be a poor choice.
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What we lived in all week
Rash guards
Swimwear
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Bonaire Sunscreen Rules: Bring Mineral Sunscreen
Since January 1, 2021, Bonaire has banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemical filters linked to coral reef damage. The ban covers both selling and using them, so leave your usual spray sunscreen at home.
What to look for instead is a mineral sunscreen whose active ingredients are non-nano zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Don't go by the front of the bottle. "Reef safe" isn't a regulated term, so flip it over and read the active ingredients list.
You can buy reef-safe sunscreen on the island, but we brought ours from home so we weren't hunting for it on day one. Mineral sunscreen goes on thicker and can leave a white cast, which is one more reason rash guards are worth it: less skin to cover.
Hats and Sunglasses
Jackson borrowing our sunglasses while swinging at Posada Para Mira.
Every one of us wore a hat and sunglasses whenever we were out of the water. Sun hats for me and Jackson, a straw hat for Matt, and cheap, durable sunglasses we didn't worry about losing at the beach.
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Sun protection we used every day
Sunscreen
Hats
Sunglasses
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Snorkel Gear: Bring Your Own or Rent?
If you'll snorkel more than a day or two, we think it's worth bringing your own, especially for kids. A mask that fits well and doesn't leak is the difference between a kid who loves snorkeling and one who wants to get out after five minutes. Here's what each of us used:
Jackson: kids' mask and snorkel, kids' fins with fin booties underneath, water shoes, a wetsuit, a swim vest, and a bright buoy so we could always spot him.
Matt and me: mask and snorkel, fins, fin socks to stop rubbing, and water shoes for the walk in.
For all of us: anti-fog spray and a mesh bag to toss the wet gear in the car.
Most of Bonaire's shore entries are over rock, coral rubble, or ironshore, not soft sand, so water shoes or fin booties make getting in and out much easier on everyone's feet.
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Our snorkel gear
Jackson's gear
Matt's and my gear
For all of us
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Swim Shoes for Around the Resort
Separate from our snorkel water shoes, we each had a pair of easy slip-on swim shoes for around the resort: pool deck, walking to the beach, and back to the room wet. Hot pavement and pool decks in the Bonaire sun are no joke for bare feet, and Jackson's have little sharks on them.
Jackson relaxing at Chogogo in his shark shoes.
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Our resort swim shoes
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Jackson's Life Jacket (for the Fishing Charter)
We packed Jackson's own life jacket because we knew we'd booked a fishing charter with Bonaire Fish Things, and we didn't know whether they would have one in a kid's size. It's bulky, but for us the peace of mind was worth it. We knew it fit him, he knew how it felt, and there was no scrambling trying to find one.
Jackson reeling in a fish in the life jacket we brought from home. We've learned never to assume a place will have what we need. When it comes to our kid's safety, it's not worth the risk.
If you're booking a boat trip with a young child, ask the operator ahead of time whether they carry kid-sized life jackets for your child's weight. If they don't, or you're not sure, bring one.
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Jackson's life jacket
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For the Plane: The Sound Machine Came Too
Our travel sound machine went to Japan with us, and it came to Bonaire too. It's Jackson's comfort item on the plane, and it helps him fall asleep in a new room on the first night when everything feels different. It's one of the first things we pack for any trip. Jackson's kids' headphones came along too, for shows on the flight.
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For the plane
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Cameras and Keeping Your Phone Dry
Bonaire's reefs are right off the shore, so you'll want a way to take pictures underwater. We used our GoPro for nearly every snorkel, Jackson had his own kids' underwater camera, and a waterproof phone pouch kept our phones safe on the beach and on the boat.
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How we got our underwater photos
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Bonaire Plugs and Voltage: Do You Need an Adapter or Converter?
Bonaire's power is a little different from the US, so check your chargers before you go. Depending on where you stay, you'll find US-style outlets (Types A and B) at about 127V or European-style outlets (Type F) at 220V, and the whole island runs at 50Hz instead of the 60Hz we have at home. Our room at Chogogo had the European-style Type F outlets, so we needed a plug adapter for everything we charged. Since you may not know which kind you'll get until you arrive, pack a universal travel adapter.
Most of your electronics will be fine
Most modern personal electronics, including iPhones, Androids, iPads, laptops, and camera battery chargers, are dual-voltage. Check the fine print on the charger brick: if it says INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60Hz, it will work on Bonaire with no converter. You'll just need a plug adapter if your room has the European-style outlets, like ours did.
The exception: hair dryers and other high-draw appliances
Traditional US hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, and some shavers are often labeled 120V / 60Hz only. Plugged into a 220V outlet, they can burn out almost instantly. Even on the 127V outlets, the slightly higher voltage and the 50Hz frequency can make some motorized or heating appliances run hot or not work properly.
What to do:
Easiest: pack a dual-voltage travel hair dryer or styling tool (it will say 100-240V on the label), so you don't have to carry a converter at all.
If you must bring a 120V-only appliance: you'd need a heavy-duty 220V-to-110V step-down voltage converter, and it only helps on the 220V outlets. A standard converter doesn't change the frequency, so it won't solve a 50Hz problem for motor or clock-based devices.
Check first: our room at Chogogo had a hair dryer, and many resorts do. Ask your hotel before you pack one.
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Plug adapter + dual-voltage hair tools
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Bug Spray
Bugs came out in the evenings, especially at outdoor restaurants, and we were glad we had bug spray when we ate outside at Eddy's. It's about more than itchy bites: dengue, Zika, and chikungunya all occur on Bonaire. Both the island's official tourism site and the Bonaire government recommend a DEET-based repellent on exposed skin, and Bonaire.com suggests 30 to 50% DEET, especially around dusk. For kids, the American Academy of Pediatrics says DEET products should be 30% or less, so check the label for your little ones. Pack a travel-size bottle and use it when the bugs get bad - the wind helps keep them at bay but in some locations we were glad we had spray.
Water Bottles
Bonaire's tap water is desalinated seawater and safe to drink, so bring reusable water bottles and refill them at your hotel instead of buying cases of bottled water. In that heat, you'll want water with you in the car at every snorkel stop. We each had our own, including a kid-sized one for Jackson.
A Packable Daypack
We used a light daypack for national park day and beach stops to carry water, sunscreen, snacks, and the phone pouch. Something that squishes into your carry-on is perfect. We also kept a small first aid kit in it. Rocky shore entries mean the occasional scrape.
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Everyday essentials
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Documents and Things to Do Before You Go
Passports for everyone, including kids.
Bonaire entry tax and STINAPA nature fee: pay both online before you go. We printed our QR codes and kept them in the car. You'll need the nature fee to snorkel and to enter Washington-Slagbaai National Park.
Driver's license for the rental car.
Your Bonaire Logistics checklist: we put every fee, tag, and form in one place in our logistics post.
Make sure your nature fee is paid before you visit Washington-Slagbaai National Park, and wear sturdy shoes if you plan to hike.
What We Didn't Need to Pack
A car seat. We rented one through our hotel's rental desk, which saved us hauling one through the airport. Ask your rental car company or hotel before you go.
Dressy clothes. Casual is the norm everywhere on the island.
Chemical sunscreen. Not allowed. See above.
Bottled water. The tap water is safe.
A hair dryer. Our room at Chogogo had one.
Our Bonaire Packing List (Quick Checklist)
Luggage
One checked bag for snorkel gear
Carry-ons for clothes and essentials
Packable daypack
Packing cubes
AirTag for the checked bag
Clothes
2+ swimsuits per person
Long-sleeve rash guards
Casual outfits for dinner
Sneakers or hiking shoes for the national park
Resort swim shoes or sandals
Sun and bugs
Mineral sunscreen (non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, no oxybenzone or octinoxate)
Hats for everyone
Sunglasses
Bug spray
Snorkel gear
Masks and snorkels
Fins + fin booties or fin socks
Water shoes
Kids' wetsuit and swim vest
Bright swim buoy
Anti-fog spray
Mesh bag for wet gear
Kid's life jacket (if you're booking a boat trip)
Tech
Phone chargers (check for 100-240V)
Universal plug adapter (our room had European-style outlets)
Dual-voltage hair tools (if you bring any)
GoPro or underwater camera
Waterproof phone pouch
Sound machine
Kids' headphones
Documents / Everyday
Passports
Driver's license
Printed entry tax and nature fee QR codes
Rental car and hotel confirmations
Small first aid kit
Reusable water bottles
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