Buying a vacation home in Bonaire? This dream may soon be a reality. How wonderful! When looking for a house in the tropics, there are several things to consider.

After all, there is no comparison: a search in the Netherlands or Bonaire. We list here some of the most important points to consider during a viewing:

Keep the vacation rental cool

Bonaire’s climate is different from what we are used to in the Netherlands. This is probably no surprise if you are considering buying a vacation home there. In this hot climate it is important that your vacation home stays cool. Now let the construction of a house play an important role in that. Keep these points in mind:

• Place shutters on the front and back of your home so it drains well;
• A high ceiling ensures that warm air goes upward and doesn’t get trapped in the living areas;

On Bonaire, you spend a lot of time outside, so the size of your living room is less important than that of the porch. Your porch should ideally be located on the wind and provide plenty of shade. Provide overhanging roofs for shade around your home. A nice touch: it keeps the sun away from the exterior walls;

Houses in Bonaire are often painted in all the colors of the rainbow. Light colors reflect more sunlight than dark colors and therefore absorb less heat

The location relative to the wind

Is the house situated nicely on the wind? Popularly called “a house on the wind.” Not entirely unimportant for your living comfort.

Bonaire has a constant trade wind from the northeast that can serve as natural air conditioning. Super convenient on an island where the average temperature is 31 degrees!

During the viewing it is therefore good to pay attention to the location of the most important rooms in the house. Think for example of the porch. This is often used in Bonaire as the living room and the master bedroom, where the wind will benefit your sleep. But, a house on the wind has the best advantage of also helping against mosquitoes.

Storage for diving or surfing equipment

Bonaire is undoubtedly a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. More than one Windsurf World Champion has made his first meters on Sorobon. Not for nothing that the island has been named the best shore diving destination in the world for 23 years in a row.

Are you planning one of these or many other water sports? Then adequate storage space for your equipment is indispensable. An ideal storage space provides enough room to hang equipment, is well ventilated and has a sink.

Access from outside is also convenient. Maintaining your equipment in an environment of sun, sea and salt requires care and attention. A good storage space is a great start in this regard!

The land: leasehold or ownership?

Be well informed about the pros and cons. A home on Bonaire can be on owned land or leasehold land.

Garden maintenance of your vacation home

If you are going to buy a home in Bonaire, you will come across homes with gardens of all shapes and sizes. From mature gardens to maintenance-free options.

Should you find a home with a mature garden, pay attention to how it is cared for. Since Bonaire is a year-round summer, your garden needs daily watering. Usually this is done with a drip system: pipes that automatically release water in certain places by means of drops. This allows trees and shrubs to be watered.

The drip system can be connected to the water supply or to the septic tank. Using a septic tank has the advantage of reusing water and fertilizing your garden at the same time.

Freestanding vacation homes at your fingertips

Keep in mind that more is possible with your budget than you think! Bonaire is home to about 20,000 people in an area of 281 km2. This means about 70 people per km2.

Compared to the Netherlands, this is more than 400 per km2. This geographical fact shows the extra space residents have here. On Bonaire, people generally live in detached houses, from small 1-bedroom homes to huge villas. So a detached home on Bonaire is within reach!

Lodging for your guests

The same reasons that made you decide to move to Bonaire are probably why your friends want to visit you.

You can’t blame them: your guests stay longer on average. Therefore, it’s smart to take this into account when buying a vacation home on Bonaire.

In addition to extra bedrooms, houses on Bonaire often have multiple bathrooms. Nice! Because that gives your guests and certainly you that extra bit of privacy.

Another option is a separate guest house, often furnished as a studio, with its own entrance. An additional advantage is that you can easily rent out this space, which in turn provides additional benefits.

Get more inspiration during the expo

During the Second Home Expo our exhibitors will be happy to tell you all the ins and outs about investing in a second home on Bonaire. There is plenty of real estate on offer. Tip: check the exhibitors list before you leave. It can vary from fair to fair. This way you will not be unpleasantly surprised.