Quick answer. Bonaire uses the US dollar, so there is no currency to buy. Before you leave the airport, every visitor aged 13 and over must have paid the $75 Visitor Entry Tax, online in the week before arrival or at the counter in the terminal, by card only. Kralendijk is about 5 minutes away; a taxi to most hotels costs roughly $15 to $25, and most divers pick up a pickup truck from the hire desks instead. For dollars in cash, use an MCB or RBC machine in town. Buy the $40 STINAPA nature fee before your first dive.
Where to get US dollars at BON
At BON there is nothing to exchange for Americans. For visitors from Europe and elsewhere, a card with no foreign fee is the cheapest way to pay. Figures assume $100 of spending.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-FX-fee card for everything | Island-wide | None | $100 |
| US card with a 3% foreign transaction fee | Island-wide | 3% on dollar purchases abroad | ~$103 |
| European card paying in dollars | Island-wide | Your bank's non-euro margin and fees | ~$101-104 |
| Accepting 'pay in euros' at a terminal | Shops, hotels | +3-7% conversion markup | ~$103-107 |
The tax counter, hire desks and taxis at Flamingo (BON)
Flamingo Airport is small and easy, with direct flights from the US, the Netherlands and the neighbouring islands. Its terminal is painted flamingo pink. The Visitor Entry Tax counter is in the terminal for anyone who has not paid online, and it accepts only credit and debit cards. There is little reason to withdraw cash at the airport: Bonaire uses dollars, cards are accepted almost everywhere, and the machines of MCB, RBC Royal Bank and Banco di Caribe are a few minutes away in Kralendijk. Dutch and other European cards are charged non-euro fees here, because Bonaire is outside the EU. Our Bonaire money guide covers the nature fee, shore diving and the machines.
Visitor Entry Tax counter
All arriving non-residents who have not paid online
$75 for ages 13 and over, $10 for children 12 and under, card only. Paying online up to seven days before arrival avoids the queue; keep the confirmation.
Arrivals hall and hire desks
US and Dutch carriers, plus the island hoppers to Curacao and Aruba
Car and pickup-truck hire desks are in or just outside arrivals; a credit card is needed for the deposit. Dive shops often arrange truck hire with their packages.
Taxi stand
Licensed island taxis
Outside arrivals. Fares are fixed by destination; most hotels are $15 to $25 away. Many take cards, but confirm before setting off, and carry some small dollar notes.
Do you actually need cash at Bonaire Flamingo (BON)?
Hardly. The tax, the taxis and the hire desks take cards:
Taxi to Kralendijk hotels (roughly $15-25): About 5-10 minutes; fixed fares.
Taxi to the north-coast resorts (roughly $25-35): About 10-15 minutes.
Pickup truck hire (roughly $60-90 a day): The standard way to shore dive; credit card deposit.
Hotel or dive-shop shuttle (often free): Ask when you book.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Bonaire Flamingo (BON) to Kralendijk?
No. Taxis, hire desks and the tax counter take cards. Keep 40 to 80 dollars in small notes for snack trucks, small restaurants, the Klein Bonaire water taxi and tips.
Can I order US dollars before flying?
Not needed for Americans: Bonaire uses US dollars. CEI Currency Exchange ships US dollars to a US address in 2-5 days if you are coming from elsewhere and want some notes in hand.
Can I pay the Bonaire entry tax at the airport?
Yes, at the Visitor Entry Tax counter in the terminal, which is open for all arriving flights. It accepts only credit and debit cards, not cash. Paying online in the seven days before arrival is quicker. The tax is 75 dollars for ages 13 and over and 10 dollars for children.
How much is a taxi from Bonaire airport to Kralendijk?
Roughly 15 to 25 dollars to most hotels in and around Kralendijk, a ride of 5 to 10 minutes, at fixed fares. The resorts further north along the coast cost a little more.
Do I need to exchange money at Bonaire airport?
No. Bonaire uses the US dollar, cards are taken almost everywhere, and there are bank machines in Kralendijk. Visitors from Europe pay by card in dollars and let their card convert; decline any offer to pay in euros.