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Along with Aruba and Curacao, Bonaire bids travelers “bon bini” (welcome) as part of the Caribbean’s scenic “ABC” island chain. This trio of tropical spots is perfect for mornings on the waves and afternoons on the sand, but Bonaire offers a few extras -- Pink Beach, for example, where the local coral has created prime snorkeling spots and turned the shore its namesake shade.

Diving is a favorite pastime here, thanks to a coral reef system protected -- up to 200 feet deep, an unusual amount of coverage by most conservation standards -- by a national park ringing the entire island. Charter companies are barred from anchoring here, so prospective divers must choose from a number of protective moorings from which to explore Bonaire’s underwater world; it’s well worth the extra effort, though, with brilliantly colored sponges, sea turtles and frogfish waiting beneath the waves.

Language: Dutch     Currency: Guilder (ANG), US$