08 January 2027 - 21 January 2027
YogaSlackers Teacher Training | Jan 8-21, 2027
Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
We recently traveled to Bonaire for three weeks, invited by IRIE Sports & Wellbeing Bonaire to teach yoga, SUP yoga and AcroYoga. While Bonaire is best known for its world-class diving, it’s also a top destination for wind sports, thanks to its consistent trade winds and warm Caribbean waters. So naturally, we brought our kites along. Despite it being low season, we hoped for some wind, and we’re happy to report that Bonaire did not disappoint.
After our first yoga class, we headed to the kiting beach to check it out. We didn’t take our gear with us, since it was only a few minute drive. One of the schools was present so we asked about the conditions. They mentioned the wind was low that day, talked us through the general layout and finished with a strong statement: ‘Make sure you can kite in offshore wind, because today we don’t have a boat, and therefore we cannot rescue you!‘
Ideally, kiting spots have side-onshore wind. That way, if something goes wrong and you can’t relaunch your kite, the wind pushes you gently back to shore. But with offshore wind, it’s the opposite. Any mistake could carry you out to sea, making self-rescue much more difficult.
Kiting on this conditions was new to us, but if you want to kite in Bonaire, that’s what you have to do! We left feeling a little cautious but excited about testing our skills. We went home, unpacked our kiting gear, put our boards together, and headed back to the beach.
By the time we returned, no one was there. Absolutely no one! Being our first time kiting in this location, with offshore conditions and no one around, we were a little bit concerned. Sam went out first because he’s the more experienced of the two of us, and kited for about half an hour before he decided to call it quits, since the wind seemed to not be improving.
We stayed at the beach, hoping for more wind, and went snorkeling instead. That’s when I went a little too deep for what my Garmin watch could handle, leaving me without tracking for the rest of the trip. Thankfully, I had my WOO to capture my mini jump attempts! We met a couple at the beach who was also waiting for the wind, chatted for a bit and after a while, we decided to call it quits and went back home.
The next day, with stronger winds, Sam went out again. and that’s when the magic happened. He was greeted by a pod of dolphins swimming along with him, making his first full kiting session in Bonaire absolutely unforgettable and setting the tone for the rest of our time there. Beautiful, sunny, warm days with low but very stable wind conditions.
After that session, we met that same couple from the day before, and they told us they had kited about an hour after we left in the afternoon and that it was amazing! It was then when we started to recognize how the wind conditions work in Bonaire, at least during the off-season. The winds tend to start strong early in the morning, drop off around midday, and then pick up again in the afternoon.
We decided from that moment on to never miss another windy session by leaving the beach too early! And got to kite for 12 days straight!
In the next section, we’ll share more pictures ands speak about things to consider when kiting in Bonaire.
If you open a map and search for the wind conditions (like most kiters do) you’ll notice a dreamy, flat-water area on the island’s east side called Lac Bay. It might seem like the perfect kiting paradise, but it’s reserved for windsurfing and winging. The reason? Safety. The bay can get crowded, and to reduce the possibility of collisions, the area was reserved for windsurfing and wing foiling. So while the windsurfers and wingers get that sweet onshore flat-water spot, kiters got Atlantis Beach.
The beach has a small, sandy launching and landing area, a rarity on Bonaire’s mostly rocky coastline. Right in front of the launch, you’ll find flat water, perfect for practicing your skills. Head south (upwind) for rolling waves and swell. The main considerations when deciding to kite here, are the offshore wind conditions and the lack of shallow water.
If you are an experienced rider, then this spot is fantastic! But if you are a beginner or are a bit rusty, you will be limited to practicing here during lessons or while the local schools are present and can offer a rescue (which costs around $35 per rescue).
During high season, local kite schools bring their mobile kite shops, sunshades, and rescue boats. During the low season, you can still book lessons, though the kite schools are around more sporadically. It’s best to plan ahead, as you’ll only find sunshade and boat support while the schools are actively teaching lessons.
To kitesurf in Bonaire, you need to pay a $40 nature fee, as all kiting takes place within the Bonaire National Marine Park. This fee supports STINAPA, the organization protecting the coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds that make Bonaire so special. You can pay this fee online or at local dive shops. Kiting is only allowed in the dark blue water, with the only exception being the launch/landing area.
Don’t let these conditions discourage you! The island’s flat terrain keeps the water relatively calm, making it a perfect spot for big jumps without worrying about shallow obstacles or hitting the shore. Plus, you’ll be sharing the water with dolphins, sea turtles and divers, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a stunning sunset with a flamingo or two flying by as you glide across the water. It’s a unique experience that makes kiting in Bonaire absolutely unforgettable.
For a full list of gear we use and travel with, check our Ultimate Kiteboarding Packing List. On this section we will note the things we were super grateful to have with us or wish we had!
In terms of kites, I (118 lbs, 53.5 kg) started almost every session on our 13 m Ozone Vortex while Sam took pictures. As the wind picked up in the afternoon, I switched with Sam (155 lbs, 70 kg) and got on our 11m Ozone Edge on our Nobile Split Twintip board. Or got straight on the 11 m with my Nobile Split Surf Board and switched to twin tip once the wind was stronger. It would have been great to have a 15m kite or to know how to foil!
As far as other gear goes, we are super grateful to have our full-body sun suits, strong sunscreen, and Ombraz polarized sunglasses. We would have been toasted without them. We ran through our electrolytes packs quickly and couldn’t find many options on the island, so definitely bring your own to stay refreshed.
We were lucky to be able to borrow a cooler from where we were staying, which was perfect since we really needed some cold drinks throughout the day. Especially during the low season when there’s nothing at the beach. We read that in the high season, some kite schools sell drinks, but when we were there, you had to bring everything you needed for the day.
Our BB Talkin headsets were a game changer, especially with the rescues Sam had to handle. In the three weeks we were there, he rescued a fellow kiter who couldn’t relaunch her kite due to low wind, me when I looped and inverted my kite twice and couldn’t relaunch, and another guy whose foil kite broke a line. Being able to stay in touch kept things calm and safe.
Even though the launch area is sandy, there are still rocks, so we were glad to have water shoes for both the beach and water.
We did really long sessions, and if we could do it again, we’d bring water bladders to stay hydrated mid-session. Sam’s longest was 4.5 hours, and that session even got him the Woo North America record for longest distance kiting!
Other things we missed and wish we had were our Rinse Kit. It would have been amazing to rinse off after those salty sessions.
And oh, the mosquitoes! That one night we stayed late for the sunset after the rescue, we got eaten alive. Every other day, we made sure to pack up before the sun set because the mosquitoes came out with a vengeance. So don’t get caught out there in the dark!
Yes. Absolutely!
Bonaire has so much to offer, and honestly, we barely scratched the surface (see what we did there?). We still haven’t gone diving, haven’t explored the climbing, and haven’t even started on the island’s trails. But if (okay, when) we return, we’ll likely lean even more into the wind.
We’re tempted to give wing foiling another try, especially since IRIE Sports & Wellbeing Bonaire hosts Wing Foil & Yoga Camps. Maybe next time, we’ll tag along, bring some AcroYoga, Handstands, and Slacklining to share, and finally leave the island flying on people, wings and kites.
Wanna join us there? Make sure you’re on our mailing list so we can let you know when it’s happening.
Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
