Skip to Content

Bonaire: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

Bonaire – known for its beautiful beaches, fabulous resorts & Klein Bonaire, meaning Little Bonaire in Dutch.

The territory is part of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao) in the Caribbean and the BES islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius & Saba).

The island is also a popular cruise ship destination or stop.

To stay connected while in Bonaire, you certainly want to get yourself a Bonairean SIM card.

While you are already planning on how you will be flexing on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter, you should be aware that international roaming can be expensive.

If you do not watch out, the roaming bill will cost as much as your trip to Bonaire – or even more!

That is why you can be better off with a travel eSIM to save on data costs abroad.

How much will you pay for a travel eSIM for Bonaire?

You can get an eSIM for Bonaire for 9.50 USD from Airalo (Hatonet).

I will also introduce you to a few global eSIMs that be used in Bonaire and 110+ other countries, including Bonaire's (indirect) neighbors, for competitive rates.

Buying an eSIM for Bonaire Guide (logo of Airalo)

Original publication: 19th of January 2023. Last updated: 7th of March 2024.


Table of Contents

In a Hurry? A Quick Introduction

I will write about two eSIM options in Bonaire (and explain why they are included).

But if you want to quickly check out what the best eSIMs are for Bonaire without my analysis and explanations, here is an overview of the eSIMs covered in this guide:

The eSIM providers are in alphabetical order per grouping (Bonaire-only, regional & global) – not in order of preference (you would have to read the complete guide to find out which eSIMs I love the most for Bonaire 😜).

Let's truly get started, shall we?


Airalo Hatonet eSIM for Bonaire

Airalo Logo
© Airalo

If you have looked for travel eSIMs before, you have undoubtedly read or heard of Airalo – the largest, oldest & most popular eSIM platform out there, covering around 190 countries (more than any other eSIM platform out there).

Airalo is so popular and loved, even by myself, because Airalo's eSIMs are often the most affordable while using (one of) the best local networks while also offering plenty of data options so that you can pick the one that suits your needs.

The latter does not really apply to Bonaire or the Caribbean in general, but let's not get ahead of ourselves 😏.

Anyway, the Airalo eSIM for Bonaire is called Hatonet and uses the Digicel Bonaire network (on 4G/LTE – no 5G NR because there is no 5G NR in Bonaire yet 🗿).

Bonaire Hatonet eSIM Airalo
© Airalo

Wait… why does the Hatonet eSIM use the Digicel Bonaire network?

Digicel Logo
© Digicel

Travel eSIM providers like Airalo set up roaming agreements with local mobile operators.

And that is not an Airalo-specific thing – basically all mobile operators do, allowing their customers can still stay connected when abroad (at high prices).

Otherwise, they would need to build their own networks in 190 countries, which is $$$.

For example, 2degrees in New Zealand claims it spent more than a billion (New Zealand) dollars on its network, and New Zealand is not even that big.

Imagine how much it would cost to build your own network in every country out there 😳.

Anyway, you may have been distracted by the term roaming because you may have read stories of travelers going back home facing a 7000 USD roaming bill or something.

Worry not; that will not happen when you use the Hatonet eSIM (or any other travel eSIM mentioned in this guide), as long as you make sure to turn data roaming off on your main SIM card.

Okay, that is enough background information – let's check what Airalo's options are in Bonaire.

  1. Bonaire/Hatonet 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 9.50 USD
Airalo Bonaire Hatonet eSIM with Prices
See the list above for up-to-date prices and allowances. The figures in this image may be outdated.

Now, you may think this is a sad selection or that 1 GB of data is insufficient.

Both points are true… I agree – but you can make unlimited top-ups with the Hatonet eSIM through the Airalo website or apps.

So if you need 5 GB of data, you can purchase the Hatonet 1 GB eSIM and get four 1 GB top-ups.

Yes, it is a bit inconvenient for now; Airalo may offer 3 GB, 5 GB & 10 GB plans with a 30-day validity for the Bonaire soon, as it did for many other countries it supports.

Be aware: most travel eSIMs, including Airalo's Bonaire Hatonet eSIM, are data-only eSIMs, so you cannot call or text with them (nor can you receive any calls or SMS).

The main issue with the Hatonet eSIM is that it has only one option: 1 GB for 7 days.

But you can make unlimited top-ups with the Hatonet eSIM through the Airalo website or apps.

So if you need 5 GB of data, you can purchase the Hatonet 1 GB eSIM and get four 1 GB top-ups.

Yes, it is a bit inconvenient for now; Airalo may offer 3 GB, 5 GB & 10 GB plans with a 30-day validity for Bonaire soon, but we have to be patient now.

And you know that I would purchase multiple top-ups because I use a lot of data when traveling and testing eSIMs 🤪.

But… do I not often say that local SIM cards or eSIMs are cheaper than any other option, including travel eSIMs?

Yep, that is true (and you have a good memory!) – but you will have to deal with Bonaire SIM card registration laws.

(Why does this matter? Because hackers can steal your (critical) personal data if the mobile operator does not secure your data properly, like what happened in Australia (10 million Optus customers were affected, where info, like passport numbers, were stolen (including mine – luckily not my passport number but my boyfriend was not as lucky) or Indonesia (1.3 billion SIM card-related data was hacked)).

  • Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
SIM Card Registration Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Anyway, the Airalo Bonaire Hatonet eSIM is an affordable option to stay connected in the country.


International eSIM for Bonaire & More Caribbean Countries

Okay, I went over the Bonaire travel eSIM options offered by Airalo.

As expected, these eSIMs can only be used in Bonaire and not in neighboring the Netherlands.

So what if you plan on visiting any of those countries, or you are on a world tour and wish to use one eSIM in multiple countries – do you have any other options?

Yes, you do. Airalo have regional, global & international eSIMs covering at least 80 countries; some include Bonaire too.

If you see names that you do not recognize because they have not been mentioned in this guide, it is because they either do not cover Bonaire or the prices are criminal – I want you to save money, not get robbed 🗿.

So let's see which multi-country eSIMs can be used in Bonaire and other countries, including Bonaire's neighbors.


Airalo Island Hopper eSIM for Bonaire

Island Hopper Caribbean eSIM Airalo
© Airalo

Airalo also has the Island Hopper eSIM covering 24 countries with 1 GB of data for 7 days, costing 15 USD.

The Island Hopper eSIM can be used in the following 24 Caribbean countries:

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Curaçao
  • Dominica
  • French Guiana 1
  • Grenada 2
  • Guadeloupe
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Martinique
  • Montserrat 2
  • Panama
  • Puerto Rico
  • Saint Kitts & Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Turks & Caicos Islands


1 the Latamlink eSIM covers French Guiana too – it has better options than Island Hopper (1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days) in Central- and South America. However, if you do not visit those regions and stay in the Caribbean only, then stick with the Island Hopper eSIM instead
2 on 3G only

Airalo Island Hopper Caribbean eSIM Eligible Countries Map Infographic by Phone Travel Wiz (October 2023 Version)

Like the Lucnet eSIM, top-ups are available if you need more data.

The Island Hopper eSIM is not as valuable as other Airalo regional eSIMs (like Asialink for Asia, Eurolink for Europe, Latamlink for Latin America & Menalink for the Middle East).

This is why I recommend the Holafly Caribbean eSIM over the Island Hopper one because you get much more data for the same money.

However, the Holafly eSIM does not cover as many countries as the Island Hopper eSIM.

I am working with Airalo to turn the Island Hopper into a -link eSIM so that it offers you better value (the -link eSIMs have at least four variants, up to 100 GB of data for 180 days, making top-ups often unnecessary).

But do not get the Island Hopper eSIM just for Saint Lucia because the Lucnet eSIM is more than half the price of Island Hopper.

For now, you still have an eSIM covering almost all of the Caribbean, which is neat :).


Overview of the Best eSIMs for Bonaire (Airalo)

I introduced you to various travel eSIMs that can be used in Bonaire.

While I have already informed you which eSIM(s) I recommend the most, I will list them once more for you.

Phone Travel Wiz Approved Seal

Buying a SIM Card in Bonaire

Want to just use a SIM card but not your current one because roaming will be criminally expensive?

Consider getting a Bonaire SIM card instead – local SIM cards are the cheapest way to stay connected abroad.

Buying a SIM Card in Bonaire Guide (logos of Digicel & Flow)