Sorobon Beach

The bay is a shallow lagoon of some seven hundred hectares, closed off from the open sea by a reef, and the water stays knee-deep for hundreds of metres out.

That is what makes it the one beach on the island that genuinely works for small children: there is no drop-off, no current and no surf. It is also why the windsurf schools are here — the trade wind blows steadily across flat water, which is close to ideal for learning. There is a beach bar, a windsurf centre and a resort, so unlike most Bonairean beaches you can buy a drink.

Mornings are calm and best for swimming; the wind builds through the day, so come after lunch if you are here to sail. The beach is free, though a lounger or a lesson is not. Half a day at least — this is not a stop, it is a destination.