Where to Play Pickleball in Bonaire

If you’re traveling in Bonaire and wondering “Is there pickleball on Bonaire island?”

The answer is YES.

While pickleball is a popular sport in the USA, you’ll still find places to play on this Dutch Caribbean island.

Read on for more information on where to play.

Play Pickleball on Bonaire at Jong Bonaire

By day, Jong Bonaire is a youth center that has various classes and programs for children and this includes pickleball.

However, when the kids are not at Jong Bonaire it becomes a places to play pickleball by adults (and older youth) on nights and weekends.

Currently there is a single indoor court (the pickleball lines are laid over other court lines for other sports). 

Below is an example of a short game (played to 9 given others were waiting) to give you a sense of what the court looks like:

If you don’t have equipment, don’t worry – they provide it. There are paddles to use (I donated an Onix paddle and Onix indoor ball given the program is still growing on the island). For indoor play, the Onix indoor ball is by far the best.

While I was there, I got to play with Angel Tromp, Pickleball Ambassador of Bonaire.

Jong Bonaire current Pickleball schedule (as of August 2024) is Wednesdays and Fridays $6-8pm (with a fee of $3 per person).

Simply show up with your water (and bug spray!), there is an area to sit, bathrooms available and a parking lot out front. As soon as you park, you’ll hear it and it’s the immediately through the gates.

However, if you have a group of people and are looking to rent the court, there is an opportunity to do this as well for a fee. If you have more questions, contact Angel Tromp at pickleballbonaire at gmail dot com.

Who is Playing Pickleball at Jong Bonaire

In the two times I went to play, there was a mix between some more experienced players and brand new players. 

One of the best parts is everyone is extremely welcoming (even those that only spoke Dutch could still express sportsmanship with high fives and smiles). If you are a newer player, this is a great community that will help you to understand the game and become familiar with pickleball.

Location of Jong Bonaire

You can find Jong Bonaire near the downtown area. Below is a google map:

Other places to play

I was visiting the island on a shoulder month (end of July / beginning of August) and as the island gets busy, there are some other (outdoor) places to play. I’ve heard about the tennis courts being converted near Eddy’s.

Another option is the Chinese Association Club. They have 2 courts and charge $2 per person per day (there is an option for a yearly fee for members). They are playing Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8pm.

Separately there is beach tennis which many locals told me is super fun. Check it out in this link here.

If you have additional info, leave it in the comments below to help the community!

Discover More Pickleball Destinations

Zoom in and click around on the map below to discover places to play pickleball. Once you’ve found a destination, click on it to find the helpful blog post with helpful tips on how you can play there! Or see all the blog posts by clicking here!

Bottom Line

Even if you don’t have pickleball equipment (or anything beyond your dive boots), you can find some friendly pickup games. Although I was disappointed it was an indoor court, in the end, especially before the sun goes down, it works to your advantage because the sun is fierce in Bonaire. If you’re on the island with time to spare or want to mixup what you’re doing besides scuba diving and wind surfing, consider grabbing a few pickup games of pickleball.

Want more adventures on Bonaire island? Checkout the helpful blog posts below:

• Bonaire Travel Tips and What to Expect
• Bonaire Restaurants Top Places To Eat on Bonaire Island
• Bonaire Island SCUBA DIVING Guide