If you are seeking a place to stay on Bonaire, away from the bustle of downtown Kralendijk but close enough to walk to beaches, shopping, dining, and diving, Aqua Viva is the perfect choice. It is cozy, with beautiful grounds, lovely, well-appointed accommodations, and an inviting pool with whirlpool and lounge chairs. Missing, however, is any kind of on-site staff. The owners are only available through WhatsApp, not by telephone, and not once did I meet or talk to them or experience their reported hospitality. Lack of on-site staff is known to the locals: local children bike here to use the swimming pool without fear of being chased off the property. The owners’ daughter also views the guest facilities as her family’s private pool, bringing her young children here to run around, shriek, splash, and make the lively pool and sun deck unusable by guests. If you can handle the overrun pool and noisy children, the absence of any owners or management, and the difficulty reaching anyone when assistance is needed, then Aqua Viva is indeed a perfect oasis, complete with coconut palms, mango trees, green-shouldered parrots, and comfortable, island-style accommodations.
