Aruba, Bonaire, & Curacao
When I’m getting ready to take a vacation to a new destination, I always do my research. I have been to 2 out of 3 of these places and I will be visiting Bonaire for the first time next March, so I have started my research and thought I would share some of the information I have found with you. Aruba and Curacao are amazing places and I can’t wait to visit Bonaire as well.
The ABC Islands consist of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. They are all located off the western coast of Venezuela in the Southern Caribbean. Curacao is the largest of the three islands and also holds the highest population with very high standards of living due to its oil refining business. Bonaire is slightly larger than Aruba although Aruba holds a higher population. Aruba is also the most developed of the islands, offering many resorts, casinos, malls, golf courses, restaurants, night life and more. Bonaire is surrounded by staggering coral reefs and is also protected by a national marine park. It is known as a diver’s paradise. It doesn’t have the tourism that Aruba does and does not have the commercial power of Curacao.
Although Aruba has its own form of currency called the Aruban florin, all three islands now accept US currency. Shopping is abundant in both Aruba and Curacao, with Bonaire being mostly visited for it’s awesome diving and water sports.
A little history behind the islands is that they were officially discovered by Amerigo Vespucci. Around 1527 the Spanish had formed a government and established Catholicism on the islands. In 1634, the Netherlands fought with Spain and won the islands. The Dutch India Company developed the areas, along with a port on Curacao. In 1863 the economy took a dive, although in the 20th century the islands became major oil refineries. In 1954 the islands became part of the Netherlands Antilles. In 1986 Aruba withdrew and became a separate country within the kingdom.
Aruba and Curacao are autonomous countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and have their own parliament and prime minister. Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands proper, and is required to follow Netherlands law.
Dutch has been the official language over the years, although they do have a unique creole language known as Papiamentu which is spoken by the locals.
Aruba is a flat island and exposed to ocean currents. Bonaire and Curacao are surrounded by reefs and are more sheltered from the weather. They are all located outside of the hurricane belt. The weather is similar on all three islands…Warm and dry for the most part with slight humidity at times. A nice breeze flows throughout the islands which makes kitesurfing a desired attraction.
Tourism, like on most islands is one of the largest economies. Aruba and Curacao have large refineries. Bonaire can store and load oil from other tankers, along with producing rice and operating solar salt pans to extract salt out of the oceans saltwater.
Now with learning a little information about the ABC islands, it’s time to talk about the sights, fun activities, & excursions you might expect to encounter here.
All three islands have a great variety of things to see and do, which includes a lot of history, culture, nature, beaches and water sports.
Starting with Bonaire, well we have already mentioned that it is a divers paradise, and that it is…. Bonaire is a retreat for underwater adventure.
There are over 53 diving spots on the leeward side of the island. You must be certified before attempting to dive in these prestine waters. All divers are also required to purchase a mandatory nature tag and attach it to your scuba gear. The tag is good for one year and proceeds help the upkeep of the Bonaire Marine Park. Some resorts offer diving certification packages, although it is best to come prepared. Bonaire also offers a Butterfly Garden, located on the southeastern side of the island. It is reasonably priced and under 3 are free. There is also a Donkey Sanctuary you can visit where they provide housing for orphaned donkeys. You can tour the sanctuary on foot or by bike or car. They also offer food for purchase to feed the animals. Some more places to visit depending on your interests are…Bari Reef, which is a beautiful place to dive. Slave huts, stop and read the kiosks at the slave houses, they all tell a story of who lived in them. Salt Pier, a must see place. The color of the water is bright pink. Outstanding dive site as you float along the pier. Hilma Hooker, a nice dive site off the coast of Bonaire. There is a ship wreak with Tarpon and Barracuda that are not afraid of divers. Cultural Park Mangazina di Rei, this is a cultural site with flowers, flamingos, and ocean views. Fort Oranje, if you want to see some history, stop by the fort and lighthouse. Malmok, if you like history, don’t miss the ruins from the 18 and 1900’s. You can also enjoy watching the waves crash into the cliffs. Town Pier, here you will find a wide variety of marine life. No matter what you decide to do while in Bonaire…You will not be disappointed. There is a little something for everyone with a lot of emphasis on water sports. Here are a few recommended tour operators for excursions. Most offer diving due to the fact that diving is the most popular attraction in Bonaire. Woodwind Sailing & Guided Snorkel, Sea Cow Snorkeling Trips, VIP Diving, Dive Friends Bonaire, Bonaire East Coast Diving, and Bonaire Vista Tours.
If visiting Curacao, there are many beautiful places to see as well. Curacao is famous for its colorful houses in the capitol city of Willemsted. They are so famous that you see them on travel brochures, advertisements.
A few places to check out might be Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, history on the sea. Handelskade, beautiful town to stroll through. Curacao Ostrich Farm, many ostriches and other animals. Riffort Village, 10 different restaurants offering different cuisines. Mambo beach Boulevard, places to eat, beautiful pool next to the ocean, activities for kids, night club/bar. Fort Nassau, beautiful restaurant but a bit pricey. Otrobanda, a lot of historical statues and souvenir shopping. Kenepa, known for best water. Cas Abou beach, best beach in Curacao. Klein (little) Curacao, great place to spend the day. It can only be reached by boat. Hato Caves, history and beauty of the caves. Flamingo Sanctuary, pink flamingos everywhere. You will not be bored with all the beauty and nature in Curacao. Here a few tour companies that are highly recommended…The Dive Bus, ATV & Buggy Tours, Bas Harts Diving Curacao, CURious2Dive, Scubacao, Eric’s ATV Adventures, and Prins ATV Tours & Rental. Curacao as well as Aruba has Casinos to test your luck at. A few common places visited are Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino, Curacao Marriott Beach resort & Emerald Casino, and Sunscape Curacao resort Spa & Casino.
Aruba is uniquely filled with beauty. You can go from a tropical paradise on one side of the island to a dry dessert landscape on another part all in the same day.
Now for some must see in Aruba. There is the Butterfly Farm, see beautiful butterflies and learn about their life cycle. The Antilla, a big ship in 60 feet of water. A great diving experience. Saint Franciscus Church, nice chapel to visit while sightseeing. Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, for those interested in some history and culture. California lighthouse, has amazing views. Aruba Ostrich Farm, there is a great land rover tour you can take. Pedernailis, an easy beginners dive. There are also some great beaches you can visit and relax at for the day. Here are a few tour companies with high reviews on trip advisor for those wanting to take an excursion or tour, ATV, off road, boats, etc….ABC Tours Aruba, Aruba Bob Snorkeling, Eagle Beach, Blue Melody & Black Pearl Sailing, Around Aruba Tours, and Seabob Aruba. Also for those casino lovers…A few recommended casinos are La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino, Casino at the Ritz Carlton, Stellaris Casino, Alhambra Casino, and Casino at Hyatt Regency.
It looks like you can’t go wrong visiting any of these places. They are all very beautiful and clean places. The hotels and tourist attractions keep the environment protected. The people in Aruba and Bonaire are very friendly and helpful. In Curacao the people tend to be a bit quieter. It is thought that this is due to their shyness. They all have local music playing, with Curacao being the most prominent of this. But you will definitely feel like you are on vacation when walking the streets on any of these three islands.
