Easy as ABC: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao

While many may be familiar with the beautiful beaches, endless shopping, and non-stop party scene of Aruba, few are as well acquainted with the nearby Dutch Caribbean islands of Bonaire and Curaçao. Here, we give our impressions of all three and let you know what to see/skip, the basics for getting around the island, and if we would go again - come dive in!

Let’s start with Aruba! We’ve heard a lot about Aruba and certainly seen our fair share of posts, videos, and information on this gorgeous island. If nothing else, Aruba is known for its array of beaches with each one having its own unique characteristics. And if you are looking for ways to get around to all these beautiful beaches there are plenty of cabs, car/scooter rentals, and even local buses available right at the port. (No, I’m not talking about party buses specifically but there are plenty of those too!)

While in Aruba we started on foot and ventured to the local mall and casino, stopping for some local coffee ad then hitching a cab to Eagle Beach. This beach was absolutely stunning! There were some restaurant/bars here and there along the length of the beach, and Mrs. Webb ventured all the way down to the Fofoti tree line at the beaches end. Aruba is where you go when you want to really get away but still have all the comforts of home, you know? There’s pink and white sand beaches AND Starbucks, there’s local fresh seafood joints AND McDonald’s.

And after dark… it’s party buses, clubs, and bars wide open up and down the main drag! Aruba is definitely where the parties are and they do not skimp on the liquor! Because this island is so tourist friendly, it’s easy to see why so many people make this a destination unto itself; we would highly recommend and are planning to return again!

Worth It: Literally any beach, pick your favorite! Tres Papi, Manchebo are highly recommended. Go beach hopping and/or get out on an ATV. Anker Fish Co. - get the fish burger. Iguana Joe’s - good food and good drinks at reasonable prices, and it’s right on the strip at the Royal Plaza Mall. It’s worth it to find the public buses to ride to popular spots or get a cab; our cab ride for five people was $20 to get to the beach and $20 back.

Skip It: Pre-made tours - create your own fun! Also, skip the mall and Starbucks and all the regular stuff you could do here. It’s a vacation, at least eat local!

Honorable Mention: Apotek Speakeasy Bar, The Dutch Pancakehouse, the Conchi Natural Pool - all on our list for next visit! And, the party buses deserve a shout out here! Honestly, we had pooh-pooh’d these for being touristy wastes of time, BUT, they honestly looked like fun and seemed to be a great way to visit bars and pubs! We may check them out on a future visit.

B is for Bonaire, and for breathtakingly beautiful! Bonaire is raw, a true gem and diamond in the rough. Now, what that means is this island is not for everybody and will not be everyone’s cup of tea. Bonaire is becoming a more touristy destination but is not there yet. So no big-name hotels, no fancy shopping, very little in the way of sightseeing, and no established night life.

So what is there then???

BEAUTY!!! From the color of the water at the beaches to the caverns, caves and cacti - this island is just gorgeous! And the local restaurants feature almost every kind of cuisine you can think of! For some, this means it is underdeveloped and needs time to grow, but for me that makes Bonaire unique. If you snorkel, scuba, or just like to swim at beach then they have all you need! That being said, this island can be explored by tours (in advance or after arrival), by car rental or scooter. Our recommendation would be to get a vehicle and explore on your own, just don’t bother the flamingos!

Worth It: The 1000 Steps - not literally, it’s 65 steps, but a perfect area to get into the water and get great photos. Roos Surinam Food - think along the lines of Filipino food, worth stopping in. The local market - get some local liquor made from the cadushy cactus.

Skip It: Chachacha Beach - it’s right at the port and is not a beach so much as a rocky space to sit on the shore. The Slave Huts - do I need to say why? The salt flats - while this area is beautiful, it is far out and hard to capture in photos. Sorobon Beach - by far the worst beach here and its overrun with tourists. Matter of fact, skip the tours and go your own way; there are cabs around and cars/scooters for rent, just know the terrain is rocky.

Honorable Mentions: The Cadushy Distillery - originally this was the top of our list but we found out the locals are not fond of this place and see it is gentrification; you decide for yourself, but we chose to shop with a family at the market instead. Klein Bonaire - we didn’t get to go, but I wish we could have made it! Food wise here is a list of “want to gos” - Between 2 Buns, Yhanni’s Arepas, Bobbejan’s, Dominican Urban Food Truck.

Last and definitely not least, is the lovely island of Curaçao (yes, like the liquor), but it is so much more than just that! Thinking about how to describe Curaçao now leaves me at a loss for words. It’s welcoming and open, it has a developed cityscape and plenty of beach areas. From the moment we arrived at port there were tons of vendors and shops (of course) and just beyond that, the first place you enter is Rif Fort, which is an old fort converted into shops and restaurants. If you decide to hang in this area be aware that the ocean waves crash high into the fort so keep an eye out or you just might get wet! Just beyond this is the Queen Emma floating bridge that takes you across to the Punda Love Heart Art Installation and downtown. Here are shops, stores, restaurants and cabs waiting to take you around or to the beaches. We caught a cab to the Landhuis Chobolobo Curaçao Distillery and then Mambo Beach which was a lovely combination of getting tipsy and getting some sun and surf!

Worth It: The Landhuis Chobolobo Distillery - get the original blue liquor and grab a flavor you can’t get anywhere else! Mambo Beach - as far as touristy beaches go, this one was spacious and had all the amenities you need. Cabs were $5 per person per trip, so renting a car or scooter isn’t necessary unless you want to.

Skip It: Honestly, I got nothing. We genuinely enjoyed our full experience here and can’t wait to go again!

Honorable Mentions: Kokomo! Yes, THE KOKOMO! If you like living out song lyrics, then go find it! Grote Knip - a beautiful more isolated beach. Netto Bar, Bodega Siete Gotas, RIALTO Surinam restaurant, and Cascada Rooftop bar make our list of future places to have food and drinks.