Tropical Tidbits Fall 2023
by Sue C Travel
Island Hopping the ABCs
The Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao (The ABCs) are all outside of the hurricane belt and offer year-round perfect weather. English is widely spoken, and they are all safe, and tourist friendly. And recently, they all seem to be competing to offer more cool things to do! And though they’re very close to each other, and share many cultural similarities, they offer very different holiday experiences. Unfortunately, bopping around between these islands is not as easy as ABC. There are no ferries between them. Small regional airlines are your only option. So, I wouldn’t recommend trying to do all three in a one-week holiday. You’ll spend more time in airports than you will in the air. But here are a few recommendations if you want to island-hop on holiday from any of them.
Aruba-Curacao (or vice-versa)
If Aruba’s your base, you’ll find plenty to do in a week beyond fun in the sun and sand on their world class beaches. But if you’re curious about its closest sister Curacao, and you have more than a week, a one-night, two-day visit will give you a good preview.
Fly over early and stay at an economical central spot in Willemstad like the Bed and Bike Hotel in Pietermaai. They offer bicycles to help you explore. (So very Dutch!) They are within easy reach of Curacao’s colorful historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the incredible new outdoor art in the neighborhoods of Punda, Otrobanda, and Scharloo. Don’t miss the new Kura Hulanda square and so many fascinating museums around downtown, too. For dinner out, Pietermaai district has some of the best foodie haunts and fun local nightlife within walking distance of your hotel. If you want to explore Curacao’s wilder side take the “All West Beach Hopping Tour” with Irie Tours, it’s a fabulous overview of the island’s natural coastal treasures. And do take a side trip to the Curacao Sea Aquarium to learn all about the island’s vibrant marine life.
If Curacao’s your base, book an early flight to ‘One Happy Island’ and stay at an economical spot like the Hyatt Place Aruba Airport Hotel. Rent a car for your two-day stay. Aruba is the smallest of the ABCs (65 sq. miles), and all its best attractions are within easy reach by short car trips. (Including Arikok National Park- a must visit natural preserve.) All the beaches are free and open to the public, and you can visit all the best ones on the same day! You’ll also want to drive to San Nicolas (15 minutes from the airport) to experience their incredible art walk. The entire town is now an exciting outdoor gallery.
The historic capital of Oranjestad is also well worth exploring. Book an outing with Aruba Walking Tours to retrace its history that includes a stop at the archeological museum as well as a local cooking demo. After dark, head to Renaissance Marketplace downtown for dozens of nightclubs/ cafes, outdoor entertainment, and glitzy casinos, or head to the famous Palm Beach strip for more of the same electric nightlife.
Curacao- Bonaire (or vice versa)
Also, if Curacao is your base, hop the 10-15-minute flight to sister island Bonaire to experience the differences. Though the ‘B’ of the ABCs is the second largest in landmass, it’s the smallest in population, and the least developed of the three. A true pioneer in eco-preservation, all the brilliant aqua waters surrounding the island are protected by law. This island is best known globally as being a shore diver’s paradise, but the conditions of its brilliant Lac Bay also make it one of the best places in the world to learn to windsurf. But even if neither sport is your cup of tea, there are lots of reasons to visit this unique outpost.
Take an early flight and grab a cab to Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino a few minutes away. It’s right downtown on the sea and offers excellent snorkeling right at their beach bar! They are very committed to coral restoration, too. Divi’s side entrance leads right to the colorful little capital of Kralendijk which is easily walkable on foot. Within walking distance are the water taxis to Klein Bonaire by Epic Tours, an uninhabited little island just across the bay boasting Bonaire’s most glorious beach. Or visit the island’s best snorkel sites with some fun party people on the new Lady Bellaïs wooden schooner. Or, if you’d rather see the resplendent reefs without getting wet, hop aboard the adorable little red Bon Sea Semi-Submarine.
To venture further afield, rent a golf cart from Bonaire Cruisers and travel to the surreal scene of wild flamingos cresting a pink lake flanked by towering mountains of sea salt nearby. (Cargill Salt Works operates there.) Or rent a 4-wheel drive with Bon Bini Rentals to explore the rugged, arid cacti-studded Washington Slagbaai National Park. Stop at the island’s oldest village Rincon on the way to sample the world’s only liqueur made from cactus at the Cadushy Distillery. Their tasting garden there is a pure delight. Then, sample some fabulous authentic local food like goat stew and pumpkin pancakes at Posada Para Mira. And closer to downtown, there is surprisingly high-end gourmet fare at spots like Brass Boer and Foodies. There’s so much more to do on Bonaire than diving.
Or, if you’re planning to spend a month in the Dutch Caribbean, plan to bop around back and forth between them all! The ABCs offer a colorful kaleidoscope of cool things to do under the tropical sun.
Visit the islands’ tourism board sites at:
www.aruba.com
