Curaçao or Aruba? How to Choose and Combine the ABC Islands
Welcome to Curaçao, our dushi island. Most people find us because of the beaches, and fair enough: the water along the west coast is hard to beat. But the question that lands in our inbox more than any other has nothing to do with beaches. It's this one: should I pick Curaçao or Aruba? And can I squeeze in Bonaire too? We love showing people the other side of paradise, and comparing the three ABC islands honestly is part of that.
Consider this your insider guide to choosing and combining the ABC islands: how Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao really differ, how to travel between them, and a few things we wish we'd known the first time around.
Curaçao or Aruba (or Bonaire): The Short Answer
The three islands sit close together off the coast of Venezuela, outside the main Caribbean hurricane belt, and on a map they look like siblings. On the ground, they feel very different. Our team is based on Curaçao and we also run our sister site for Aruba, so we hop between the islands a lot. Here's the version we give our friends.
Aruba is the polished, easygoing choice: long white beaches, high-rise resorts along Palm Beach, quieter low-rise hotels on Eagle Beach, casinos and a busy restaurant scene. Curaçao is the explorer's island, with a colorful UNESCO-listed capital, dozens of small bays, a wild national park in the west and a day trip to Klein Curaçao. Bonaire is the quiet one, built around diving and snorkeling straight from the shore.
| Island | Vibe | Best for | Currency | Nature highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aruba | Polished, resort-style | First-timers, long beach days, nightlife | Aruban florin (AWG), USD widely accepted | Arikok National Park |
| Bonaire | Quiet, outdoorsy | Divers, snorkelers, slow travelers | US dollar (USD) | Bonaire National Marine Park, Washington Slagbaai |
| Curaçao | Colorful, varied, independent | Explorers, families, culture lovers | Curaçao guilder (XCG), USD widely accepted | Christoffelpark, Klein Curaçao |
Curaçao: The Island That Rewards Exploring
We're biased, so let's keep it specific. Curaçao is the island where you'll want your own wheels. The highlights are spread out, sidewalks are limited and the sun is strong, which is why we always tell readers to reserve a rental car with TropicDrive early. In high season, cars really do run out. Our tip: fill up in Barber before you head to Westpunt, because it's the last fuel station on the way.
Spend your mornings wandering Punda and Otrobanda in Willemstad, your afternoons at the small beaches in the west, and keep one full day free for a boat trip to Klein Curaçao. That uninhabited island with its old lighthouse is the day our readers write to us about most.
Best for active travelers
Hike Christoffelberg, the island's highest point, early in the morning before the heat kicks in, and wear proper hiking shoes. If you'd rather let someone else do the driving, our off-road tours in Curaçao take you along dirt tracks into parts of the island you'd struggle to find on your own.
Best for water lovers
Curaçao's west coast is a string of small bays with calm water, and plenty of beach shacks rent out snorkel gear and even underwater sea scooters. Some beaches do have strong currents, so swim where the locals swim and keep your valuables in a dry bag.
Aruba: Easy Beach Days on One Happy Island
Aruba calls itself One Happy Island, and for a relaxed beach holiday it delivers. Rain is rare, temperatures hover around 28°C (82°F) all year, and the island is known as one of the safest in the Caribbean. Palm Beach is where most of the high-rise hotels, restaurants, casinos and watersports companies are. Eagle Beach, just south of it, is calmer, with low-rise hotels and a wide stretch of sand.
Best for first-timers
If this is your first Caribbean trip and you mainly want sun, a good dinner and zero planning stress, Aruba is the easy yes. For a change of scenery, head to the pale dunes around the California Lighthouse at the northwest tip (quiet at sunrise) or spend a day in Arikok National Park, which covers nearly a fifth of the island. Browse the best beaches in Aruba on our sister site before you go.
Bonaire: For Divers and Slow Travelers
Bonaire is the smallest in feel and the slowest in pace, and that's exactly its appeal. The waters around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire are protected as the Bonaire National Marine Park, and you can walk into the sea from the shore and find yourself surrounded by coral and fish. On land, Washington Slagbaai National Park covers the rugged north. Bonaire uses the US dollar, so there's no currency to juggle. For deeper Dutch-language background, Alles over Bonaire is a great independent source.
How to Combine Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire
Here's the thing most people don't expect: there are no ferries between the ABC islands. You fly. Divi Divi Air and EZ Air run the inter-island hops, and you're in the air for roughly 25 to 45 minutes. Divi Divi Air flies between Curaçao and Bonaire around ten times a day and between Curaçao and Aruba at least twice daily, so Bonaire is the easier add-on from Curaçao. You can charter a private boat with a captain to Bonaire, but finding one willing to sail to Aruba is a lot harder.
What we'd actually book
- One week: pick one island. Splitting seven days across two means losing most of a day to transfers.
- Ten days: seven nights on Curaçao plus three on Bonaire, ideal if anyone in your group snorkels or dives.
- Two weeks: ten nights on Curaçao and four on Aruba or Bonaire. Trust us on this: put the busier island first and end on the slower one.
Practical Tips for Island Hopping
- Check entry rules for each island separately. Curaçao requires the Digital Immigration Card, which you complete within 7 days before arrival and no later than 24 hours before you travel.
- The small inter-island planes usually have stricter luggage limits than big jets. Check yours before you pack.
- Each island has its own currency: AWG on Aruba, USD on Bonaire, XCG on Curaçao. Cards and US dollars work almost everywhere.
- January to June is our favorite window: reliable weather, very little rain and better prices. See the best time to visit Curaçao for month-by-month events.
- December, January, July and August are peak months. Book cars and popular tours early, especially on cruise days.
- Download offline maps before you land, and read our guide to getting around Curaçao for buses, taxis and parking.
What to Pack
The packing list is pretty much the same on all three islands. A few things we never travel without:
- This reef-safe SPF, because the coral on all three islands deserves it
- Water shoes for the rocky bays on Curaçao and Bonaire
- A wide-brim sun hat for hikes and boat days
- A waterproof phone case for snorkel selfies
- Our daypack pick for day trips and short flights
- A reusable water bottle, since tap water on Curaçao is safe to drink
- Packing cubes to make repacking between islands painless
- A power bank for long days on the road
Our Honest Recommendation
If you only have a week and want pure beach time, Aruba is a safe and happy choice. If you want variety, culture, wild nature and the freedom to discover a new bay every day, choose Curaçao. And if you have the time, add a few days on Bonaire at the end. What we'd actually book: Curaçao as your base, a rental car from day one, Klein Curaçao in week one, and a short flight to Bonaire to slow down before heading home.
Ready to plan? Start with our Curaçao travel tips, compare car rentals in Curaçao, and browse tours and activities in Curaçao with free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour. Bon bini, and welcome to Curaçao.
Photography: My Curaçao Guide & My Aruba Guide