Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao

Introducing Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao

Slaves, Dutch traders, Indians, pirates and more have all contributed to the rich and unique stew that is the ABCs: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Close to Venezuela and South America, these small islands are far away in every other sense. Although they have long been on the trade routes, they are not like the islands of the Eastern Caribbean either, as they have a heavy Spanish influence on top of the Dutch and African.

And just as you start generalizing about all three you have to stop, as they are really quite different. Aruba is the kid who opens the door for others – in this case hundreds of thousands of tourists a year who find winter refuge on its fine beaches. Bonaire is the kid who blows off school. Ringed by some of the most fabulous reefs on the planet, it concentrates on its natural pleasures. Meanwhile, Curaçao is busy working hard to play hard. It mixes commerce with Unesco-recognized old Willemstad and a coast of hidden beaches.

These differences, plus others like wealth and population size, have brought the ABCs to where they are today: three very separate places going in their own directions. Once unified as the Netherlands Antilles, these three islands in the Lesser Antilles are now busy growing up and finding their own identities. You may wish to get acquainted with all three.

Last updated: Oct 20, 2009