Aruba, Bonaire, or Curaçao? Which island suits you best? It often leaves many vacation planners scratching their heads. And even if you decide to go on a Caribbean tour and visit all the ABC islands, difficult choices present themselves. How long do you visit each island, and in what order? The travel guides are filled with fantastic sights and activities. Not helpful when you have to choose… HopiBonaire zooms out for a moment and takes you on a journey through these three gems in the Caribbean. Get ready for a Caribbean tour along the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao!
Sharing Island Love
Thank you for your interest in our beautiful ABC Islands in the Caribbean! We love sharing our passion for Bonaire with everyone — locals, visitors, and of course, with our guests during Our tours. Curious how we do that? You can find all the details in Sharing Island Love.
With Island Love,
Onderwerpen
The versatile ABC Islands
Let’s first consider the major similarities between Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. The ABC Islands are all versatile, offering a delightful vacation experience. Think of stunning beaches, fascinating underwater worlds, diverse top restaurants, vibrant nightlife, numerous water sports opportunities, beautiful nature, and rich history. So, don’t be too afraid of making a bad choice.
The difference between the islands lies in the variety of offerings. If you dream of cocktails on pearl-white sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife, Aruba has the most to offer. Meanwhile, lovers of tranquility and nature will find their paradise in Divers’ Paradise Bonaire. Curaçao, not only geographically sittuated in the middle, caters to everyone’s tastes.
Aruba
We begin our Caribbean tour in lively Aruba, located west of Curaçao and Bonaire. The island is renowned for its powdery white sand beaches, such as Palm Beach, where sun worshippers are pampered with tropical cocktails. If you’re not tired of the sand between your toes after sunset, you can dine at various restaurants serving dinner on the beach. Aruba is known as a culinary destination, and after dinner, you can immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife.
Even if you feel like doing something active after a few days on the beach, Aruba is the place to be. Explore Arikok National Park, where you will feel like you’re in the cactus forests of Mexico. Or take a surfing lesson on the east coast. Divers also have plenty of opportunities on Aruba, known for its many wrecks, including the two Airplane Wrecks. If you’re not adventurous, you can spend your time shopping in one of the many shopping malls on the island.
Bonaire
The next destination on our Caribbean tour is Bonaire, located to the east of Aruba and Curaçao. In contrast to Aruba, this picturesque island is the ultimate destination for nature lovers and those seeking tranquility. Bonaire is also the Ideal Destination for Solo Travelers, as it is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean.
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Bonaire is known as Divers’ Paradise and is one of the most favorite shore diving destinations in the world. Snorkelers can also enjoy themselves, for example, at the pebble beach 1000 Steps, where you can admire Sea Turtles while snorkeling. Prefer snorkeling at a sandy beach? Spend a day at Klein Bonaire. Be sure to bring your own drinks, as there are no beach clubs there. For that, you have to go to the Windsurfing Paradise of Sorobon. Bonaire has many dozens of beaches, each with its own atmosphere and underwater world.
There is also plenty to do on land. Bonaire is incredibly versatile. Explore the hilly north during a Scenic Drive to the North or go on safari in the Washington-Slagbaai National Park. Enjoy the many Flamingos and the pink salt lakes of the Scenic Drive to the Salt Pans. Immerse yourself in a fairy tale world during your visit to the Mangroves or marvel at the power of the ocean in the rugged East Coast of Bonaire. And with no less than 14 marked hikes, you can enjoy beautiful hikes on Bonaire.
Want to experience the island’s versatility in one day or afternoon? Learn about The Perfect Day Trip on Bonaire and get a taste of everything the island has to offer!
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Curaçao
Finally, during our Caribbean tour, we fly over Curaçao, the largest of the ABC islands. Looking at the map, you will immediately see that the southern part is much more urbanized than the quiet north. This means that both peace seekers and city people will find Curaçao a great destination.
In Willemstad, you can shop almost as well as in Oranjestad. You will also find Mambo Beach, a popular sandy beach where parties continue into the night. But also in other places along the elongated west coast, you can find beautiful sandy beaches in enchanting coves. Grote Knip and Kleine Knip are the most famous sandy beaches in the north. Be sure to drive past the Santa Martha Bay on the way. Here you will find beautiful vistas.
Nature lovers can indulge themselves in Christoffel Park and enjoy the rugged east coast in Shete Boka National Park. There are also plenty of beautiful hikes to explore, such as the hike along the stunning trees of Hòfi Pastor. The ABC islands are home to many caves. Be sure to visit the Hato Caves on Curaçao and admire the indigenous drawings. Fond of rugged coastlines, caves, and indigenous drawings? Take a look at our Gems of the East Tour on Bonaire!
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Caribbean tour
Are you going for Aruba, Bonaire, or Curaçao? We hope we’ve made your choice a bit easier! Below you will find our comparison conveniently listed again.
Of course, you can also opt for a Caribbean tour and visit both Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. In what order should you visit the ABC islands? During our nature tours on Bonaire, we often have guests who visit all three islands. For example, we had people on tour who thoroughly enjoyed the peace and nature. Their next destination: Aruba! Not the most obvious choice…
The wisest approach is to build up your vacation. Therefore, nature lovers are best off starting briefly on Aruba and ending on Bonaire. Beach and shopping enthusiasts should do their Caribbean tour the other way around: A short dip into the nature of Bonaire and an extensive finish in the shopping paradise of Aruba. Divers and snorkelers, on the other hand, start on Curaçao and end on Bonaire. If you don’t have specific preferences yet? Save Curaçao for last. Then you can choose what you feel like there!
Your ABC Cruise
Visiting Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao on your cruise? Make your cruise stop on Bonaire the highlight of your trip!
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A Tour with HopiBonaire
During our tours on Bonaire, we search for tranquility and nature on this particularly versatile island. The tours are not only a must for nature lovers. Our enthusiasm for nature is contagious, and the history, culture, and formation of the different landscapes of the island are extensively covered.
Are you coming to Bonaire to dive and snorkel? Book our Mesmerizing Bonaire Island Tour and marvel at the diversity of the island. Visit the slave huts and an old plantation house, indigenous drawings and street art, the pink salt lakes and the Gotomeer, the flat south and the hilly north, the lapping sea in the west and the wild ocean in the east… This way you can taste everything Bonaire has to offer in one afternoon!
During our tours, you will be out and about with only your own party. This ensures an intimate and personal experience at your own pace. The tours can be tailored to your preferences, and you can even create a fully Customized Tour with us.
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