The ABC islands is the physical group of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, you may have heard the phrase “ABC Islands” or may not have know it stands for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. The three rate at the top of the most beautiful Caribbean islands. They are a short distance north of Venezuela. While this is a fun little label to put on the three western most islands of the Leeward Antilles in the South Caribbean, it can cause people to lump the islands together, rather than recognizing each one for its own unique beauty, history, attractions, and importance. We have been to all three and it is hard to decide a favorite but Bonaire is the least populated with tourists and you can find empty or uncrowded beaches all over the Island.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here are some gorgeous ones from our cruise there. Yes, finally we got back on a ship! We are on Holland America’s newest ship the Rotterdam for 9 days sailing the ABC islands as well as Hollands own private island Half Moon, another beautiful island to relax the day away.
All three islands are unique and different but each of the islands has a connection with the Netherlands. Aruba and Curacao are both constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while Bonaire is a municipality of the Netherlands. You’ll find Dutch influence intermingled in each one of the islands, especially when it comes to some of the architecture, language and food. All three islands share the same language Papiamento/Papiamentu (Aruba’s Papiamento has a slightly different style than the Papiamentu spoken in Bonaire and Curacao). Dutch is also widely spoken and used on each island and is used in the educational system. In addition, Spanish and English are understood and spoken, making it quite easy for visitors to communicate. Lastly, one treasured tradition and celebration each island shares is, CARNIVAL, I have been told that you have not lived until you’ve attended Carnival in the Caribbean, will have to go one year for sure!!
Every where you go in Aruba you will hear people say “One Happy Island” and they mean it, these people are so happy to be living there and to welcome tourists to their paradise. So many breathtaking beaches to choose from and many are easily accessible making your vacation extra easy breezy. The widespread, soft powder white-sand Eagle Beach is my favorite and it’s rated tops worldwide year after year. Throughout the island, you’ll find friendly & diverse locals, extensive dining options, numerous tours and activities to keep you busy, a strong and steady wind on the daily makes for a very messy hair day but helps keep you cool. Aloe plantation, local rum, street art murals, dive sites, fun, and annual festivals make it a great fun filled vacation if you have a day off a cruise ship or a week at a resort.
An interesting fact about Aruba is the most famous tree in Aruba is the Divi-Divi or Watapana tree, Caesalpinia coriaria, former name Libidibia coriaria. The tree is always pointing in a southwesterly direction because the trade winds blow across the island from the northeast.
Bonair is a flat, desert like island similar to Aruba, making it rather easy to travel throughout the entire island (just watch out for the donkeys in the road). Their unique and untouched beaches consist of mesmerizing shades of blue and calm shallow waters. One of their beaches even has pink sand! You can also find wild beaches on the windward side of the island but it’s not good for swimming.
Our first visit to Bonaire we went to a pristine beach, no one there it was so pretty and quiet. We were just starting to go into the water when I saw a monster, no 2 monsters heading out of the water all dressed in black and I screamed, so scared!! They took off their masks and headgear and it was a couple coming back from a dive! They were staying at the resort where the beach was in front of so they left everything in their room nothing on the beach to indicate people might show up! They asked if we were from the ship and we said yes, they called us pod people lol and said sorry for scaring you. They were Canadians and every year for the last 10 they come to Bonaire to dive as the water and sea life is so spectacular. They asked if we wanted to borrow the snorkeling gear to look down and see all the variety of fish in the water, it was amazing that you can just walk into the water right from the beach into an aquarium, no need for a boat, you are just able to see so many fish all around, what a great time that was.
Diver enthusiasts from all over the world have Bonaire on their list as this island is a top location for diving and snorkeling! The island has marine protected areas, thanks to the National Marine Park, allowing the marine life to flourish as it should, making for extraordinary, unspoiled diving sites. You’ll find the island is filled with endless natural beauty, some of the attractions worth seeking are the pink sand beach, salt pans, Klein Bonaire, nature, wildlife, including their beautiful wild flamingos & donkeys. Once a visitor always a friend is their motto although they do limit the number of cruise ship passengers that can arrive, they would rather have the tourists who spend more money staying at local resorts and eating at the many restaurants.
Curacao, is also a dry, desert-like island however it is the more curvacious of the three, you’ll find plenty of green hills and “mountains” throughout most of the island. There are a lot of winding roads taking you to breathtaking beaches surrounded by cliffs and untouched nature. This island may take more time to explore, however it is worth every second!
Must-sees are the colorful, vibrant downtown areas of Punda and Pietermaai, filled with art, shopping, dining, and fun. Curacao has the highest bridge in the Caribbean with great views. The island is comprised of green hills, cacti, wild beaches, Blue Curacao liqueur, aloe, wild flamingos, friendly locals, plenty of shopping, street art murals, delicious food, and so much more! There are so many hidden gems to find on the island, it is definitely recommended to rent a car to explore all of its beauty, as there is a lot of it!
As you can see each island is unique, beautiful, diverse, welcoming, warm, sunny, and full of friendly locals. I hope this gives you a better understanding of each one of the breathtaking islands and better yet, encourages you to visit and experience it for yourself one day soon. It’s fun to start out visiting by cruise ship having a full day in each port to see which Island would be the best choice to spend a week at in the future.
HALF MOON CAY, THE BAHAMAS
Holland America private island Little San Salvador Island, also known as Half Moon Cay, is one of about 700 islands that make up the archipelago of The Bahamas. It is located roughly halfway between Eleuthera and Cat Island and is so beautiful and from your first touch in the sand you’ll understand why it’s the perfect tropical destination.
All the features you could want for a private island are here. There are free lounge chairs or you can rent a lounger with your personal someone-special in a clam-shell, a shady hideaway for two. There are also cabanas and villas to rent, we had one for the day and it was wonderful. We were transported ashore in tenders, but a new deep water dock is planned for the near future which is the one thing that would make for a perfect day, we were packed in like sardines and had long waits until they fill it up before they leave. Once ashore, expect to enjoy a beautiful day on the beach with plenty of activities for watersports, boat trips, swimming, snorkeling and relaxing in the sun. We got floats to play in the clear turquoise waters through acres of protected lagoon, it was so warm but still refreshing from the heat.
This island is a little off the typical cruise path but isn’t a complete unknown, Half Moon Cay was just named Best Private Island by Porthole Cruise Magazine and for the 20th straight year!
Here’s the sign on the beach that says “I wish I could stay here forever” and after a few hours you will certainly feel that way!
The island has a Welcome Center with information and excursions, a church for weddings, an ice cream, bar, food pavilion, and restrooms. Look forward to shopping for souvenirs, local crafts, and beachwear at the Straw Market, visit the watersports center, go horse riding on the beach or book a treatment at the Half Moon Salon. Young visitors can enjoy the Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park with slides and pirate ship.
Cruisers can book private cabanas, stingray encounters and water-based adventures ahead of time. It’s the perfect beach day with all the delicious food, cocktails and fun you would expect
