Why These Islands Draws Visitors In

Abstract

• Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao’s welcoming tradition and wealthy historical past make them prime Caribbean locations for repeat guests.
• Aruba stands out with its well-established tourism infrastructure and gorgeous seashores, attracting a majority of U.S. guests yearly.
• Bonaire, recognized for its emphasis on eco-friendly tourism, and Curaçao, with its hospitable environment and numerous historical past, supply distinctive experiences.

A quick acronym to explain a collection of islands within the south-westernmost a part of the Leeward Antilles within the Caribbean area, the “ABC Islands” is made up of three vibrant islands every with their very own distinct taste. Whereas the three do have a shared historical past of Dutch ancestry and Arawak Indian origin, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao are all extraordinarily welcoming to vacationers of their distinctive methods, and guests typically select to return to their island of selection time and again. It is no surprise; every island’s points of interest and cultural choices are so expansive that even repeat guests will not get bored.

So what’s it about this small however mighty string of islands that rouses such a preferred response from vacationers to the Caribbean, even though there are so many islands to choose from? Maybe it is the tradition of beneficiant locals who like to share their islands’ histories with the world, or possibly it is every island’s wealthy melting pot previous that makes it notably inviting to new individuals. Or maybe it is the pure magnificence of every island, distinct and but mesmerizing, that pulls guests in?

Regardless of the cause, the ABC islands are undoubtedly price visiting, and when you’re wanting to decide on which island is greatest for you, then learn on beneath to search out out about every island’s similarities and variations to search out the correct match!

Aruba — An Worldwide Customer’s Favourite

“One Joyful Island”

Aruba is a favorite among frequent Caribbean region travelers and first-time international travelers. It boasts excessive visitation numbers, totaling over 2 million travelers each year, with guests from the US making up nearly all of that determine. The island has a historical past of tourism; because the Nineteen Twenties the island has been a sizzling vacation spot for yacht-folk and motor vessel customers, and by 1947, Aruba’s vacationer fee was based to advertise tourism on the island.

Given such an extended historical past of worldwide visitation — its first resort, the Caribbean Lodge, opened again in 1959 — Aruba is likely one of the extra developed and well-positioned islands within the area to welcome and entertain vacationers. Particularly for People, Aruba has made it notably easy with customs and immigration pre-clearance on the island’s fundamental airport and devoted U.S. departure amenities.

Whereas sure, it is also no secret that Aruba has some of the best sun-soaked beaches in the Caribbean, given the crystal-clear blue waters that encompass the island, Aruba’s tradition and historical past are really attracts to the island too.

Aruba traces its lineage to the Caiquetio Indians of the Awarak individuals, a tribe that had been hunters and gathered earlier than settling in 5 villages and producing corn and yucca as fundamental crops. The Spanish first arrived in 1499 and would stay the principle colonial energy for 137 years till the Dutch occupied the island from 1636 onwards.

Whereas nonetheless a constituent nation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as we speak, over 100 nationalities make up the resident population of the island, and it is this melting pot of individuals and storied historical past of various European influences that make up the uniquely Aruban experiences you possibly can have whereas visiting.

From South American/Spanish-influenced meals to native celebrations of artwork, the tradition is infectious in all one of the best methods.

Keep in the course of the off-season for some stellar offers! Aruba, in addition to Bonaire and Curaçao, all lie within the southern portion of the Caribbean area and are sometimes out of the direct path of hurricanes and storms, so the moist season/off-season just isn’t as inopportune a time to go to as a few of their Caribbean counterparts. In case you are touring to the Caribbean in the course of the moist season (in the course of the summer season months), you’ll want to take a look at
what you need to know about the hurricane season
, particularly in different elements of the Caribbean just like the Bahamas.

Bonaire — The “Hidden” Island

“Come As A Customer, Go away As a Buddy”

Also known as the “hidden island” of its Dutch Caribbean counterparts, Bonaire is a small however strong island with loads to supply its guests. It’s a part of one other abbreviated portmanteau of islands, the “BES” Islands (Bonaire-Sint Eustatius-Saba), and Bonaire proudly boasts a polyglot inhabitants the place many college youngsters come out of the training system talking upwards of 4 languages!

Bonaire locations explicit emphasis on preservation, eco-friendly tourism, and training infrastructure, a lot so that each customer is required to pay a visitor entry tax ($75) which is used for group initiatives geared in direction of these goals.

“Bonaire stays largely untouched by design. As a result of it would not belong to us. It belongs to numerous generations but to come back…we’re merely stewards of the island, defending it for the longer term the best way it was protected for us.” — Bonaire Tourism Company

Bonaire, very similar to Aruba, started its European colonization historical past with the Spanish in 1499 and was subsequently developed by the Dutch from 1633 onwards. By 1962, Bonaire grew to become a pacesetter in ecological preservation, establishing a marine park as part of the Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire and main renewal power efforts within the area. This marine park is the world’s oldest such park and highlights simply how intrinsic preservation is within the DNA of Bonaire’s way of life.

Even earlier than environmental safety hit a essential mass level in as we speak’s world, Bonaire made it a precedence to maintain the island’s magnificence whereas guiding tourism to exist in concord with nature. It’s a mission over half a century within the making, with no plans to compromise any time quickly.

Curaçao — Dwelling La Vida “Dushi”

“Really feel It For Your self”

Curaçao is likely one of the most welcoming islands within the Caribbean and takes its unofficial slogan of “Dushi” very severely. The papiamento phrase, translated to “candy,” “good,” or “good,” has extra of a transcendent, emotional connotation of affection, heat, and welcoming.

You’ll be able to really feel it in all the things you do: while you eat, go on bucket-list adventures, speak to locals on the bar — this island is nothing in need of one of the hospitable locations to go to — and with a number of the most gorgeous views and water on this planet.

In 1499, the Spanish started colonization, and communities from Spain, the Netherlands, England, and Portugal immigrated to the island. Apparently sufficient, Curacao is residence to the oldest, constantly inhabited Jewish group within the Western hemisphere, based in 1515 by Portuguese immigrants.

Very similar to each of its ABC neighbors, Curaçao was a port for the slave commerce; the island doesn’t draw back from its previous, nonetheless, although some elements could also be robust to talk about. As an alternative, the island sees it as a possibility to coach world vacationers about historical past and the way it impacts us within the modern-day.

Websites just like the Kura Hulanda Museum in Willemstad contextualize the island’s historical past, in addition to the service provider and industrial historical past of the Caribbean area. It is a refreshing cultural expertise that pays homage to the nation’s numerous roots and supplies an genuine perception into Curaçao’s previous.

Curious to go to the ABC Islands now? Belief us, a go to to any one in all these heat, welcoming islands will probably be a trip effectively spent! Benefit from the cultural experiences the ABC islands has in retailer for you!