Aruba vs Curaçao: Which Caribbean Island is Better? (2023)

Deep in the southern partCaribbeanOff the coast of Venezuela are the ABC Islands, consisting of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. These three islands are also part of the Dutch Caribbean and are island territoriesNetherlandsThat's why my Dutch husband wanted to come here. We only managed to get to 2 out of 3, but the debate was on: Aruba vs Curacao.

The two islands look close on the map, but there are no ferries between the islands and the ocean is too rough for smaller boats. The only way to get between Aruba andcuracaois to fly or visit both islands as part of a cruise. Flights fromArubait's a short 35 minutes to Curacao, so if you have time to visit both islands in one trip, definitely do it. But if you only have a few days, I'd choose one or the other so you don't waste time on transportation.

At first glance, one would sayArubagcuracaoit would be quite similar as they are both island diving destinations, have beautiful beaches and are Dutch. And in that sense they are similar, but these two islands also have some rather noticeable differences.

Aruba vs. Curacao

So which island is better, Aruba or Curacao? My husband and I had this discussion for several days. Both islands have their advantages and disadvantages, so we will break them down.

How to get there: tie

Aruba and Curaçao are easily accessible islands with direct flights to both Dutch Caribbean islands from South Florida. Flight costs are about the same, and flights to each of them take about 3 hours. For Aruba you will fly into Queen Beatrix International Airport and for Curacao you will fly into Curacao International Airport (Hato).

Move: Aruba wins

Both islands are a decent size and renting a car is 100% necessary as taxis are expensive (although regulated). Also, if you don't know how much your taxi is supposed to cost according to the regulations, you're likely to get ripped off.

Aruba is easy to navigate using a map and after a bit of driving, you'll find your way. It's also a smaller island, so it's much easier to head out and explore it thoroughly on your own. However, you will need a 4×4 if you want to tour the ENTIRE island, as most of the island is rocky/sandy national park terrain.

Curacao, on the other hand, is a real train wreck in a maze of one-way streets. It's a must to have someone on Google Maps giving you the route at all times, and even then one way streets will appear and you'll find yourself thrown onto a roundabout with no way to get back to where you need to be because there are so many one way roads. Truth be told, that mostly describes the capital. Once you get out of the city, it's a breeze. But entering the main part of the capital is an adventure if you are not familiar with it.

Affordability: Curaçao wins

This is up for debate, but we found out that Aruba is more expensive than Curacao. Almost every restaurant we found downtown was at least $20 per person, usually more. Any taxi from the airport to the hotel or region was around $28 (again, they are regulated but expensive if you're not going to the capital and we definitely got ripped off with the first one). Mini markets in Aruba are VERY expensive. Stop in for a few beers and a bag of chips and you'll end up spending $25.

We stayed a little outside of Willemstad in Curacao and managed to find places to eat cheaper. We also found larger supermarkets that had more normal prices, so we could buy necessities for breakfast and lunch.

Beaches: Aruba wins

Although Curacao has some nice beaches, Aruba has better beaches. The main difference between Aruba and Curacao beaches is that Aruba's beaches are longer and cover a longer coastline, while Curacao's beaches tend to be smaller. Still, you'll find white sand and sparkling turquoise water on both islands, so you can't go wrong.

Eagle Beach is the longest and one of the most popular beaches in Aruba with fofoti beach trees growing downwind. It is also a popular place to stay as there are many hotels along the beach. Baby Beach in Aruba is absolutely beautiful. It is located in a small bay, so the water is calm and incredibly blue. Every beach we drove to was very scenic and had brilliant turquoise water.

My favorite Curaçao is Playa Kenepa. When you arrive, you walk to a viewpoint that overlooks the turquoise bay. It's a really beautiful sight. The sand is white, the water is blue and it's a great place to spend an afternoon.

Time: Curacao wins

Curacao is sunny with warm/hot temperatures and light breezes. Aruba is sunny with warm/hot temperatures and EXTREMELY BLOWY. Like, windy all the time. Aruba has trade winds that blow constantly across the mostly flat island. My long hair was in a constant knot and I often felt dirty from blowing dirt. Still, it gives a nice respite from the heat.

The good news is that both Aruba and Curacao are outside the hurricane belt, so you don't have to worry about hurricanes or a heavy rainy season. Not to say it won't rain at all - you're more likely to see rain in the fall or winter months, but it's not necessarily something to plan a trip for.

Culture: Curacao wins

Although we expected to find a strong Dutch influence in Aruba, this was not the case. Yes, Dutch people live there and some people speak Dutch, but Spanish is heard a lot more. Mini markets/grocery stores had Asian names and there were too many American chain restaurants. Aruba is definitely a bit more touristy.

Curaçao was incredibly charming. In Willemstad, you can find brightly colored colonial buildings along the water reminiscent of Amsterdam's canalside buildings. It is also a popular spot for Dutch transplants as the island is larger and known for popular bars and clubs. Then you will hear more people speaking Dutch and you will find more places with Dutch delicacies. My husband was very excited to meet more of his people here and speak their native language again.

Capitals: Curacao wins

In a debate between Aruba and Curacao, Willemstad, Curacao easily wins for capital cities. As I said before, here you will find colorful buildings that look like Amsterdam (although Amsterdam buildings are mostly monochrome). The city is lively and fun to walk around. There are shops, restaurants, history, the Queen Emma Bridge, markets, etc. It's touristy, but it doesn't look too touristy.

Oranjestad, Aruba was a bit disappointing. The main part of town seemed to be built for cruise ship traffic. Expensive shops and expensive restaurants screamed cruise ship traffic or "tourist trap" to me. The pedestrian street they have was completely empty when we left. I've been to other islands with such shopping areas, which are only alive if the cruise ships come in. It has the colorful buildings of Oranjestad, but we didn't really know where to go or what to do.

Landscape: Aruba wins

Aruba has a very desert landscape. It's very dry with a lot of dirt and a lot of cacti. There is not much vegetation except cacti and divi divi trees. Curacao didn't have that many cacti, and many of my plants and trees dried up and died. There were still some very nice areas, but the ride was fine. For me, Aruba was a bit more interesting to see because the cactus fields were all over the island.

Safety: Aruba wins

In general, good people live in Aruba. Everyone seems very relaxed and you don't feel the need to keep your things in safes. People assured us that our things would be fine and that they would leave them alone. We met some friendly locals at Carnaval who gave us some tips for visiting and even invited us to go horseback riding with them, which we did!

We met them at their ranch and went horseback riding among the cacti at sunset. The roads led us through the desert landscape, eventually ending at a secluded beach.

For Curaçao, we felt that we had to be more careful. Although we had no problems, the atmosphere here was a little different. The first thing people told us when we arrived was to NEVER leave anything in the car. We were then told to keep them open with the windows open as break-ins were apparently common. We have been warned several times, and it was also a frequent topic on the forums.

Cruise ports: Curacao wins

Cruises aren't necessarily my thing, but given the popularity of Caribbean cruises, it's a valid topic to mention. Especially since Aruba and Curacao are cruise destinations. In fact, Fodor lists Oranjestad, Aruba as one of the11 busiest ports for cruises.

Although Aruba gets more traffic, the area around the cruise port is very tourist oriented. The long streets are lined with shops and good hotels. There are gift shops and luxury designer boutiques...definitely cater to a certain crowd.

The Curacao Cruise Port is located in Willemstad and puts you within walking distance of the old colonial buildings. Although it still has shops and such, it is a little less Americanized. Some of the shops are located inside the Rif Fort, a historic fortress built in 1828. You can walk across the Queen Emma Bridge and, of course, shop on the main streets. It just has a different feel and you can explore the island's history at the station, whereas Aruba feels more like a shopping port.

When it comes to Aruba vs. Curacao as a cruise stop, Curacao definitely wins in my opinion. Of course, it depends on what type of cruiser you are and what you like to do, but...you can buy luxury items at your home mall.

Flamingos: Aruba wins

I know you've seen photos of pink flamingos on a beautiful tropical beach. Those photos turned out to be from Aruba. But a little context behind the pictures: Flamingos are not actually native to Aruba. They are located on a private island owned by the Renaissance Hotel. There are 6 flamingos that live there permanently, probably their wings have been clipped (nobody seems to know what the story is and why they stay there).

Curaçao, on the other hand, has many flamingos in the wild. But it's certainly not the picturesque setting of a tropical beach. It is probably possible to find them in the St. Willibrordus and in several other lagoon-like locations. Although it is nice to see them in their natural habitat, it is quite a distance. It's hard to see them well, and you'll need a zoom lens and a tripod to take good photos. It's not even the most picturesque place.

This is a bit subjective. I really don't know if Aruban flamingos have their wings clipped or not. They could be saved or there is some other story behind it. If it was a rescue situation, Aruba wins by allowing close encounters and the scenario. Flamingos eating out of your hand on a beautiful beach is hard to beat.

So... Which island is better Aruba than Curacao?

If you've been following along, you'll notice it's a tie, which is why my husband and I have been debating it for so long. There are a few more topics I could add, but they are a bit more specific or difficult for me to answer. As:

Food

I had good seafood on both islands. Aruba has a popular seafood restaurant, Zeerover, where you can choose fresh fish and they will cook it for you. On both islands you can also find traditional Dutch food that is definitely worth trying. However, we didn't eat at too many hot spots for me to get a clear winner.

Diving/Buceo

Curacao seems to have more diving and definitely more shore diving/snorkeling. Aruba was where I originally wanted to dive because they have a 400 foot wreck (The Antilla) and a few dives after the plane crash but it didn't work out. Instead we dived off Curacao and did a tug wreck and some reef work. I've read on a number of blogs that most people prefer Curacao over Aruba for diving, which surprised me a bit (and given the option, most said Bonaire wins overall).

Use:If you are planning to dive in Aruba or Curacao, make sure you plan your trip with enough time for this! As a general rule, you should wait 24 hours after diving to board your flight.

carnival

If we add carnival to the Aruba vs. Curacao debate, I think Curacao would win this one too. We only attended the Aruba Carnival (so I can't really judge), but apparently the Curacao parade and celebration is much, much bigger than Aruba.

We had a great time celebrating Carnival in Aruba and the costumes were fantastic. I experienced a carnival celebration for the first time, I had a lot of fun. But we hear that Curacao has bigger celebrations and a bigger parade.

So who wins: Aruba vs. Curacao?

This is a debate people! Even after weighing both sides, I keep going back and forth. Honestly, it depends on what is most important to you.

Aruba and Curaçao are beautiful islands and both are worth a visit. Curacao might be the best island for you if you have a little more time to explore and want a more tropical Dutch feel. If you want a relaxing beach vacation, then Aruba might be the best island for you.

I would easily return to these two islands. Curaçao-for culture, beautiful buildings and beaches. Aruba: for the beaches, scenery and relaxed atmosphere of the island (and finally diving there!).

If you still need help deciding, read on for more information on each island below!

aruban otok

The first and smallest of the three islands is Aruba.aruban otokit is a fun and beautiful island to visit. Due to its size, it is easy to move and explore. There are some areas built up for tourism, especially around the cruise port. And in general, Aruba is quite 'Americanized'. Although it is the smallest island, it receives almost twice as many tourists as Curaçao, and about 80% of them come from the United States.

In terms of scenery, it has an interesting terrain that was quite unexpected. Instead of tropical palm trees, it has a rocky, desert landscape with lots of cacti. You will even come across giant cacti! The weather is pretty consistent throughout the year, making it an ideal getaway if you're looking for a tropical getaway.

It is also home to Divi Divi trees and fofoti trees, which, due to the trade winds, face southwest and act as a natural compass. It's great for people who have no sense of direction! (me).

Update:Apparently the Divi Divi trees are often confused with the Fofoti tree! Although they look very similar, their trunks grow slightly differently. Both face southwest because of the wind, but Divi Divi trees are found all over the island, while Fofoti trees are found on the beach.

Another interesting fact about Aruba is that about 20% of the island is a national park. HeArikok National Parkit has a rocky coast and natural pools to explore. To fully explore this part, you should hire a suitable car or you can take a tour of the park.

For the most part, Aruba is a fairly flat island. There are many beautiful beaches and beautiful landscapes here. It was hard to pick a favorite spot because the water was beautiful everywhere.

How many days do you need in Aruba?

Spending 3-5 days in Aruba is plenty of time for a relaxing beach getaway, but you could easily spend a week here. 3 days is shorter - it allows you to spend some time on the beach, but you won't be able to fully explore. 5 days in Aruba is plenty of time to relax and explore, and 7 days will allow you to explore at your own pace and have plenty of time to experience the island.

The island of Curacao

In the middle of Aruba and Bonaire is Curacao. Hethe island of CuracaoIt is the largest of the ABC islands and twice the size of Aruba. Although ironically, it receives about half of Aruba's visitors, and more than 60% of those visitors are only there for one day on a cruise.

This island also has a desert landscape in the interior and definitely beautiful beaches. The landscape is more mountainous with a popular hiking trail to Mount Christoffel, the highest point on Curaçao. Mountain islands are hard to beat, especially when it comes to photography.

Curacao has a strong Dutch culture and is like a tropical version of Amsterdam. The buildings are brightly colored in the capital with the same Dutch colonial look. It is a very colorful island and fun to explore.

Here you'll find a few more Dutch conveniences, including Albert Heijn, a popular Dutch grocery chain, and stalls selling raw herring, a Dutch delicacy served with chopped onions.

How many days do you need in Curaçao?

Since Curacao is a larger island, you'll want to allow a bit more time to explore here. 3 days will allow you to see the highlights, but that's not a lot of time to explore more. Spending 5-7 days in Curaçao is the perfect time to explore the island and relax.

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Have you been to these islands? What do you think: Aruba vs Curacao?