Do You Know Your ABC’S? The ABC Islands That Is

Have you heard of the ABC Islands? They are among our favorite islands in the Caribbean.

What Are They?

The ABC Islands are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. They are  the most Westerly of the of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. Formerly part of the (Dutch) Netherland Antilles, the Islands remain associated with the Netherlands. Aruba and Curacao are autonomous, self governing constituent countries of the Netherlands. Bonaire is a special Netherlands municipality. All three are among the most gay-friendly islands in the Caribbean.

Courtesy of OntheWorldMap.Com.

Where are the ABC Islands?

The Islands are located in the Southwestern Caribbean off of the coast of Venezuela, South America. Aruba is the closest to South America at only 15 miles. Curacao is the furthest at 50 miles. Their southern and western location provides travelers with an additional benefit. The Islands are outside of the Caribbean’s hurricane belt and are seldom hit by hurricanes which makes them a prime Caribbean destination year round. Cruise itineraries that go there include Panama Canal cruises, as well as Southern Caribbean ones.

What Are They Like/Do They Offer?

Aruba

Aruba is the most visited and developed of the three ABC Islands. Its beaches are a major draw and among the best in the Caribbean. Eagle and Manchebo beaches, with miles of white sand are two of the top beach options here. Aruba has an arid desert landscape provides many options for hiking and golfing on land and windsurfing and snorkeling, as well as diving on the water.

Aruba’s capital city, Oranjestad is attractive and has almost (but not quite) a Las Vegas like vibe.  There a number of excellent restaurants. Restaurant offerings include everything from fine dining to casual beachfront fare. Aruba also offers the most nightlife of the three Islands. Nightlife options include many casinos, as well as bars and clubs. With all it offers, it is not surprising that Aruba is a top honeymoon destination. There are good romantic all-inclusive adults only resorts here to cater to the honeymoon crowd and others. The local flamingoes, as shown above, seem to enjoy Aruba also.

Bonaire

Bonaire is the smallest, least developed and least well known of the three Islands. A beautiful island, it is surrounded by pristine clear waters containing diverse coral reefs. Bonaire offers some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean. Fish you can see diving in Bonaire include Parrot and Angel fish as well as stingrays and nurse sharks. It is therefore not surprisingly, a mecca for scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. Bonaire’s beaches are mostly rocky with the exception being the sandy beach Lac Bay. Its capital Kralendijk, is compact, but it does offer some good dining options as well as shopping. Other active options on Bonaire include kayaking and cycling through its Washington-Slagbaai National Park.

Curacao

Curacao is the largest and in some ways the most special of the ABC Islands. Willemstad its capital, which was settled in 1634 is like a mini Amsterdam and full of colorful pastel colored colonial buildings. There is a good deal of history here and Willemstad has been designated an UNESCO World Heritage site. Curacao has good beaches as well as good diving, biking, and hiking options. While as noted above, all of the ABC Islands are gay-friendly, Curacao has gone the extra mile to welcome the LGBT community, and there are some gay/mixed accommodations and bars.  Sites  to visit are the island’s Hato Caves and the unique floating market. Curacao is also known for its famous liquor, blue curacao, a blue colored  liquor made from oranges that is available in many flavors (we had rum raisin) in the addition to the traditional orange flavor.

What Are the Current COVID Restrictions in the ABC Islands?

Aruba is currently open to all Americans provided they follow the testing and insurance requirements of the island. For details go HERE.

Bonaire is currently not open to Americans. There is a US flight ban in effect at least until January 15, 2021. For details go HERE.

Curacao is currently only open to Americans from the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as well as Florida. For details go HERE.

Are There Any Gay Cruises Traveling to the ABC Islands?

Yes, there are! Our friends at Brand g have a Royal Clipper Panama Canal cruise that stops/ends in Aruba for 2021. For details, go HERE.

VACAYA has recently announced their 2022 Caribbean cruise that will stop at both Aruba and Curacao. For details go HERE.

Want to travel to any of the ABC Islands or want more information? Please contact us to find out about all the options and deals.

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