How to: Island hopping in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are known as the ABC-islands and are located in the Caribbean sea close by the coast of Venezuela. All three of the islands are totally unique and have their own charm. It is therefore not surprising, that many people are choosing to combine visiting Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao with an island hopping vacation. Since I was lucky enough to hop between all three ABC-islands this year, I am willing to share the perfect Aruba Bonaire Curacao island hopping itinerary as well as important tools on how to book your vacation! Not sure if which place is the right island for you? Check out Aruba vs Curacao vs Bonaire!

Table of Contents

• How to get around between Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao?
• How much time do I need for island hopping Aruba Curacao and Bonaire?
• Where do I start?
• Starting off in Bonaire
• Enjoying Curacao
• Island hopping to Aruba
• How to get around in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao

How to get around between Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao?

The most important thing for your ABC island hopping experience is knowing on how to get around between the islands. There is really only one good way on commuting between Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire and that is by airplane.

The two major local airlines, Divi Divi Air and EZ air commute multiple times per day between the islands Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. The airplanes are very small, so you can not bring a lot of luggage, but tickets are luckily quite cheap. There is only one good platform to book flights in the Caribbean, and that is Kiwi. We have tried booking directly with the airlines, but that has never worked out well.

The flights between the islands only take half an hour and the checking in and out is fairly easy because there are so little passengers. Make sure to fill out all sorts of passenger locator documents before going, so it will be a lot quicker.

For bookings with KIWI head over here.

How much time do I need for island hopping Aruba Curacao and Bonaire?

All in all, I suggest taking three weeks for your island hopping vacation. Especially Aruba and Curacao are a bit bigger and have a lot to offer, so you might wanna take your time. Spending a week in each location is ideal. However, you can probably also get it done by spending at least 4 days on every island.

Where do I start?

I suggest starting off in Curacao or Bonaire. Curacao is the most adventurous island of the three of them, and Bonaire is mainly famous for snorkeling and water sports. Aruba is the most expensive island, and is famous for its beautiful beaches. Make sure to check out my in depth-article about the ABC Islands and the Pro’s and Con’s about Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

We preferred visiting Aruba last, because then we knew exactly on how much money we had left over to spend there. Also we thought the most relaxing part should happen before we return home.

Starting off in Bonaire

We started our island hopping – Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao edition off on the smallest of the islands – Bonaire. The beautiful small paradise is famous for its pink salt lakes, the fabulous coral reef as well as the flamingos roaming the island. For your trip to Bonaire we suggest staying at the Ocean Breeze Boutique hotel, a super chic and luxurious small hotel right next to the colorful capital city of Kralendijk.

Make sure to book a rental car and explore the more remote beaches of the island. There are also many interesting historical monuments to see in Bonaire, such as the slave houses. Lastly, make sure to visit the donkey sanctuary, a really special place! For more things to do in Bonaire head over here!

Enjoying Curacao

My personal favorite island of the Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao island hopping trip is Curacao. This island is the most untouched one, and you can have great adventures there. There are many remote beaches and bays to discover and the capital city of Willemstad is super picturesque as well. For more ideas on how to spend your time in Curacao head over here.

If you are looking for a hotel in Curacao, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Sunscape Resort, close by Mambo beach. If you are more interested in renting a house off the beaten tracks, than you HAVE to book this hidden gem place in Playa Lagun. This house has the best view of the entire island.

Island hopping to Aruba

Aruba is famous for its flamingos and beautiful white sandy beaches. There are many beautiful resorts for you to choose from when heading to Aruba. We have totally enjoyed our stay at the DIVI Aruba Phoenix Resort and we can totally recommend it.

If you are looking for activities to do in Aruba, make sure to plan time for Renaissance Island, to see the flamingos. Book a snorkel trip to see the shipwreck and visit the California Lighthouse. For more restaurant, hotel and excursion suggestions for Aruba head over here.

How to get around in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao

Sadly, public transportation is not really a thing on all three islands. I suggest booking a rental car via Rentalcars and exploring the island by car. If you are looking to book some tours, make sure to head over to Viator. They have the best tours on the islands.

Looking for more ideas on the perfect Caribbean vacation? Check out the most amazing destinations in the Caribbean!

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