These two lesser-known islands close to Aruba are incredibly overlooked but ideal for a Caribbean vacation.
Bonaire
The population of the island of Bonaire is only 20,000. The island has virtually little development because a large portion of it is protected territory.
Bonaire, which is renowned as a scuba diver’s paradise, provides unspoiled diving locations that rank among the greatest on the planet. Sea turtles, exotic fish, and vivid coral reefs can all be found below the turquoise water’s surface.
Additionally, the salt flats on Bonaire are famous. Visitors will be astounded by Bonaire’s distinctively colored salt flats, which are a producer of some of the purest salts in the world.
Although Bonaire is becoming better known, the island only get about 180,000 visitors per year.
The major city of Bonaire, Kralendijk, has also grown rapidly in recent years, and its lively streets are lined with stores, art galleries and restaurants.
Any traveler can find accommodations on the island, from budget hotels to five-star resorts.
There are non-stop flights to Bonaire from Atlanta, New York, Houston and Miami.
Curacao
Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are the three ABC islands, with Curacao being the largest in terms of both size and population. More than 1 million tourists visit the island of 152,000 inhabitants every year.
Curacao is an excellent substitute for Aruba.
The island not only has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the Caribbean, but is also known for its excellent scuba diving.
Willemstad, the capital of Curacao, has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is now a fantastic place for world-class dining and shopping. With a floating bridge connecting the two main tourist parts of the city, it is also particularly pedestrian-friendly.
Although Curacao and Aruba are quite similar in terms of prices, tourists will find that costs tend to be lower on Curacao. Therefore, it is possible to get a fantastic deal on a hotel or resort on this island.
This winter there are non-stop flights from New York, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto and Montreal to Curacao.