THE ABC ISLANDS

 

What and Where are the ABC Islands?

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao are three southern Caribbean islands in the “Lesser Antilles,” north of Venezuela. How far off the coast of South America are they? 15 miles for Aruba, 50 miles for Bonaire, and 40 miles for Curaçao. That said, they differ greatly from Venezuela because of their history and governmental structure.

Each of the ABC islands is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (though they are not in the European Union, themselves). Bonaire is a “special municipality” of the Netherlands, while Aruba and Curaçao are autonomous. Culturally, all three islands are a mix of Dutch, Caribbean, and South American influences.

The ABC islands (Dutch Antilles)     The Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are the three western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles in the South Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela. They are collectively known as the ABC islands. Their shared Dutch colonial history and West Indian heritage, plus their fortuitous location outside of the tropical hurricane belt, make these islands a coveted playground for snowbirds, sun seekers, avid windsurfers and scuba divers. The islands have varied terrain, pristine beaches, coral reefs and an off-the-beaten-path vibe that attract low-key globetrotters.   Aruba is approximately 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Curaçao is about 40 miles north of Venezuela, and Bonaire is 50 miles away from Venezuela. Aruba is the western most island, Curaçao is located about 50 miles east of Aruba, and Bonaire is another 30 miles east of Curaçao. Aruba and Bonaire both are about a 20 minute flight from Curaçao, 30 minutes from Caracas, and 2 1/2 hours from Miami.    ARUBA (please visit: http://www.aruba.com/ ) Aruba: Popular American Destination The island of Aruba enjoys a thriving partnership with the American tourist infrastructure, offering affordable and direct flights from major U.S. cities, and well-developed resort complexes and tourist activities. This makes Aruba the easiest, and sometimes the most inexpensive, choice for many U.S. citizens… but that does come with a caveat: Such bustling tourism development makes it harder to feel the local culture of Aruba itself, and exploring behind the resort trail can be difficult.       Aruba is the most developed of the islands, with golf courses, malls, casinos and international restaurants in the capital Oranjestad and surrounding resort areas. Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch is the official language (as it is on Bonaire and Curacao) and English is commonly spoken, but residents of all three islands also speak Papiamentu, a Creole language that combines Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and English, and is the second official language of Aruba. Its dry, sunny climate and fine beaches attract holiday-makers and second-home buyers from the US, the Netherlands and Venezuela. The constant trade winds make the island a magnet for windsurfers and kite surfers who ply the shallow Caribbean waters in their colorful craft. There are direct flights from many US cities, as well as Amsterdam, London and South American destinations. Aruba’s weather is fantastic: even temperatures, beautiful trade winds and very little rain in the winter. Each island has its own currency – Aruba’s is the Aruban florin, but US dollars are also accepted.  Bonaire (please visit: http://www.tourismbonaire.com/en/ ) Surrounded by staggeringly diverse coral reefs that are protected by a national marine park, Bonaire is a diving paradise under the waves, from parrot and angel fish to nurse sharks and stingrays. On the surface, kayaking is popular and landlubbers can cycle through Washington-Slagbaai National Park on the island’s northern tip and past Lake Gotomeer, a salt lake home to flaming pink flamingos. While the main city of Kralendijk has some very good restaurants (and student chefs who train in Emilia-Romagna in Italy), Bonaire does not have the tourism infrastructure found on Aruba or the commercial power of Curacao, and it can only be reached by air, as there is no ferry service from the other islands or Venezuela. The island changed its currency from the Antillean guilder to the US dollar in 2011. Bonaire: Diving, Flamingos, Quiet, and Cacti?!  Curaçao (please visit: http://www.curacao.com/ ) The largest of the three islands, Curacao also has the biggest population and one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean due to its well-developed oil refining business and other industries. The capital Willemstad, settled in 1634, is the financial and commercial centre of life on the island, as well as a Unesco World Heritage Site, thanks to its well-preserved, cotton-candy-coloured Dutch Colonial architecture and buildings like the Mikve Israel Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in use in the Western Hemisphere. Curacao’s history of slavery can be seen in the countryside’s plantations, and is documented in the fine Kura Hulanda Museum. There are direct and non-stop flights to the island from Miami, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Newark, New Jersey, as well as direct service from Venezuela and the Netherlands. The secluded beaches on the western coast of the island, from Willemstad north to Westpunt, are popular for snorkelling and sunbathing. In 2010, the island became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, gaining more control over its tax revenues and governance. The currency will change from the Netherlands Antillean guilder, known as the florin, to the Caribbean guilder in 2013, but prices are typically quoted in US dollars.