Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire

[Maggie1957]

Going to Caribbean on December 11th and was looking for ideas for the above ports as we have not visited them before. We enjoy beach days as well as some sightseeing. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Maggie

[Yesrock52]

Going to Caribbean on December 11th and was looking for ideas for the above ports as we have not visited them before. We enjoy beach days as well as some sightseeing. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Maggie

We have been to these islands but can only really help with Aruba. Their is a local bus station about a minute or two's walk from the port gates. From here the local bus runs frequently to Eagle beach and Palm beach, only cost a couple of dollars each way. Curacao was a taxi to the beach we went to but can't remember which one it was. Haven't been to a beach on Bonaire.

[Maggie1957]

Thank you Yesrock.

[pinktulipshopping]

Hi,we did a lovely tour on an open style bus on Curaçao which included visiting the distillery.We stayed at the beach for a couple of hours along with some others and the bus came back to pick us up.We loved the town,really interesting streets and markets.

We also did a similar tour on Aruba including seeing the Natural bridge on the Atlantic side which was stunning.Also we got dropped off at the beach and collected later.Very windy here!

On Bonaire we booked a Twizy tour(roadrunner website) which was amazing,then were taken to the beach for snorkelling and sunbathing.I booked this by email from home and paid on the day.

I really love these gorgeous islands!

[Maggie1957]

Hi,we did a lovely tour on an open style bus on Curaçao which included visiting the distillery.We stayed at the beach for a couple of hours along with some others and the bus came back to pick us up.We loved the town,really interesting streets and markets.

We also did a similar tour on Aruba including seeing the Natural bridge on the Atlantic side which was stunning.Also we got dropped off at the beach and collected later.Very windy here!

On Bonaire we booked a Twizy tour(roadrunner website) which was amazing,then were taken to the beach for snorkelling and sunbathing.I booked this by email from home and paid on the day.

I really love these gorgeous islands!

 

Thank you Pinktulipshopping (love the name).

Do you recall how much your tours cost? With the dollar being so low trying to work out how much we need to take?

Maggie

[dronnygirl]

Aruba is a lovely island to see - one of our favourites - vary arid with cacti growing everywhere. We took a tour bus from the dock (if was approx $20) and it took us on an island tour and then dropped us at a beach where there were loads of hotels so the facilities were very good. We later took a local bus back to the ship for around $1. Also near the ship there are stalls selling all sorts of goods and a few bars.

Bonaire - again a small town to walk round and stalls selling local goods. We took a taxi to a beach a few minutes away where we spent a few hours snorkling (you can hire equipment but we bought cheap snorkling equipment from Decathlon and took it with us)

[liverpoollad]

In Aruba, we will get the local bus to Eagle Beach & walk back along beaches & road to the cruise terminal.

[pinktulipshopping]

Hi,the tours were $20 and the Twizy tour is $75 for the driver and $35 for the passenger.

[Maggie1957]

Thanks for the replies. The islands sound great. Just got to contain my excitement for 6 weeks.

Maggie

[hennhouse]

Hi Maggie

We've just booked this cruise today too. If you want to share taxis we may be up for it or we may take the local buses if there's any. Been to Aruba and it was beautiful but not experienced Bonaire or Curacao. We'll be heading for the beaches most days ... can't wait!

[BTromboneFrack]

We did an ostrich farm tour in Curacao last New Year's on the Conquest. My DW did not originally want to go, but after we went there, it was her favorite stop. They had lots of animals and explained everything about their farm. Fun trip.

[Maggie1957]

Hi Maggie

We've just booked this cruise today too. If you want to share taxis we may be up for it or we may take the local buses if there's any. Been to Aruba and it was beautiful but not experienced Bonaire or Curacao. We'll be heading for the beaches most days ... can't wait!

 

E tickets arrived today so even more excited. Been busy today researching beaches but going around in circles. Al part of the fun!!

[Devon Doll]

In Aruba, we will get the local bus to Eagle Beach & walk back along beaches & road to the cruise terminal.

 

Been to Eagle beach on the local bus several times but don't think it is viable to walk back.

[Katomerikaf]

We caught the bus to palm beach on Aruba (US$2.30) and had a walk back to the cruise terminal. It was a fair walk but we left plenty of time and hugely enjoyed it! We then took ourselves for a wander around the town which was lovely. There are lots of shops if that floats your boat, but we just enjoyed wandering around a couple of parks then around the marina area.

 

At Curacao we took a bus to Mambo beach (US$2) but didn't stop!!Not our kind of beach - it was man made and in a complex with all areas designated as far as i could see - it was a pay beach and US$3.50 - sunbeds etc extra (we prefer to find a quiet patch on the sand away from it all!!). Don't let this put you off though -do some research and you should find a great beach I'm sure. We went back into Willemstad which is beautiful! Lots of cafes, bars, restaurants etc (and shops!). Great area for people watching and just chilling for a while. There is also a few old port and fort areas in town that are interesting to look around.

 

Bonaire - we were here for just a morning and for some reason we chose to take a cruise ship tour which was pricey for what we got. To be honest there didn't seem much to see and we stopped at some places that i still don't really know what they were. I would suggest that if you want a tour get a local one as you get off the ship. We did go and see the slave huts which is something I will always remember. We did see a very small beach approx half an hours walk away (no facilities).The town is fairly small but has a nice seafront area with bars/cafes. The sea around Bonaire is very clear and we saw some incredible blue fish from the walkway, so perhaps a glass bottom boat ride would be an option - we will try and do this if we return!

[cementhands]

Going to Caribbean on December 11th and was looking for ideas for the above ports as we have not visited them before. We enjoy beach days as well as some sightseeing. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Maggie

 

Curaçao cab to sea aquarium, Mambo Beach is the other name for it, has a very European feel to it. Has a gentle little Bay Area to swim in, aquarium show for kids, watch for free from gate, lots of tiki bars and resteraunts. If you are fit you can swim out to breakwater, on other side is a jaque costeu type snorkel area. Deep drop off, excellent snorkeling. Leave time to see the port area, neat shops, unique bridge and fish market on floating boats.

Bonaire get off ship bang a left take boat to Bonaire Klein, little Bonaire island, world class snorkeling, nice shops and little bars right off ship within walking distance.

Aruba take the bus with locals to Arrashi Beach, you can snorkel from shore without paying big bucks, same spot cruise ship takes people to. Take bus back stop at eagle, or palm beach. Right off ship shops even a casino.

Most important buy your own snorkel stuff, we've had ours for 25 years, bring a couple pool noodles to help you float, rash guard shirt so you don't burn. Last islNd give the pool noodles to a kid and you have room in suitcase for booze,

Good to go! Enjoy!

[Maggie1957]

Thank you everyone for the great ideas!!:)