Sitting just 75 miles (120 km) apart, both of Aruba and Curaçao offer a unique blend of agreeable climates, beautiful white sand beaches, and various water activities. Plus, they both sit below the hurricane belt, meaning great weather year-round! However, most people don’t have the time to visit both in one trip.
With this in mind, in this comprehensive guide, I’ll compare Aruba vs. Curaçao, covering factors such as geography, hotels, beaches, diving opportunities, and more. After all, I’ve been to both islands multiple times, so I feel I’m equipped to help you make the best decision between the two!
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Beaches in Aruba are public, while many of Curaçao’s beaches are private.
You may be surprised to find that the majority of beaches in Aruba, such as Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Arashi Beach, and Baby Beach, are public and free to visit! You’ll just need to remember to bring our own snacks and beach gear if you leave your resort.
As a direct comparison, most of the Curaçao beaches are private and linked to specific hotels and resorts. In this case, guests pay a small fee to access perks like beach chairs and snorkel shops. Some of the most popular beaches on the island include Cas Abao, Playa Kenepa Grandi, Playa PortoMari, Playa Grandi, and Mambo Beach.
Aruba has long stretches of beach, while Curaçao’s beaches are generally smaller.
In Aruba, you can expect beaches to be similar to the world-famous Eagle Beach–think soft, powdery white sand! They’re typically pretty expansive, open spaces and are easily accessible from public parking lots. Of course, you’ll also likely see the iconic Divi Divi trees next to the sand, too!
Comparatively, Curaçao’s beaches often smaller, more secluded, and cove-like in shape. Of course, you can find longer beaches too, like Cas Abao. Or, another option is to take a day trip to Klein Curaçao, a remote beach with crystal-clear water.
Read More: What to Pack for an Aruba Vacation
Aruba attracts American visitors, while Curaçao welcomes mainly Dutch tourists.
Aruba draws 80% of its 2 million annual visitors from the U.S. Despite being the largest ABC island, Curaçao welcomes only half the visitors, with a tourist mix mainly from the Netherlands, North America (primarily the Eastern U.S.), South America, and other Caribbean islands.For a less crowded experience, consider traveling to Curaçao, especially during peak U.S. tourism seasons like spring break, Easter, or winter break. Given that most visitors in Curaçao are Dutch, the crowds are generally lighter outside European holidays.
In both Aruba and Curaçao, you should have no trouble communicating in English. In fact, many people on these islands speak four languages: Papiamento, Dutch, English, and Spanish.Aruba feels much more “touristy” than Curaçao.
Most tourists in Aruba are Americans, followed by Latin Americans and Europeans, contributing to its well-developed tourist infrastructure. This island actually receives over 800,000 cruise tourists annually! So, to escape the cruise ports, we suggest renting a car.
Despite its touristy feel, Aruba’s convenience for U.S. travelers makes it an excellent choice for honeymoons, family vacations, or first-time travelers. Think about what you want to get out of your trip–Aruba offers a relaxing beach getaway, while Curaçao is ideal for those seeking culture and history.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Flamingo Beach
Aruba is home to the famous Flamingo Beach.
Aruba’s unique attraction, Flamingo Beach, is exclusive to guests of the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort. Known for vibrant pink flamingos freely roaming the shoreline, it offers a must-see experience for tourists and honeymooners seeking a one-of-a-kind beach encounter.
While Curaçao doesn’t have a beach with flamingos, it does offer the unique opportunity to take a boat trip to Klein Curaçao. This small, uninhabited tropical island is home to a gorgeous white beach, crystal-clear waters, and a spectacular reef for snorkeling. Plus, it’s only accessible only by boat, so you won’t encounter crowds!
Curaçao is more budget-friendly than Aruba.
Aruba is considered one of the most expensive islands in the Caribbean. So, you can expect to spend more on hotels and resorts, eating out at restaurants, groceries, transportation, and activities on a vacation here.
On the other hand, Curacao is slightly more affordable, offering a better range of accommodations outside of just resorts. With this in mind, those looking to stretch their vacation budget a little further, may prefer traveling to Curaçao.
High-rise hotels and all-inclusive resorts are more common in Aruba, and low-rise and boutique hotels are popular in Curaçao.
In Aruba, some of our favorite hotels include Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, and Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. In general, most visitors tend stay near Oranjestad (the capital), either at Palm Beach or Eagle Beach.
By comparison, most people visiting Curaçao stay in Willemstad, allowing them to reach the beaches easily and explore the charming capital city. Most resorts and hotels on the island are along the west coast, with the more prominent beach resorts located in Willemstad.
You’ll find more remote and quieter properties as you go north up the West Coast. For example, Renaissance Wind Creek Curacao Resort, Avila Beach Hotel, and LionsDive Beach Resort tend to be among the most popular options for first-time visitors.
Curaçao has the more impressive capital city: Willemstad.
When we compare the two capital cities at face value, Oranjestad has tons of strip malls, shopping centers, and high-rise hotels, while Willemstad looks more historical. For example, if you take a walk across the Queen Emma Bridge, you’ll see some of Willemstad’s most colorful buildings along the Handelskade waterfront. I also recommend visiting the Kura Hulanda Museum while here or taking the time to explore local markets and boutique shops. As you visit both cities, it’s pretty easy to tell that Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Oranjestad is not.
So, although Aruba and Curaçao both have fantastic beaches, Curaçao wins in this category thanks to its charming historical center. Generally speaking, we felt more like we were in a foreign country in Curaçao than Aruba.Scuba diving and snorkeling are more accessible in Curaçao.
In my opinion, Curaçao offers overall better options for both shore diving and snorkeling, primarily along its West Coast. For example, you can often walk in directly from the beach to dive or snorkel here, while you often times need a boat for both of these activities in Aruba.
Our favorite snorkeling spots here include Playa Lagun, Grote Knip, Klein Knip, Tugboat Beach, and Klein Curaçao, while popular dive sites you won’t want to miss are Watamula, Mushroom Forest, Booby Trap, Paradise, and Tugboat.
Aruba’s most popular snorkeling locations, including Arashi Beach, Mangel Halto, and Catalina Cove, can be limited thanks to constant trade winds. However, Aruba is ideal for windsurfing, parasailing, and kitesurfing. Key dive sites here are mainly shipwrecks, like the Antilla Wreck and Pedernales Wreck.
Interestingly, if you compare all three ABC islands, Bonaire would be the overall winner for best snorkeling, diving, and marine life. In fact, Bonaire National Marine Park is considered one of the top shore diving locations in the world.
Aruba and Curaçao both have fantastic national parks.
Both of these Dutch Caribbean islands are home to incredibly beautiful national parks. In Aruba, Arikok National Park covers approximately 20% of the island, where you can visit historic caves with Arawak drawings, hike through desert landscapes, and visit the Conchi Natural Pool.
Meanwhile, Curaçao’s largest national park is Christoffel National Park, where top activities include hiking Christoffel Mountain, going on a jeep safari tour, and visiting the Savonet Museum. Roi Rincon Park in Willemstad is another great option for shorter hikes!
Read More: Best Caribbean Islands in December
There are more daily flights from the U.S. to Aruba.
Aruba is more accessible for U.S. travelers than Curaçao, with more direct flights to Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA). Curaçao International Airport (CUR) has fewer direct flights–mainly from major cities like Miami, Charlotte, and New York (JFK) or United (EWR).
Depending on your location, flying to Aruba may be more straightforward. For instance, daily direct options are available to Aruba from various U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Boston, New York, Miami, and Washington D.C., with airlines like American, Delta, and United.
The Aruba Airport has pre-clearance for passengers traveling to the U.S.
When flying back home from Aruba, this airport offers a major advantage for American travelers: it has its own section for U.S. flights. Therefore, you actually pass through U.S. Customs & Border Protection before boarding your flight home.
Getting re-entry out of the way before actually taking off on your flight saves a ton of time! Once you land in the United States, you proceed directly to the baggage claim instead of going through customs again.
Read More: Travel Tips for Visiting Aruba
Is Aruba or Curacao better?
Choosing the best Dutch Caribbean island will probably vary from person to person. Nonetheless, you may want to keep the following factors into account when making your decision:
| Island Features | Aruba | Curaçao |
| Popularity | Mainly American visitors | Mainly Dutch tourists |
| Beaches | Public beaches, long stretches | Private beaches, cove-like |
| Language | English, Dutch, Papiamento, Spanish | English, Dutch, Papiamento, Spanish |
| Touristy Feel | More touristy, developed | Less touristy, lighter crowds |
| Unique Attraction | Flamingo Beach | Klein Curaçao |
| Prices | Expensive destination | More budget-friendly |
| Hotels | High-rise hotels & resorts | Low-rise & boutique hotels |
| Capital | Oranjestad, more touristy | Willemstad, UNESCO Heritage Site |
| Diving and Snorkeling Sites | Limited, better for water sports | Better shore diving |
| National Parks | Arikok National Park | Christoffel National Park |
| Flights | More direct flights | Fewer direct flights |
| Airport | Pre-clearance for U.S. | Standard customs process |
| Overall | Relaxing beach getaway | Culture and history |
No matter which island you choose, we’re sure you’ll have a fantastic vacation. Remember that if you’re still having trouble deciding, it is possible to visit Aruba, Curaçao, and even Bonaire on a Dutch Caribbean cruise.
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This article was initially published in April 2019 and has since been updated.
Michelle
Saturday 3rd of December 2022
Great article. Do you have an opinion on traveling from Curacao to Aruba to catch a direct flight to the USA for a return trip? How much extra immigration time might this take? Have you ever heard of anyone doing this? We have visited Aruba twice before and had a wonderful time so we don’t feel the need to stay there but would like to take advantage of this direct flight. Thanks
Martina from Travel Done Clever
Wednesday 18th of May 2022
Thank you very much for a detailed article - now we finally know, which island is more suitable for us! Even though Aruba has stunning beaches, Curacao seems to be a hidden gem with no crowds, smaller beaches and excellent snorkeling sites. But we might split our 2 weeks between both island to explore Aruba for a few days too!
Cara
Friday 29th of January 2021
Thank you SO much for this article that I desperately needed! Two follow up questions- besides a possible extra flight is there a large price difference in the two islands? Also- if you had five days at each island would you do that or spend all 10 days at one island? Thank you!
Leah Shoup
Friday 29th of January 2021
Hi Cara! So glad my article could help. I would say prices are pretty similar. As far as the second question, I would spend 5 days on each island and see both :)
Mary
Friday 19th of June 2020
We have been to Curaçao and love the European feel. Much less of a party atmosphere.