Aruba and Curacao --- what to do that ISN'T a beach?

[luv2cruise4ever]

First time doing ABC islands in a few months and I'm looking for recommendations on things to do in Aruba and Curacao other than beaches?  I've got a BonairCruiser golf cart reserved so I'm not worried about it.  Does anyone have anything other than the standard ship excursions that you'd recommend? 

Can't wait for this trip....last cruise was 2019 so the cruise withdrawals kicked in a LONG time ago!   Thanks for any help!!

 

I'll add that I've checked all the boards,etc and am looking for any additional information from people who've actually done different excursions/tours either on your own or with locals, etc.

 

Alisa

Edited February 19, 2022 by luv2cruise4ever

[davekathy]

1 minute ago, luv2cruise4ever said:

First time doing ABC islands in a few months and I'm looking for recommendations on things to do in Aruba and Curacao other than beaches?  I've got a BonairCruiser golf cart reserved so I'm not worried about it.  Does anyone have anything other than the standard ship excursions that you'd recommend? 

Can't wait for this trip....last cruise was 2019 so the cruise withdrawals kicked in a LONG time ago!   Thanks for any help!!

Alisa

Check this out also. 

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/456-caribbean/

[Dewaldcruiser]

Horseback riding to the interior.

ATVs to the interior.

 

Both will let you see the unique desert parts of these islands.

[alexgtp]

So much to do in both .

 

In Aruba - there are plenty of cool excursions that take you to visit all the cool sites. Since it is such a small country you can get a lot accomplished. The interesting desert terrain makes for some cool off-road 4x4 adventuring. (natural bridges,  aloe farm,  cali light house, Arikok National Park, casibari rock formation)

 

Curacao- you can spend your entire day walking around the city, which is safe. Dont miss the pontoon bridge, the fortress and shopping. Do a Curacao distillery tour Jump on a colorful street party bus (irie tours is the most popular one)

[smokeybandit]

ABC Jeep tours in Aruba

[neverbeenhere]

Aruba - Hooiberg  

 

Curacao - Handelskade   Queen Juliana Bridge for the adventurous

[Bailey & Sophie]

 

We don't do beaches either.

Last time in Aruba we walked to a small museum in town. Easy walk from ship. Very interesting. Then we walked to the fort. There are pole signs with arrows to map the way. Also interesting. There's a free trolly that goes up and down the main streets. We've also done a walking tour which was easy to do. ATV are lots of fun.

[brillohead]

I enjoyed the Aruba Aloe tour. (not handicap accessible, FYI -- full set of stairs)

I never knew much about how aloe is grown or harvested, so it was interesting to see.  But that's only an hour at the very most, so you'll need other things to fill your day.

[sandc4e]

Trikes Aruba was amazing!!!!

[Husky1987]

I'll second Trikes Aruba.  That was a blast.

[Cigar King]

On Curacao here's a little outdoor cafe in the center of town.  Relaxing place to enjoy an Amstel Bright with a little ice in it.

[kathimac123]

Butterfly garden in Aruba.  And we always hit up the local grocery stores, just to check them out.

 

[John&LaLa]

Ride the bridge in Curacao

 

 

 

[John&LaLa]

3 hours ago, Cigar King said:

On Curacao here's a little outdoor cafe in the center of town.  Relaxing place to enjoy an Amstel Bright with a little ice in it.

Or enjoy a couple of 'free' Amstel Lagers while your wife goes jewelry shopping.😉

 

 

Only cost about $1500 apiece🤣🤣

[bigque]

Trikes Aruba is fun and a good way to have a guided tour of the island. 

[coaster]

At the Old Market in Curacao we went to Plasa Bieu. Not fancy, just lots of picnic tables with lots of locals. We ate iguana stew. Interesting to try at least once. Have to be careful of the little bones though.

Edited February 20, 2022 by coaster

[Bailey & Sophie]

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

Or enjoy a couple of 'free' Amstel Lagers while your wife goes jewelry shopping.😉

 

 

Only cost about $1500 apiece🤣🤣

 

What did she buy this time? Pics please.

[mafig]

14 hours ago, kathimac123 said:

  And we always hit up the local grocery stores, just to check them out.

 

 

We did that one year.  Purchased a big wheel of Gouda cheese.

 

Also lots of casinos in Aruba.😊

[Cigar King]

12 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

Or enjoy a couple of 'free' Amstel Lagers while your wife goes jewelry shopping.😉

Only cost about $1500 apiece🤣🤣

 

This is why I stick to water...still can be expensive.

[Bxc53]

I spent a long week in Aruba a few years ago on a work project with a few vaca days added on. Local shopping was fun and interesting, lots of things we don’t see here in the US . Did a self guided island tour in a rental car, lots of interesting spots. The casinos were nice but infamously poor payouts. On a cruise visit , I’d probably opt for the Jeep tour  and a little shopping. 

Edited February 20, 2022 by Bxc53
Lousy typing.

[loupana]

Another vote for Trikes Aruba

 

[EllieinNJ]

22 hours ago, luv2cruise4ever said:

First time doing ABC islands in a few months and I'm looking for recommendations on things to do in Aruba and Curacao other than beaches?  I've got a BonairCruiser golf cart reserved so I'm not worried about it.  Does anyone have anything other than the standard ship excursions that you'd recommend? 

Can't wait for this trip....last cruise was 2019 so the cruise withdrawals kicked in a LONG time ago!   Thanks for any help!!

 

I'll add that I've checked all the boards,etc and am looking for any additional information from people who've actually done different excursions/tours either on your own or with locals, etc.

 

Alisa

Where do you reserve golf carts in Bonaire?

[Mrs.Dukes]

When we were in Curaçao, we took a tour that included Hato Caves.

[kochleffel]

17 hours ago, Cigar King said:

On Curacao here's a little outdoor cafe in the center of town.  Relaxing place to enjoy an Amstel Bright with a little ice in it.

 

Amstel Bright is distinctive and worth trying. Brión is often considered the main local brand, although when I was there it was brewed in Barbados - there had been no breweries in Curacao since 2005.

 

I know of one craft beer made there now: https://www.beerforbrains.com/2017/04/07/curacao-brewing-company/.

 

 

 

[kochleffel]

Any interest in history? On the Otrabanda side, where your ship will dock, you might visit the Kura Hulanda Museum, and learn far more about slavery in the Caribbean than you ever wanted to know. Also on the Otrabanda side, near the Kura Hulanda Museum, there's the Gouverneur De Rouville restaurant and café, with outstanding food and some restaurant and bar tables on a balcony overlooking the St. Anna channel. (Service is leisurely. The manager commented to me that Americans are always in a hurry, even when staying on the island and there is nowhere to go later in the evening.)

 

Across the Queen Emma footbridge, on a weekday, you could visit the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere. There is a $10 charge for visits, including the small museum. A couple of open-air cafés are a bit south of there and Plasa Bieu, the Old Market, is a little farther east.

 

You'll pass a lot of glossy shops, most not unique to Curacao. As you cross the bridge from Otrabanda, you'll also see a restaurant that serves iguana. I haven't tried it. If you head north from the end of the bridge and cross a much smaller bridge, you'll be at the Curacao Maritime Museum, which I really liked. I don't recommend the Curacao Museum, which is on the Otrabanda side but a long and hot walk, if you're only there for the day.

 

There are many interesting places that require a car to reach. If you drive on Curacao, watch out for iguanas. There are many lying dead in the roads.