Comparison · Aruba vs Curaçao · Aruba / Curaçao
Aruba vs Curaçao
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SIryn, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Aruba for Eagle Beach and Palm Beach; choose Curaçao for Willemstad waterfront, Queen Emma Bridge and lower day-to-day costs. Curaçao is generally less expensive, and the two are about 122 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 122 km
- Less expensive
- Curaçao
- Best time for Aruba
- January–May
- Best time for Curaçao
- April–June and September
Side by side
| Aruba | Curaçao | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Aruba | Curaçao |
| Known for | Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Arikok National Park | Willemstad waterfront, Queen Emma Bridge and Cove beaches |
| Best time to visit | January–May | April–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $250–$400 | $170–$320 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | June, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 4 |
| Beaches | Eagle Beach | Playa Kenepa (Grote Knip) |
| Airports | AUA | CUR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Aruba for…
Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. Aruba is a small, dry island about 30 km long, lying some 25 km off the coast of Venezuela. Almost all hotels line the calm west and southwest coast, from the low-rise resorts of Eagle Beach to the high-rise strip at Palm Beach, a short drive north of the…
Choose Curaçao for…
Willemstad waterfront, Queen Emma Bridge and lower day-to-day costs. Curaçao is a dry, cactus-covered island about 65 km off Venezuela, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its capital, Willemstad, is a UNESCO-listed port whose pastel merchant houses line both sides of the Sint Anna Bay, linked by the floating Queen Emma…
Top sights compared
| # | Aruba | Curaçao |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle Beach | Handelskade |
| 2 | Palm Beach | Queen Emma Bridge |
| 3 | Arikok National Park | Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue |
| 4 | Conchi natural pool | Fort Amsterdam |
| 5 | Fontein and Quadirikiri caves | Rif Fort |
Food compared
| Aruba | Curaçao |
|---|---|
| Keshi yena | Keshi yená |
| Pastechi | Stoba |
| Pan bati | Funchi |
| Fried fish and funchi | Pastechi |
Which is cheaper?
Curaçao is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $170–$320 per person there, against $250–$400 in Aruba (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Curaçao on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Aruba and Curaçao are about 122 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 7 days in Aruba and 7 in Curaçao.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Aruba or Curaçao cheaper?
Curaçao is usually less expensive: about $170–$320 a day mid-range against $250–$400 (estimates).
+Is Aruba or Curaçao better for a first trip?
Pick Aruba for Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, or Curaçao for Willemstad waterfront, Queen Emma Bridge and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Aruba from Curaçao?
About 122 km in a straight line.