Comparison · Aruba vs Turks and Caicos · Aruba / Turks and Caicos Islands
Aruba vs Turks and Caicos
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, Palm Beach, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Turks and Caicos for Grace Bay and Turquoise water. Aruba is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,057 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,057 km
- Less expensive
- Aruba
- Best time for Aruba
- January–May
- Best time for Turks and Caicos
- April–June
Side by side
| Aruba | Turks and Caicos | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Aruba | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Known for | Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Arikok National Park | Grace Bay, Turquoise water and Barrier reef |
| Best time to visit | January–May | April–June |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $250–$400 | $300–$550 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | January, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 3 |
| Beaches | Eagle Beach | Grace Bay Beach |
| Airports | AUA | PLS, GDT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Aruba for…
Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. 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 Turks and Caicos for…
Grace Bay and Turquoise water. The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory of low, limestone islands and cays southeast of the Bahamas, surrounded by one of the largest barrier reef systems in the region. Most visitors stay on Providenciales ('Provo'), where Grace Bay's…
Top sights compared
| # | Aruba | Turks and Caicos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle Beach | Grace Bay Beach |
| 2 | Palm Beach | Bight Reef (Coral Gardens) |
| 3 | Arikok National Park | Smith's Reef |
| 4 | Conchi natural pool | Chalk Sound National Park |
| 5 | Fontein and Quadirikiri caves | Sapodilla Bay |
Food compared
| Aruba | Turks and Caicos |
|---|---|
| Keshi yena | Conch salad |
| Pastechi | Cracked conch |
| Pan bati | Conch fritters |
| Fried fish and funchi | Spiny lobster |
Which is cheaper?
Aruba is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $250–$400 per person there, against $300–$550 in Turks and Caicos (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Aruba on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,057 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 15 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Aruba or Turks and Caicos cheaper?
Aruba is usually less expensive: about $250–$400 a day mid-range against $300–$550 (estimates).
+Is Aruba or Turks and Caicos better for a first trip?
Pick Aruba for Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Turks and Caicos for Grace Bay and Turquoise water.
+How far is Aruba from Turks and Caicos?
About 1,057 km in a straight line.