The islands that make up the Dutch Caribbean are the southernmost, lying less than 50 miles north of the Venezuelan coast. Of the five islands, the two largest are Aruba and Curacao–and although these sister islands share some similarities, in many ways they could not be more different from each other.

Aruba

I admittedly arrived on Aruba with some preconceived notions. My idea of the island was a place filled with American resorts, American food, American stores, and Americans themselves who spent countless hours lolling on the beaches with a mai tai in hand. Although this image proved partially correct–tourism is Aruba’s biggest economy, and 85% of its visitors are American–there were also many things about the island that surprised and delighted me.

Many people come here to simply relax at its incredible beaches and resorts, and Aruba definitely offers a friendly place to get away from it all in an easy-going tropical destination. But it can be an adventure vacation as well, with a distinctly wild side once you get away from the stretch of coast and venture inland. The rest of Aruba has a definite arid, desert topography that calls to hikers–or, take a jeep on a fun off-road adventure over volcanic rocks and sand dunes to find tucked-away sights like the abandoned Bushiribana Gold Mill. After gold was discovered on Aruba in 1824, this mine once processed three million pounds of gold before closing and falling into disrepair. It’s a fascinating place to discover. Other places you can get to off-road include the Natural Pools, a unique formation of volcanic rock that creates a tranquil pool where you can swim, and the Ayo Rock Formations, an area of mysterious, monolithic boulders dating more than 80 million years ago.

Of course, water sports are also excellent on Aruba. The waters that surround this tiny bit of land are crystal clear to an amazing depth, a jewel-tone azure color, and filled with fascinating things to discover. Forty-two different dive sites are home to incredible sea life, from giant tube sponges and coral formations to tropical fish, lobster, eels, squid and sea turtles. But what the island is really known for in the diving world is being “King of the Shipwrecks.” Aruba has been rated as one of the top places for wreck dives in the Caribbean; numerous ships have met their demise in these waters, and their sunken hulls are favorite spots for both divers and snorkelers. The best of these is the Antilla, a German freighter that was sunk by its own captain in 1945, rather than surrender it to the Dutch. It is the largest wreck in the Caribbean at 400 feet long, encrusted by barnacles and coral. Other shipwrecks to explore include the WWII Pedernales, and ships that were intentionally sunk for diving such as the Jane Sea, Debbie II and Star Gerren.

Where to Stay: Check out the beautiful Marriott Resort & Casino, thoughtfully designed with a stylish, modern feel, gorgeous oasis pool areas, and prime beach location.

Curaçao

Far less developed or explored by tourists, Curaçao’s charm lies in its multi-cultural history and authenticity; it doesn’t strive to present a picture-perfect postcard to its visitors. It’s not pristine, it’s lived-in; and this is what makes it special. The best part of exploring Curaçao is that it feels undiscovered; there are no “tourist traps” here. It’s largely untraveled by other Americans–only 13% of its visitors are from North America; the rest are mainly from Europe and a few South Americans.

The historic capital city of Willemstad greets you with its colorful 17th and 18th century Dutch architecture, perched above the clear turquoise waters. This lively port is one of six UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Caribbean, preserving some 765 buildings as national monuments. Check out the pontoon bridge that connects Old Town Punda District with Otrobanda (literally, the other side). Sixteen pontoons support the pedestrian walkway between the two sides, until boats need to come through the waterway passage. Then, the bridge swings open using two powerful motorboats–quite a feat of engineering, especially when you consider that it was constructed in 1888.

Around the corner is on the Venezuelan floating market, where you’ll find a colorful assortment of fruits and vegetables alongside hand-crafted artisan works and fish stalls. The Venezuelans who sell here travel back and forth between Curaçao and their home country, with their fishing boats doubling as living quarters while they sell at the market. It’s a great place to stroll, people watch, and interact with the local merchants and shoppers.

There are also many options for excellent diving and snorkeling in Curaçao, and they are largely untouched and uncrowded. Venture to the far west end of the island and you’ll find yourself in a remote, almost completely undeveloped area surrounded by hundreds of acres of Christoffel National Park.

For completely anti-tourist experiences, check out two places that even most locals don’t know about. At Den Paradera, Dinah Veeris lovingly maintains several acres of plants and herb gardens, from which she concocts an amazing array of natural healing herbs and beauty potions. And for an awesome meal that you won’t find in any guidebook, head to Equus on a Friday night. Most of the time, Equus operates as a horse stable, but on Friday nights, it turns into a restaurant that the locals frequent. There are only two items on offer: long skewers of grilled chicken and beef, served with warm home-baked bread and a tangy dipping sauce.

Where to Stay: In Willemstad, the Hotel Kura Hulanda is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been created from 17th-18th century buildings, in a beautiful village full of found treasures. For a beach resort, head to the Kura Hulanda Lodge for a quiet tropical retreat.

As we enjoy the last of blissful sunny days, cookouts, and playing in the sand, we want you to share a photo of your Favorite Beach Vacation with us. You might win a free $250 (USD) Visa gift card which you can use for any upcoming travel plans you might have. Click here to learn how to enter.