Six Island Paradise of Dutch Caribbean

The Netherlands, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles comprise the Kingdom of Netherlands. The Netherlands is located in Europe while Aruba and Netherlands Antilles are located in the Caribbean Sea and are jointly referred as “The Dutch Caribbean.” The Dutch Caribbean is a six island paradise of lush green forests and snow white beaches. Whether you would go hiking, snorkelling, surfing, or simply soaking under the sun, the Dutch Caribbean got what it takes to give you a vacation to remember.

The SSS Islands (Sint Eustatius, Saba & Sint Maarten)

6. Sint Eustatius

Sint Eustatius, also known as Statia to its locals is the perfect spot where one can escape the crowd and find peace while enjoying the great waterfront views. St. Eustatius is unaffected by regional tourism trends and it’s not the typical Caribbean, it’s the Caribbean 30 years ago. The Golden Rock, as the island is known, hails The Quill, a long extinct crater 604m in height. Sint Eustatius raves about having clean, unhurried and unspoiled environment. Hiking, diving in wrecks and sightseeing are the common activities for tourists here.

Sint Estatius

5. Saba

Saba is a small island so it wouldn’t be surprising to know that there are only a dozen or so restaurants to choose from. But due to the great variety of selections, one will not get bored easily. The highest peak in the Kingdom of Netherlands is actually located on a faraway tropical island. In the heart of Saba you’ll find Mt. Scenery, rising at 877m. Saba lacks sandy beaches but it attracts tourists for its diverse ecosystem and its warm people, saying that the regular crowd knows how to throw a party is an understatement.

Saba

4. Sint Maarten

Two sovereign European countries, the Netherlands and France, share this Caribbean Island. Also known as St. Martin, it has been one of the leading Caribbean destinations for decades. Hotels, restaurants, casinos, nightlife, bars, water sports and shopping opportunities are literally everywhere. The coast of St. Maarten has a large number of bays, lagoons, sand banks and sandy beaches. Divers will be thrilled by the underwater landscape and sun seekers would enjoy soaking in the Sint Maarten waters.

The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa in Sint Maarten

ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao)

3. Bonaire

Bonaire’s official nickname is Diver’s Paradise. For the past 20 years, The Readers’ Choice Awards in Scuba Diving magazine have designated Bonaire as the No. 1 shore diving destination for the region. The Bonaire Marine Park contains 89 official dive sites and experienced divers can take advantage of easy shore diving in this paradise. Bonaire lacks sandy beaches so other activities here include kite surfing, windsurfing and snorkelling. Foodies may rejoice as well as Bonaire also offers refined seafood experience.

Snorkeling in Bonaire

2. Curacao

Located only 12 degrees north of the equator, Curacao is a tropical paradise in more ways than one. From old ports to plantation houses to museums and animal farms, Curacao offers a lot of sightseeing activities. Naturally, the island boasts plenty of marvelous beaches. With sugar-fine sands and clear waters, they’re perfect for kids. Willemstad, the capital city is also famous among tourists. Its charming pastel buildings earned a recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage City. If you want to swim with the dolphins, feed turtles and sharks, watch a parade of flamingos and stroll aimlessly at the fine beaches, then Curacao is the place to be.

Willemstad, Curacao

1.Aruba

Along with Bonaire and Curacao, Aruba is located off the coast of Venezuela. Aruba is known for its white, sandy beaches, high rise hotels and its charming people. Its locals’ mañana ways of living blend with all the comforts of island vibes, making you relaxed and at ease. In Aruba, you can tour around the island with an air conditioned bus or a more adventurous 4x4 guided off-road tour, or at your own pace with a rented vehicle. There are also a lot of sailing cruises to choose from. Partygoers would love the Bar Hopping party buses where they can dance the night away. Divers would also enjoy the Antilla Wreck, the largest wreck in Southern Caribbean.

Aruba

References:

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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Saba_School_of_Medicine.jpg

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/pub/media/1770/wes1770po.136699_xx.jpg

http://www.tourismbonaire.com/public_docs/activities/snorkeling-lg.jpg

http://vacations.aircanada.com/media/images/common/csstorage/destination/MexicoCaribbean/Curacao_Willemstad.jpg

http://www.aruba.com/where-to-stay/hilton-aruba-caribbean-resort