ABCIslandsFerry.com · Practical guide
Choosing an island order without assuming a ferry
There is no universally best order for visiting Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. The useful order depends on your arrival flight, departure flight, dates, priorities and available inter-island transport. Start by making those constraints visible. A neat line on a map is not necessarily the simplest journey you can actually arrange.
Anchor the trip at both ends
Put your international arrival and departure on a blank calendar. Add any fixed events or reservations that cannot move. Everything else should fit between these anchors. If you have not booked the long-haul flights, compare arriving on one island and leaving from another against returning to the first island. An open-jaw arrangement may remove a backtrack, but its value depends on the real itinerary and fare rules.
Build a transport skeleton
Search current airline options for each intended move. Write down the complete routing and whether it contains stops or changes. Do not assume a direct flight exists because both islands appear on a carrier’s destination page. Keep the return or final onward journey on the same sheet so that a convenient first leg does not conceal an awkward finish.
The ferry proposals discussed on this website do not provide another confirmed leg. Our status page separates historical project developments from operating transport. If a suitable flight is unavailable, the planning choices are to adjust dates, change island order or reduce the number of stops—not to insert an unverified crossing.
Count usable time on each island
Mark each moving day as a travel block, not automatically as a full sightseeing day. Allow for check-out, transfers, check-in, arrival formalities, baggage and the next accommodation. An itinerary with more islands can contain less time actually enjoying them. Compare two islands at a comfortable pace with three islands involving repeated transfers before deciding which better serves your priorities.
Put flexibility where a delay would hurt most
Identify the points where disruption would have the largest consequence: an international flight home, an event or a non-refundable stay. Ask carriers and providers about their actual change terms. Consider a less tightly coupled sequence where possible. No fixed connection buffer is recommended here because it depends on the tickets, processing, assistance needs and available recovery options.
Make a simple decision sheet
For each possible island order, record the transport you can verify, the number of moving days, the flexibility of the reservations and one fallback if a leg is disrupted. Include the practical needs of everyone travelling. A slightly less tidy geographical order may be a better choice if it reduces an unprotected connection or an otherwise unnecessary return.
Before paying, compare the plan against official entry requirements and current operator rules. Save the source links and check again before departure. The document guide and connection guide help with the next checks. This framework organizes decisions; it does not reserve transport or guarantee an itinerary.
Sources and review date
Reviewed 5 November 2026. Operator availability and official requirements can change. Follow the original source for your travel dates.