🌴 Day 1: Bubali, Snacks & Sunset Swims
After landing in Aruba, we checked into Bubali for two nights, a convenient stay within walking distance of the famous Eagle Beach. Each day, we wandered past Super Food Plaza, grabbing fun local snacks just to see what we’d discover next.
On our walk to Eagle Beach, we spotted Keshi Di Hulanda, a charming local cheese shop with Dutch cheeses. We highly recommend stopping to sample their selections – especially the Black Lemon Gouda; everything there is really goud-a.
🦩 Day 2: Flamingo Island & Indian Cave Jeep Safari
In the morning, we visited Flamingo Island – chilled on the beach on a floaty with some yummy pizza from the shack.
In the afternoon, from 2–6 pm, we joined the Natural Pool & Indian Cave Jeep Safari with ABC Tours Aruba, an off-road adventure that took us across Aruba’s rugged desert landscape to dramatic cliffs, historic Indian caves, and the famous natural pool. Bouncing along in the open-air jeep with the wind in our faces was such a fun contrast to the calm of Flamingo Island earlier in the day.
We wrapped up with dinner at Yemanja, a restaurant that instantly earned a spot on our highly recommended list for Aruba — perfect for a romantic meal after an action-packed day.
✈️ Day 3: Island Hop to Curaçao & First Impressions of Willemstad
After our stay in Aruba, we flew to Willemstad, Curaçao on Divi Divi Air — a short hop that’s worth booking early, as seats can go fast. Once we arrived, we checked into Villa Amalie, a beautiful boutique stay that quickly became one of our favorite parts of the trip, thanks especially to its generous and delicious breakfasts – fresh juices, creative egg dishes, and the kind of slow, relaxed start that feels made for honeymoons.
That afternoon and evening, we explored Willemstad on foot, crossing the iconic Queen Emma Bridge, a floating pedestrian bridge that swings open to let ships pass between Punda and Otrobanda. On the other side, we admired the rows of colorful Dutch-Caribbean buildings and grabbed authentic Venezuelan arepas, which were warm, filling, and full of flavor.
For dinner, we ate at Gouverneur de Rouville (Gouverneur), where the food was fantastic and we even tried okonomiyaki, a Japanese-style savory pancake that was unexpectedly amazing in the middle of the Caribbean.
⛰️ Day 4: Christoffel Hike, Westpunt Lunch & Cas Abao Bliss
After our hearty breakfast, we drove to Christoffel National Park to hike St. Christoffelberg. The trail is steep in parts, but reaching the summit rewarded us with sweeping views over Curaçao and, on a clear day, all the way to Venezuela on the horizon.
On the way back, we stopped in Westpunt for lunch at Playa Beach Club Curaçao, where we tried savory plantains and delicious vegetarian burgers in a laid-back beach setting.
Here is where we also enjoyed the infinity pool!
Refueled, we made our way to Cas Abao Beach, which quickly ranked as one of the best beaches we’ve ever seen — powdery sand, crystal-clear water, and a relaxed atmosphere that made it hard to leave.
That evening, we took a stroll around the Kura Hulanda area, lit up with pretty lights and charming streets. The museum was closed when we first passed by, but we made a mental note to return on our last day.
🤿 Day 5: Placa Bieu & Diving Alice in Wonderland
Morning at Villa Amalie meant another breakfast we absolutely refused to miss. Afterward, we wandered over to a local juice stall for fresh juice and a mini language lesson in Papiamento, learning new words and phrases while sipping something cold and sweet.
We also explored Surinamese foods like roti and potatoes in Placa Bieu (yes, they have a huge presence here!).
This was also the day of a huge milestone: my first discovery scuba dive at Alice in Wonderland, the house reef of GO WEST Diving at Playa Kalki in Westpunt. The reef here is known as one of Curaçao’s top shore dive sites, and Playa Kalki itself often appears on lists of Curaçao’s most beautiful beaches and top spots for snorkeling and diving. Dropping below the surface into a garden of corals and colorful fish genuinely felt like stepping into the storybook that inspired its name.
In the evening, we headed to Bauase Culinary Beach Restaurant in Piscadera Bay, where the combination of great food and seaside atmosphere made for a memorable, cozy dinner.
🏝️ Day 6: Klein Curaçao with Bluefinn Charters
Our last full day in Curaçao took us offshore on a day trip to Klein Curaçao with Bluefinn Charters, and it turned out to be one of the absolute highlights of our honeymoon. These types of Klein Curaçao trips are popular for couples because they combine sailing, snorkeling, and a remote, postcard-perfect island in one experience.
Bluefinn offered unlimited cocktails, including tasty rum punches and Blue Curaçao drinks, plus a fantastic buffet where the standout star was their peanut sauce. As a vegetarian, there were plenty of options, which made the meal even more enjoyable. They also offered professional photos at a very reasonable price (around $8 for a high-quality shot), which is such a nice way to capture the day without worrying about your own camera.
We spent hours swimming in some of the bluest water we’ve ever seen, lounging on the sand, and exploring the little island before heading back to Willemstad in the evening. That night, we took a peaceful night walk across the Queen Emma Bridge, watching the city lights reflect on the water and savoring our last full night in Curaçao.
🍹 Days 7–8: All-Inclusive Honeymoon Vibes Back in Aruba
The next day, we flew back to Aruba for the final stretch of our honeymoon and checked into Barceló Aruba for two nights. This time, we decided to lean fully into the honeymoon experience and booked the Premium Level, which gave us access to added perks and elevated service, including attentive beachside drink service.
If you plan to stay here, it’s a good idea to make restaurant reservations in advance, since popular spots can book up quickly. We loved having a couple of days just to slow down, enjoy the beach, and let the bartenders bring drinks as we relaxed by the water. That said, if you don’t drink or don’t care much about the extras, you can absolutely enjoy Barceló without the upgrade. They had a fun karaoke and dance night which I participated in, super fun!
On our final night, we booked a romantic honeymoon dinner at Bucuti, and it was the perfect finale to the trip. We had a six-course meal designed around our dietary preferences, a complimentary bottle of wine, and even a cake that said “Happy Honeymoon.” Our server kindly took photos of us with the sunset behind us — the kind of photos that instantly bring you back to that exact moment.
The next morning, we hit some “instagrammable spots” because why not?
And, we flew from Aruba back to Atlanta, and then on to the Bay Area, carrying home sun-kissed skin, full hearts, and a camera roll bursting with memories.
🌅 Why This Aruba–Curaçao Honeymoon Itinerary Works
This itinerary blends relaxation, soft adventure, and local culture, with just enough structure to keep each day interesting and enough downtime to feel like a true honeymoon. From cheese mishaps at grocery stores and flamingo selfies to mountain hikes, discovery dives, and Klein Curaçao boat days, every stop felt personal and memorable.
If you’re planning a honeymoon or a special couples’ getaway, using Aruba as your entry point and Curaçao as your colorful, culture-rich middle chapter is a beautiful way to experience the Dutch Caribbean — and create a story you’ll be telling for years.
✨ TLDR: ITINERARY AT A GLANCE ✨
🌴 Day 1: Welcome to Aruba! Check into Bubali Hotel, explore Eagle Beach, discover artisan cheese at Keshi Di Hulanda
🦩 Day 2: Flamingo Island ferry adventure + ABC Tours Natural Pool & Indian Cave Jeep Safari (2-6pm) + romantic dinner at Yemanja
✈️ Day 3: Fly to Curaçao via Divi Divi Air → Check into Villa Amalie → Cross the iconic Queen Emma Bridge → Venezuelan arepas + okonomiyaki at Gouverneur
⛰️ Day 4: Summit St. Christoffelberg at Christoffel National Park → Beach club lunch in Westpunt → Afternoon at pristine Cas Abao Beach → Evening stroll through Kura Hulanda
🤿 Day 5: Fresh juice & Papiamento lessons → First discovery dive at Alice in Wonderland reef with GO WEST Diving (Playa Kalki) → Dinner at Bauase Culinary Beach Restaurant
🏝️ Day 6: Klein Curaçao day trip with Bluefinn Charters (unlimited cocktails, incredible buffet, $8 professional photos!) → Night walk across Queen Emma Bridge
🍹 Days 7-8: Return to Aruba → Barceló Aruba Premium Level → Beachside relaxation → Romantic 6-course honeymoon dinner at Bucuti
🏠 Day 9: Flight home to Atlanta → Bay Area