Bahamas and Curacao are completely polar opposite destinations in the Caribbean.
Nevertheless, a visitor can enjoy an extraordinary experience in either island.
As a general rule, the Bahamas is the better destination for persons who want to hop over to Florida via ferry services as well as enjoy beautiful white and pink sand beaches. Alternatively, Curacao is perfect for individuals seeking a more tranquil destination with fewer amazing white sand beaches.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two beautiful Caribbean Islands compare. This article is written by a Caribbean national familiar with both destinations.
Bahamas Vs Curacao- Which Destination Is Bigger
Bahamas is the larger of the two islands having a landmass of 5,359 square miles with about 700 islands, cays and islets.
The most populous island is New Providence Island where the capital city of Nassau is located and where over 70% of the population resides.
On the contrary, Curacao is only 171 square miles. The capital city is Willemstad known for its unique and colorful architecture.
Bahamas Vs Curacao- What Are The Official Currencies
The official currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar since the year 1966.
The currency is issued and managed by the Central Bank of The Bahamas and is divided into 100 cents.
Bank notes are available 50, 20,10,5 and $1denominations. Coins are available in 25, 10 and 5 cent pieces. The symbol is B$.
Nevertheless, US dollars and coins are widely accepted by businesses both small and large on the island.
Casinos on the island only accept US dollars and the ATM machines at these locations dispense US dollars.
On the contrary, the official currency of Curacao is the Netherland Antillean Guilders or Florins.
The Netherland Antillean Guilder is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of USD $1 to $1.79 ANG.
Bahamas Vs Curacao- Is It Easy To Visit Other Countries
The Bahamas provide the option for visitors to travel via services to the United States of America (USA).
Individuals can travel to and from Fort Lauderdale, Florida via the fast ferry service Balearia Caribbean to the Bahamas.
The ferry docks in Grand Bahama Island and Bimini.
On the other hand, there are no ferry services from Curacao to the other Dutch Caribbean territories.
Nevertheless, Insel Air provides daily non-stop flights from Curacao to both Bonaire and Aruba.
Bahamas Vs Curacao- What Are The Official Languages
The official language of both destinations differs. English is the native speech of the Bahamas as the island was a former colony of the United Kingdom.
At the time of writing, the Bahamas is part of the Commonwealth of Nations, which means that His Majesty King Charles III is the Head of State.
On the other hand, as a former dependency of the Netherlands, Dutch is the official language of Curacao. Papiamentu which is broken form of Portuguese is regularly spoken by locals on the island.
English is taught on the island in the school system and as such visitors will have no difficulty communicating with the locals.
Bahamas Vs Curacao- Which Destination Has The Better Beaches
Having the larger landmass of the two destinations, the Bahamas has about 2000 beaches while Curacao has approximately 38 beaches.
Gold Rock Beach, Cable Beach and Tropic of Cancer Beach are three of the amazing spots to visit for beautiful white and powdery sand in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is also known for having pink sand beaches with one of the most famous one being Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island.
This island is only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles and is popular stop for affluent visitors.
The sand on pink sand beach has its distinct pink color due to the presence of foraminifera.
For a unique experience, Pig Beach on the island of Exuma is the perfect for those who want to swim with pigs.
Contrastingly, if your priority is shore diving then Curacao is the better destination.
Some of the popular beaches on the island include playa piskado which translates to fisherman’s beach where you get to swim with sea turtles in Curacao.
In addition, you can swim with dolphins at Jan Thiel beach.
Bahamas Vs Curacao- Which Destination Has The Better Nightlife
The Bahamas is the destination with the more vibrant nightlife of the two islands.
Entertainment in both islands consists mainly of nightclubs, casinos, beach bars and restaurants.
The Bahamas is the larger of the two islands and hence there is a greater number of entertainment spots concentrated mainly in the Freeport and Nassau regions.
Bones Bar, Aura and the Atlantis are three spots to explore for nightlife while in the Bahamas.
For entertainment both day and night, Arawak Cay in Nassau is a must visit stop if you want to delve deeper into local traditional food and drink.
On the other hand, there are also fantastic entertainment options available in Curacao.
There are many restaurants and casinos that visitors and locals on the island enjoy such as Mambo Beach Boulevard for restaurants and beach clubs.
Another favorite of visitors and locals alike is St Tropez.
Bahamas Vs Curacao- Unique Things To Do In Both Destinations
Queen’s Staircase, Bahamas– fondly known as 66 steps, this is a historic landmark located in Nassau, New Providence Island.
The steps were named in memory of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Shete Boka National Park, Curacao– located near Christoffel Park, this area provides amazing views of the rugged terrain of the island.
There are 10 pocket bays which provide a safe haven for sea turtle conservation.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, the Bahamas is perfect for individuals seeking a bustling nightlife environment as well as amazing white sand beaches. On the other hand, Curacao is suitable for persons who prefer a smaller and quieter destination with white sand beaches with turquoise waters.
Need More Information?
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We welcome you to continue exploring for more articles on Bahamas, Curacao and the rest of the Caribbean using the search bar located on the top of this page.
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