Recent events in Venezuela, including a significant U.S. strike and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, are causing some travelers to reconsider their plans for nearby Caribbean islands. The ABC islands — Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao — popular tourist destinations known for their beaches and culture, are now seeing increased apprehension among visitors.
While official travel advisories from governments like Canada have not extended to these islands, the proximity to Venezuela is leading some individuals to question the safety and tranquility of their upcoming vacations.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. strike in Venezuela causes concern for travelers to nearby ABC islands.
- Some tourists are cancelling or rescheduling trips to Aruba and Curaçao.
- Government advisories currently do not include the ABC islands, but airlines have offered flexibility.
- Experts suggest potential for increased military presence in regional waters.
Uncertainty Spurs Travel Changes
Social media platforms have become a forum for travelers to express their worries. On a Curaçao travel group, one person wrote, "We're debating our mid-February trip... if a war was happening 50 nautical miles away from where I'm supposed to be having a relaxing vacation, I wait until things have settled." Another traveler posted on an Aruba group, stating they were "evaluating now whether to cancel" a two-week trip planned for June.
The U.S. actions against Venezuela followed months of escalating pressure. This included the interception of oil tankers and smaller boats suspected of carrying drugs. The recent strike, which involved U.S. Special Forces capturing President Maduro in Caracas, marks a significant escalation.
Fact Check
- Curaçao is approximately 60 kilometers (about 37 miles) off Venezuela's coast.
- Aruba is even closer, around 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) from the Venezuelan coast.
Airlines and Governments Respond
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) issued a travel advisory on Saturday, warning Canadians to avoid all travel to Venezuela. The advisory cited a "significant level of violent crime, the unstable political and economic situations, the risk of arbitrary detention, and the decline in basic living conditions." However, GAC did not extend this warning to the Caribbean islands. A GAC spokesperson reiterated their advice against all travel to Venezuela, noting "Flight suspensions have limited the options to leave the country."
Despite the lack of official government advisories for the islands, Air Canada issued its own travel advisory for Venezuela and "surrounding regions." The airline offered flexibility for customers to change itineraries for flights to 17 different airports, including those in Aruba, Curaçao, Antigua, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and the Dominican Republic, for flights up to January 6. WestJet and Air Transat stated they are monitoring the situation and have not observed an impact on bookings or operations.
"Because of the situation in Venezuela and surrounding regions, we understand that you may want to make alternate travel arrangements."
— Air Canada statement
Expert Perspectives on Regional Stability
Marie-Christine Doran, a professor specializing in violence in Latin America at the University of Ottawa, commented on the situation. She stated that the unprecedented strike means no one can be certain of what will happen next. "I wouldn't fear that there would be a direct attack on the islands, but some people may be caught in some kind of crossfire. Anything is possible now," Doran explained. She also expressed concern about the increased military presence in the waters surrounding the region.
A substantial U.S. naval presence has been in the Caribbean for several months. Reports indicate at least 35 known strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in South American waters since early September, resulting in at least 115 fatalities.
Broader Regional Impact
Beyond the immediate vicinity of Venezuela, the political climate in Latin America is also shifting. President Donald Trump has made threats toward Colombia and Mexico, both popular tourist destinations for Canadians. Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela, reported losing 32 security officers in the U.S. strike. Many other Latin American countries, such as Chile and Peru, are tightening their borders in response to the situation.
Travel Industry Sees Cancellations and Changes
Leanne McKercher, owner of Marlin Travel in Kingston, Ontario, confirmed that she has seen some cancellations in recent days for destinations like Curaçao. Some clients have opted to change their travel plans, choosing Mexico instead. "They're avoiding those islands in and around Venezuela," McKercher said.
Curaçao is a popular destination for Canadians. In 2023, approximately 32,300 Canadians visited the island. In November alone, 6,207 Canadians traveled to Curaçao, placing Canada as the third-largest international visitor market behind the Netherlands and the U.S. Aruba also attracts many Canadian tourists, with around 63,300 visitors in 2023, making Canada its second-largest tourism market.
On the Ground in Aruba
Bill Oliver, 50, from Fonthill, Ontario, traveled to Aruba shortly after the U.S. strike. He did not consider canceling his trip. However, his flight on Sunday nearly faced cancellation due to travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration the day before. Speaking from the Riu Palace resort in Noord, Oliver described an initial sense of "mayhem" upon arrival, as some people struggled to find flights back to the U.S. By Tuesday, he reported that everything felt normal. "There's no mention of the Venezuelan incident here on the island," Oliver stated.
Cruise Lines Maintain Schedules
Major cruise companies, including Virgin Voyages and Carnival Cruise Line, have confirmed that their southern Caribbean itineraries are proceeding as planned. They noted some disruptions over the weekend related to U.S. commercial flight cancellations but stated no additional impacts to their operations.
A Virgin Voyages spokesperson confirmed, "At this time, there are no additional impacts to our operations, and upcoming voyages, including... calls to Aruba, Bonaire and Cartagena [Colombia], are continuing as planned."
Mixed Traveler Experiences
Despite official assurances, some travelers on social media remain hesitant. On the Curaçao Travel Tips Facebook group, several individuals, including Canadians, questioned the safety of their upcoming trips. One person even reported seeing military helicopters from their hotel's beach. Conversely, other travelers shared positive experiences, describing their trips as easy and relaxing, with one person humorously noting, "Other than thinking all the fireworks were bombs, we felt great!"
