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People call them ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
All three are located in the leeward Antilles of the southwest Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela. These three destinations are popular tourist destinations, known for their sandy beaches and rich culture.
But now, a few days later THE US strikes Venezuela with what he described as a “full-scale strike” and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores – the ABC Islands have something else in common: the concern of some travelers.
“We’re discussing our trip in mid-February… Honestly, if a war was happening 50 nautical miles from where I’m supposed to have a relaxing vacation, I’d wait until things had calmed down,” one person posted on the website on Monday. Curaçao Travel Tips from Locals Facebook Group.
“I have to go for 2 weeks in June…and am now evaluating whether to cancel,” someone else wrote on the site. Aruba Travel Tips Facebook Group during the weekend.
The American strike against Venezuela came after months of increasing pressure from Washington, notably from interception of tankers off the coast of Venezuela and the targeting of small boats believed to be carrying drugs.
Saturday, a few hours later US special forces invaded Caracas by helicopter, broke Maduro’s security cordon and dragged him from the threshold of a secure room, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has issued a travel advisory warning Canadians to avoid travel to Venezuela.
“The current situation in Venezuela is tense and could escalate quickly,” GAC said in its warning.
“Avoid all travel to Venezuela due to the high level of violent crime, the unstable political and economic situation, the risk of arbitrary detention and the deterioration of basic living conditions, including lack of medicine, gasoline and water.”
GAC did not extend its warning to the Caribbean islands.
But Air Canada has issued its own travel advisory Saturday for Venezuela and surrounding areas, noting that it would allow people to change their itineraries for flights to 17 different airports until January 6. These include the airports of Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, CuracaoSaint Lucia and the Dominican Republic.
“Due to the situation in Venezuela and surrounding areas, we understand that you may wish to make alternative arrangements for your travel,” Air Canada wrote.
WestJet and Air Transat both told CBC News they are monitoring the situation and do not see an impact on bookings or operations.
“Everything is possible now”
The problem with this unprecedented strike in Venezuela is that no one can say with certainty what will happen next, said Marie-Christine Doran, a professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Political Studies.
“I wouldn’t worry that there would be a direct attack on the islands, but some people could be caught in the crossfire. Anything is possible now,” Doran, who specializes in violence in Latin America, told CBC News.
“I would be concerned about the military presence in the waters,” she added.
There has been a significant US naval presence in the Caribbean for months. Like the Associated Press underlines, There have been 35 known strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in South American waters since early September, which have killed at least 115 people.
WATCH | CBC reports from the Colombia-Venezuela border:
On the Simón Bolívar International Bridge between Venezuela and Colombia, CBC’s Jorge Barrera describes the Venezuelan mood as “reserved hope” as questions persist about the country’s future governance.
The fact that the United States does not appear to be planning any democratic transition in Venezuela and is leaving the dictatorship in place is concerning, Doran added. Then there is the fact that US President Donald Trump has also made threats against Colombia And Mexico — two other places popular with Canadian tourists, she said.
Cuba, another popular vacation spot, says it has lost 32 security agents take part in US strike against Venezuelahis closest ally.
At the same time, many other Latin American countries, such as Chile and Peru, are tightening their borders in response to the situation, she added.
“It’s not a very good time to travel to Latin America,” Doran said.
Canadians cancel their trips
Léanne McKercher, owner of Marlin Travel in Kingston, Ontario, says she has had some cancellations in recent days for destinations like Curacao. Some people have changed their itineraries to visit Mexico, she added.
“They avoid the islands in and around Venezuela,” McKercher said.
Curacao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located approximately 60 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela, is a popular destination for Canadians, with approximately 32,300 visitors to the island in 2023 according to the federal government.
In November alone, 6,207 Canadians visited the island, according to Curaçao Tourist Officeplacing Canada just behind the Netherlands and the United States in terms of international visitors.
Aruba, located just 30 kilometers from the Venezuelan coast, is also popular with Canadians. Around 63,300 people visited the island’s second largest tourist market in 2023, according to the federal government.
Bill Oliver, 50, of Fonthill, Ont., says he didn’t consider canceling his trip to Aruba, but his flight Sunday was almost canceled after the United States. Travel required by the Federal Aviation Administration restrictions the day before.
Speaking to CBC News from the island’s Riu Palace resort in Noord, Oliver said there was a sense of chaos upon arrival as some people couldn’t get on flights back to the United States, but everything was back to normal by Tuesday.
“There is no mention of the Venezuelan incident here on the island,” he said.
WATCH | Trump threatens more countries:
After arresting Venezuela’s president, US President Donald Trump issues new threats, warnings and predictions of collapse for Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Greenland and Iran, while his State Department posts online: “This is OUR hemisphere.” Canada’s former ambassador to the UN explains how Trump and other powerful leaders are trying to ‘divide’ the world. Additionally, former Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderón reacts to Trump’s threat of military action against Colombia.
Some travelers remain uncertain
In a statement to CBC News, GAC reiterated its advice against any travel to Venezuela.
“Flight suspensions have limited opportunities to leave the country,” a spokesperson said in a written statement.
Cruise lines Virgin Voyages and Carnival Cruise Line both told CBC News that their sSouthern Caribbean itineraries continue as planned, despite some disruptions over the weekend Commercial flight cancellations in the United States.
“At this time, there is no additional impact on our operations and upcoming voyages, including…stops in Aruba, Bonaire and Cartagena. [Colombia]are continuing as planned,” a Virgin Voyages spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
But on social networks, some travelers remain uncertain.
On the Curacao travel tips For example, a number of people, including Canadians, have asked whether it would be safe to continue with their travel plans. One person said she could see military helicopters from the beach at her hotel.
But others said their own trips were easy and relaxing — for the most part.
“Apart from thinking all the fireworks were bombs, we felt great!” someone wrote.
