What’s it prefer to journey to Curaçao?

We ended up in Curaçao on a whim — and it ended up being considered one of our favourite islands within the Caribbean.

Between an extremely cool capital metropolis, among the bluest water I’ve ever seen, and iguanas in every single place, Curaçao is a vacation spot like no different!

So how do you find yourself ANYWHERE within the Caribbean on a whim? My husband Charlie and I knew we needed to be in Barbados in early December for our Star Clippers cruise, however we needed to fly KLM enterprise class if we may, and choose up some KLM homes for our assortment.

Properly, KLM flies to Curaçao. Increase. Booked!

We didn’t go in fully clueless. A few of my pals actually love Curaçao, and I knew that it was one of the vital photogenic Caribbean islands, with beautiful, colourful structure and seashores with clear, beautiful water.

Earlier than our journey, I reached out to the Curaçao Vacationer Board they usually supplied to supply us a rental automotive with Plusify Leases, a ship journey to Klein Curaçao with Mermaid Boat Journeys, and a day with a cabana and therapeutic massage at Mondi Metropolis Seaside Membership. The whole lot else we paid for ourselves, together with our resort, meals, and actions.

After which we received to Curaçao — and found this is perhaps essentially the most “us” Caribbean island there was. A spot that couldn’t be simpler to discover independently. An island that wasn’t overdeveloped. Landscapes with cacti and iguanas. Cliffs overlooking the brightest turquoise water.

We had a blast. And now I’m making an attempt to persuade my pals to go to Curaçao, too. So if you wish to know extra, this submit is a superb place to begin!

This submit was revealed in January 2026.

Inform me about Curaçao!

Curaçao is a small island off the coast of Venezuela within the southern Caribbean, near the islands of Aruba and Bonaire, in addition to the coast of Venezuela.

These three islands are known as the ABC islands, and Curaçao is the biggest and most populated of the three.

Is Curaçao a rustic?

It’s technically a rustic inside the Kingdom of the Netherlands (together with Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten, St. Eustacius, and Saba).

These 5 islands have been often called the Netherlands Antilles till 2010, when the NA dissolved and every island grew to become an impartial nation inside the Netherlands. You possibly can refer to those islands because the Dutch Caribbean right this moment.

Curaçao is type of like Scotland or Wales in that they’re a rustic inside a bigger nation, however they play within the World Cup below their very own flag. In actual fact, in 2025 Curaçao grew to become the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup!

Then there’s the Olympics. Curaçao competed below the Netherlands Antilles flag till 2008, and right this moment they compete below the Netherlands flag.

What about language, cash, and cellphone plans?

A number of languages are spoken in Curaçao, together with English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamento, a neighborhood Creole language. You will get by with English simply tremendous. When purchasing in shops, locals would usually converse Spanish to me.

Regardless of being a part of the European Union, Curaçao doesn’t use euros and your EU cellphone plan is not going to work right here.

As a substitute, Curaçao makes use of the Caribbean Guilder (XCG) for his or her foreign money, although US {dollars} are often accepted. St. Maarten additionally makes use of the Caribbean Guilder; Aruba and Bonaire don’t.

You should use playing cards for nearly all your purchases on Curaçao, however I like to recommend carrying round sufficient foreign money for a day’s bills. There was an enormous energy outage once we have been visiting the west of the island, and plenty of locations have been solely taking money.

Curaçao is very easy to discover independently.

What I beloved most about Curaçao is that it was really easy to discover as an impartial traveler. For 2 massive causes: it’s an inexpensive measurement, and the driving circumstances are fairly comfy.

From Willemstad, the capital, to the seashores within the west of the island, it’s a few 50-minute drive. From Jan Thiel, the neighborhood east of Willemstad that’s house to many resorts, it’s about an hourlong drive to the western seashores. Fairly affordable!

And the roads are nice. Roads are in good situation for essentially the most half, there are by no means any super-steep or calamitous driving areas, there aren’t any sophisticated or complicated intersections, and the drivers are fairly affordable (although some will certainly tailgate should you’re going beneath the pace restrict).

After visiting round 15 or so Caribbean islands, I can attest that Curaçao is likely one of the greatest locations to discover by automotive by yourself. It’s a far cry from the excessive pace drivers of Barbados, the curvy nausea-inducing roads of St. Lucia, or the pothole-covered streets of Dominica.

Curaçao can be an extremely protected island to go to, and also you don’t have to take precautions past primary journey security.

On some islands, it appears like that you must take excursions so as to really discover the island, which finally ends up costing extra money than you might wish to spend. Not so on Curaçao. Go wherever you need. Discover what you wish to discover. Drive your self there. Depart everytime you need. That is YOUR trip.

In brief, driving in Curaçao is straightforward and joyful, and I extremely advocate you lease a automotive. Simply remember that Google Maps is just not all the time 100% correct. It ceaselessly needed us to bang a u-ey the place there have been indicators studying “NO U-TURNS.”

I additionally really feel like Curaçao is developed the right quantity. There are resorts and resorts, sure, and at numerous worth factors, however it’s not end-to-end resorts right here like on some Caribbean islands. As you drive across the island, particularly extra rural areas, you see numerous small and colourful properties the place locals stay.

Whereas tourism is a big a part of Curaçao’s revenue, it feels just like the island hasn’t fully given over to tourism. Locals are valued right here.

On high of that, Curaçao by no means felt crowded in any respect (except for Willemstad when two massive cruise ships have been on the town). Even at first of excessive season, it was all the time straightforward to discover a parking spot on the seashores. It wasn’t arduous getting seated at eating places, both.

Curaçao has the clearest, bluest water.

The one factor many individuals learn about Curaçao is the existence of Blue Curaçao, the intense turquoise liqueur that brings to thoughts the Caribbean. And truthfully, we’ll get to the liqueur later — however every part in regards to the shade of the water is totally true.

Curaçao has an abundance of swimming spots with vibrant blue water. Listed below are a couple of of them:

So if good pictures and movies with vibrant blue water is a precedence of yours, you must completely take into account Curaçao!

Willemstad is a superb metropolis.

Willemstad is a delight of a metropolis, full of stunning structure, colourful murals, and plenty of good eating places. Willemstad shortly grew to become considered one of my favourite Caribbean cities I’ve ever visited (together with San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Fort-de-France, Martinique — although I believe Willemstad is the prettiest of all of them).

And Willemstad could be very protected and simple to discover by yourself.

The one factor I ought to warn you about is that Willemstad generally will get overloaded with cruise ship guests, which generally is a bit annoying.

It’s all the time a good suggestion to have a look at the native cruise ship schedule and plan your Willemstad exploration when the fewest cruise passengers are on the town. (I do that in each cruise port I go to, from Dubrovnik to Alghero.)

One factor to not miss is the Queen Emma Bridge. This pedestrian-only bridge connects the Punda and Otrabanda sides of Willemstad, and it really swings out when it must accommodate massive ships!

More often than not, it solely swings out a little bit bit to accommodate speedboats. However should you’re there when it swings ALL the way in which out, it’s a deal with to look at! Simply know that if the horn goes off once you’re on it, get your self to the opposite aspect shortly.

For me, the most important pleasure of Willemstad was simply strolling round, taking pictures, and admiring the surroundings.

However if you wish to do extra sightseeing, you’ll be able to go to the Kura Hulanda Museum, which focuses on the Trans-Atlantic Enslavement Commerce and Curaçao’s function in it, and Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the oldest frequently open synagogue within the Americas.

Rif Fort is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Website of Willemstad, Internal Metropolis and Harbour. And whereas there are some cool outside components to discover, right this moment the fort is usually full of outlets and eating places catering to vacationers.

For a pleasant memento, I like to recommend stopping by Heinen Delfts Blauw, a store in Rif Fort that includes beautiful porcelain objects. Charlie and I picked up 4 colourful homes formed like Curaçao’s buildings so as to add to our KLM homes assortment.

And should you’d prefer to get out into nature proper within the metropolis, you’ll be able to go kayaking in Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park!

Thursday nights are one of the best night time in Curaçao!

For those who’re going to be in Curaçao for lower than per week, I strongly encourage you to have at the very least one Thursday night time throughout your keep. Thursday nights are Punda Vibes — when the Punda neighborhood goes all out with music and celebrations!

That is such a enjoyable time to exit in Willemstad. I beloved how alive town felt.

On the recommendation of locals, we went to Cascada Rooftop Bar to look at the fireworks at 8:15 PM. It’s a preferred spot and there was no seating obtainable, they instructed us — however we discovered an enormous desk and simply sat there, and no one appeared to care. You may as well stroll round if no tables are free.

And one other factor — Thursday is perhaps your solely likelihood to expertise nightlife in Curaçao. I used to be genuinely stunned at how lifeless Punda was nearly each different night time. Some eating places will likely be open, in fact, however most bars gained’t be.

Klein Curaçao makes a beautiful getaway-from-your-getaway.

So, you’re already on a small tropical island. What do you do? Clearly, head to a fair smaller tropical island!

There’s a small island to the southeast of Curaçao known as Klein Curaçao, or Small Curaçao. A day journey right here is likely one of the hottest actions in Curaçao.

Klein Curaçao is a small, flat island a few 90-minute journey from Curaçao. There are a couple of sights to see, like an outdated lighthouse and some shipwrecks, and the snorkeling off shore is great.

There are a number of tour suppliers that do the boat journey to Klein Curaçao. We went with Mermaid Boat Journeys, who hosted the 2 of us, and truthfully, I wouldn’t go together with anybody else!

So what do you do on the island? Charlie and I did a lap, trying out the lighthouse and shipwrecks, however spent the majority of our time swimming within the sea and enjoyable on the Mermaid compound.

Sure, there’s a compound, a bit ramshackle however with every part you want (and larger than something every other firm has). There’s a actual rest room, numerous areas to eat, snorkeling tools, and greater than sufficient seaside chairs for everybody. Charlie and I received seaside chairs and a palapa and nobody else was even close to us!

We had a breakfast buffet, together with breakfast sandwiches and fruit salads. Lunch was an enormous barbecue with rooster, burgers, ribs, rice, and salads, and it was all scrumptious.

There’s additionally a bar making tasty frozen cocktails, which aren’t included.

The journey takes about 90 minutes there and about an hour on the way in which again. It’s a bit uneven at instances, and I like to recommend movement illness tablets if you’re liable to seasickness.

What makes the Klein Curaçao journey price it? I believe it makes a pleasant day the place you’ll be able to flip your mind off and simply lounge, the place you get to stay with out wifi or cellphone sign, and every part is dealt with for you. It’s particularly good should you’re staying at a resort within the metropolis fairly than a resort, so you continue to get to have a resort-like day.

The associated fee for the day journey is $140 USD per grownup, $70 USD per youngster age 4-12, and free for kids three and below. Choose-ups can be found for an additional charge; we drove to the dock.

One tip: the tour contains breakfast and lunch, however you’re not served breakfast till you’re on the island. (There’s espresso on the boat, although.)

For that purpose, I extremely advocate stopping at Espresso Bike Curaçao within the parking zone throughout the road (that’s a Google Maps hyperlink) and getting a espresso and cake to stave off your starvation in the course of the boat journey.

Curaçao has a well-known liqueur!

For those who’ve ever labored in a bar, you’ve in all probability seen a bottle of Blue Curaçao — a liqueur from the island within the brightest shade of turquoise, good for making neon cocktails just like the Swimming Pool.

However there’s far more to Curaçao’s liqueurs than simply the blue one!

On our one cloudy day of the journey, Charlie and I drove to the Landhuis Chobolobo (what a reputation!!) to go to the Curaçao Liqueur Distillery.

We took a tour and realized that Spanish settlers meant to domesticate Valencia oranges in Curaçao, however they didn’t develop nicely on this local weather and the fruit got here out bitter. But it surely wasn’t an entire loss — the peels have been ripe for distilling.

And the well-known blue shade? It’s completely a gimmick. It was simply added for enjoyable. Curaçao liqueur is available in numerous flavors, most of them in pure brownish colours. We have been stunned that we loved the chocolate and low liqueurs essentially the most!

After the tour, you get to take pleasure in some cocktails within the bar. In addition they have an in depth record of scrumptious nonalcoholic mocktails, that are good in your designated driver.

Chill Out at a Seaside Membership

For those who’re staying at a non-beach resort in Curaçao like me, it may be enjoyable getting the seaside resort expertise elsewhere. Klein Curaçao is the lie-on-the-beach-and-veg expertise, however if you would like one thing a bit extra high-end, spend a day at a seaside membership!

We spent a day at Mondi Metropolis Seaside Membership, who hosted us, and we had a wonderful time. This membership is situated inside strolling distance from Willemstad, near the cruise terminal and Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park.

There isn’t an precise seaside right here, however it’s perched on the shoreline and there are good swimming pools for cooling off.

We received the Cabana XL bundle for the day, which prices 200 Caribbean guilders or $111 USD. It contains a big shaded cabana for 2 individuals, one snack platter, two apps, two principal programs, two drinks (beer/wine/mushy drinks), one bottle of wine, and one bottle of water. I believe that’s GREAT worth for cash!

There was SO a lot meals, and it was so tasty. The cheese balls might need been essentially the most addictive meals I ate in Curaçao.

So what did we try this day? We relaxed. We ate. We learn. We drank cappuccino milkshakes. We loved being shaded all day lengthy, and we received an hourlong therapeutic massage, which Mondi Metropolis supplied for us as nicely.

There are iguanas EVERYWHERE in Curaçao.

Curaçao has far more of a desert really feel than the rainforest-covered islands within the Japanese Caribbean. Dry, sandy expanses and plenty of cacti. And there are iguanas EVERYWHERE!

I beloved seeing these cool animals pop up in other places. They’re pretty cool with people, for essentially the most half, so you’ll be able to simply {photograph} them.

The place the place I noticed essentially the most iguanas was at Bahia Restaurant, the restaurant overlooking Playa Lagun. There needed to be 5 – 6 good-sized iguanas hanging out up there, basking within the solar, gazing upon the seaside prefer it was their kingdom.

You probably have a child who loves lizards, that is one more reason why Curaçao is perhaps for you.

They even eat iguana in Curaçao. I didn’t partake, nor did I search for it — however I do know you could find it with some research.

The place to Eat in Curaçao

We spent 5 days in Curaçao, which gave us an opportunity to strive numerous totally different eating places. Listed below are the locations we favored:

Cafes in Willemstad

Van Gogh Specialty Espresso — A pleasant cafe and breakfast spot in Punda with among the higher espresso we had on the island. Good place to go once you’re jet-lagged and up early.

Home of Stroop — A small cafe in Otrobanda specializing in stroopwafels, one of the best Dutch meals merchandise ever to exist! Get those made recent; they’re so a lot better.

Eating places in Willemstad

Plasa Bieu — A market corridor in Punda turning out scrumptious, hearty plates of native delicacies.

Mar y Tierra — A classy-feeling spot in Punda, subsequent door to Cascada Rooftop Bar. They made some scrumptious ceviches.

— Nothing earth-shattering at this place in Punda, however you may get easy dishes like sandwiches, wraps, and Caesar salads. In addition they have a full breakfast menu.

Bario Meals Yard — I believe we had an off night time at this place in Otrobanda — it was abandoned and plenty of menu objects weren’t obtainable — however the meals was respectable and it appeared like it could be enjoyable on a busier night time.

Bars in Willemstad

Swinging Previous Woman Brewery — A brewery in Otrobanda with a FANTASTIC identify, a pleasant outside seating space, and a few tasty native beers.

Cascada Rooftop Bar — Excellent place to look at the fireworks in Punda on Thursday nights. Our cocktails have been ridiculously tasty — I had one thing that tasted like a watermelon Jolly Rancher!

World’s Greatest Mojito Bar — Tasty mojitos within the coronary heart of Punda, and I made a enjoyable video right here. Bear in mind they shut at 6:30 PM each night time however Thursday night time.

Locations Outdoors Willemstad

Bahia Restaurant — We solely had drinks right here, however the view overlooking Playa Lagun is SENSATIONAL. The most effective views on the island.

Uncover Lagun — A enjoyable and informal outside restaurant with nice burgers simply subsequent door to the parking zone at Playa Lagun.

Espresso Bike Curaçao — Somewhat espresso bar constructed on a bicycle in a parking zone throughout from the place numerous the boats to Klein Curaçao go away in Caracasbaai, Jan Thiel. I extremely advocate getting espresso and cake (the banana bread was nice!) earlier than your boat journey.

Tips on how to Get to Curaçao

Curaçao is perhaps simpler to achieve than you suppose! As somebody from the Boston space, the place a LOT of individuals go to Aruba for trip, I used to be below the impression that Aruba was the large hub and Curaçao was the aspect vacation spot, however that’s not the case in any respect.

There are direct flights to Curaçao from numerous North American cities, together with Miami, New York, Toronto, Chicago, and Atlanta, amongst others. There are additionally direct flights from Amsterdam, which is the easiest way to fly in from Europe.

You may as well fly direct from Curaçao to the opposite ABC islands, Aruba and Bonaire, in addition to a handful of locations within the Caribbean and South America. There aren’t any worldwide ferries.

Charlie and I flew from Prague to Amsterdam to Curaçao on our approach in, and from Curaçao to Trinidad to Barbados on our approach out.

The place to Keep in Curaçao

The place to remain in Curaçao relies upon solely on what sort of journey you wish to have. Some individuals come right here for the resort expertise, however you can too have a extra native expertise staying in a smaller guesthouse within the metropolis.

We selected to remain in Willemstad, at Atelier Skalo Boutique Resort, which was principally good, however had one massive disadvantage. The placement was PERFECT — simply over the bridge from Punda, so we may simply stroll over and revel in eating places and metropolis life, however there was additionally ample road parking and it was straightforward to drive out and in.

The room was a superb measurement and tastefully embellished, the breakfast was paid however was respectable, and the workers have been good.

The large disadvantage of this resort is that the water by no means received hotter than lukewarm. I can cope with that when it’s actually scorching out, however should you’re hanging out in an air conditioned room and go bathe in not-that-warm water, it’s not nice.

So if that’s a disadvantage for you, don’t keep there. If that’s not an enormous deal, keep there!

Scorching water is just not all the time a given within the Caribbean. We have been within the Caribbean 4 weeks and solely had constant scorching water at one place. So hold that in thoughts.

Prime-Rated Locations to Keep in Curaçao

Greatest Time to Go to Curaçao

The ABC islands — Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao — are particular as a result of they virtually by no means get hurricanes. These islands are situated within the southern Caribbean, outdoors the hurricane belt.

For that purpose, should you’re set on a Caribbean journey in September or October (prime hurricane season), I believe Curaçao would make a wonderful selection.

However total, Curaçao’s peak season runs from November by way of March, when there tends to be extra sunshine and fewer rain, and when the northern hemisphere is experiencing chilly temperatures.

And whereas I visited on the finish of November and starting of December, there was a quick mild bathe day-after-day. It wasn’t sufficient to disturb us; we simply waited a couple of minutes and it was over. That’s fairly commonplace for the Caribbean.

Is Curaçao Value It?

After studying all this, you is perhaps questioning if it’s really price visiting Curaçao. Properly, let me let you know one thing — I beloved it right here, I might return in a heartbeat, and I’ve been recommending it to lots of my journey pals.

I believe Curaçao makes a wonderful selection for people who find themselves pretty well-traveled and revel in exploring independently. The cool landscapes, pleasant individuals, and enjoyable issues to do are all a bonus.

I hope you will have a wonderful time in Curaçao!

Extra on the Caribbean:

Extra on what it’s prefer to journey right here:

Have you ever been to Curaçao? Have any ideas? Share away!