While Curaçao is a popular destination on many Caribbean cruises, many Americans have historically avoided visiting the island on its own. However, a visit to Curaçao—the capital of the ABC Dutch Caribbean islands, which also include Aruba and Bonaire—is well worth more than a day in port. I was super excited when presented with the opportunity to partner with the Curaçao Tourism Board to experience and discover this underrated gem. This time I got to travel with a fellow tropical babe, Jyo Shankar, who has one of the most envious tropical photos on Instagram.

 

Curaçao has almost 40 beaches, a charming capital city, and an abundance of natural beauty. Curaçao’s east side is the most populous, with the capital city of Willemstad offering lots of colonial architecture, shopping, museums, and cafés. Meanwhile, the island’s less populated west side is covered with hills, quiet coves, and historic fishing towns, while the island’s south side has some of the world’s finest diving. Continue reading my Curaçao travel guide to help you plan your trip:

WHEN TO GO TO CURAÇAO

Any time of year, Curaçao is a tropical, pleasant location. Curaçao’s rainy season is not as severe as it is on some other islands—and fortunately, Curaçao is situated just outside the hurricane belt. The peak travel season in Curacao occurs between mid-December and mid-April when Europeans and North Americans flock to the island to escape the harsh winters.

 

Christmas, New Year’s, Presidents Day, and the March spring break weeks are also peak tourist seasons. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the carnival-themed festivities that precede Mardi Gras. Between mid-April and mid-December is the best time to visit for fewer people and cheaper costs.

 

COVID-19 UPDATE

Here are four mandatory steps that you need to do as an international travel before you go:

• Before departing and once you have all your travel information, complete your Digital Immigration Card online.
• Within 48 hours before departure, complete and print the Passenger Locator Card (PLC). It includes your personal, travel and medical information as well as country of departure.
• Exhibit a negative Covid result of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (or Antigen test, depending on your country of departure) conducted no more than 72 hours before travel. If you are coming from the US, a PCR test is required. For more information about the country classification, click here. Pro tip: Make sure your test indicates a PCR test otherwise the airlines can deny you boarding. (I know cause I missed my flight because of this). 
• Book a lab appointment for third day Antigen test in Curaçao. You are required to take the 3rd day test depending on your country of origin. We paid $20 for the test and it covered our required Antigen test coming back to US.

 

* If you do not have health insurance, you may get travel health insurance that will cover you for the length of your trip. Rates vary by state but remain reasonably priced – around $7-10 per week for each guest.

It is preferable, in my experience, to print out all necessary papers and arrange them. Your check-in experience at the airport will be smoother! Once on Curaçao Island, you are free to explore on your own, taking all necessary precautions such as maintaining space and wearing a mask.

 

WHERE TO STAY

Curacao Marriott Beach Resort

The resort is perfectly located on six breathtaking beachfront acres, 15 minutes from Hato International Airport and 5 minutes from old Willemstad. It has 328 spacious guest rooms and eight grand suites, each with its own private balcony.

Take in panoramic ocean vistas, glittering pools, lush tropical gardens, and limitless white sand beaches while dining on world-class cuisine. We stayed at Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort for two nights and had a pleasant experience. The staff were all nice and we were welcomed by the most beautiful sunset on our first night.

Swimwear from Revolve; Dress from J.ing

 

Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino

The resort is recently refurbished and situated in the heart of Willemstad, only steps from the Queen Emma Bridge. The rooms overlook the ocean and an imposing infinity salt lake lagoon.

It is definitely one of the most unique pools I’ve seen! Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino is a good place to stay especially if you are looking for a base that is walkable to all the attractions in Willemstad. Within the property alone, you will find a mall, a casino and Rif Fort, which is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was built in 1828 to protect the entrance of St. Anna Bay and the outer part of Otrobanda.

Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort

We did not stay at this resort but it is Curacao’s newest five-star all-inclusive resort, located on a private beach. The finishes are contemporary and open, making the space ideal for families, couples, and parties.

 

THINGS TO DO IN CURAÇAO ISLAND

 

1. VISIT THE BEACHES

Curacao’s beaches blew me away! Curacao has about 40 beaches, including the private hotel beaches, each with its own personality and protected by cliffs and bays. Curacao beaches provide great snorkeling and diving opportunities with an abundance of marine life. There are so many beautiful beaches on the island. Here are a few of my personal favorites:

 

• Cas Abao – known for its expansive length of white sand that leads to crystal blue seas. This beach is ideal for swimmers of all abilities, and it has a bar, restaurant, showers, massage, and diving store.

Skirt from Skies Are Blue 

 

• Playa Kenepa or Grote Knip – The biggest beach in Curacao, Playa Kenepa, has a natural, calm vibe. This is a favorite spot with residents, and on weekends, Playa Kenepa becomes very crowded, with food carts operating. Additionally, the entrance is free!

Playa Kenepa is consistently rated as Curaçao’s number one beach! If you search Curaçao on google, most photos that will come up are the ones taken here.

• Playa Porto Marie – another big, calm beach with fine sand and clean seas is Playa Porto Marie. What distinguishes this one is the presence of wild pigs on the beach in the late afternoon.

 

• Playa Piskado – my personal favorite! It’s a small fishing beach where you can snorkel and swim with the turtles in their natural habitat.

• Kokomo Beach – a beautiful natural bay on the road to Bullenbaai and has a surfer look with a classy touch. Snap a pic of the in-water swings and Kokomo sign for some cool photo opp. We were supposed to come here but we squeezed in so much in a day, we ended up running out of time. But definitely a must visit!

2. A DAY TRIP TO KLEIN CURACAO

Klein Curacao, sometimes referred to as Little Curacao, is a tiny uninhabited island located 11 kilometers (7 miles) east of Curacao. Additionally, the island is known for its white sand beach, turquoise sea, and beautiful undersea environment.

We joined a boat trip to get to the island. Just about an hour of boat ride and you can arrive in this paradise. The boat ride can be bumpy so make sure you take anti-motion sickness medication.

For the tour, we joined Miss Ann Boat Trips. The tour includes breakfast, lunch, drinks throughout your stay in the island, snorkeling gear and a snorkeling tour, there was also happy hour in the boat on our way back to the main island. If you want more of a laidback time, there were shaded palapas on the beach as well as lounge chairs, perfect for reading a book or sunbathing. The tour was a fun activity and one of the highlights of our trip, so if you have more time, I highly recommend going on a day trip to Klein Curaçao!

Be sure to check out this pink lighthouse in the island!

 

3. A TOUR OF WILLEMSTAD

Touring the capital district of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must-do while in Curacao. You may explore on your own or hire a tour to discover shopping, interesting architecture, restaurants, and markets. We joined an electric bike tour with Curaçao Green Wheels. We had the best tour guide who took us around the beautiful and historic parts of the city. It is also the best way to explore especially if you do not have a lot of time, it gets you to more destinations than walking and is more convenient than using a car especially the roads around the city are narrow.

When visiting Willemstad, the following attractions in the Punda area are not to be missed:

• Queen Emma Floating Bridge – Originally constructed in 1888, this pedestrian bridge links Willemstad to the Otrobanda district and often swings open to accommodate passing boats! If you need to cross the bridge when it is open, you may take a free boat over.

Don’t miss your chance of taking that iconic Curaçao photo in the bridge!

Jyo and I are always twinning!

Wearing white dresses from Revolve

Can’t get over the colorful buildings and murals! The city has four districts: Otrobanda, Punda, Scharloo & Pietermaai. And I cannot decide which one I like better. They are all just so beautiful!

4. SHETE BOKA NATIONAL PARK

Shete Boka is a breathtaking natural wonder that offers rocky coastal views. Shete Boka means seven inlets and named after a series of picturesque coves carved out of the limestone along 10 km stretch of coastline.

We entered the famous Boka Tabla cave and experienced the shooting sound of the Boka gun.

 

WHAT/WHERE TO EAT:

 

 

Plasa Bieu

You may taste regional cuisines at regional pricing here. Rice and beans, polenta, or mashed potatoes are offered with the dishes. Cactus soup, stewed salted pigtails, salted mackerel, and iguana soup are also popular classics.

I ordered aros moro, piska kora, plantain, batata machika, funchi and an ice-cold home made lemonade.

 

BijBlauw

Bijblauw is situated on the seaside in a stunning open-air setting (which reminded me a lot of Greece). They offer both Caribbean and European cuisine, and the food was every bit as delicious as the surroundings! It’s one of the most instagrammable restaurants in the city.

Zanzibar

Do you enjoy pizza? Zanzibar is well-known for its delectable pizzas. The pizzas are cooked in a classic stone oven, giving them a distinct flavor! We came here for dinner and the food was so good and the ambience was really nice!

 

Landhuis Klein Santa Martha

A 17th century monument, now a restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Landhuis Klein Santa Martha serves a variety of delicacies. They offer local, international and vegetarian cuisine. Don’t forget to order the mango smoothie!

Bario Urban Street Food

Bario is a food market in Otrobanda that has multiple food options, a cocktail bar and a Snèk where guests can taste local food, experience history, music and art. Hands down my favorite meal on our trip! The concept is unique and cool and the food were all delicious! You gotta try their cocktails too! We kept ordering for more!

 

Other Local Cuisine

To get a taste of the local cuisine, stop by Willemstad’s food markets, a snack bar along the road, and, of course, a late-night Truk’i pan. If you like genuine food and regional specialties, here are some recommendations:

• Karni stobá (beef)
• Stoba Kabritu (goat)
• The Kadushi (Cactus Soup)
• Pastechis Iguana Soup (savory pastries)
• Batata Sate Ku (chicken skewer and fries)

WHAT TO PACK

 

CURAÇAO SAMPLE ITINERARY:

DAY 1: Arrive in Hato International Airport and settle in your hotel.

DAY 2: E-bike tour of the city in the morning. You can explore Otrobanda, Punda, Scharloo & Pietermaai and see the city’s best sights including the Queen Emma Floating Bridge, Wilhelmina Plaza, the Governor’s Mansion, the art murals and more. Then have lunch at a local restaurant. Recommended spot in the city: Plasa Bieu

In the afternoon, you can relax at your hotel and enjoy the pool or you can continue exploring the city. Visit some of the beautiful stores for some shopping.

DAY 3: Depart early for a day trip to Klein Curaçao. 

Plan for a sunset dinner at Zanzibar Beach and Restaurant

DAY 4: *Go to your third day Antigen test appointment either early or in the afternoon

Drive to the west side of the island and explore some of the beautiful beaches. Stop for some fresh coconuts and Johnny Cake on your way. Make a short stop at Shete Boka National Park then continue beach hopping. Some notable beaches not to be missed are Playa Piskado, Playa Kenepa, Cas Abao, Playa Porto Mari and Kokomo Beach.

DAY 5: Stop by Rif Fort in the morning to buy some souvenirs.

Get ready to check out and head to Hato International Airport.

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