What makes the Caribbean different from tropical islands around the world is the people’s attitude to life. I consider myself a tropical paradise chaser and one of my dreams have always been to live on an island. Therefore I travel the world looking for that perfect tropical mecca. It certainly has been the best holiday of my life – scroll down and see why…
Living in Australia naturally makes me more exposed to Asian countries, and that is where I travel most of the time for a quick summer fix. This time I got super excited when my Dutch boyfriend introduced me to the Caribbean island called Curacao. It is not a coincidence that the island is greatly known by the Dutch. It is a part of the Dutch Caribbean -three Caribbean islands are countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Coming from Poland I am familiar with that name as it is a quite famous liqueur called ‘ Blue Curacao’, flavoured with the dried peel of the Laraha citrus fruit, grown on the island of Curaçao. Until now I have not realised it was also a very vibrant Caribbean island!
Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island, is known for its beaches tucked into coves and its expansive coral reefs rich with marine life.
Swag on the island
I am not going to try to convince you that the Caribbean islands are one of the best islands in the world. I want to share with you what I find, is unique on this island – and that is the attitude of local people. It is something we don’t get to experience in Australia or the Asia Pacific much.
People say what they think, people embrace who they are and there is no chase for the perfect life and perfect looks as you see in the Western World. There is a pure celebration of life and what it has to offer. People of Curacao dance, laugh and speak loudly. And that is what captured my heart. By no means is this the perfect world – it has its challenges and specific beauty canons; however, its unapologetic attitude is like a fresh breath of air.
Since my boyfriend comes from there, I had a chance to experience the island as a local person. I am confident that if you follow my tips, you will have the best (authentic!) experience possible.
Even though Aruba seems to be the most visited Caribbean island – only a 30 min flight away you get to experience this vibrant island of Curacao. Aruba is known for its mass tourist movement and its big resorts style holiday. But check what is in store for you if you decide to explore this unique island.
How to plan a trip to Curacao
Let’s get to the nitty-gritty details of how to get there, the essentials etc. There is no easy way to true paradise – and that comes from a tropical snob. The more flights you do the better heavenly places you reach. The most popular route to reach the Curacao island is to fly to Miami and from Miami, there is a 2-hour direct flight to the island.
Another alternative is to either fly through Panama or any South American country like Colombia, Venezuela or Brazil. The island is literally above Venezuela and can be reached by boat within two hours. However, you wouldn’t want to try Venezuela at the moment because of the political situation over there.
Once you are there, you need to rent a car as it is almost impossible not to have one, the island is too stretched and to make the most of it you have to have a car. Scooters are not popular there.
Things to do in Curacao
Dip in the turquoise water of the island
As soon as you arrive, head for a dip in the beautiful Curacao waters. Top it off with a cocktail or two. You can do that by going to the nearest beach club like Papagayo Curacao located in the Jan Thiel Baai.
Signature beaches like Klein Knip and Grote Knip are truly divine with fantastic palapas to give you some shade and cool you down.
Watch flamingos in the wild or in the Sea Aquarium
There are many opportunities to see pink flamingos on the island. You have the privilege to see them in the wilderness, in places like Salt Pans or Sint Willibrordus. But if you want a better close-up or even a chance to feed them just head to Sea Aquarium.
Enjoy a day at the iconic Cas Abao Beach
Cas Abao Beach is known for its softest white sand and crystal clear turquoise water. It is located in the northwest part of Curacao. I fell in love with that place instantly. Don’t be surprised if an iguana makes its appearance when you are chilling at the beach.
Iconic Nena Sanchez’ Art Gallery in former plantation house
Curacao and the Caribbean love colour. As part of the celebration of life are bold colours. Nena Sanchez is the most popular artist of Curacao.
She recreates the island’s bright colours and lush scenes in her distinctive paintings. The gallery found its home in the former plantation house.
Her gallery sits atop a hill, commanding an excellent view over the region, including the flamingo reservation and spectacular cactuses.
Trip to Klein Curacao – Things to do
Paradise within paradise – Klein Curacao offers precisely that. It is a little brother of Curacao island. Klein Curacao can be reached between 1 – 2 hours depending on the sea conditions. Book a day trip with different providers. I would recommend using Miss Anne or Mermaid, as they have facilities you can use in Klein Curacao as opposed to other travel operators. They also stay on the island longer.
This island is like nothing you have dreamed about. Apart from incredibly warm and blue- turquoise waters and white sand, it has some unique objects you should give some attention and I am not talking about turtles 😉
Stay there for a day or even for a night – but there is no accommodation on that pretty island so the only option is to camp.
Check out this beautiful abandoned pink lighthouse in the middle of the island.
Explore mysterious shipwrecks around the island. Klein Curacao is apparently quite a challenging island to manoeuvre around therefore many ships and yachts have fallen victim to its ferocious waters.
Kitesurfing is world-class in Klein Curacao. It has trade winds and is windy most days. It is not a beginner-friendly spot as it blows offshore wind so make sure you let know someone with the boat you are kiting to have a backup plan should things go wrong. There are parked catamarans so you will need to navigate around them. Also, bring bigger size kites as sometimes there might be light winds.
Climb Christoffelberg mountain
A must-see on the island is Christoffelberg National Park. If you feel a bit adventurous or feel like a challenge after a couple of lazy days at the beach, climb Mount Christoffelberg – the highest point on Curacao. It is a lovely picturesque hike, it won’t take you longer than 45 minutes to the top but the view will blow you away.
Dive, kitesurf or windsurf anywhere on the island
Curacao makes a perfect spot for water sports, so if you love diving you can find spectacular coral reefs in the Caribbean. It is also a mecca for windsurfers and kitesurfers since it is windy almost every day. For windsurfing connoisseurs, I recommend visiting a nearby island called Bonaire which is even better for the above activities.
Diving is spectacular and there is an endless number of spots you can do it. The top spots are: Directors Bay, Tug Boat, Marie Pompon, and any location in Westpunt.
Immerse yourself in the history and culture – Pietermaai district
Apart from stunning world-class beaches, there is a bit of history worth exploring while in Curacao. Visit the district Pietermaai,
It’s on UNESCO’s ‘World heritage list’ and is one of the most popular neighbourhoods on the island!
Small shops, bars, restaurants & hotels have found their home in the Pietermaai District, and together they create a lively, cosy and vibrant atmosphere.
This part of the city will serve well any fanatics of salsa and bachata. Wander around the town and find gorgeous small bars with live music and dance your shoes off. The most popular are Mundo Bizarro and Jazz Café.
Join the biggest boat party in Curacao – Fuik Dag
If you happened to visit the island in January (you should!) you surely don’t want to miss this event. May I introduce to you FUIK DAG – the most amazing floating party I have ever experienced. Dutch surely know how to throw a fantastic event. Not to mention it is free of charge and anyone can park their boat and join!
Picture something like this – it’s another day in paradise, you’re on a boat or a giant inflatable flamingo floating in the Caribbean sea alongside thousands of other people while listening to some of the world’s top DJs. What can beat that?
Explore Kura Hulanda’s colonial building and museum
The trip to Curacao wouldn’t be complete without exploring its lovely Dutch colonial architecture. Make sure to visit Kura Hulanda in Otrabanda – a crown jewel of the city.
Museum Kura Hulanda is the museum with the largest African collection in the Caribbean. It offers a world-class chronicle of the Origin of Man, the African slave trade, West African Empires, Pre-Colombian gold, Mesopotamian relics and Antillean art.
Old town with local people
I always make sure to give local places special attention when I travel. It is not only about the shiny and glamour spots but to truly experience a place one must visit where the locals live. This part of the island might not be crowded with tourists but it’s definitely worth a little trip.
Explore the capital of Curacao – Willemstadt
Willemstad is the capital of Curacao. Surrounded by pastel-coloured colonial architecture and a welcoming upbeat atmosphere that makes a great place for an afternoon chill. Feel the vibe of the city when entering Willemstadt – a city that will instantly make you feel like you are somewhere in Europe. So if you thought Curacao was only about turquoise water and white sand beaches, you would be pleasantly surprised.
Where to stay
From my observation, there are some main resorts on the island. However, I recommend renting Airbnb as you can stay in unusual properties over there. Since you need a car to get around the island, renting a villa is a great option. Especially, if you travel with friends or family. I stayed here (4 bedroom house) rented through Airbnb. You can book it here
This post is also available in: Polish
Wow! Just amazing!!! Beautiful photos, beautiful place, well written! I would love to go there one day ! On a wish list now !
Hello there! I just wish to offer you a big thumbs up for the great info you have got here on this post. I’ll be coming back to your site for more soon.
Thank you Van Spancake 🙂