Curacao Itinerary - Discover the Caribbean’s Hidden Gem

My fiance and I went to Aruba to book our destination wedding and decided to spend half our time exploring an island we had both never been to before: Curaçao. Only a 30-minute flight from Aruba on Divi Divi air later, we stepped foot on the most beautiful island I have ever visited. Curaçao is a beautiful island in the Caribbean Sea that is known for its stunning beaches, clear waters, and vibrant culture. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation or an adventure-filled getaway, Curaçao is the perfect place for you.

Despite its proximity to the popular American tourist destination of Aruba, the island of Curaçao is less visited, seeing less than 100,000 American visitors last year, compared to Aruba’s over 700,000. Enough about Aruba, though, because Curaçao deserves all the love in this post!

Know Before You Go

Best Time to Visit

Curaçao has a warm, tropical climate year-round, with average temperatures ranging from 28°C to 32°C (82°F to 90°F). The best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from December to April. Because the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, & Curaçao) are outside the hurricane belt, there is really no bad time to visit the island of Curaçao. Temperatures are quite consistent all year round and it only sprinkled the hour before we left the island (it was a sign to not leave!!!).

How to Get There

Okay, here is the tricky part! While other Caribbean islands like Aruba and Turks & Caicos have direct flights from major American airport hubs, Curaçao only flies daily nonstops from Miami. Tickets from Miami to Curaçao hover around $300, but a nonstop flying JetBlue from EWR (running only once weekly) can cost you over $800. These connecting flights are cheaper, but most tickets have long layovers, some even in other countries. While this is a downside to visiting Curaçao, it should not deter you from visiting; it only means that the island has yet to be discovered by most Americans! 

There is another option for visiting Curaçao and it is the one we chose to do. From Aruba, a small regional service airline called Divi Divi Airlines has direct flights servicing the ABC islands. Having only really traveled with big-name airlines before, I was hesitant about booking our flights with Divi, and being the crazy travel planner I am, I called actually twice to just make sure our flight was still happening. Our flight ended up being perfectly fine and we arrived in Curaçao early. The flight itself was so fun because we normally don’t fly on such a small plane. For this flight, we ended up paying around $250 dollars round-trip to get to Curaçao from Aruba. I truly believe Curaçao is an undiscovered gem for Americans and we can count on our fingers how many other groups of American tourists we met while on the island. 

Language

Papiamento is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken in the Dutch Antilles. It is the official language of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Each of the ABC Islands has its own twist to the language. In Aruba, it is called Papiamento, but in Curaçao, it is called Papiamentu.

Papiamentu is a very expressive language with a rich vocabulary. It is also a very musical language, with a strong rhythm and intonation. Papiamentu is a very friendly and welcoming language, and it is easy to learn.

If you are planning a trip to Aruba, Bonaire, or Curaçao, I highly recommend learning a few basic Papiamentu phrases. It will make your trip more enjoyable and you will be able to connect with the local people on a deeper level.

Here are a few basic Papiamentu phrases:

• Hello: Kumbai or Konta

• Good Morning: Bon dia

• Good Afternoon: Bontardi

• Good evening: Bonochi

• Goodbye: Ajó

• Dushi: Basically, the coolest word ever - ask a local!

• Thank you: Danki

• You're welcome: Di nada or na bu ordu

• Excuse me/sorry: Sori

• Where is the bathroom?: Unda e banja ta?

• How much does this cost?: Cuantu e ta kosta?

• Have a good week: Bon siman

• Please: Porfabor

Special thanks to the local on Facebook that helped me out with these phrases!

Currency

The currency in Curaçao is the Dutch Antillean gulden (ANG). 1 USD is equivalent to 1.80 Guilder, but we did not even transfer any money over. We were able to use our credit cards everywhere and never needed cash. We did take some US cash to transfer in case, but we were able to just use USD to pay for what we needed.

Be mindful of foreign transaction fees if your card has any. American Express is not widely accepted but can be used at chains like H&M, Starbucks, etc.

Plugs

The plugs in Curaçao have a standard current of 110-130 Volt at 50Hz, which is the same power plug as used in the US.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Safety

Curaçao is a safe and healthy place to visit. The crime rate is low, and tap water is safe to drink. There are also a number of hospitals and clinics on the island that can provide medical care.

Something to be aware of is that parts of Curaçao can be sketchy and are popular spots for petty crime including armed robbery. When researching our trip, I learned car break-ins are common among rental cars, so we never left any valuables in our car, especially in more remote parts of the island. The resorts and downtown Curaçao are filled with tourists and I never felt unsafe for one moment of our trip despite everything I read online. Just keep your wits about you as you would with any other location and you will be perfectly fine!

• Be aware of the sun's strength. The sun in Curaçao is very strong, so it is important to wear sunscreen and a hat, and to stay hydrated.

• Be careful when swimming. The currents in the ocean around Curaçao are strong, so it is important to be aware of them and to swim only in designated areas.

• Be careful when driving. The roads in Curaçao are not always well-maintained, so it is important to drive carefully and to be aware of the speed limit.

• Don't eat anything that you're not sure of. The food in Curaçao is generally safe, but it's always a good idea to be careful when eating anything that you're not sure of.

Where to Stay in Curaçao

I cannot recommend our hotel highly enough, so I can say that if you don’t know where to start, check out the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao; it was AMAZING! There are plenty of other amazing accommodations around the island, so below are my thoughts on some of them:

Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao

The hotel is right in the heart of Curaçao, and completely walkable to so many restaurants and downtown Willemstad. Rooms cost around $200 a night, but Marriott has plenty of deals that can knock the price down. The hotel has a saltwater infinity pool/beach overlooking the ocean and sunset. As a Marriott loyalist, I was between here and the other Marriott property and I am so glad we chose here. You will enjoy wherever you stay in Curaçao, but just make sure you are by the ocean. ;)

Avila Beach Hotel

The beach at the Avila is better than that at the Renaissance, and the location is also very good. It is located on the Punda side of Willemstad and is walkable to many restaurants and downtown activities. Rooms cost around $300 a night, so there are definitely cheaper options to stay at, but having a home base in Willemstad is great for coming back from a day of exploring the island to a location surrounded by great options for dinner.

Sandals Royal Curaçao

Okay, this one is definitely a splurge, so if you are looking at balling out on your accommodations, this is your spot! Sandals are all-inclusive and for adults only, so with your room, all your food and drinks are included in the price you pay. It’s also brand-spanking-new and just opened to its first guests on June 1, 2023. Rooms run in the thousands and vary by season, but Sandals is constantly offering deals and incentives that may make it worth your while. If we were made of money, we would have stayed here, but I am glad that we had the chance to explore local cuisine and the vast beauty of the island by staying at a non-all-inclusive.

Airbnbs around Curaçao

Many of the Europeans that come visit opt to stay in Airbnbs scattered around the island. There are plenty to choose from and offer a great experience for those traveling in groups to have more space to share together in their accommodation.

View of sunset from the pool/beach of the beautiful Renaissance Wind Creek Resort in downtown Willemstad.

Day 1 - Pond-Hopper from Aruba/Checking into our Hotel

Morning

Right when we landed in Curaçao, we checked into our hotel: The Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao. After we checked in, we b-lined it to the pool to relax by the beach and have a cocktail. It was so nice to lounge around and the beach is manmade with an infinity pool that goes straight to the ocean. 

Afternoon: Explore Downtown & Queen Emma Bridge

After lounging about, we headed to the downtown area of Willemstad, which is only a short walk over the famous floating Queen Emma Bridge. Willemstad is broken into two parts separated by the Queen Emma Bridge: Otrabanda and Punda. Our hotel was on the Otrabanda side of downtown, so as we walked over to the other side, we entered the Punda neighborhood. This bridge is extremely unique in that it actually is floating! The bridge is a pontoon bridge across St. Anna Bay in Curaçao. It was named after Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, who was the queen of the Netherlands while it was being built. We wandered around the city for a while, and it was so colorful and each street is unique. 

Pietermaai District

We walked to the Pietermaai district which happens to be my favorite area of Curaçao and we went back multiple times while we were there. We had happy hour at Mundo Bizarro, which is a Curaçao must-do! This old-school Cuban-style spot is the island's most photographed bar. The vibe is super chill and once a week they have live music and the bar turns into a party spot. After Mundo Bizzaro, we walked a little further to my favorite restaurant in Curaçao. Mosacana is a European fusion and Latin/Caribbean tapas restaurant that serves dishes and drinks that are meant to be shared. We loved this spot and whereas the city of Willemstaad seemed rather quiet, there were lines out the door to dine here. I recommend making reservations ahead of time and they take them through WhatsApp at this number: +5999 691 5429.

After that, we walked back home to Otrabanda across Queen Emma floating bridge and hit the hay for the night. 

Day 2 - Bandabou 

We had a relatively early start on Day 2 in Curaçao and we decided to explore the island. After talking with locals, we were pointed to visiting Westpunt and the western part of the island and all their majestic beaches. Bandabou is the name of the entire western part of the island. Westpunt is a town located in Bandabou. The drive from Willemstad takes about 45 minutes to the northwestern part of the island. 

Shete Boka National Park

Shete Boka National park is your first stop of the day, and I recommend getting there early so you have more time to explore other areas of Westpunt. This park is absolutely gorgeous and has so much to offer. You seriously shouldn't miss it if you are visiting Curaçao. We got to the park just after opening at 9 am and we were almost the only ones there. To enter Shete Boka, It costs $5.50 in dollars and 5.22 in Euros and they give you a map of the park.

Depending on how much time you have, you can either walk/hike the entire thing, or you can drive to each spot. We opted to do a mix of both. We started at Boka Tabla and the cave, then we walked to the natural bridge, or Boka Wandomi as the locals say. After that, we walked back to our car and stopped at the other two spots. Bolka Kaki which is a beautiful beach and then Boka Pistol which is named after the shooting sound that is heard with the bashing of waves along the inlet.

Waves crashing against the rocks at Boka Pistol in Shete Boka National Park.

Playa Forti - Cliff Jumping & Lunch

After we left Boka Shete, we made our way to Playa Forti Restaurant for lunch. I am so glad we got there relatively early because, by the time we left, every table was full. This beautiful restaurant provides panoramic views of Playa Forti, but that is not the main reason to visit! This spot is known for its 40-foot cliff that you can jump off into crystal blue water. I was so nervous to jump, but I knew it would be worth it and the whole restaurant was rooting for me as I worked up the nerves to jump. It was so exhilarating, but I recommend wearing shoes and keeping straight so you don’t get injured hitting the water.

The water is REALLY that blue at Playa Forti’s famous cliff-jumping restaurant.

Playa Lagun

After Playa Forti, we wanted to get back in the water, so we headed to Playa Lagun to snorkel and bask in the hot Caribbean sun. We rented snorkels at the dive shop across the street from the beach for less than 10 dollars. After that, we explored the reefs along Playa Lagun. Playa Lagun has plenty of dining options to choose from, and there is a restaurant at the top of the cliff. You can also rent lounge chairs and umbrellas from the vendors. I felt safe leaving our belongings in the car, because the parking lot had a security guard walking around. Parking was free and we enjoyed our time at this highly popular beach.

Playa Jeremi

The locals recommended this beach to us and it was the real Caribbean deal! Filled with either locals or Dutch vacationers, this gorgeous beach is nestled in an alcove between two cliffs. It was hard to find a spot in the shade, but we ended up sitting under the rocks and swimming the whole time anyway. There is amazing snorkeling at this spot and I have never seen so much sea glass in my entire life. Everywhere you look, you can see a sparkly green or white piece–keep an eye out for the rare blue sea glass!

Playa Grandi

We kept our snorkels with us so we headed back over by Playa Forti to check out Playa Grandi or as some call it Playa Piskado. As you reach Playa Piskado, you will see a sign on a tree and then a tree that they painted an octopus on. You can park directly on the street there and if there is no parking there, you can drive up the road to the bigger parking lot and take the stairs down to the beach.

This beach is a fishermen’s beach, there are a couple of chairs you can rent, but it is known for always having sea turtles visiting to catch leftover fish thrown in daily by fishermen. The turtles know this is the spot for an easy dinner, so they are constantly swimming in and out of the beach. We counted over 15 turtles and had a blast spending time swimming with these beauties.

One of the many turtles we saw eating some dinner at Playa Piskado.

Flamingo Habitat

Curaçao’s Flamingo Sanctuary is a 10-acre nature reserve located on the southern tip of the island. The sanctuary is home to over 1,000 flamingos, making it one of the largest flamingo colonies in the Caribbean. The flamingos are attracted to the sanctuary’s salt pans, which provide them with a natural habitat and a source of food. The sanctuary is a popular tourist destination, and here you can take guided tours to learn more about the flamingos and their habitat. The sanctuary is also home to a variety of other birds, including pelicans, herons, and egrets.

The Flamingo Sanctuary is a beautiful and important part of Curaçao’s natural heritage. The sanctuary provides a safe and healthy home for the flamingos, and it also educates visitors about the importance of conservation.

Sunset at Kokomo Beach

After visiting a couple of beaches, we took a drive to Curaçao’s best sunset spot: Kokomo Beach. Entrance to Kokomo Beach was free, and this super cool beach club has several bars as well as a restaurant. The bar was popping when we got there and it was entirely filled with Dutch tourists. We watched one of the most gorgeous sunsets here while listening to live music and enjoying the incredible ambiance. We opted to have a quick drink because we weren’t too hungry yet and ended up casually sitting next to the famous Dutch DJ: Hardwell. It took me a moment to recognize him and I was totally starstruck and he was soooo nice. 

Mambo Beach

Next, we went to freshen up at the hotel and head to Mambo Beach for their weekly beach party on Sunday nights. We had dinner at The Green Turtle which is actually 4 restaurants with four different cuisines in one. This is a great spot if your group can’t figure out what you want to eat. I ordered mediocre ramen and Noah had some amazing sushi. After that, we danced the night away with Dutch interns under the palm trees and the soft beat of electronic music.

Day 3 - Tugboat Beach & Jan Thiel Beach

Brunch at Kafe 5999

After a fun night out, we opted to get brunch in the morning at a spot I found on Instagram called Kafe 5999. While it is not located directly in Willemstad, we were driving around anyway so we stopped here and it was awesome. I had an incredible latte and avocado toast. It totally hit the spot as we were going to be quite active the rest of the day.

Cathedral Labyrinth Of Thorns

I totally missed this spot and it was RIGHT next to where we had brunch, so don’t be me and visit here! The Cathedral Labyrinth of Thorns is an art installation by Herman van Bergen, a Dutch artist. The labyrinth is an instagram dream, made of thorn bushes and a maze of winding paths. The thorns are sharp and can cause cuts and scratches, so visitors are advised to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

Fort Beekenberg

We made our way over to our next spot which was Fort Beekenberg. This quick stop is so cool and was not on our original itinerary, but I am so glad we stopped because I got some of the best pictures here. We were able to climb to the top of the fort and at the top, there are 360° panoramic views of crystal blue water. Fort Beekenburg was originally built in 1703 to defend the at the time Spanish Water. The fort helped to keep the British, the French, and pirates out of Curaçao. 

The view from the top of Fort Beekenberg is stunning, and yes, the water is still that blue!

Tugboat Beach

Right next to Fort Beekenburg, we drove to Tugboat beach which was one of my favorite parts of Curaçao. Here you can snorkel out to see a sunken tugboat that has been in this same spot for over 30 years. The boat sunk accidentally, and is now overrun with gorgeous coral and tropical fish. Some people even see octopi here. We were able to rent gear from Tugboat Beachbar which was a super cool spot. After we had a beautiful snorkeling adventure, we grabbed some drinks at Tugboat Beachbar and returned our gear. We flew our drone around the area and circled over an abandoned quarantine center which felt very fitting post-covid-19. Caracasbaai Quarantine Building was built in 1883 after the area was designated a quarantine station for ships with contagious people on board their vessels. Spooky!

The shack in the back of this photo is where you can rent snorkel gear to swim and see the sunken tugboat right off the shore. Tugboat Beach Bar is a great spot to stop for a quick swim and a drink after.

Jan Thiel Beach

We ended our last full by spending it with some R&R at Jan Thiel beach. We had a fantastic lunch at Koko’s which is on the far-right, and way less crowded, side of the beach. I had the dreamiest cocktail of my life called an Apelsina Split. It was like an ice cream pina colada and I will never get over it. We rented beach chairs directly in front of the restaurant and lounged sipping our Apelsina Splits. We did not end up being charged for these chairs so that was a win and the cost of entrance to the beach was $2.50 a person.
Dinner in Petermaai

We went back to our hotel to enjoy the last sunset of the vacation at our hotel pool bar. After that, we headed back out to Petermaai district to try an Italian restaurant I had my eyes on a couple of days ago. When we were walking back from dinner, Queen Emma was open for a large oil tanker headed out to sea. Since the bridge was closed, we took the free ferry back to Otrabanda. At night, Queen Emma literally looks like Rainbow Road in Mario Kart and it kind of felt like it as you walk across it because the bridge itself rocks with the waves. If the bridge happens to be opening while you are on it, you will get trapped until the boat that needs to go by is gone and the bridge is closed again. We saw some unlucky folks who didn’t make it in time or chose to stay on it for 45 mins.

Koko’s Beach Bar on Jan Thiel Beach is the perfect lunch spot, but don’t miss getting an Apelsina Split!

Day 4 - Farewell Curaçao

Downtown Willemstad and Local Market Shopping

On our last day, we didn’t have an entire day to spend before we flew back to Aruba to catch our plane to Washington DC. We spent the time hitting things we missed in Punda and shopping for souvenirs. One of the locals we met recommended we check out the local market. The city had a cruise ship docked and the city was way more bustling than normal and it had a lively feel. We skirted past some tourists and made our way to Plasa Bieu the Old Market and the New Market or Marche Nobo in Papiamentu. Here we found locally made crafts and gifts as well as food vendors. We tried several different cuisines including Surinamese dishes and I had the best smoothie of my life from one of the stands here for only 5 bucks. 

Van Gogh Cafe 

We had one final stop at Van Gogh Cafe for brunch and it was a great way to end our amazing time in Curaçao. As we walked back to our hotel, we already started planning our trip back to this hidden gem in the Caribbean.