Tips for Exploring the Beautiful Island of Curaçao
Curacao was on my travel list for a while, so when I found a great holiday package deal, I booked a quick getaway for me and my husband. Let’s start with the basics:
Where is Curaçao?
Curaçao is located in the Southern Caribbean, just off the coast of Venezuela. It’s an autonomous country within the Kingdom of The Netherlands and, together with Aruba and Bonaire, makes up the “ABC” islands.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Curacao is generally during the dry season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April. This period typically offers pleasant weather with little rainfall and lower humidity, making it ideal for outdoor activities, sightseeing, and enjoying the beaches. However, Curacao enjoys warm temperatures year-round, so even outside of the dry season, you can still have an enjoyable visit. Just be aware that the wet season, from October to December, may bring more rain and the possibility of tropical storms.
We took our trip over the Christmas holiday and the weather was perfect.
Quick Tips
- Rent a car. I usually don’t feel comfortable driving outside of the States, but I was completely comfortable driving in Curacao and wouldn’t explore the island any other way. Yes, there are limited public transportation options, but many of the attractions and beaches are spread out, so having your own transportation makes it much easier to get around at your own pace.
- Explore beyond Willemstad. Willemstad, the capital city, is known for its colorful colonial architecture and vibrant culture, don’t miss out on exploring the rest of the island. There are so many beaches, national parks, and quaint towns waiting to be discovered!
- Learn a few Papiamentu phrases. Papiamentu is the local language spoken in Curacao, alongside Dutch and English. Learning a few basic phrases such as greetings and polite expressions can enhance your interactions with locals and show respect for their culture.
Papiamentu Phrases:
- “Bon dia” (bon dee-ah) – Good morning
- “Bon tardi” (bon tar-dee) – Good afternoon/evening
- “Bon nochi” (bon noh-chee) – Good night
- “Bon bini” (bon bee-nee) – Welcome
- “Danki” (dahn-kee) – Thank you
- “Mi ta bon” (mee tah bon) – I’m good
- “Kon ta bai?” (kohn tah bah-ee) – How are you?
- “Te otro biaha” (teh oh-troh bee-ah-hah) – Until next time
- “Kuánto ta kosta esaki?” (kwan-toh tah koh-stah eh-sah-kee) – How much does this cost?
- “Unda ta e baño?” (oon-dah tah eh ban-yo) – Where is the restroom?
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Bayside Boutique Hotel Curacao, in the beautiful Blue Bay Village resort. I booked this trip on a whim, to travel over the Christmas holiday – which we never do. I didn’t find many in-depth reviews about this 4-star hotel but we were pleasantly surprised! Our room was more like a small apartment and had a lovely view of the property. Visit my YouTube channel for a walk-through.
The hotel is in a prime location in a beautiful gated community. There’s an onsite restaurant, walking proximity to the beach, and the customer service is outstanding.
Search for other options here.
What To Do
Hike Mount Christoffel. Listen. I wouldn’t call myself an expert hiker, but I’ve done a few hikes in my time. This one, by far, was the most challenging – and the most rewarding. My husband (who is in great shape ) and I struggled more than we thought we would to get up those 1,220 feet but it was totally worth it! Entry fee as of this post is $15.
A Few Tips:
Get there early. From central Willemstad, it will take you about 35 minutes or so to get there. There is parking at the base of the mountain, but it can fill up on busy days. (We arrived at about 8 in the morning to start our hike). Yes, there’s public transportation to the mountain, but it’s infrequent and not reliable. I wouldn’t use it.
You have to begin your hike before 10 a.m. and you have to finish by 2:30, per the rules of the park. Allow for at least 2 1/2 – 3 hours to complete the hike.
Bring plenty of water, a hat, sunscreen, and GOOD shoes – hiking shoes that will allow you to get some good traction. We saw a lot of bruised arms and legs out there. Also, bring eco-friendly mosquito repellent. The bugs ate us up on the trail!
Hit the Beaches. There are over 35 to choose from. My favorite was one we stumbled upon by accident when lost cell signal while following Google Maps: Playa Daaibooi. We arrived early and almost had the entire beach to ourselves. It was heavenly! Popular options include:
- Jan Thiel: located south of Willemstad in the town of Jan Thiel. Good for food, luxury, couples, families
- Kokomo: located a few miles west of Willemstad and south of Grote Berg. Good for diving, photos, couples, adventure
- Grote Knip: located on the north side of the island between Westpunt and Lagun. Good for snorkeling, couples, families, photos
- Cas Abao: located on the shore of Valentijn Bay, southwest of Bisento. Good for food, nightlife, luxury, photos, couples
- Playa Forti: located on the western coast of Sabana Westpunt on the northwestern side of the island. Good for cliff diving, photos
- Mambo Beach: Manmade beach in Bapor Kibrá. Good for diving, snorkeling, photos – and there’s a volleyball court
- Klein Curacao: This is the main beach on Little Curacao. Perfect for getting off the mainland for some peace and quiet
- Playa Lagun: located in the southern part of Lagun around the northwestern coast of the island. Good for photos and adventure
- Playa Kalki: located northwest of Sabana Westpunt on the north side of the island. Good for underwater adventures and photos
- Boka Sint Michiel: located near the central western coast of the island. Good for fishing and boating
Learn the History Behind the Mama Sculptures and Chi Chi Dolls Around the Island
All around the island you’ll find colorful Mama (mother) and Chichi (big sister) sculptures in public squares and random locations and represent a loving, female role model in the Caribbean community. They are usually posed with outstretched hands or clasped together. The large Mama sculptures were created by local artist, Hortence Brouwn, who was the first artist in Curaçao to popularise these curvy depictions of women.
Another sculptor, Serena Israel, came along and started making small dolls out of paper mache for tourists, affectionately called Chichi dolls which led to the creation of Serena’s Art Factory – a worthy stop on your Curacao activity list.
Other Activities and Excursions
Search for other activities here.
Where To Eat
We enjoyed some interesting and tasty meals across the island. Some of the restaurants we wanted to try we couldn’t due to limited holiday hours, but here are a few we tried:
Bario Urban Street Food
Cuisine: Bar, Caribbean, Seafood
Meal: Snack
We stopped by Bario on our way back from taking photos nearby. The restaurant is attached to the Bario Hotel and located right across the way from where the cruise ships dock. They had an array of small plates and snacks and the ambiance was cool. We chatted with our waiter, Heinrich, who gave us outstanding service.
Bayside Restaurant
Cuisine: Dutch, Italian, Japanese
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
This was the restaurant at our hotel, so of course we tried it. The ambiance and service were great. The food was hit or miss. Sometimes, great, other times just OK. There were special holiday menus at play that veered off the path of some of their usual cuisine, so we took that into consideration.
Steak & Ribs
Cuisine: Steakhouse, Seafood, Barbecue
Meal: Lunch
We ended up at Steak & Ribs after our first choice wasn’t open. The food was on the pricy side, but good, and the drinks were nice and strong! I saw reviews (once we got home) that complained about the service – and even alleged racism (yikes), but we had a good experience. The kitchen was about to close early when we arrived and they seated us anyway and happily took our order.
Cuisine: Dutch, International, European
Meal: Breakfast
Mm mm mm. Those pancakes were THE guiltiest pleasure. We ate outside and listened to a local band play on a lovely morning.
What to Bring
A few must-have travel accessories we brought with us:
Travel Plug Adapter
Charmast Portable Charger
Hat for Hiking
Mini First Aid Kit
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Visit Squaremouth for the best quote to safeguard your trip!
Summary
Our time in Curacao was amazing – but way too short. We spent one day exploring the beaches, 1 day exploring the capital city and other parts of the island, and 1 day doing hiking/outdoor activities, with some relaxation in between. If I had to do it over again as a first-time visitor, I would have booked a minimum 5-day stay.
As I mentioned earlier, renting a car is essential. We rented from Hertz. Make sure you take pictures and video of the vehicle in front of the representative before you leave the lot to avoid any funny business.
One random thing I noted was that in general, we didn’t find people to be as friendly as we’ve experienced in other places in the Caribbean. They weren’t rude – just not outwardly friendly during basic interactions at restaurants, while shopping, etc. The exception was a waiter at Bario, which I mentioned earlier. In any case, Curacao is a beautiful island with much to explore. It’s one of the more expensive islands to visit, so keep that in mind if you’re a budget traveler. All-in-all, we had a wonderful time and would return in a heartbeat!
—
Have a question or collaboration request? Get in touch.
This website contains links to affiliate websites. When you click on and/or make a purchase through an affiliate link on this website, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Use of affiliate links does not influence the products, services and websites that we share with you. This notification applies to all of the various means we use to communicate with you, including via this website, email, phone, social media, our products or otherwise.