Overview
** CURACAO TOURS **
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Curacao is great for relaxing. It’s a beautiful island. The locals are friendly.
I went to Curacao in 2016 with a college roommate. We were there for about 4 days. Our first night we visited a local jazz lounge, the food was amazing. But we noticed very quickly, Curacao is expensive, taxi rides cost about $50 USD to go oneway and food is equally pricey. Our first few days we were beach bums. We stayed at a Marriot property and became fast friends with the hotel bartender (ha)! We got massages on the beach, visited downtown Willemstad, Curacao, and had some authentic food right on the water front. You have to try the actual Curacao liquor, which they mix in almost every drink and it comes in more colors than just blue. There are day tours to aloe farms and sugar cane farms, but we were there more to relax.
We did notice an undertone of “supremacy” downtown. The history of Curacao is interesting because it was a dutch colony and playground for a long time and then they gained their independence. There are still some dutch there that must not appreciate their playground being uprooted. But overall, we felt safe, it’s a beautiful island, a little pricey and worth a 3 – 4 days of R&R.
I love Curaçao
I’ve been there lots of times allready and also lived there for a year. Curaçao is part of the Dutch Carribean, from the Netherlands. Lots of people speak Dutch but especially there mane languege papiamento.
Curaçao is a beautifull island. The beaches are amazing, very clear blue water.
You can also do lots of things there. You have nice restaurants, bars and nice places to go out. You also can climb a mountain, or take a tour around the island with quads or jeebs. Its the combination of relaxing and partying!
Not all tourist know the nice beaches, but here are a view you must go to:
– Cas abou
– Grote Knip
– Playa porto mari
– Karakter
– Janthiel
Also take a boat trip to see small Curacao. Its amazing there.
You will have an amazing time here.
Oh. My. GOD. I love Curacao. The island is so beautiful, waters so blue, everything is just perfect. We rented a car to drive around the island and it was the best decision. Also super cheap. Curacao isn’t big at all and you can drive from one end to the other in about an hour. We stayed at the Renaissance which is a GORGEOUS hotel right at the cruise port. When cruise ship passengers get off the boat, they walk past the hotel to reach the part of the city where the shops and restaurants are. They have a man-made beach and an infinity pool which is amazing.
There’s a floating bridge that separates the hotel from the city, totally picture worthy and there’s a lovely outdoor restaurant there serving amazing food. There were firework shows and locals dancing almost every night. There’s also a lock wall where you can buy a lock, write on it and lock it onto the a huge heart.
The beaches on the north end of the island are the best, so we made sure to drive that way. Playa Porto Mari was our favorite. There’s a small fee to enter and also a restaurant with a bar and shops. We also did an ATV tour that took us around the entire island, to natural pools, bat caves (LOL), lookouts, hidden beaches and more.
Did I mention the water? AMAZING. I love it here. By far, my favorite place I’ve visited so far.
I’m from Curaçao! This small and beautiful island is a Caribbean treasure waiting to be discovered. There are many thing I love about my island but the beaches will forever be my favorite. I just NEED to go swimming whenever I’m back home.
Curaçao has so many beautiful beaches to choose from. These are my top 5 favorites which I always visit when I’m home. I suggest doing beach hopping so you can experience more beaches in one day as all of the following have FREE entrances.
1) Playa Kenepa Grandi
2) Playa Kenepa Chikí
3) Playa Lagun
4) Playa Forti
5) Playa Jeremi.
The beaches Porto Mari and Cas Abou have a fee for entry but both are also beautiful and totally worth it.
Curaçao is truly an unspoiled island. It’s not visited enough. The island is so beautiful, filled with life and the natives are super friendly. By far it is my #1 favorite island that I have visited.
Stay
I stayed in @villaamaliecuracao for the entire duration of the trip. (Airbnb listing & you can also find it on booking.com.) It’s a newly renovated guest house in the city center. This villa is super close to many restaurants, bars, and must see places. Not only is it super affordable, the hosts are super nice and attentive as well. Highly, highly recommend.
Restaurants
Everyday, We ate somewhere new. My travel buddy did an amazing job at finding the best spots to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would recommend Bijblauw and La Boheme for breakfast, Fusion and Kome for lunch, and Blessing and Ginger for dinner! You will not regret it! Each restaurant has a variety of options accommodating for all dietary restrictions.
Beaches
Curaçao has such beautiful beaches along the entire coast:
Playa Piskado – get a chance to swim with tortoises.
Porto Mari – white sand beach with friendly pigs roaming around. There’s also a restaurant with a bar.
Kokomo Beach – went here to see the sun set. There’s also a restaurant with a bar and a beautiful swing in the middle of the beach, close to the shore.
Cabana Beach – similar to Porto Mari but bigger! Many restaurants in the area! White sand!
Tips
Highly recommend renting a car. The island is small but it’s super easy to see/do a lot with the help of a car. Rented a car through ACE and it was a total of $200 between two travelers, including full coverage for 5 days.
I love Curaçao. I stayed at Curaçao Suites Hotel which is in town and basically a walk from everywhere. It’s very very reasonable to stay there, approximately usd$400 with breakfast. I swam with turtles in Playa Piskado and I did underwater scooter with Aquafari for usd$115 It was great. The food is good. Shopping is good as well if you’re a shopper. I travel by bus most times but I’d definitely recommend renting a vehicle. Taxis are expensive. The floating bridge was very interesting, I was able to experience the opening and closing for a ship to pass through. Punda is beautiful. Add Curacao to your travel destination
Possibly the best trip I’ve ever been on! I can’t wait to go back. Curaçao is amazing! The people are super friendly and welcoming , the food is amazing, romance is in the air during the nightlife. I went with my girlfriend and we wanted a car, drove the entire island (about 1.5hrs one way) and saw all the beaches – paid about $200 for the rental for 6days – definitely recommend doing this if you feel comfortable driving on the island. The food was also one of our favorite things on the island as we did not have one bad meal. We only had fish on the island and it was made to perfection; whole red snapper (fresh) with chips or any other side and beer for about $20 at the local restaurant. We stayed at the Marriott hotel with a man made beach which was amazing.
Best trip EVER. I went for NYE and ended up staying 5 more days. Party at the club on Mambo Beach was bomb. We did the all west beach tours with Erie tours (all natural beaches).with this tour you can swim with turtles, cliff jump, pics with flamingos, cave tour and visit 3 beaches. Clear water kayaking was almost an amazing tour. We did a sunset tour also with included snacks and alcohol. This place had one of the clearest waters I’ve ever seen. Fort Nassau is an amazing romantic dinner spot with a view of the island. We stayed at Renaissance, the location is near the floating bridge and the man made beach is amazing they have as an amenity. It has an infinity pool that leads to ocean where the cruise ships port. The people are sooo welcoming and friendly. Go !
One of the best trips I ever took with my bae was last Memoria Day weekend to Curacao, so laid back and as they say “dushi” (means cool, good). Curacao is outside the hurricane belt so you can visit year-round with no threat of hurricanes. We tried new adventures like, we jet skied with Blue Coast Curaçao, went off roading with Off-Road Buggy Adventure, and toured the city on a scooter with Prudential Car Rental. I really went out of my comfort zone and am so happy I tried new things. The people in Curacao are some of the nicest we’ve ever met. Book your tickets now.
Curaçao was a great place to relax. We stayed in a nice affordable airbnb with several pools. Curaçao has a rich culture filled with vibrant colors all around. From the Williamsburg bridge to the beautiful island beaches, Curaçao is a place to be. We did clear kayaking at the beautiful Kenepa Grande Beach. We took many walks around the island. If we weren’t in the pool we were at the beach. The weather was perfect for our entire stay. We stayed for 5 nights. It was truly amazing. If you’re looking for a getaway from the crazy noise of life, Curaçao is the place to go . Everything was cheap as their dollar ? rate is less than ours. My favorite activity was the clear kayak as the waters are super blue so you literally can see right through it. The clear kayak was $20 for the hour at Kenepa Grande beach but honestly because the island is so small and quiet, nobody was checking for you. We booked it at the beach. The airbnb we stayed at was called “DOM Perignon” Click on the IG link below to check out the place. Super affordable especially when you’re going with friends. Overall, Curaçao is really a nice getaway when you want to get away from the noises of life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvpu-DfH6iu/?igshid=1fc9mu3rccg9n
Curaçao was absolutely gorgeous! I traveled with Delta International Airlines and as soon as I landed I was in awe of the beauty of Curaçao. I stayed at the Blue Bay Curaçao Golf & Beach Resort locates in Willemstad, Curaçao. The resort was just fantastic and so comfy with an amazing view of the flora, fauna and the clear blue waters. There was so much to do during the day and at night. The activities and excursions were so much fun and affordable as well as the food. I can definitely say I had an amazing adventure in Curaçao and I will be coming back soon. P.S. the romance is in the air and I guarantee you’ll fall in love with Curaçao ??.
Curacao is one of the less frequented Caribbean islands by American tourists. A lot of them don’t even know where it is. This is why I chose this destination for a recent vacation. Here are the top 3 reasons why you should go too:
1) Curacao has a Caribbean vibe with the charm of a historic European City. The exotic blend of island tropics and old world colonial architecture makes this country a unique gem. I’m a history buff, and the city of Willemstad left me feeling amazed.
2) The beaches have the some of the most crystal clear water I’ve ever seen! When choosing vacation locations, crystal clear water is my main priority and Curacao exceeded expectations. The ocean floor around Curacao had more rocks and coral than sand, which means less sand gets churned up by the waves. The water clarity is comparable to a swimming pool
even at deeper depths. It’s absolutely magical.
3) Curacao is very inexpensive. For comparison: in Barbados, a beach chair cost upwards of $20, but in Curacao it cost $3-5. Unlike more touristy locations like its sister island Aruba, the prices aren’t driven up in Curacao. Go out, have fun, dine, and drink. You will not be breaking the bank here.
This little Dutch island I have mixed reviews about it honestly. The locals are friendly, beautiful beaches, but it’s too touristy for my liking. The island population is about 150k so it’s pretty small. I got the feel of San Diego being in Curaçao. Most of the locals speak English so getting around and communicating was a breeze. I visited Kokomo beach which felt very private and there were cool some photo opportunities there for IG. Mambo beach was pretty cool, but again very touristy. Only recommendation I can suggest is having the Blue Curaçao liqueur. It’s probably the only place you can find the real deal, and try the Awa Di Lamunchi instead of water. It’s pretty much water with lime and a little brown sugar. If you are into resorts when you travel, Curaçao is the place for you. :)
Curaçao is an island most visited for its colourful builings and gorgeous white sand beaches crystal clear blue water. Spending time at the beach with family and friends is a pasttime locals often enjoy. So swimming, diving, boat trips, fishing are all activities that are popular locals and turists. The clothing stores and shops in Otrabanda and Punda attract a lot of attention from foreign visitors. Here they get to see the diversity in etnicities, infrastructure of buildings, the language and other unique traits to the island and culture. Naturally a lot of shopping is done. Other things to do, include going to the movies, dancing at night clubs, and eating local food.
I visited Curaçao back in January. The locals were super friendly and welcoming. Things I would recommend include 1. The floating bridge very beautiful at night you can take a taxi for around $20usd round trip. 2. There is a company called breeze boats and you can rent a nice sized boat that includes unlimited drinks, food, and snorkel for $600 usd a day for up to 8 people.
One of my favorite destinations…
Hi, black female solo traveler perspective. Last summer, 2018, I traveled to Curacao for the first time, and it was absolutely amazing. I was solo with no itinerary – just explore. The people, beaches, water, food, culture and variety of languages was amazing! I felt comfortable venturing off solo. The taxi driver who picked me up from the airport I kept the entire time I stayed – he was phenomenal. A local who knew the city and reliable, when I was ready to go, he came to pick me up from wherever. The islamd is big enough to hit a different side of it and various beaches daily.
Beautiful afro Caribbean people, I speak Spanish so I was able to navigate. While there is a considerable Dutch population here, I didn’t experience any hesitance while doing business or meeting others. I met some phenomenal locals, welcoming and the trip was at my own pace.
I stayed at the Renaissance Marriott Hotel – perfect spot.
Went for morning runs around local neighborhoods.
Early morning caught the sunrise and bought fruits from street vendors who sailed over from Venezuela every morning to hustle for their families.
Beaches – I’d definitely recommend Klein Curacao. The water is amazing! Super clear, phenomenal snorkeling – sea turtles, fish, octopuses. The ride (the day my boyfriend and I went) was terrible though, it was very rough and of the 23 or so people on the boat about 15 of them got seasick. Be mindful of the water/weather when you go. Cas Abao – probably my favorite, I can not get over the water. It literally looks like a swimming pool. Playa Porto Marie – see the beach pigs. I wasn’t into that, but the water here was nice. Be prepared to pay for chairs. Kenepa Beach – again beautiful water. Unfortunately, many beach locations didn’t have food or it wasn’t that great.
Tugboat Wreck – snorkel out to see the sunken tugboat. Pretty cool snorkel spot. Bring your fins, it’s a little ways out from the shore.
Queen Emma floating bridge. Ride it and take photos at night under the colorful lights. During the day, the same area has cute colorful buildings, and nice places for photo ops (Dushi and Curacao signs).
Hike Mt. Christoffel! It’s about 1.5-2 hours (one way). It’s the highest point on the island and has amazing views. A few rock scrambles in there towards the end, so be prepared to do slight climbs.
Curacao is beautiful. While there I stayed at Sunscape Resort . I liked the hotel because the all inclusive option included premium liquor (Hennessy etc). The ostrich farm was definitely my favorite experience and the drinks there are strong and pretty good ! They also have a monkey cage that they allow you to go into and touch the monkeys which was also pretty cool.
If you stay at Sunscape beware of the excursion lady at the front . We purchased atv (Eric’s ATV) and a party bus (the school bus looking party bus) through her and the ATV was very boring. There was a few bumps in the road but I wouldn’t call it adventurous.The party bus was okay but I saw a better one drive by while I was on it . I don’t know the name but everyone had headphones on like a silent party and they looked like they were having the best time so definitely find them! Mambo beach was very fun. However the dj does not take music selections and switch up the music .
Our impression of Curacao was that in Willemstad the culture, the economy and the luxury are all around. There are many corners in the city where you really think that just some meters away you left a beautiful hotel and then you have the view of very simple…not houses but cottages. The prices are almost equal as in Europe, because everything is imported. Curacao produces very few by its own. Fruits, vegetables and groceries in general come from abroad (Venezuela, Rep. Dominicana, Netherlands!). The beaches are just gorgeous. A swim teacher we met down there told us that the natural beaches in Curacao are those rocky-coral reef kind of beach, not really the soft and sandy we think of when we talk about the Caribbean. That was a nice information, so we learned that those beautiful beaches like Porto Mari were artificially dug. Also if you have time take a day trip to Klein, small island off the coast about an hour away where there are beautiful beaches, an old abandoned lighthouse and a vintage shipwreck…great for photos. I would go again!
Cayman Islands are known for their beautiful beaches and stingray city. Swimming with the stingrays is a must. They also have a really fun activity called Sea Trek. You can walk on the ocean floor with a scuba helmet on your head. Very cool experience!
The beauty of Curacao is like no other. Local expression dushi, meaning ‘sweet’ or ‘nice’. It’s safe to say that the word has become the unofficial slogan of the island – head on down, grab yourself a blue drink. You can visit to the Distillery where they produce this colorful blue drink. ($12.50)
For 12.50 you get to taste different flavours of blue curacao.
Expensive but gorgeous. Be prepared to pay quite a bit for tours and food. There are some fun beach clubs but if you aren’t into snorkeling and scuba diving than you could skip this island. Pretty much all we did while visiting due to the clear , warm water and abundance of tropical sealife.
Curacao is just something else. I really cannot explain how such a small island has so much things to do, it has something for everybody; you can climb the mountain, swim everyday, explore the nature, go on an adventure on quad or buggy, or go on a boat trip to Klein Curacao for 100 dollars (all-in).
I always stay at the Renaissance hotel cause its close to the city center, and so I can see the ocean. And close thereby is the floating Bridge, which I took tons of pictures there.
And the beaches, If you every visit Curacao you have to go to Knip Grandi, Mambo beach, cas’a abou, Blauwe kamer etc. etc. (tons of nice beaches there) the view, the water the sand, just something else .
Beautiful Island, which I truly recommend.
Curacao is definitely a different island experience! There are so many beaches and excursions to choose from but my absolute favorite is Mambo Beach and the boat cruise to Klein Curacao. There is a $6 USD fee to enter the beach and also $6 USD to rent chairs. The water is super clear and the breeze from the water makes it a perfect place to catch a quick nap!
The boat trip to Klein Curacao is about two hours long and is pretty rocky (I suggest dramamine!) but, it is definitely worth it if you are looking for total relaxation. The lunch that was provided was actually good and there is an opportunity to snorkel for all that are interested! Definitely bring sunscreen even if it doesn’t look that bright outside, believe it or not, melanin can burn! The Punda is great for local culture and foods and there are reggae/soca clubs almost every night, just ask the locals and tell them what you like! During my stay, I went to Mambo beach and Mojitos and Bites on Saturday and Sopranos on Monday night near the Renaissance, both were a lot of fun! I also suggest the restaurant Governeur de Rouville! It is attached to a Motown inspired bar and the food is great!
Curacao is a beautiful island with vibrant colorful buildings. Everything is extremeky accessible restaurants, entertainment, boutiques and casinos all walking distance. The beaches are absolutely captivating. I highly recommend Mambo Beach, Blue Bay, JanThiel Beach, and Knip Beach.
Out of all the Caribbean Islands I have visited. Curaçao is by far my favorite. Once you get there you just don’t want to leave, and no matter what age you are there’s always something to do. The water is beautiful the atmosphere is colorful and the seafood is GLORIOUS! If you’re a foodie like me, and are not a fan of seafood there is still tons of options, lots of steakhouses and family restaurants with special local dishes unlike most Caribbean islands where options are limited. There are so many languages but most people communicate in English. Curaçao has a lot of shopping as well for all of my Shopaholics but most importantly you have to explore. If you visit you must do at least two excursions, whether scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, or just get on a speedboat and explore the island from a different view! You can’t visit this place and not explore it’s a view you don’t want to miss. But most of all The life underwater is the most breathtaking part of this place. Don’t be afraid to be adventurous #YOLO ✊?
I was also impressed by the development the island and how rich it is in culture. Although it’s a Dutch Caribbean Island the diversity of people and rich African roots are undeniable. I spent most of my time in Wilimstead and enjoyed the amenities of the Renaissance Resort and Casino but there was also a great nightlife scene, from Latin Clubs, to Hip Hop hookah lounges, and live music at most restaurants at night, if you love to party or just enjoy live entertainment. I will definitely be going back to Curaçao.
Curaçao is a beautiful island, from the moment you fly into curaçao everything pops! The houses are filled with color and brings this vibrant vibe. I took the helicopter tour of the island for my birthday. It was the most amazing view of an island. It was roughly 300 per hours. I stayed at the sunscape resort which is all inclusive. Has plenty amenities and restaurants while on the property. It’s in walking distance of Starbucks and a shopping center where they host many parties. The people are awesome, many of them speak about 5 languages, English, Dutch, Papiamento (local) spanish and french. I wouldn’t say it’s a really upbeat island but it’s definitely things to do as well as peace, quiet and romance. P.s. the beach is everyyything.
I visited curaçao and there was so many fun adventures things to do such as : riding/eating an ostrich at the ostrich farm, visiting the local curaçao distillery and being informed of the history of the country and alcohol, there’s a lot of local eats the island has everything from Dutch local eats to a Latin type of local food.
For the ostrich farm in Curacao you have to be at least 150lbs to ride and it was awesome!!! It is about $35 and you can do a safari tour for about $15. The farm also has a restaurant were that serves ostrich pretty good meat as well
There’s a bridge across the water channel we’re slaves were imported through hundreds of years ago, the buildings by the water channel are very colorful and quite a site to see. There’s not much night life, this is more of an day time adventure travel spot.
Curaçao is an island that overflows with culture, amazing food, nightlife and incredible people. Curacaolineans are unlike any people you will ever meet. I strongly suggest making friends with them as they can take you to the less popular, secret remote parts of the island that tourists wouldn’t even know exist. Playa Forti is the most beautiful beach on the island and it’s perfect for adventure and driving. We spent a day on Klein curaçao which is a smaller island off the cusp of the mainland. Klein curaçao is sexy, private and breathtaking. Taxis can be expensive so I highly suggest you rent a car to cover the entire island. The nightlife is incredible. The Dutch know how to party and curaçao is very lively in the evening. Curaçao is my favorite Caribbean island. With only 200,000 people living on the island you get authentic feels, fun, and food!
Curacao is a beautiful and colourful island! There’s a ton to do during the day and at night, and plenty of clean hostels to stay at. During my stay, we took a taxi the first two days which was SUPER expensive. We found by day three, that there is a $1 bus you can take all over the island! You need to find a bus stop, and when a small van honks at you, you put your thumb up for them to stop. I know it seems weird, but all license plates that start with a TX is either a registered $1 bus or taxi, so you’ll know the difference.
The city is colorful and rich with culture. The local dish is iguana stew which is soooo good! Be careful flirting with the men because they take everything you say serious and they hate to see you leave them.