Curaçao, Things To Do In Curaçao a thin and slender tadpole of an island that forms the midpoint of the ABCs, is a Caribbean destination with a twist. The terrain isn’t your typical soft sands and jungle, with picture-perfect beaches and craggy headlands clad in the occasional bloom of palms and sea grasses, spiny cacti, and divi-divi groves at klein curacao.
Hidden coves like Playa Lagun host sunbathers between its duo of rocky outcrops, and the salt-buffeted Shete Boka park is a vision of the wild tropics. Add to that the pulsing, enthralling capital of Willemstad, which clutches its own inlet on the island’s southwestern tip, and you have a historical and cultural dimension to boot at queen emma bridge.
There are old Flemish townhouses and pontoon bridges here, as well as historic forts (including the namesake of Amsterdam) and a plethora of interesting museums at mambo beach. Yes, there is a lot to do on sun-kissed Curaçao! Take a look…
List of 15 Things To Do In Curaçao Today
1. Visit the Christoffel National Park to see natural wonders.
In the early evening, bats flit through the boughs of divi-divi trees as the Caribbean sun sets behind the mighty outline of Christoffel Mountain, peaking over the horizon like the chiseled Matterhorn of the tropics.
Yes, this national park in the north, which sprawls over 4,500 acres of land, is truly breathtaking hato cave.
Visitors can come to the rocky hiking trails and conquer the massive stone peak – a two-hour walk from bottom to summit.
Others will want to look for cottontails and rare deer, the scented Lady of the Night (a particularly lovely orchid), and the abundance of beautiful hummingbirds in the ai and the curacao sea aquarium!
2. Explore the Otrobanda and Punda in Willemstad.
The historically significant area of Otrobanda is unquestionably the focal point of the island’s capital, Willemstad.
It has been designated by UNESCO for its wealth of elegant Dutch homes and pastel-painted terraces of Flemish-style townhouses at blue curacao.
Come and stroll through the Brionplein, which borders the courses of St Anna Bay, and see the painted colonial homes of Hoogstraat. The Punda area is located across the water.
The elaborate facades of the Penha Building from 1708, as well as the palm-peppered lawns of Wilhelminapark, can be found here at rif fort.
3. Visit the Savonet Museum to learn about the history of the island.
The Savonet Museum, located in the heart of the beautiful Christoffel National Park, where the great peak on the north side of the island rises to a summit above the jungles, is a must-see for visitors interested in the history of little curaçao and the ABC Islands.
It’s housed in a restored plantation building – once the Savonet Plantation, one of the oldest on the island – and includes exhibits documenting the long history of human habitation in these parts of dolphin academy.
Expect tales of Arawak Indians dating back four millennia, tales of piracy on the high seas, and a look at the centuries-long symbiotic relationship between Curaçao’s tropical nature and its people.
4. Participate in the Curaçao Carnival
The Curaçao Carnival will be a kaleidoscopic explosion of color and creativity.
The great cultural celebration, which has evolved over centuries, is one of the most immersive in the region.
It takes place each year in early spring, and it features troupes of local samba dancers dressed in bright and bold Caribbean colors at grote knip.
There’s plenty of Calypso and Tumba music, as well as strange masquerades and dance processions.
It’s also a chance for visitors to witness the ritual burning of King Momo, whose massive effigy is set ablaze with fireworks at the end of the festivities at curacao beach.
5. See turtles in Shete Boka National Park’s coves.
The Shete Boka National Park, which is joined at the hip to the much more famous reserve of Christoffel, cascades down from the cactus-clad hills on the northern side of the island to where the wild Caribbean Sea crashes into the coves. The area is well-known for turtle nesting because of its series of small inlets and punda vibes.
People travel long distances to see the endangered green sea turtle and other carapace-topped sea creatures. Others will come to walk the maintained Wandomi Trail or Pistol Trail to conquer the rugged cliffs and limpet-spotted headlands at avila beach hotel.
6. Cross the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge
Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, connecting Willemstad’s two historic halves – the Otrobanda and Punda – this series of pontoon boardwalks in the heart of the capital has become something of a Curaçao symbol. The structure was originally built as a toll bridge in 1888 at abao beach.
Today, visitors come to cross the wooden planks and gaze out at the colorful mansions and Dutch-style houses that line the water’s edge at Jan Thiel Beach.
Wait for the bridge to swing to the side to allow ships to pass in and out of the harbour – it’s one of the landmark’s peculiar features, and the reason it’s affectionately known as ‘Our Swinging Old Lady.’
7. At Playa Lagun, sunbathe between the cliffs.
Playa Lagun, pack your snorkels, sunscreen, and swimming gear for a trip to Playa Lagun on the island’s northwestern tip. It’s a quiet and hidden little enclave of Caribbean sand nestled between two massive rock headlands at South America.
Out at sea, coral reefs teem with squid and pipefish, while a scattering of reclining chairs and loungers on the beach itself makes for ideal lounging. On Lagun, you can also enjoy people watching, with locals drifting in and out of the bay on their colorful fishing boats from morning to night.
8. Participate in a SCUBA excursion.
Underwater exploration in the straits that connect the ABC Islands to the Venezuelan coast to the south promises a SCUBA experience unlike any other in the Caribbean playa porto marie.
Because of the dry, desert climate, there are few rivers and streams that enter the oceans here, so there are no brackish waters or unexpected currents that throw up dust and silt, resulting in unparalleled visibility.
There are also some fantastic dive sites, such as the great urchin-studded wreck of the Superior Producer, the bulbous underwater plant life of the so-called Alice in Wonderland spot in Kalki, and Snake Bay, which is home to dolphins, rays, and turtles!
9. On Playa Cas Abou, between the turquoise sea and the sparkling sand,
The little run of white sand that hides between the rocky cliffs of Playa Cas Abou is a great place to relax, swim, snorkel, and soak up the tropical warmth at Caribbean island.
There are plenty of thatched umbrellas and large granite boulders to provide shade, as well as water sports outfitters for those sea kayaking sessions, and even an out-at-sea playground for families traveling with children.
The drinking establishments, however, are what draw the crowds, with cocktails flowing from Daiquiri Bar late into the evening!
10. Dine in luxury at Baoase
Baoase, which is half culinary masterclass and half luxurious resort, is just a stone’s throw away from Curaçao’s boulder-dotted coastline, south of Willemstad.
The restaurant offers sweeping views of the hotel’s sparkling private lagoon and Bibi’s Island, with deck spaces and thatched cabanas concealing the timber tables. The menu, a medley of refined Carib foods with a European kitchen twist, never fails to impress at best beach.
Lionfish and avocado mashups, wagyu beef and tuna tartars, and sizzling Asian themed evenings and cooking workshops are all on the menu.
11. Take a boat to Klein Curaçao.
Klein Curaçao, this satellite island, a tiny sliver of land set out in the Caribbean swells between southern Curaçao and Bonaire, is a popular destination for boaters.
Take to the seas and sail across the straits to see the sun-kissed shoreline of low sand banks and swaying sea grasses. There are thatched tropical shacks everywhere, as well as countless bobbing fishing boats manned by locals and plenty of sunbathers enjoying the undeveloped shore.
Then there are the dolphin pods and rays that drift beneath the ocean’s waves, providing some fantastic sea safari opportunities along the way.
12. Enjoy pretty Blauwbaai
Much-loved Blauwbaai is a truly beautiful little beach surrounded by the palm gardens and golf holes of the Blue Bay Resort just north of Willemstad city. The bay, which is popular with both locals and tourists, is surrounded by breeze-buffeted palm gardens and small cliffs.
While the sands are great for sunbathing and beachcombing during the day, it’s the underwater that draws the crowds. The ocean floor is blanketed in corals, and there are schools of multi-colored tropical fish aplenty, making this cove a popular snorkeling and swimming destination.
13. Visit Fort Amsterdam
Although the beautiful Fort Amsterdam buildings are still in use as Curaçao’s government offices, they can be visited just a short walk from the capital’s historic quaysides.
The elegant facades and frontispieces that adorn the UNESCO World Heritage Site are painted in pretty mustard-yellow hues and appear to have been plucked straight from the streets of a Low Country city.
Visit the central courtyard for some of the best photo opportunities, and don’t miss the historic protestant church (built in 1786) that adjoins the complex.
14. Visit the Kura Hulanda Museum to learn about the island’s darker side.
Kura Hulanda Museum, this acclaimed institution, located on the grounds of an old trading building in the heart of Willemstad, provides a sobering and often startling glimpse into the decades when the slave trade drove economics in these parts.
The collections examine the treatment of kidnapped peoples crossing the Atlantic during the height of the era, as well as how the legacy of that dark period has come to forge and re-forge aspects of Curaçao’s Carib culture.
There are also Mesopotamian relics and items from the Arawak Indians, who inhabited the island before Columbus arrived.
15. Explore the Hato Caves underground.
The underground caverns of the Hato Caves, strewn with petroglyphs and peppered with colossal stalactites and stalagmites, tell the story of Curaçao as a whole.
They were once the home of native Indian tribespeople, but they later served as a haven for escaped slaves from plantations.
Large portions of the underground system can now be toured, and visitors can see the bulbous rocks and boulders below ground, all of which are brilliantly illuminated by lighting and the occasional plug-hole descending from the forest floor above.
FAQs about Things To Do In Curaçao
Curaçao is best known for what?
Curacao is famous for the same-named orange-flavored liqueur. There are numerous orange-flavored liqueurs available, but only those made in Curacao use the peels of the Laraha orange, which is indigenous to the island.
Is it worthwhile to visit Curaçao?
Its colorful colonial architecture and historic landmarks will captivate you, and there are plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy. It’s also centrally located, so you can explore the entire island without having to travel far.
Is Aruba or Curaçao superior?
Curacao-for its culture, beautiful architecture, and beaches. Aruba-for the island’s beaches, landscape, and laid-back vibe (and to finally dive there!). Both islands have lovely scenery and beautiful beaches. Curacao may be more appealing if you’re looking for a more tropical Dutch vibe.
Is Curaçao a party destination?
Curacao is a huge party island, especially at night. There are numerous bars, clubs, and other forms of nightlife to enjoy. Willemstad has the most bars and nightlife, so you should stay there if you want to be near the action.
