Curacao Travel Guide

Other Things to See and Do in Curaçao

1. Hang out on Blauwbaai Beach

Blauwbaai (Blue Bay) is the busiest beach on Curaçao, offering a wide stretch of white sand, bright blue waters, and swaying palm trees. There are also restaurants and bars along the beach, so you’re always within reach of a cocktail or a snack. It costs 15 ANG to visit, including a sun lounger.

2. Relax on Daaibooi Beach

If you find some of the more popular beaches on Curaçao too crowded, head to Daaibooi Beach. You’ll get to enjoy soft sands and a turquoise sea in relative peace. A lot of locals hang out here, and the shallow, clear water makes for good snorkeling. There’s no entry fee, and the food and drinks nearby are cheaper than at Blauwbaai. If you’re in the mood for beach hopping, other great beaches on the island include Playa Lagun, Cas Abao Beach, and Playa Porto Marie.

3. Dive the Mushroom Forest

Curaçao’s Mushroom Forest teems with marine life, including sea turtles, porcupine fish, and parrotfish. The base of the coral has been slowly eroded by waves, fish, sponges, and clams over time, creating the appearance of huge mushrooms growing on the ocean floor. A two-tank dive costs around 160 ANG.

4. Enjoy Carnival

January marks the beginning of the Curaçao Carnival when the whole island turns into a colorful celebration of friendly competitions, public parties, and street parades. The Carnival wraps up at the end of March (yes, it’s a very long party), with the burning of King Momo at midnight. The life-sized, straw-filled effigy symbolizes infertility, sins, and bad luck.

5. Kayak around the coast

A leisurely guided paddle through Curaçao’s Caracas Bay brings you to secluded beaches and historical landmarks, like Fort Beekenburg. Bring some snorkeling gear and explore the shallow waters around the coast, or chill out and soak up the sun before paddling back across the bay. Tours start from about 90-108 ANG.

6. See the Queen Emma Bridge

This long pontoon bridge in Willemstad was built in 1888 to connect the Punda and Otrobanda neighborhoods. It’s pedestrian-only and unique for its hinged structure with two propellers; the entire bridge can swing parallel to the shore so that boats can come and go out of St. Anna Bay. It’s fun to be on the moving bridge as it swings!

7. Visit Fort Amsterdam

Built in 1635, Fort Amsterdam is the oldest fort in Curaçao. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once was the island’s most important fortification. Nowadays it’s home to the governor’s house and several government offices as well as the Fortkirche, the oldest church on Curaçao. You can visit the church, which contains its original pulpit, as well as a small historical museum. It’s free to visit.

8. Tour Shete Boka Park

Shete Boka Park covers 10 kilometers (6 miles) of the island’s rocky northern coast. There are 10 secluded beaches here, several of which are home to different species of sea turtles and their nests. Boka Tabla is the most popular inlet, especially for its deep underground cave. There’s also a “secret” blow hole area located near Westpunt (the only way to get there is by off-roading). Jeep tours in the park and to the blowhole start from about 116 ANG.

9. Visit the salt flats

Called saliñas, Curaçao’s salt flats are no longer harvested for their “white gold.” Located in the former Jan Thiel plantation, this popular bleached landscape has some unique flora and fauna and it’s also a great place to see flamingos. Walking tours around the salt flats cost around 45 ANG including water and fruit and last 2-2.5 hours.

10. Take a trip to Klein Curaçao

A mere 24 kilometers (15 miles) of choppy water separates Curaçao and Klein Curaçao (Little Curaçao). This is a great day trip for snorkelers, divers, and sun-worshippers. The island is almost completely uninhabited but there are a few things its former residents left behind, including an old (but functional) lighthouse. Klein, like Curaçao, was part of the 17th and 18th-century slave trade through the Dutch West India Company, and many African slaves were buried here when they were forced to quarantine after falling ill en route to Curaçao. The white sand beach here is longer than any beach on the main island and the coral reefs, clear waters, and abundant marine life makes a visit worth the trip. Bring sunscreen as there’s not much shade. Charters cost around 180 ANG per person or an open bar cruise starts at about 215 ANG.

11. Visit the Kurá Hulanda Museum

This museum is located in the home of a 19th-century merchant and slave owner and tells the story of the African slave trade on Curaçao. The exhibits include 18th-century artifacts and scale models as well as collections of pre-Columbian gold, Mesopotamian relics, and Antillean art. It’s a humbling experience. Admission is 20 ANG. Guided tours need to be arranged in advance.

 

For information about other Caribbean destinations, check out these guides:

Curaçao Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A bed in a 4-6-bed dorm costs 45-55 ANG per night. A dorm with 8 beds or more isn’t much cheaper, costing about 40 ANG per night. Private rooms cost about 95-100 ANG per night for singles and 120 ANG for doubles. Free Wi-Fi and self-catering facilities are standard.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels start at 175-200 ANG per night. Amenities like free Wi-Fi are common, but not included everywhere. Some budget hostels also have pools.

On Airbnb, private rooms average around 100-140 ANG per night while an entire home/apartment averages closer to 235-250 ANG per night. Expect prices to double if you don’t book early.

Food – The cuisine in Curaçao is a mix of Dutch, Caribbean, African, and South American flavors. Seafood, of course, is king, with mahi-mahi, red snapper, and grouper all being commonly caught around the island. Fresh fruit is also super popular. Be sure to try keshi yena (a baked cheeseball with meat), stoba (a hearty meat stew, usually with goat), raw herring, fish tacos, fresh mussels, and oliebollen (small fried donuts).

Sandwiches, burgers, and other fast food costs between 6-14 ANG per meal. A combo meal at McDonald’s costs about 18 ANG.

A casual restaurant meal of seafood or other local cuisine costs around 30 ANG. If you want to splash out, a three-course meal with a drink at a mid-range restaurant costs closer to 65 ANG.

Beer is 5-8 ANG while a latte or cappuccino is around 6.50 ANG. Bottled water is 3 ANG.

If you plan on cooking your own food, basic groceries for one week cost about 85-125 ANG. This gets you staples like rice, pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat or fish.

Backpacking Curaçao Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Curaçao, my suggested budget is around 110 ANG per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel dorm, cooking all of your meals, limiting your drinking, taking public transportation to get around, and sticking to mostly free activities like hanging out at the beach. If you plan on drinking, add 10-20 ANG to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 325 ANG per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, enjoy a few drinks, eat some meals out, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like snorkeling or diving.

On a “luxury” budget of 525 ANG or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink as much as you’d like, rent a car or take more taxis, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Curaçao Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Costs in Curaçao can really add up if you’re not careful — but it’s not nearly as expensive as other islands in the Caribbean. Here are some of my recommended ways to save money in Curaçao:

1. Stay with a local – If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host in Curaçao. This is the best way to save money, as you’ll get free accommodation while also connecting with a local who can share their insider tips and advice with you.
2. Have a BBQ – BBQing on the beach is a popular local activity and can help you save a lot of money on food. A lot of beaches have BBQ pits, including Daaibooi Beach. Cooking your own meals, in general, is going to save you a lot so skip the restaurants.
3. Avoid the taxis – The taxis here are very expensive. They should be avoided at all costs!
4. Rent a car – Getting your own set of wheels is the most economical and convenient way to get around to the far parts of the island (especially if you’re not traveling alone). Not renting one was my biggest mistake when I visited Curaçao. Share a car with other travelers to keep things affordable.
5. Visit in the shoulder season – Prices can be as much as 50% cheaper for accommodation and activities, so avoid the peak season to save money (more on this below).
6. Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Curaçao

Curaçao’s hostels are clean, comfy, and well-maintained. Many of them even have pools or easy access to the beach. My suggested places to stay in Curaçao are:

• First Curaçao Hostel
• Bed & Bike Curaçao
• Willemstad Resort

How to Get Around Curaçao

Public transportation – Curaçao has a public bus network, although it’s very limited. There are buses to the West End (Willemstad) departing from Otrobanda and buses to the southeast leaving Punda (also in Willemstad). Fare cost around 2.40 ANG.

Bicycle – Although Curaçao is a Dutch colony, it’s surprisingly hard to get around here on a bicycle. Expect to spend around 40 ANG per day for a bike rental (30 ANG if you rent for a week or more).

Taxi – Taxis in Curaçao are safe and reliable. Although not all of them have meters, most of them have rate sheets. They’re best for getting around Willemstad, as longer journeys cost much more. Compared to the bus, they’re super pricey so skip them if you’re on a budget!

Car rental – A car rental is one of the most economical and efficient ways to get around the island, and there are several major car rental chains at the airport. Rentals cost around 78-85 ANG per day for a multi-day rental. Drivers need to be at least 21 years of age (though some companies require you to be 23).

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars.

Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking is not common in Curaçao so stick to taking the bus or renting a car.

When to Go to Curaçao

December to April are the busiest months in Curaçao. This is when hotel rates are the highest and prices for activities spike. On the other hand, the water visibility is ideal for diving and snorkeling. Average daily temperatures during this time hover around 30°C (87°F).

Personally, I recommend visiting Curaçao between May-November. During this off-peak season, accommodation and activity rates are up to 50% lower than in the peak season. The beaches are much less busy during this time and temperatures are still hot and pleasant in both July and August, with daily highs soaring as high as 32°C (89°F).

Curaçao is also outside the hurricane zone, so you don’t have to worry too much about tropical storms.

How to Stay Safe in Curaçao

Curaçao is considered one of the safest places to visit in the Caribbean. It’s a small island with little crime, though petty theft can occur so don’t leave your valuables out in the open at the beach (or anywhere) just to be safe.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

Scams here are rare, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off, you can read about common travel scams to avoid right here.

As with the neighboring “ABC” islands, hurricanes are rare here and shouldn’t be a major concern like elsewhere in the Caribbean.

If you experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.