Curacao is a vibrant Caribbean island differentiated from the rest because of its diverse culture, rich history, many hidden gems and stunning nature worth exploring.
With its colorful Dutch colonial architecture, beautiful beaches, marine life, street art and year-round sunshine it’s a must-visit in my opinion, no wonder that I’ve been there 3 times already.
With more than 35 beaches, a varied local cuisine, stylish restaurants, fun festivals, and welcoming locals, Curaçao is perfect for relaxation, adventure, as well as cultural immersion. But the extensive offering can make it hard to choose what to do and where to go.
Are you going to Curaçao soon, or are you planning to, and need help or inspiration on what to do, where to stay, and finding the best beaches and chill spots? Then I've got you covered with this list of favourite spots and hidden gems uncovered over the years.
And I also added a few unique spots, recommended to me by the Curaçao Tourism Board, locals and friends, I would still love to come back for!
Exploring Curacao: top travel tips, hidden gems, Instagrammable spots, beach clubs & more
Favourite beaches
Playa Kalki is a true hidden gem in my opinion, because of its bright blue water, stylish setting with nice beach club and pier, and secluded location at the top west of the island.
Playa Piskado near Westpunt, has a more local and quiet vibe, here you can buy fresh fish, go snorkeling and spot sea turtles along the pier. There are also plenty of sunbeds here.
Go to Playa Jeremi or Lagun for that secluded cove vibe with hardly any facilities.
2 of the most popular beaches with locals as well as tourists are Grote and Kleine Knip for their bright blue waters, food trucks and many facilities.
Cas Abao, is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, popular among tourist and locals. With a lot of facilities and space it offers something for everyone, although you do have to pay a small fee to enter.
Daaibooi or Porto Marie still have that local vibe, while there's also a beach bar.
Or go to Jan Thiel or Mambo Beach for even more facilities, an extensive selection of trendy beach clubs, restaurants and a more commercial vibe.
Stylish beach clubs
Castaway at Playa Kalki.
Karakter at Coral Estate is another hidden gem and must visit in my opinion.
The Lemon Beach in Pietermaai is a newly opened hotspot.
Saint Tropez Ocean Club is located right next to it.
Mood Beach or Cabana Beach at Mambo Beach Boulevard.
Mondi Beach Club, another brandnew hotspot with the best food, and beach beds starting from $15 a day. Located right next to the Rif Resort, the mangroves and the cruise terminal. Get a taste in this gallery:
Koko's or Zest at Jan Thiel Beach.
Sightseeing, Instagrammable spots & fun activities
Climb the Christoffelberg, the highest mountain of the island in the lush National Park.
Stop by Shete Boka to see blowholes and the spectacular rugged coastline of the northeast, preferably with a Carmabi guide.
Do a tour of the west side on a cool can-am ATV bike, which can reach up to 120 kms/hr, including some local stops, refreshments and beach visits with Premium Paradise Tours.
A guided nature tour of Hofi Mango in Bandabou should not be missed either, including lunch at their delicious restaurant.
Go kayaking or SUP-ing through the Curaçao Rif Mangrove Park in Otrabanda, about which you can also read more in this blog.
A walking tour of Willemstad is a must to admire the Pontjesbrug, the creative murals of Otrabanda and the colorful buildings and art galleries of Punda and Scharloo. Get an impression through this gallery:
Visit Den Paradera herb garden of Dinah Veeris. A unique collection of historic and medicinal local plants.
For a bit of history and traditional architecture make sure to visit the museum of Landhuis Knip, or stop by Landhuis Jan Kok, Chobolobo and Dokterstuin for historic displays, distilleries and art galleries.
Do a cooking class with Helmi Smeulders to learn all about the Creole and Curaçaoan cuisine.
Find out more about Curaçao's (slave trading) history at the Kurá Hulanda Museum.
Go shopping, wining and dining at the colorful and atmospheric Kurá Hulanda Village in Otrabanda, Willemstad.
Go on a sunset cruise along the southwest coast with FBTT Travel to see the mansions and beautiful coastline.
Visit Klein Curaçao on a boat trip day with Miss Ann, including beach club access, about which you can read more in my travel guide blog.
Stop by Santa Martha viewpoint for tranquil nature settings and the best view at sunset.
Visit Serena's Art Factory at Chi Chi's head office on east Curaçao.
Go flamingo spotting at Jan Kok or Jan Thiel Bay.
Visit Fort Beekenburg, a unique structure and historic site dating back to 1703, free to visit and located on a quiet site at Caracas Bay.
Unique & affordable luxury hotels
For a boutique hotel Pietermaai, the trendiest area of Willemstad, is the place to be, with many classy hotels right in the city center and along the shore.
If you prefer a smaller-scale and historic place to stay there are many plantation houses used as boutique hotels, such as Jan Thiel Lodge, where I stayed in 2023, read all about that here!
Or check one of the many other 'landhuis accommodations' spread out over the island.
For a luxury ultra all-inclusive beach experience I can recommend to stay in comfort and style at both The Rif, where I stayed last time, about which you can read all in this blog.
As well as Corendon's Mangrove Beach Resort, where I stayed this time.
Mangrove Beach Resort Curaçao
Although I usually prefer smaller-scale or boutique hotels and adults-only resorts, this extensive Corendon resort is located perfectly on Curaçao, within walking distance of the capital.
And while the neighboring Rif resort at Mangrove Beach is more my vibe, because it’s more quiet and adults-friendly, I did enjoy the many facilities at the Mangrove Beach Resort.
It offers a luxury stay with private beachfront setting, spacious rooms, and a convenient all-inclusive package, with much value for your money.
What makes Mangrove Beach Resort different from other hotels on Curaçao is its combination of luxury, affordability, and family-friendly inclusivity. Let me show you what makes this resort stand out in my opinion.
Unique features Mangrove Beach Resort:
Their all-inclusive packages, with unlimited meals, drinks, quality cocktails and activities, offer great value for money compared to many other hotels on the island that charge separately for meals, drinks and amenities, which can get quite expensive on Curaçao.
Beachfront and central location, the resort provides direct access to a big private beach lined with palm trees, right next to the cruise terminal and mangroves. And only a 15-minute walk, or 5-minute drive, from the colorful Otrabanda area of Willemstad.
The modern rooms are spacious with private balconies, some overlooking the seaside, and are comfortable with a good mattress, great shower, well-working WIFI and everything else you can expect from a 5-star hotel, as you can see here:
Diverse dining options; 4 bars and 5 restaurants offer local dishes to international cuisine, as well as room service, which are all included in your stay.
Besides the quality food at the extensive buffet in the morning, afternoon and evening, you can also reserve dinner at 5 à la carte restaurants for a more unique and themed dining experience. Ranging from Italian, BBQ and seafood at Mangrove Beach, to Mexican and Turkish at the à la carte restaurants of the neighboring Rif.
Water sports like snorkeling, kayaking, boat trips and diving are offered at the resort for an extra charge. But other activities like beach volleyball, table tennis, a kids playground and extensive aqua park with 6 waterslides are all included and perfect for family fun!
The resort has 3 large pools with plenty of sun loungers for free, as well as on the beach. And you can also reserve a thatched-roof luxury cabana by the pool or beach, with thick mattress and 2 sunbeds for an extra charge, incl.butler service and drinks.
Massage treatments are also bookable for a fee and are performed right along the beach in thatch-roof cabanas.
And the resort is GSTC-certified, with an abundance of solar panels that help run almost the entire energy supply of the resort. They extract salt water from the sea for use of the pools and showers and apply many other eco- and sustainable practices.
All this and the resort's all-inclusive model with direct beach access, big range of activities, restaurants and abundance of services make it a great choice for families. But also if you’re looking for a complete holiday package without the hassle, extra charge or higher price tag of other luxury resorts.
Find out more and book your own stay at this ultra all-inclusive resort, including flights, through Corendon’s affordable luxury packages.
Restaurants & foodie hotspots
Another complete restaurant list is coming up in my next blog but until then you can also check this top 15 restaurant list I wrote in 2023.
Best time to visit the island
To avoid the rainy season the best time to visit, with nice temperatures around 30° Celsius and a pleasant breeze, is between December - April. This is however also high season, so note that the rates will be higher.
The months before that the island is quieter and even more green and photogenic due to the rain. Rain showers are usually very short here and were not a real problem when I visited in December 2023, although there can be more mosquitoes then.
The most affordable time to visit is between September - November.
Unique Caribbean holiday combination
Curaçao's appeal is not just its diversity of landscapes, but also its mix of cultures and big range of tourist sites. The tropical island has much natural beauty, with its National Park, plantations, small coves and extensive beaches.
This authenticity and diversity, combined with Curaçao's vibrant capital Willemstad, and abundance of beach clubs, creates a unique Caribbean holiday experience.
Check out my Caribbean page for even more island inspiration and travel tips, all based on my own experiences. And the full Corendon Curaçao offering for the most affordable luxury holiday package including flights.
When you visit this Caribbean Island, I hope this complete list of tips for exploring Curacao can make your trip even more memorable.
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