Curaçao travel guide
Curaçao Tourism | Curaçao Guide
You're Going to Love Curaçao
Located only 40 mi off the coast of Venezuela, Curaçao has a distinctly European feel and unique cultural vibrancy. Dutch colonial architecture has been magnificently preserved and gorgeous coves provide slices of Caribbean heaven. There's no limit to the scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking that can be done across the magnificent blue waters.
What to do in Curaçao
1. Walk Around Downtown Willemstad
The historical center of town is home to Fort Amsterdam and an array of colorful colonial buildings. There's a floating market, trendy bars, and fruit stalls to check out.
2. Swim in Grote Knip
A perfectly curved white sand bay lies in front of lush green hills, while the turquoise ocean is something straight out of a postcard.
3. Discover Incredible Street Art
The island nation is most likely not at the top of anyone's list for street art destinations, however, magnificent murals are scattered everywhere across laneways and corners.
4. Explore Christoffel National Park
Eight hiking trails pass through native flora, which includes orchids, cacti, and divi-divi trees. It's also possible to scale to the peak of Christoffelberg (1,220 ft) in roughly 2-3h.
5. Go Scuba Diving
There are more than 85 dive locations that cater to all experience levels. Easy shore access is a common feature, while the coral reefs in the area are teeming with fish.
When to visit Curaçao
The Caribbean climate keeps the island warm year-round, though the best period is between January and September. Winds are stronger during the front-end of the year and help cool Curaçao down, but for those looking for some sweltering beach action, August and September sit around 89°F.
How to Get to Curaçao
Entry requirements
Citizens from the European Union, Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Venezuela, among many other countries, have visa exemption for up to 60 days. As a state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch nationals can enter for up to 6 months visa-free.
Plane
Curaçao International Airport, also referred to as Hato International Airport, is the only airfield on the island and is serviced by Air Canada (Toronto), American Airlines (Miami), Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain), JetBlue (New York), Winair (Aruba, St. Maarten, Port-au-Prince, Bonaire) and KLM (Amsterdam). A nonstop flight from Miami can be bought for around 710-762 ANG (410-440 USD) or from Amsterdam for around 650-745 ANG (375-430 USD). Shorter regional flights, such as those departing from Aruba (40min), cost roughly 208-277 ANG (120-160 USD).
Popular airports in Curaçao
Popular airlines serving Curaçao
Where to stay in Curaçao
Budget hostels and affordable guesthouses can be found in the heart of Willemstad, while family-friendly resorts are located along the shoreline and St Anna Bay inlet. The trendy neighborhood of Pietermaai is bustling with street art and boutique lodges whereas further along the coastline towards Mambo Beach are luxurious large-scale resorts.
Where to stay in popular areas of Curaçao
Most booked hotels in Curaçao
How to Get Around Curaçao
Public Transportation
Minibuses are commonly caught around town and can carry between 9-12 passengers. The buses do not follow strict routes and can be negotiated to drop passengers off close to a certain attraction. Fares are normally priced at around 3 ANG (1.70 USD).
Bus
Two separate bus routes loop across the main island of Curaçao. One serves the eastern towns, including Mambo, Salina, and Zelandia, departing from Punda Station. The other heads west and reaches Westpunt, Pisdcadera, and Curaçao Airport after departing from Otrobanda Station. Schedules roughly run from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm and a ticket costs approximately 2 ANG (1.20 USD).
Car
Local and global rental agencies have cars available from around 69-104 ANG (40-60 USD) per day, and can be picked up in places throughout Willemstad, including Mambo Beach and near the airport. Most destinations are reachable within a 15-20min drive.
Boat
A free ferry operates between Willemstad and Ostrobanda frequently each day. Head to the Punda Ferry Dock in downtown Willemstad to board, and be treated to a view of the Queen Emma Bridge on the trip.
The Cost of Living in Curaçao
Grabbing a meal at a cheap restaurant can be as little as approximately 20 ANG (11.50 USD) with a local beer for roughly 4 ANG (2.30 USD). A 7-day SIM card with 1 GB of data is available for approximately 20 ANG (11.50 USD). Credit cards are commonly accepted in restaurants and supermarkets, though it's recommended to carry cash for tipping and small purchases.