Curaçao Travel Guide

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Welcome to the taste2travel Curaçao Travel Guide!

Date Visited: March 2015

Last Revised: June 2026

Introduction

Curaçao lies just to the north of the coast of Venezuela, east of Aruba and west of Bonaire and is one of the three ‘ABC’ islands (Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao), which are all former Dutch colonies and are now part of the Dutch Caribbean.

Old Town of Willemstad, Curaçao.

Location

Curaçao forms part of the southwestern arc of the Lesser Antilles island chain and is located just 60 km (37 mi) north of the South American mainland and Venezuela (click the link to view my Venezuela Travel Report).

Aruba lies 113 km (70 mi) to the west, while Bonaire lies 82 km (51 mi) to the east.

A colourful map of Curaçao adorns a souvenir beach towel.

History

Colourful Dutch-style buildings line the iconic Handelskade in Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao.

The island was originally inhabited by Arawak Indians until the Spanish arrived in 1499 and enslaved them.

The Dutch then took control of the island in 1634.

The Dutch East Indies Company founded the capital, Willemstad.

The island had always been ignored because it lacked gold deposits but the natural harbour at Willemstad was ideal for trade.

The flag of Curaçao.

Commerce, shipping and piracy became the most important activities on the island and the island became a centre of the slave trade in the Caribbean.

When slavery was abolished, many former slaves remained on the island and today Curaçao is the only one of the ABC islands with a substantial Afro population.

Sunset at Jan Thiel beach, which lies on the south coast of Curacao.

Curaçao is the largest and most populated (150,000) of the ABC islands.

The best way to explore the island is with a rental car.

I spent five days touring the island but you could cover all the sites in 2-3 days at a relaxed pace.

While Aruba attracts mainly American tourists, Curaçao attracts mainly Dutch tourists, who account for 32% of arrivals.

The Melocactus is a cactus species common to Curaçao.

Curaçao Liqueur

The name “Curaçao” has become associated with a shade of blue, because of the deep-blue version of the liqueur named Curaçao.

Curaçao’s most popular alcoholic beverage was discovered by accident when the Spanish Valencia orange was brought to the island, but unable to flourish in the climate.

Instead, a bitter-tasting orange – the Lahara – was spawned.

The genuine Curaçao liqueur is made of the peels of the Laraha.

It is produced in 5 different colours, the original clear liqueur, the famous Blue, Green, Red and Orange.

The Laraha plantation is on the east side of the island and has just 45 trees.

Each tree produces on average 150 to 200 fruits and are harvested twice a year.

Free factory visits are available at Landhuis Chobolobo in Willemstad from Monday to Friday.

Sightseeing

Willemstad

A view of the colourful Handelskade, Willemstad.

Formerly the capital of the Netherlands Antilles (dissolved in 2010), the capital and largest city of Curaçao (population: 125,000), Willemstad is located on a deep natural harbour.

Many Dutch colonists grew affluent from the slave trade, and the city built impressive colonial buildings.

Curaçao architecture blends Dutch and Spanish colonial styles.

The wide range of historic buildings in and around Willemstad has resulted in the capital being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The iconic, Dutch-style, Penha House dominates the Handelskade in downtown Willemstad.

The historic city centre is small and compact and can be explored easily on foot in a day.

The downtown area consists of two districts: Otrobanda, the cultural centre of the city and Punda, they are separated by the St. Anna bay inlet.

Willemstad is build around a natural harbour called the ‘Schottegat‘.

The St. Anna bay inlet is bridged by the Queen Emma Pontoon bridge.

This floating bridge pivots open to allow small and large (container ships) to pass through into the harbour.

This is a great place for photography.

The Dutch-style Penha House stands out like a yellow beacon on the colourful Handelskade in downtown Willemstad.

In Punda you will find the colourful Handelskade, Amsterdam Fort, the main shopping area, the old food market (Plaz Bien), the oldest surviving (sand floor) synagogue in the Caribbean and the floating market, where boats come over from Venezuela to sell their produce.

It’s all very lively and vibrant and worth the majority of your time in the city.

Display at the Kurá Hulanda Museum in Willemstad.

The highlight of Otrabanda (English: Other side) is the Kurá Hulanda Museum aka “Slave Museum”.

The museum chronicles the origin of man, the African slave trade and West African empires.

It is situated on the site of a former slave yard and merchant’s home.

Curaçao Beaches

The protected waters of Playa Lagun are popular with families and provide excellent snorkelling.

The protected waters of Playa Lagoon are popular with families and provide excellent snorkelling.

Like Aruba, the best swimming beaches are located on the protected leeward side of the island (west coast) rather than the exposed windward side (east coast).

Unlike Aruba, the Curaçao coastline is made up of many protected coves rather than long stretches of white sandy beaches.

All of these coves provide excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities.

Shete Boka National Park

Natural limestone bridge in Shete Boka National Park, Curaçao.

Worth a stop on the rugged east coast is this national park.

Trails lead from a parking area to natural limestone bridges on the shore, sea-turtle sanctuaries, a big blowhole and isolated little beaches in narrow coves.

Boka Tabla, a cave in the cliffs facing the water, is the most popular and closest walk.

The limestone here is razor sharp so good walking shoes are recommended – not your favourite pair of Havaianas.

Hato Caves

The interior of the Hato cave on Curaçao.

Located on the north side of the island, a short drive from the airport, the small Hato Cave is more than 300.000 years old, and has the distinction of being the largest cave on the island.

The cave has been open to visitors since 1990 and can be accessed by foot, after climbing 49 steps.

Over millions of years, the island was formed in ‘terraces’ and while most caves are to be found in the second terrace, the Hato Cave is uniquely found in the third terrace of the island.

Accommodation

Sunset at Jan Thiel beach Curaçao.

Like neighbouring Aruba, this tourist haven is loaded with accommodation options catering for all budgets.

Unlike Aruba, accommodation is scattered around the island rather than concentrated in one beach-side location.

High season prices apply from December to April.

Willemstad is far more interesting than Oranjestad (Aruba) so staying in the capital is worth considering.

While on the island, I stayed at Jan Thiel beach which is located at the southern end of the island.

The Hibiscus Beach House is a friendly Dutch-run B&B, which I would highly recommend.

Best to book ahead using an online agent such as booking.com

Eating Out

There are restaurants catering for all budgets scattered around the island.

One place worth exploring for cafes, bars, restaurants and nightlife is the trendy Willemstad neighbourhood of Pietersmaai

Visa Requirements

Visa policy map of Curaçao.

Some nationalities require visas for Curaçao – check your visa requirements prior to arrival.

The visa policy for all the Dutch territories in the Caribbean is the same with those countries highlighted in green on the above visa policy map being able to visit Curaçao visa-free for up to 90 days.

Getting There

Air

The main airport on Curaçao is Curaçao International Airport (IATA: CUR) which is located 12 km (7.5 miles) northwest of Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao.

The airport is Curaçao’s primary international gateway, serving flights from North America, Europe, Latin America, and destinations throughout the Caribbean.

The airport is one of the busiest in the southern Caribbean and serves as an important hub for travellers exploring the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) and the wider Caribbean region.

The airport serves as a main base for Divi Divi Air and Z Air.

The following airlines provide scheduled services to/ from Curaçao International Airport:

Air Canada Rouge: flies to/ from Toronto–Pearson
Air Century: flies to/ from Santo Domingo–La Isabela
American Airlines: flies to/ from Charlotte, Miami
Arajet: flies to/ from Santo Domingo–Las Américas
Avianca: flies to/ from Bogotá
Avior Airlines: flies to/ from Caracas
Caribbean Airlines: flies to/ from Port of Spain
Copa Airlines: flies to/ from Panama City–Tocumen
Corendon Dutch Airlines: flies to/ from Amsterdam
Delta Air Lines: flies to/ from Atlanta
Divi Divi Air: flies to/ from Aruba, Bonaire
JetBlue: flies to/ from New York–JFK
KLM: flies to/ from Amsterdam
LASER Airlines: flies to/ from Caracas
RED Air: flies to/ from Santo Domingo–Las Americas
Surinam Airways: flies to/ from Paramaribo
TUI fly Netherlands: flies to/ from Amsterdam
United Airlines: flies to/ from Newark
Winair: flies to/ from Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Maarten
Z Air: flies to/ from Aruba, Barranquilla, Bonaire, Medellín–JMC, Sint Maarten