It’s your trusty pal Katie with a detailed guide on how to plan an epic trip to Curacao with all the best things to see, do, and eat during your visit. Basically, it’s got everything you need to know to make the travel planning a whole lot less stressful. So all you need to do is put that leave application in, pack your bags, and get ready for an awesome time. If you have any questions, let me know. Otherwise, I hope you have an awesome time there!
How To Plan An Epic Trip To Curacao – The Ultimate See, Do, And Eat Guide
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
Planning tips for visiting Curacao
Which airport to fly into?
Hato International Airport.
What is the currency?
Antillean guilder (ANG), however the US Dollar is widely accepted and you can withdraw cash in USD at ATMs.
When is the best time of year to visit?
December – April is the peak season for Curacao. The mild weather year round makes it a great choice no matter when you choose to visit.
Do you need to rent a car?
Yes as Curacao is quite spread out. To be able to experience all it has to offer it’s best to have a rental car. I used Hertz and had a great experience with them.
How to travel between the ABC islands?
If you will be visiting the sister islands of Curacao, you can travel between them with Divi Divi Air.
Here are my travel guides to help make the planning easier:
- How To Plan A Vacation To Bonaire – Here’s Everything You Need To Know
- Solo Female Travel In Aruba – What You Need To Know & Things To Do
What to pack?
Here are a few beach trip staples I recommend for Curacao.
- A waterproof satchel you can swim with so you don’t have to leave any valuables on the beach.
- Lightweight towel so you don’t have to lug around a huge hotel towel on your adventures.
- Sturdy sandals.
- A waterproof camera – I use mine with this floaty selfie stick for snorkeling to get better photos of animals.
Best things to do in Curacao
Aloe Vera Farm
This is not only an interesting outing, but perhaps a necessary one after your skin has been soaking up all the Curacao sun.
Guided tours are run Monday – Friday at 10 and 11am for $8 USD. Otherwise, you can also visit for free without a tour. You’ll be able to see the plants, learn about the history and production at the factory, and of course shop for aloe vera goodies.
They have all sorts of products from liquid aloe vera supplements to help with different ailments, as well as lotions and skincare items. If you’re a carry on traveler, they offer most products in travel size as well.
Visit their website for more information.
Curacao Liqueur Distillery
One of my favorites things to do in Curacao was visit the Curacao Liqueur Distillery.
Here you can take a free, self guided walking tour to learn all about this iconic drink. It ends with free samples and an outdoor lounge area with full bar where you can try all sorts of amazing cocktails. The drinks are reasonably priced and don’t skimp on alcohol.
I loved the after dinner chocolate cocktail so much that I bought the ingredients to make it at home.
Of course you can also purchase liqueur from their range to take home with you – I definitely recommend the chocolate flavor!
Visit their website for more information.
Snorkel to the sunken tugboat
Curacao has a lot of beautiful snorkeling locations, but perhaps the most iconic is the sunken tugboat.
The tugboat is still mostly in tact and covered in all sorts of coral which makes for a visually impressive underwater landscape. Best of all, it doesn’t require a long, strenuous swim to get there so it’s a good adventure for all skill levels.
Here’s my detailed guide on snorkeling to the sunken tugboat complete with a map of where to find it and all the tips you need to know before you go.
Snorkel with turtles at Playa Grandi
If you want a place that you’re almost guaranteed to see turtles, head over to Playa Grandi to snorkel. There are a lot of turtles that come here to eat scraps from the fisherman and the turtles are not too skittish around people.
Of course, you can see them all over the island so keep an eye out wherever you snorkel.
One of the biggest problems with this spot is how people interact around the turtles. Unfortunately, what I saw was straight up harassment for the poor things.
Remember that they need to come up to the surface to breathe. So it’s best not to crowd or swim directly above them, otherwise they will be unable to come up to the surface. Stick to swimming to the sides of them so you can get good a good view and they can get air.
Also it should be common sense, but don’t touch them, grab their shell, or do anything that interferes with them going about their turtley day. It’s a beautiful experience to simply observe them.
If you keep calm, don’t crowd them, and move slowly with them, it’s a much better experience and they’ll probably be more comfortable around you.
Cliff jump at Grote Knip
If you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at cliff jumping into the gorgeous blue water at Grote Knip.
There’s one jumping spot near the start of the beach by the lookout area, and another higher jump at the other end of the beach.
To get to the higher jump spot, you can climb the cliff from the water using the chain, or (much easier) follow the path up from the beach.
Whatever you do, look before you leap. Trust me. I didn’t, landed foot first on a rock, and ended up on crutches for three weeks.
If you’re looking for a bigger adrenaline rush, there’s a 40 foot cliff jump at Playa Forti! You can find this at Restaurant Playa Forti.
Spend some time at the beach
If you’re planning a trip to Curacao, you’re probably planning to spend a decent amount of time at the beach.
Here are a few of my favorite spots for a classic beach day experience:
- Playa Porto Marie
- Klein Knip
- Grote Knip
- Playa Forti
- Jan Thiel
Take a day trip to Klein Curacao
I ran out of time to do this during my visit, but it looked like a fun day trip.
Klein Curacao is a small island off the coast of Curacao and the only way to get there is by boat tour.
I had planned to go out with Mermaid Boat Trips which run tours on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Their day tour includes transportation, sightseeing, free time to snorkel, swim, and explore the island, and best of all they have a beach house where you can enjoy a full buffet lunch.
There are a range of boat tour operators though so plenty to choose from.
Watch sunset from a viewpoint
Head to Santa Martha Bay View Lookout Point to soak in some incredible views.
I read it is beautiful at sunset, however I went during the day and it was still quite impressive then. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be with sunset colors in the sky.
There’s only a small area to park so you may have to park on the side of the road and walk back to the lookout.
See the beach pigs
What’s cuter than pigs in mud? Pigs on the beach!
There are a couple of places that allow an opportunity to see pigs roaming the beach. No matter where you see them, they will definitely steal your heart.
The most popular beach is Playa Porto Mari. The pigs, Willie and Woodie, are local celebrities here and usually take a walk on the beach in the afternoon. If they’re not at the beach, you might spot them across the road in their pen resting in the shade. There’s also good snorkeling here so pack your gear.
I also saw small pigs running around at Grote Knip so keep an eye out there too.
Check out the flamingoes
Visit the Salt Lake in Willibrordus for some epic flamingo spotting.
If you’re in a rush, you can check them out from the viewpoint just a few steps from the road. If you have more time, you can walk along the trails to get a closer look.
I saw lots of flamingoes here and it was really special to see them in their natural habitat seemingly unfazed by me taking a million photos of them.
Parking is on the side of the road so you’ll want to keep a lookout for a space as you get close.
Hike in the Christoffel National Park
There are trails for all skill levels in the Christoffel National Park, but perhaps the most popular is the hike to the summit of Christoffel Mountain.
For this you will need to start early (you need to start before 10am) and get ready for a 2-3 hour trek uphill. At the end you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the island.
For an off the beaten path hike, check out the Tree of Life. It’s a short, easy trail to a beautiful, Disney-like tree that sits on top of a hill. Here’s my full guide on how to hike to the Tree of Life with everything you need to know before you go.
The park also has driving routes if you want to see the beautiful scenery but don’t enjoy hiking.
Whether on foot or by car, I think visiting the park is a must do.
Visit the official website for more information.
Explore the Hato Caves
Head underground for a guided tour of a cave system to admire stalactites, stalagmites, bats, and learn about the caves history and cultural significance.
The tour costs $10 USD and are run every hour, seven days a week. There’s a short walking trail if you’d like to add on a hike after your cave tour as well.
This is near the airport, so it’s a good option for the day you arrive or leave.
Visit the Hato Caves website for more information.
Stroll the touristy city areas
For a relaxing outing, head to the main city area by the cruise port and simply stroll and be a tourist. It’s fun to check out the stores, see the city by foot, stop for some food, and enjoy the ambiance.
We parked at the Pietermaai parking lot then walked from there.
Here are a few things to do while you’re there:
- Walk the streets to see colorful street art
- Take a photo with the Chichi statue (big sister)
- Walk the Queen Emma bridge
- Check out the colorful colonial architecture
Best things to eat in Curacao
Johnny cake
A Johnny cake is deep fried bread roll with a little sweetness to it. You can get them plain or filled with either sweet or savory fillings. I got ham and cheese and it was great.
They’re cheap, easy to get, and absolutely delicious!
Recommendation: E Johnny Cake
Batido
Think of a batido as a fruit smoothie on steroids. The fresh fruit is mixed with milk or condensed milk and sugar bringing the sweetness game up to 1000%.
They taste delicious and refreshing on those hot beach days.
Recommendation: Disfruta Mas
Keshi Yena
It’s gooey, melted Edam cheese stuffed with meat and vegetables and it’s fantastic. This might be my favorite dish I tried with visiting Curacao.
Recommendation: Restaurant Playa Forti
Goat burger
Don’t miss a famous goat burger with views of the Williwood sign. I wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to goat meat, but it was actually a delicious burger.
Recommendation: Toko Williwood
Montana Bierhuis
This is a hidden gem that won’t let you down when it comes to amazing food, great value for money, and a cool, casual ambiance.
La Boheme Curacao
Head to the popular La Boheme for a boho brunch date. The smoothies here are fantastic, meals are delicious and well portioned, and the setting is just gorgeous.
Van Gogh Specialty Coffee & City Roastery
For the best coffee, head over to Van Gogh. Stop for brunch and get a table out on the patio and you won’t be disappointed.
Where to stay in Curacao
I stayed at Coral Estate Luxury Resort and it was fantastic. I enjoyed staying by the water away from the city noise. It had a great bakery, pizzeria, two restaurants as well as pools, spa, tours, and activities. Everything you need really.
If you prefer a lot of nightlife or hustle and bustle, it would be better to stay in the city.
If that sounds like you, I’d recommend:
- PM78 Boutique Apartments
- Brion City Hotel BW Signature Collection
- Renaissance Wind Creek Curacao Resort
No matter where you stay, I recommend doing a search on Booking.com because I use this to book my accommodation when I travel and can always snag a good deal there.
Coral Estate Luxury Resort
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