Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles

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Curaçao Travel Guide

Discover everything you need to know for a perfect vacation with this 100% English guide.

WHERE IS CURAÇAO?

The island of Curaçao is located in the southern Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela.
Although it is an island known for being part of what was known as the Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao is now an autonomous country but is still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its inhabitants hold Dutch citizenship.

It is the largest of the “ABC” or Leeward Antilles islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao).

Curaçao has a warm and sunny climate all year round. The average temperature is around 26° C and it is breezy most of the time. In rainy seasons, these do not last more than 15-30 minutes at the most.

WHAT PLACES TO VISIT IN CURAÇAO?

Although Curaçao is an island recognized as an independent and small country, it is made up of different sectors or regions:

Willemstad

Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao. There you will find the vast majority of restaurants, hotels, stores, bars, nightlife. In Willemstad you will be at the central point to go from there to all other places. Willemstad is divided in two: Punda and Otrobanda. On both sides there is a bus station that runs through the areas of each side.

In Punda you will find good quality hotels and hostels. For example: San Marco Hotel, City Suites & Beach Hotel, Boutique Hotel ‘t Klooster, and more.

The most known and unmissable area in Punda for a tourist is Handelskade. That’s the street where you see all the colorful buildings that also appear on postcards or advertisements. It is an icon. Some tours can take you on a leisurely tour of the city.

“Otrobanda” means just that: “the other side” or “the other side”. This area is on the other side of the Punda Bridge. As a resident, I must say that there seem to be more local residents in Otrobanda than in Punda. But likewise, there are stores, restaurants, local bars. Just beyond this area is the newest and largest hospital on the island, as well as renowned hotels such as the 5-star Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort, Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino, the best hotels in the Piscadera area such as Curacao Marriott Beach Resort, Dreams Curacao Resort (former Hilton) and Zoëtry Curacao, the latter as part of the AMR Resorts chain.

From Otrobanda, you can also appreciate Handelskade, dine at one of the restaurants on this side of town, such as De Gouverneur, El Captain, Bario Bar or tour the neighborhoods and architecture.

Pietermaai

Pietermaai is a historic neighborhood located south of Willemstad, but within walking distance of the city center. It is practically next to Punda. This area was built in the eighteenth century and in the twentieth century gained a reputation as a typical place for drug trafficking. It is now an exclusive sector of Curaçao, with luxury accommodations and clubs that attract tourists and practitioners who come from Europe to develop their skills in the tourism sector while enjoying a permanent vacation on the island.

Some of the featured hotels in this area are: Pietermaai boutique hotel, Scuba Lodge, Saint Tropez Boutique Hotel, and other more budget accommodations that you can see in this list: Hotels in Pietermaai Curaçao.

The great advantage of staying in Pietermaai is that you are close to everything: Punda, Otrobanda, Seaquarium, bus stations, restaurants, beaches, and much more.

Seaquarium / Mambo Beach:

Thanks to this catchy name, it is perhaps the most famous beach in Curaçao. The name Mambo Beach is now the name of a boulevard that has been built in recent years with a boulevard concept around the beach. In combination with the neighboring restaurant-bar Wet ‘n Wild, Sundays have become the center of nightlife in Curaçao for locals and tourists.

The official name of this area is Seaquarium. On one side of this beach is Cabana Beach, part of Kontiki Resort, popular with many young tourists. On the east side of the beach, you will find a more familiar and sophisticated atmosphere: Lions Dive & Beach Resort. Beach chairs and umbrellas are free for guests, but can be used by visitors for a fee of approximately $5 per day.

In the area there are other hotels worth considering: Royal Seaquarium Resort, Bon Bini Seaside Resort, the famous all-inclusive Sunscape Curacao Resort, and Kontiki Resort, among many other accommodations.

The most interesting attraction in this area is the Seaquarium, of course. At the Seaquarium you can visit the Dolphin Academy and book marine animal interaction activities.

Sint Willibrordus

Sint Willibrordus is a small village northwest of Willemstad, on the way to Westpunt. Also known as Williwood, this area is home to public beaches and even some interesting wildlife. An example of this is that on all tours on the way to Westpunt there is one stop not to be missed, and that is the flamingos in the salt ponds of Sint Willibrordus.

The Williwood snack bar is an excellent place where you can make a “pit stop” and buy a refreshing drink, a snack (their specialty is hamburgers) and enjoy the beautiful view.

Near Sint Willibrordus is the Coral Estate Resort (or Rif Sr. Marie), only 15 minutes from the airport. This is one of the most exclusive accommodations in this area and features the famous Karakter restaurant, beach and terrace bar with pool, spa and beauty salon.

One of the attractions of this location is that it has the Coral Divers diving school, for snorkeling and scuba diving lovers. In short, Coral Estate has everything you could need for a dream vacation.

Westpunt

Westpunt is the northwestern part of the island, and is characterized by unspoiled nature. This area is known as Banda Abou, which in Spanish would be “the lower part”. One of the hidden treasures in this part of the island is Christoffel Park, the best beaches of Curaçao such as Kenepa (or Grote Knip), Lagun Beach, or Piskadó Beach, where many people go to see sea turtles that often swim along the shore.

In Westpunt there are also Creole food restaurants, plantations or restored slavery houses that are now heritage sites.

For those who want to enjoy the nature and the sea of Curaçao, in Westpunt you can find some beautiful places to stay, such as: Marazul Dive Resort, Rancho El Sobrino, Nos Krusero Apartments, or Blue View Apartments. The only apparent disadvantage is that this part of the island is very far from the rest of the island. Therefore, if you plan to stay in Wespunt, it is essential to rent a car in Curaçao.

Jan Thiel

Jan Thiel is one of the most luxurious areas of Curaçao. It is almost the first choice of Dutch tourists during their vacations or even to relocate. In this area you will find Jan Thiel beach, the Spanish Waters bay, where many people practice water sports such as SUP, paddleboarding, kayaking or jet ski tours. It is also an area with numerous restaurants, bars, casinos and hotels such as Papagayo Hotel, Papagayo Resort, Chogogo, Livingston, Morena, Boca Gentil and many other accommodations. There is a bus route that goes back and forth, but in general it is also advisable to rent a car if you want to stay in this area.

Tip: Most boat tours depart from Jan Thiel, so if your plan is a couple of boat tours, boarding at the Jan Thiel pier is the most practical. Some boat tours departing from Jan Thiel are: Klein Curacao Black and White tour with lunch, SUP board or water ski tour, or 3 bays in half a day.

St. Joris

The St. Louis area. Joris, on the northeast coast of Curaçao, is an off-the-beaten-path area full of things to do. In this area you will find the Aloe Vera Plantation, an ostrich farm and Sint Joris Baai, which is not the best beach on the island, but it is isolated and good for kitesurfing.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I go to Curaçao?

To get to Curaçao, you can use the following airlines:

American Airlines:
Miami – Curaçao
Charlotte – Curaçao
Newark – Curaçao

jetBlue:
New York – Curaçao

Avianca:
Bogota – Curaçao

Copa Airlines:
Panama – Curaçao

Divi Divi Air:
Aruba – Curaçao
Bonaire – Curaçao

Ez-Air:
Medellin – Curaçao
Barranquilla – Curaçao
Bonaire – Curaçao
Aruba – Curaçao

Wingo:
Bogota – Curaçao

Sarpa:
Medellin – Curaçao

JetAir Caribbean:
Medellín – Curaçao

What language is spoken in Curaçao?

The inhabitants and residents of Curaçao come from diverse cultures. Until recently, it was estimated that Curaçao was home to more than 102 nationalities. However, there are two official languages on the island: Papiamentu, which is the local language, and Dutch.

However, most of Curaçao’s citizens speak English and Spanish as well, so there should be no problems for day-to-day life, especially in the tourism sector.

Visas and passports

The following nationalities do not need a visa to enter Curaçao:

Argentina
Bahamas
Barbados
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Spain
United States
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Portugal
Trinidad & Tobago
Uruguay

In what currency and how to pay in Curaçao?

Although you can always pay in US dollars, there is the local currency of Curaçao called Antillean guilder.
The current exchange rate is 1.78 guilders per dollar. The vast majority of businesses have a dataphone (debit and credit card machine), but cash is also welcome.
The best cup of change can be found in casinos. But in the absence of one nearby, ATMs are available in many public places, such as at the airport, near hotels, next to some gas stations, banks, etc.

Means of transportation in Curaçao

In Curaçao you can use public transportation, which exists in the form of buses. There are large buses (Konvoi) and small buses (Bus) that have different routes, whose main stations are in Punda and Otrabanda. Some hotels offer their own transportation services to and from the city center by advance reservation. My advice would be to check with the hotel beforehand if this option is included and what are the conditions/schedules offered.

Cabs are widely available at the airport, at hotels or by call/app. The website https://247taxi.cw offers a cab reservation service.

Cab service in Curaçao is regulated by the government, with mostly standard (non-metered) fares. I advise you to consult in advance the price for the place you are going and for the number of people you are going, because normally the prices are up to a maximum of 4 people and then there are additional costs per person.

According to public transportation laws, buses can only carry a maximum of 9 people, even if the bus has a larger capacity or more than 9 seats. Applies also for tours and activities.

For transportation of groups of more than 9 persons, cab services will offer more than one bus or bus with the respective permit.

What to take to Curaçao?

In Curaçao each person is free in the way he/she dresses. I recommend bringing the same as to any destination where there is sun, breeze and sea. Wearing shorts, light clothing, sandals or flip-flops on buses, in stores and supermarkets is seen as normal. Not so in banks or government/educational institutions.

Here are some recommendations of what would be essential for your trip to Curaçao:

1. Check the list of travel documents to Curaçao

2. For personal care in Curaçao, I recommend: Sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, cooling gel after the sun, band-aid for wounds, motion sickness medicine (either on the plane or before a boat ride).

3. To go to the beach: Swimming suit, some beaches require swimming shoes because they may have rocks in some parts, snorkel masks, flotation device, camera, large beach towel and waterproof bag to protect personal belongings from the water.

Is it safe to travel to Curaçao?

Curaçao is considered a safe destination for travelers, according to the international travel guidelines of the United States, Europe and Canada.

As in any place, crime can also be seen in Curaçao, but because it is a small place, there is police control and this maintains public order and security. Locals often pride themselves on being one of the few places where no one will take an object that they do not own. In general, if you go to a public place and leave a personal item, there is a high probability that when you return it will be kept for you or that it will have been handed over to the authorities if personal documents are involved.

I recommend taking the usual precautions, such as not leaving valuables in the car and taking only what is necessary to the street or storing belongings with due care.

What are the prices in Curaçao?

Determining whether or not it is expensive to travel to Curaçao depends largely on the country you are coming from and what you want to do here. Going to the beach is free, unless you decide to go to private beaches.

It is not a surprise that in all the islands life can be more expensive. Consider, for example, that many things are imported.
One of the best ways to save money in Curaçao is to rent a car and buy and prepare your food in the apartment where you plan to stay.

If budget is not a problem, the wide variety of restaurants for all tastes will not disappoint you.

Tipping in Curaçao

In Curaçao, customers are expected to show their appreciation for service with a tip. Cab drivers, waiters, waitresses, bartenders and hotel staff will also expect this.
I advise you to check the bill at the restaurants, as many of them already have the 10% service included. In such a case, it is at your discretion whether you want to give something additional to the person who helped you.

Laws that apply in Curaçao

If you do not want to have problems with the authorities in Curaçao, be sure to respect the following regulations:

Legal drinking age: The accepted drinking age is 18 years of age.

Cannabis or Marijuana: Until this moment (May 2022) Marijuana is prohibited in Curaçao. If the police discover that you have marijuana in your possession, they will most likely simply confiscate it (unless you are a minor, in which case you and your parents will be held accountable).

Important: Drunk driving is a problem on the island. Although it is illegal, it does not always seem to be controlled. Therefore, on nights of partying and drinking, it is best to drive with caution.

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