After 3 months of intense travel through South America, I decided to finish it with a full week of relaxation on the tropical Caribbean island Curaçao. Since I’m not the type to sit and like to explore the island as much as possible, here is a list of great things to do in Curaçao.
BEACH HOPPING
The 4 beaches of San Juan
A relatively unfamiliar and thus secluded place are the 4 beaches of San Juan. To get here I had to drive along an unpaved gravel road and pay the entrance fee of f10 (€5). The area doesn’t offer any facilities, therefore be sure to bring your own drinks and whatever you need. The most popular and largest of the 4 beaches is Playa Manzalina. I went to the most Northern beach, Playa Chiki, a small stretch of sand which I had completely to myself. Since I was alone I felt comfortable swimming topless while fully enjoying the rich blue Caribbean waters.
Playa Kalki
NorthWest of Curaçao is Playa Kalki, apparently a great spot for diving and snorkeling. I stopped for a quick look and although the beach was pretty, it was too crowded for my taste.
Kleine Knip
Kleine Knip and Grote Knip are two beaches close to each other. As the name suggests, the Kleine Knip is the smaller of the two and attracts more of a local crowd. I loved how this beach just had a few people and a bunch of sunbeds spread around with plenty of space. This was a perfect spot to settle, get a sunbed, go for a swim and stay for the sunset that went down straight in front of me.
Grote Knip
The Grote Knip was good for a quick photo stop, and although the beach is truly stunning with white sand and rocks and both sides, it was also filled with loads of people.
Playa Porto Marie
The perfect mix of facilities, a beautiful beach and liveliness is Playa Porto Marie. The entrance fee is f5 and an additional f6 for renting a sunbed. The sunbeds at the back of the beach are situated in the shadows of the trees, making it a very comfortable place to settle down. And a cute bonus are the piglets walking around on the beach.
Mambo Beach
If you’re all into the party vibe, loud music and plenty of bars, Mambo Beach is the place for you!
Playa Piskadó
Stop here to go snorkeling! Giant sea turtles swim around the pier and they don’t seem very bothered by us humans.
Playa Lagun
My favorite beach I visited in Curaçao must be Playa Lagun. The name lagoon fits the description as the small beach is situated between two cliffs. Swimming here was so peaceful as it’s secluded from the big open sea.
Catamaran Sunset tour
On Friday and Saturday evenings, BlueFinn Charters offer sunset tours on their beautiful catamaran. For US$75 per person we were taken on the sea for a 2.5 hour relaxing trip. This included an open bar with unlimited cocktails, tasty bites from their BBQ and a fun and enthusiastic crew. The sunset tour is from 17:30 until 20:00 and departs from Mambo Beach.
Shete Boka National Park
Curaçao has more to offer than only beautiful beaches. For those who can appreciate a bit of nature should make a stop at Shete Boka, a national park on the far west side of the island with an entrance fee of f25.
Here you find Boka Pistol, where incoming waves turn into huge splashes of water rising up in the sky as a result of the cliff formation in the sea.
Or one of the coves at Boka Kalki, with a view of Mount Christoffel in the background.
The terrain to reach these areas is a bit rough, but definitely can be done by car, to save yourself a long walk in the scorching sun.
Santa Martha Bay
When driving around the island, make a quick stop at the viewpoint to observe Santa Martha Bay below.
Willemstad
Another getaway from the beach is a visit to Willemstad, or to be more exact, the areas Punda and Otrobanda. Stroll across the Emma Bridge, the pontoon bridge that connects these areas. Marvel at the colorful houses and take a photo with the ‘Dushi’ and ‘Curacao’ letters.
Where to stay?
I stayed at Thuishaven in Grote Berg. An adult-only boutique hotel consisting of only a few apartments facing the beautiful garden and pool. The place is run by 2 friendly guys and the rooms were immaculate. What I loved about the location is that it was very easy to explore the island by car, as the West coast has all the pristine and peaceful beaches.
Rent a car
You want to see more of the island than just your resort? I definitely did and rented a car for the whole week I was there. This gave me the chance to fully explore the various beaches. I had a great experience with Loulou Car Rental, the car was very affordable and they picked me up and dropped me off at the airport.
Stay connected
At Hato International Airport it is easy to buy a local sim card. There are 2 booths, first is Digicell with a booth at the luggage belt. The second is Flow with their booth in the arrival hall. I got a sim card at Flow as I read they have the better service throughout the island and a better tourist-sim deal (both regular sim and e-sim are available). I got 10 day plan with 10GB data for US$24, perfect for a long week in Curaçao.