Things to Do in Curacao

If you’re taking a drive to explore Curacao, plan a stop in Jan Kok, an area along the west coast, about midway between Willemstad and Westpunt. Here you can birdwatch along old salt pans, large shallow ponds used to evaporate salt from seawater, that have become a popular gathering point for pink flamingos as the travel between nearby Bonaire and South America. The birds wade in the warm shallow water grazing on small creatures that live in the water. Also nearby is Landhuis Jan Kok, a former salt plantation from the late 18th century that is now used as a gallery by a local artist.

Just inland from Willemstad’s city center, Punda, is a historical section of the city called Scharloo, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, along with the Punda, Otrabanda and Pietermaai neighborhoods. Scharloo served and something of a colonial-era suburb, and today you can still stroll the streets to marvel at the abundance of beautifully restored mansions that sit within easy walking distance of what was the central business district of colonial Willemstad. Some of these restored homes have been converted to hotels and guesthouses.

The Queen Juliana Bridge crosses St. Anna Bay in the Curacao capital of Willemstad. The original structure collapsed in 1967, killing four people, and has since been replaced with the current bridge, which opened on Queen’s Day in 1974. The bridge is a minimalist structure that spans 500 meters in length and stands at over 55 meters at its highest point. It’s the tallest bridge in the Caribbean.

As you cross this four-lane structure, unparalleled views from its apex stretch across Punda, Otrobanda, and the Schottegat, making it one of the most scenic viewpoints on the island. If a ship passes through while you cross the bridge, all the better. Many visitors to Curacao also claim that the views are particularly impressive – if not better – at night.

Get a taste of Africa in the Caribbean at the Curacao Ostrich Farm. Originally opened in 1995 as a working farm to supply ostrich products to South America, the farm quickly became a popular spot for visitors, and now it’s home to about 400 ostriches—about half of which are newborn chicks. When you visit you can take a safari tour in a truck to see ostriches of all ages, from eggs to full grown adults. The farm is also home to emus, potbellied pigs and Nile crocodiles. And if you’re looking for a little more adventure, you can join a quad tour to go four-wheeling across Curacao’s desert island landscape before grabbing a meal at the on-site Zambezi Restaurant, which serves ostrich steaks, burgers and omelets.

Playa Kalki is a small and sandy cove set against a backdrop of limestone cliffs in the peaceful area of Westpunt on the Caribbean island of Curacao. It’s a secluded little spot that’s popular among divers and snorkelers due to its rocky shallows and abundance of coral and other marine life.

Those keen to explore the underwater world surrounding Playa Kalki can hire snorkel and dive equipment from the dive shop located nearby. A large reef nicknamed Alice in Wonderland can be accessed from the beach here, and for those not indulging there’s also a small restaurant serving snacks and drinks.

Colonial relics, maps, and Antillean art come together at the Kura Hulanda Museum, with a world-class collection of African artifacts. This well-regarded anthropological museum focuses on the cultures that have contributed to Curacao’s makeup over the centuries, including African slaves, West African empires, and pre-Columbian traders.

Take a trip through Curacao’s history at the Savonet Museum, located within one of the island’s oldest plantations at the heart of Christoffel Park. The museum’s exhibits include depictions of local life starting from the original Arawak inhabitants who came to the island about 4,000 years ago, through the Dutch colonial era and modern day. Choose the audio tour to get in-depth details about life on the plantation, or ask for a guided tour from one of the museum’s docents. As you explore, you’ll see historical artifacts, documents, and pictures, and after you’ve looked around the museum, you can take a hike through the surrounding park to spot local wildlife like the Curacao white-tailed deer or the Palabrua, a native barn owl.

Curacao’s largest nature reserve is Christoffel National Park, the ideal place on the island to see the rare Curacao white-tailed deer, native barn owl and wild orchids.

The best way to explore is by following one of the park’s 8 hiking trails, graded from easy to challenging. The easiest trail is the 20-minute walk through the white-tailed deer sanctuary. If you’re thinking of going on the relatively arduous climb to the top of Mount Christoffel, head off in the early morning so you avoid the heat of the day.

Scenic driving routes lead across the hills to the coastline, or you might like to take a tour of the historic Plantation Savonet within the park’s grounds.

Tugboat Wreck refers to the site of a tugboat that sank just off Curacao years ago and has since become one of the island’s most popular dive sites. The wreck can be found just five meters beneath the surface of the water and can be easily swam out to from the shore near Caracas Bay. The water is clear, the currents mild, and the wreck itself is in good condition and still well intact. It sits upright with coral and marine sponges growing from it and many species of fish swimming all around it.

Even those who don’t wish to dive or snorkel will be able to see the wreckage from the surface, although the more adventurous will find a rewarding underwater world beyond the wreck itself, where the reef drops off into a steep wall. Here the ocean becomes deeper and the reef more dramatic as one peers down into the depths.

Standing on a prominent bluff, the rusty cannons of craggy Fort Nassau point out to sea. Over the centuries, the fort has protected Curacao from the Spanish, French, English and buccaneers.

Built in 1797, the fort was only called upon in battle when the English invaded. Now decommissioned, it remains an important signal station for vessels in St. Anna Bay, and also regulates the opening and closing of the pontoon bridge.

Fort Nassau has hosted a popular restaurant since 1959, serving Caribbean-style haute cuisine and fine wines amid authentic 18th-century decor. It’s well worth adding lunch or dinner at Fort Nassau to your Curacao itinerary. Take a post-dinner stroll around the battlements for 360-degree views over the island.

Located off the coast of Venezuela, Curacao is a tiny island nestled in crystal-blue waters. Once the center of Caribbean commerce, today Curacao still retains influences from its of French, Dutch, and Portuguese colonial past, as seen in its food, architecture, and culture.

Explore the Caribbean’s underwater world at the Curacao Sea Aquarium in Willemstad. Set in an old naval vessel, the aquarium lets you embark on a unique marine adventure featuring natural habitats that are continuously filled with fresh seawater. Ocean- and coral reef-related research projects are also conducted on site.

The lively Rif Fort Courtyard complex is a major shopping and entertainment hub in Willemstad. It’s also home to some of the island’s finest restaurants.

Browse local art in galleries or splurge on locally designed jewelry and clothing. Order cocktails at a European bar then choose from cosmopolitan cuisines at a range of restaurants.

Scenically set by Curacao’s canals, with views of Willemstad’s pretty pastel-hued gabled buildings, the fort was built in 1829.

The building has slowly been taken over by the sea since being decommissioned in 1928, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Downtown Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, a fairytale world of gingerbread Dutch houses, cobbled lanes and water views. Red-roofed gabled houses painted in sorbet colors of pink, blue and orange line the narrow lanes looking onto the canals of St. Anna Bay.

Take an open trolley train tour from Fort Amsterdam to see the bridges, stone forts and gorgeous pastel-hued buildings.

There are several good museums in the downtown area of Punda, including a Maritime Museum, Fort Museum, Synagogue Museum and Postal Museum.

For a taste of the exotic Americas, buy some tropical fruit from the Venezuelan floating market on the harbor.