Why Curaçao is the ultimate Caribbean getaway for your next island adventure

I am consistently drawn to island getaways when planning trips for my family — but not the kind where you lie on the beach for a week. Yes, I love the laid-back pace and atmosphere, but what I really love is discovering the food, history, culture and natural beauty (both above and below water).

After falling in love with Curaçao during a solo visit last summer, I knew I had to return with my family so they could experience the adventure and excitement of this gorgeous Caribbean island for themselves.

Because I was already familiar with Curaçao, I built the perfect itinerary that highlights the best of what Curaçao has to offer.

Want to steal our Curaçao itinerary? Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Getting to and staying in Curaçao

Traveling to Curaçao

Getting to Curaçao is easier than you might think. The 171-square-mile island is small enough that there is only one airport travelers fly into, Curaçao International Airport (CUR). While the farthest reaches of the island are 30 minutes away, the airport is centrally located, so most hotels are within a 15-minute drive.

Several major North American airlines offer direct flights to Curaçao, including:

• American Airlines
• Air Canada
• Delta Air Lines
• JetBlue
• United Airlines
• WestJet

And the list of cities with direct flights continues to grow. Currently, you can depart from:

• Atlanta
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Miami
• Montreal
• New York via John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Toronto

With a growing list of airlines and departure cities offering direct flights, it’s easy to plan a budget-friendly trip to Curaçao using cash or airline points or miles.

For example, I found a round-trip, nonstop flight on American Airlines between Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and CUR in mid-May for 23,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles (plus $72.13 in taxes and fees). With this redemption, you’ll get about 1.55 cents per mile in value.

In order to visit Curaçao, you will need an up-to-date passport and a free Digital Immigration Card. I was able to easily complete the Digital Immigration Card form in just a few minutes on my computer a few days before our visit and kept the printed forms with our passports.

If everyone in your travel party is age 16 or older, you can download the Airside Digital Identity App to obtain a Curaçao Express Pass, allowing you to use a dedicated express lane through immigration.

A variety of hotel options

On this trip, we stayed at the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort. The hotel’s walkable location near Willemstad’s many restaurants, shops and historic sites drew us to this property, but the kids fell in love with the private beach, the pool and the generous breakfast buffet.

Even if you don’t stay here, it is worth visiting because it is connected to the historic Rif Fort. The nearly 200-year-old fort is now a mall with various shops and restaurants, but it retains the coral stone walls and canons that once protected the entrance.

As part of the Marriott Bonvoy program, you can earn or redeem points at the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort, with pricing starting at 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or $217 per night.

There are several other points-friendly hotels on the island. If you are looking for a quieter, secluded beach resort, I’ve also stayed at the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort and absolutely loved it (especially the shoreside snorkeling). Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino and Zoetry Curaçao Resort & Spa, two all-inclusive properties that participate in the World of Hyatt program, have similar beach resort vibes.

Arts, culture and history

You may know Curaçao as a popular cruise port or as the birthplace of the citrus-based Blue Curaçao liqueur, but the island country has a culture and history as vibrant as the Dutch colonial buildings that line the Handelskade waterfront.

Speaking of which, we kicked off our Curaçao vacation with a free walking tour of the waterfront and the surrounding neighborhoods. Our guide led us through the Punda and Otrabanda districts of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including a walk across the floating Queen Emma Bridge.

Not only did we see many of the area’s historic sites and colorful street art, but we also learned a great deal about the island’s origins, economy and art.

I explored the waterfront on my own during my first visit to Curaçao, but this tour took me through streets and areas I never would have found on my own. We happened upon the Chichi sculpture shop and found the perfect souvenir to bring home.

My kids loved all of the fun photo opportunities, and I was stopped in my tracks several times by the colorful murals and sculptures we passed along the way.

It was the perfect way to start the trip, as it added a depth of understanding to the rest of our time in Curaçao that we wouldn’t have otherwise had. It was a convenient way to see and learn so much at once.

Beaches and outdoor activities

Curaçao has more than 35 beautiful beaches, but there is so much more to do here than simply lying in the sand and soaking up some sun (though you should definitely make time for that during your visit).

Snorkeling

I scoped out some awesome snorkeling spots on my first visit and knew my family would be just as impressed as I was. The most unique — yet beginner-friendly — spot is Tugboat Beach. We saw impressive marine life, such as parrotfish and even a small octopus, right offshore. However, if you swim about 328 feet offshore, you can see the remains of a sunken tugboat.

The tugboat sits in relatively shallow waters, so it’s easy to reach and explore. My 7-year-old wasn’t interested in swimming that far out, but my two older boys couldn’t wait to check it out. The boat is now an artificial reef covered in coral, and we saw dozens of fish swimming through and around the hull.

We also stopped by Playa Lagun on the western side of the island. My younger son built sandcastles on the shore while my husband and I took turns swimming out with the other kids into the clear blue water in search of fish. We saw eels, puffer fish, flounder and so many colorful tropical fish.

After our excursions, all of my kids expressed a newfound love and appreciation for the ocean. As someone who grew up around and loves the water, I teared up hearing that they felt this way.

Outdoor exploration

There’s also quite a bit of natural beauty in Curaçao that you can see without a snorkel and goggles.

At the open-air Curaçao Sea Aquarium, we got up close with fish, flamingos, sea turtles, lobsters and more, but the highlight was the daily dolphin training demonstration. We were in awe of their abilities, the bond between the dolphins and their trainers, and the open ocean habitat.

My kids could have watched the waves crashing against the rocks at Shete Boka National Park for hours. The park is comprised of various spots you can hike or drive to and see natural phenomena like an underground cavern, a natural bridge and an inlet called Boka Pistol where the waves come rolling in with such force that the resulting water spray shoots high into the air.

On the way to Shete Boka National Park, you’ll pass Christoffel National Park. The most popular activity here is hiking to the summit of Christoffel Mountain, the island’s highest peak. I completed this hike during my previous visit, so I opted to send my husband and 12-year-old son while I stayed behind to swim in the hotel pool with my two younger children.

The hike is steep and somewhat strenuous, but the view from the top is worth it. My son felt such a sense of accomplishment after completing such a physical feat, and we were proud of him for pushing his limits.

We made a quick stop at Hato Caves before heading to the airport on our departure day. We didn’t have time to go into the caves before our flight (or maybe I just wanted an excuse to return), so we opted for the self-guided walking tour of the park’s flora and fauna, as well as its cave carvings done by the Caquetio people more than 1,500 years ago.

Drinks and dining

As a Dutch Caribbean island with a diverse history, Curaçao’s cuisine blends a multitude of flavors to create dishes I haven’t tried anywhere else in the world. The list of must-try restaurants and roadside snack stands is entirely too long to list here, but a few of my favorites include:

Brunch on the beach: If you want to sip a smoothie and take bites of an omelet in between dips in the ocean, head for Zanzibar Beach & Restaurant at Jan Thiel Beach. The servers delivered our breakfast directly to our chairs, so the kids didn’t even have to leave the beach to eat.

Craft beers with views of the Handelskade waterfront: The Swinging Old Lady Brewery sits directly across from the Handelskade waterfront, and the views are just as good as the beer and food. My husband and I sampled the local brews, and we all enjoyed the elevated pub grub.

Family-friendly beachfront dining: Located in the Pietermaai district of Willemstad, De Heeren at Sea is more than just a beachfront restaurant. You can spend the whole day swimming, relaxing in a waterfront lounger or exploring the playground. We opted for a midday meal and drinks, choosing multiple dishes to share from the menu of European- and Asian-inspired fare.

Coffee and croissants: One of the best things about staying at the Renaissance was having the Rif Fort restaurants right at our doorstep. One morning, we skipped the hotel breakfast and walked to Douwe Egberts Cafe for an alfresco meal of smoothies, croissants and coffee, plus a traditional Dutch breakfast.

Bottom line

Curaçao has some of the most beautiful beaches and crystal clear water I’ve seen — but what stood out most was how much there was for our entire family to do together. Whether summiting its highest peak or exploring under the ocean, my entire family had eye-opening, life-changing experiences during our time in Curaçao.

And, to me, that is what travel is all about — pushing your boundaries and expanding your understanding of the world around you.

It’s easy to see why the only choice for me when it comes to Curaçao is to love it. In fact, I’m already keeping a mental list of the things we haven’t seen or done so we can go back.

Click here to start planning your own visit and explore more itineraries, experiences and travel tips.