Turquoise waters, delicious seafood, colorful snorkeling and white sand: There are a lot of places in the Caribbean that have all these wonderful things, but Curaçao is one place you might not have discovered. Sandwiched between Aruba and Bonaire, and a short boat ride from the Venezuelan coast, Curaçao is bigger than its island neighbors and packed with memorable treasures for enterprising travelers to discover. Of the Dutch West Indies, Curaçao may very well be the most Dutch; the island’s capital, Willemstad, looks like a colorful mini Amsterdam, and Curaçao’s currency is the guilder, the former currency of the Netherlands (though United States dollars are readily accepted across the island). Restaurant menus often feature both bitterballen (fried Dutch meatballs) and kabritu stoba (Antillean goat stew), and when the Dutch soccer teams play, the bars are packed with orange shirts drinking Heineken and speaking Papiamento, the local language. Amid this blended culture is a beach hopper’s dream, and the best way to enjoy everything the island offers is by renting a car and roaming the island’s roads until you find the perfect blue cove.
Friday
1) 12 p.m. Arepas and smoothies
Nestled on a central street in Punda, Willemstad’s old town, is La Bohème Curaçao, a cafe that appeals to travelers for its smoothies and strong coffee. Grab a seat outside where vendors stroll by with handicrafts and fruit, and recharge with some vitamin-packed drinks like “The Hulk,” a green smoothie packed with broccoli and celery that somehow tastes like sherbet. Don’t forget to also get an arepa: the chicken curry ones are especially tasty. Lunch for two, $25.
36 Hours in Curaçao
2) 1 p.m. Exploring Old Town
One of the best ways to get started in Curaçao is by wandering Punda’s tight alleyways full of shops and art galleries. Drop into Nena Sanchez’s gallery to check out the local artist’s bright canvases of colorful fish and tropical flowers. Stop by Senior & Co. for a sample of their blue Curaçao liqueur, made from the peels of Curaçao’s laraha oranges. Keep your balance as you walk over the scenic Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge — a floating bridge that swings open to let ships pass — to the other side of Willemstad, called Otrobanda. And finally, gaze back across the water at Handelskade, the colorful strip of colonial Dutch buildings that offer Curaçao’s classic postcard shot.
3) 3:30 p.m. Looking back
To understand the blend of cultures in Curaçao, you’ll need to first understand the history of slavery in the Caribbean. Find out about that and more at the small Kura Hulanda Museum in Otrobanda, close to the harbor where the Dutch once traded slaves. The exhibition, spread across 15 structures, walks visitors through a slave’s journey from Africa to the big port of Curaçao, where Dutch businessmen in the Dutch West Indies Company traded slaves, alongside spices and cheese, with the Spanish, Portuguese, French and other plantation owners. The museum is considered one of the most complete exhibitions on the Caribbean slave trade in the region. Museum entry, $10.
4) 5 p.m. Toes in the sand
Ready to get close to the water? For a low-key and beautiful sundowner, head to Pirate Bay, an open-air bar set on a fisherman’s bay in Otrobanda. Call ahead to reserve a table closest to the water. And come in your swimsuit; once you’ve tasted your first Curaçao-spiked bright blue tropical drink (try the Blue Lagoon) and snacked on lightly fried lionfish (an invasive species in the Caribbean), take a dip in the clear waters of the bay as the sunset reflects off its surface. Snacks for two, $20.
5) 9 p.m. Crafty cocktails and ceviche
Walk past the hungry tourists waiting for a table at Mosa and duck into the restaurant’s sister establishment, the dimly-lit, grotto-like Caña Bar and Kitchen, where locals and a few knowing tourists crowd the bar, and where you’re bound to rub shoulders with a new friend by your second round of drinks. Speedy (and handsome) Dutch bartenders craft smart tropical cocktails from passion fruit, basil and other fresh ingredients. The ceviche and ribs are not to be missed. Dinner for two, $50.
Saturday
6) 9:30 a.m. Brunch with a view
The most beautiful beaches on Curaçao are on the northwest end of the island, in Sabana Westpunt. Make your way north, through the cactus-dotted landscape, and along the way, stop by Landhuis Klein Santa Martha. This 17th-century manor on a hill is a well-restored model of Curaçao’s historic landhuis, or Dutch colonial country houses. They host overnight guests, but also serve anyone healthy meals with a vast view over the Santa Martha bay and its hills. On its open sun deck beside the plunge pool, enjoy the apple crostini or a focaccia breakfast sandwich with your mint tea. Brunch for two, $45.
7) 11 a.m. Beach hopping
The best way to enjoy this stunning region is to rent a car and go beach hopping. Although most beaches have a chair rental option, few have much else in terms of facilities, so consider packing a cooler with water and snacks, and don’t forget your goggles and snorkel. Start with two of the most popular beaches, Playa Porto Mari and Cas Abao, both peaceful inlets with a good amount of space for sunbathers to spread out and the occasional palapa. Next, visit Playa Lagun, nestled between tall cliffs with good snorkeling. Then drive over to Kleine Knip, being sure to snorkel where the cliffs meet the sea, and where sea turtles like to swim. Save plenty of time for Grote Knip (also called Kenepa), perhaps the most scenic and calm beach on the island, with bright, implausibly blue waters the color of the liqueur the island is famous for. Finish your beach hopping with a snack of funchi (polenta) fries and fresh lemonade at Restaurant Playa Forti, where you can watch daredevils jump off a cliff into the sea.
8) 6:30 p.m. Underwater psychedelics
The instructors at Ocean Encounters dive shop are ready and waiting to blow your mind with a night scuba dive using fluorescent (rather than white) lights, which make the already beautiful reefs of Curaçao glow with astonishing patterns. Look out for eels’ eyes peeking out from coral castles, and watch the glowing green tentacles of a sea anemone wriggle in the tide. You can arrange a private tour or go with a group. A two-hour, one-tank night dive, with all equipment included, costs $80 per person.
9) 9 p.m. Supper in the city
Starving from your dive? Head to one of the hippest places for dinner in Curaçao: Kome. This two-story spot in Pietermaai, known for using local ingredients, offers stiff drinks and big servings. Snag one of the tables on the patio or climb up to a perch beneath the soaring rafters, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the busy bar. Sample the roasted vegetable plate, or go for the rib-eye with chimichurri sauce. Don’t miss the homemade hot sauce. Dinner for two, $50.
10) 10:30 p.m. Late night people-watching
Stroll through the Dutch fairy tale old town of Pietermaai, filled with alleyways criss-crossed with strings of lights and brothels-turned-boutiques. Duck into the world of Mundo Bizarro, an eclectic bar full of cushy used furniture and cozy corners. Pick one of the couches in the alleyway, or set up at a picnic table on the lush balcony to enjoy some cocktails, along with live music and people-watching.
Sunday
11) 10 a.m. Breakfast on the farm
One of the most exciting culinary projects in Curaçao today is the Hofi Cas Cora farm, inland from Willemstad. On weekends the bright red urban farmhouse opens its on-site restaurant, a small, open-air cafe with picnic benches that catch the trade winds. The cuisine focuses on local, sustainable produce. Take your time exploring the farm, with everything from papaya trees to baby peacocks, before trying the house salad packed with fresh-picked greens or the sweet potato moussaka. Brunch for two, $30.
12) 12 p.m. A date with nature
Feel the brutal, wild power of the sea by visiting Shete Boka National Park, where waves funnel into volcanic rock, carving out caves and bokas (inlets), and blasting up into the air in spouts that are both frightening and thrilling. You can drive around the park, but hiking one of the park’s routes is the best way to really immerse yourself in nature’s glory. Entry $10 per person.
Lodging
Most lodging options in Curaçao are focused around Willemstad, the island’s capital city, and in particular, the city’s buzzing Pietermaai district. Short-term rentals, however, are scattered across the island, and private apartments with an ocean view can be found for $80 a night and up. Most hotel rates on the island are listed in dollars, but it is always good to double-check.
Pietermaai is crammed with charming boutique hotels, beckoning Instagram lovers with chic white furniture, purple-lit pools, and tropical foliage. But the one that stands out for both ease and sophistication is the Saint Tropez Ocean Club. The long infinity pool looks out onto the rough waves of this part of the island, and shaded white sun beds make for the perfect perch to request another glass of cold white wine. A standard room costs around $125, but a splurge for a better room might be worth it in this case: a $225 suite comes with a large balcony and a view of the water directly below. (Pietermaai 152, Willemstad; 599 9 461 7727; from $125).
If a honeymoon vibe is what you’re after, or if you simply want to experience full-blown relaxation, the Baoase Luxury Resort is your spot. This exclusive, discrete resort (no photos allowed) consists of a series of bungalows set around a private lagoon, whose waters are protected from the waves by a rock outcropping dotted with deluxe beach chairs. The “beach butlers” are at your service, and kayaks and snorkel gear are freely available. If you don’t want to stay the night, day passes are available for $50. (2 Winterswijkstraat, Willemstad; from $575).
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