Island Time in Curaçao: Beaches, Food & Local Color

Have a leisurely beachside breakfast at the resort. Start the day with coffee (and mimosas) before laying on the beach or by the pool. Chat with other travelers, read, laugh, and dance when the music comes on!

Rent a car from a local operator and take each day as you please. Driving in Curaçao is very polite and relaxed. Stay calm, follow the flow of traffic, and you’ll be fine! Google the signage if you need, but it’s pretty self-explanatory.

Beach hop for a day and meet as many locals as you can! Playa Kalki, Grote Knip, Playa Kenepa Chiki, Playa Zjeremi, Playa Lagun, Cas Abao Beach, and Daabooi Baai are a few that we visited to sunbathe or snorkel. Some charge an entry fee, while others are free, but you can pay to rent a lounge chair.

Rent a chair for the day and snorkel or dive at Tug Boat Beach. This unassuming place is a little hard to find, let alone believe! Once there, you can follow Jaime’s Treasure Map for hours of underwater exploration. When you’re done or just want a break, relax in your chair in the sun or the shade with a drink and a good book.

Visit Shete Boka National Park, and see Boka Wandomi, Boka Tabla, and Boka Pistol. There are some amazing shorelines, caves, trails, and rock formations. Bring your water—it gets hot out here! Then drive south to watch the kite surfers at Sint Jorisbaai, or even try it out for yourself.

Take a luxury catamaran out to Klein Curaçao (Little Curaçao). Roam the uninhabited island and snap some photos of the abandoned lighthouse and shipwreck. Swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and enjoy an amazing lunch onboard the yacht and hang with the crew.

Have a night (or three) out at Mambo Beach and dance at one of the many beach clubs. Make some new friends, eat, drink (or not), and dance the night away!

Take a free walking tour of Downtown Willemstad (Otrabanda, Punda, and Pietermaai) to learn the history of the island, its people, and the different neighborhoods. Once finished, roam on your own, have an amazing meal at one of the many incredible restaurants in Pietermaai, and see the Queen Emma Bridge open for ships.

Isabelle Off the Beach in Westpunt stuns in its elegant simplicity. This beautiful restaurant is tiny but mighty, with a small team cooking up some delicious local fish, burgers, and more. We showed up for lunch, right at noon on a Friday, and it was spectacular. Take a ride out to see them—you will not be disappointed!

We celebrated Mother’s Day at Fort Nassau Restaurant with beautiful 360-degree views of Curaçao. An 18th-century fort hosts this casual fine-dining restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner with style and grace. Choose from either an à la carte menu or the chef’s tasting menu, which changes every few months.

Soi95 is a divine Asian-fusion Thai restaurant and is a must-try! Sitting in the air-conditioned restaurant or on their stunning rooftop terrace overlooking Penstraat, you can enjoy innovative shareable plates and clever cocktails. With the impeccable service and gorgeous atmosphere, this is an experience you won’t forget.

We casually strolled up to Mi Familia Ristorante on a Thursday night after our walking tour. They made space for us at a long family-style picnic table outside, where we shared a handmade pizza, beer, and family-made limoncello! Its location, Pietermaai Plein, is a busy and loud stretch of restaurants, bars, live music, and people everywhere; it’s so fun!

A great time is to be had at the Friday (and Sunday) night dance party at Wet & Wild Beach Club. The staff are energetic and personable and play hard while working harder! The DJs played a great mix of music and there were partygoers of all ages. Show up between 8 and 9 pm for happy hour before the party really kicks off!