Top Things to do in Curacao
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Top 10 Things to do in Curacao, Curacao
Serious divers have long flocked to Curacao. Whether you’re looking for a challenging wall dive or a shallow snorkeling spot, you’ll find it here. Beaches, of course, are another big draw. With sugar-fine sand and calm waters, they’re perfect for kids. And make sure to explore Willemstad, Curacao’s capital city. Its charming pastel buildings and equally colorful history earned it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Restaurants in Curacao
1. Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,724 reviews
Swings wide many times daily to allow access to one of the busiest ports in the world. It also separates the two halves of the city.
Reviewed By tsobis - King of Prussia, United States
Queen Emma bridge, popularly known as the “Swinging Old Lady”, is a pedestrian pontoon bridge on the St. Anna bay that opens laterally for passage of ships and boats. It connects the two halves of the capital city Willemstad, Punda and Otrobanda. It’s a major thoroughfare for local pedestrians and tourists alike and has breathtaking instagrammable views from any angle on the bridge. Oops! Stuck on the bridge while it opens? Just enjoy the views and wave at the people on the ship. It’ll close up shortly. If you happen to want to cross while its open, don’t worry there are water taxi’s that will get you across the bay for FREE! Wanna stunt on the gram with minimal photo bombers? Go at sunrise, preferably on a Sunday; the views against the sunrise is phenomenal. The early rise is well worth it - the bridge has amazing backdrops from every angle! You can thank me later!
2. Klein (Little) Curacao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,342 reviews
The beach here is excellent, with fine, white powder sand and clear water.
Reviewed By ashleyinthesky - Los Angeles, United States
Went to Klein Curacao on day trip with Irie Tours (Bounty Adventures). Took about 1.5 hours to reach the island by catamaran. Island features beautiful beaches with white sand, an abandoned lighthouse, and two ship wrecks (well, one ship and one small boat) on the East side of the island. Light house was ~15 minute walk from the beach and shipwrecks were additional ~15. Walk over early in the day as it gets hotter in the afternoons. Island has no permanent human residents but the biggest hermit crab population we have ever encountered. We spent some time snorkeling near the beach. Saw a sea turtle, many fish, and the head of a dead barracuda (sea turtle and fish were helping themselves). No services available on island (seriously, none), so make sure to come with a day tour or bring everything you need for the day.
3. Dolphin Academy Curacao
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,658 reviews
Dolphin Academy offers fun and educational intimate experiences with Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins in a natural saltwater lagoon and the open sea. Different experiences and courses are available for all ages.
4. Punda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,407 reviews
Fall in love with the historic neighborhood Punda. Streets that are full of life and colors; fantastic murals and colorful building all over the town. Punda is the location of the world famous Handelskade: the waterfront collection of multi-colored buildings that has become Curaçao’s most characteristic image. But there is so much more to discover!
Reviewed By ReginaL872 - Corpus Christi, United States
Punda offers the old & new markets shopping,dining and easy access to the rest of the island. I highly recommend the Punda Apartments. Do shop the local markets and eat the fresh and homemade food at the old market. Walking the neighborhood you will find great little places to shop and people to talk to.
5. Cas Abao Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,495 reviews
Reviewed By gregc715
This is in top 10 beaches in Curacao. Nice amenities, lots of parking, lots of chairs and shade, shade both many trees as well as huts, bathrooms, shower, a restaurant, drinks and a dive shop. There are some kayaks to rent. Snorkeling is ok as in all of Curacao abundance fish life, but the actual coral and soft reefs are dead above 30’ and you can’t see coral past 20’ snorkeling. So go diving! There is a $6 entrance fee, but chairs are only $3 each
6. Playa PortoMari
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,623 reviews
Reviewed By F7992UHcarmer - Barcelona, Spain
Ok, this might not be the prettiest beach on the island, but is definitely the best! The beach is clean, has all the services, the managers are very friendly, their restaurant offers surprisingly good food (not cheap though) AND they have "native" inhabitants... a couple of very friendly wild pigs, Willy & Woody, who have just became parents to at least 5 cute little piggies.
7. Shete Boka National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,311 reviews
Reviewed By UniversalTraversal - Oakville, Canada
The Shete Boka National Park contains several viewing areas with different attractions. My two personal favourites were the cave near the entrance - you can see huge waves coming directly towards you (though they always break before they hit the platform) and the Boka Pistol, a nook in a cliff where waves collide and spray upwards. There were even a small herd of goats following me around at one point! Be sure to wear shoes with thick soles - my shoes had fairly thin soles and the path to the Pistol has a lot of thorns on the floor and... yeah, that was painful. The Christoffel National Park is only a 5 min drive away and you can do both in one day if you're quick to move. Do Christoffel in the
8. Kenepa Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,918 reviews
Inlet on the less-developed western side of the island.
Reviewed By 8-drank-was-merry - Naples, United States
It is one of the top rated beaches in the Caribbean for a reason. Just a note. Because of the mix of cultures and languages, many of the beaches have more than one name. There are two Kenepa beaches, the larger is Playa Kenepa Grandi or Grote Knip and the smaller more rustic beach is Playa Kenepa Chiki or Klein Knip. Grote Knip is a relatively large, nice sandy beach with great snorkeling and cliff jumping. Although the cliff jumping at Playa Forti is probably better. At least for cliff jumping. Admission is free, and lounge chairs, umbrellas, snorkeling equipment, kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent. Overall, we enjoyed Play Porto Mari more, but this is an amazing beach, as well.
9. Curacao Sea Aquarium
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,708 reviews
The Curaçao Sea Aquarium belongs to one of the most unique aquaria in the world. The reason being that, from the very beginning of the aquarium in 1984, the Sea Aquarium managed to create natural habitats for all its marine creatures without using sophisticated technical equipment. Due to an open-watersystem all the aquaria are in immediate contact with the open sea. It is this advanced pump system that continuously pumps fresh seawater directly in all the aquaria. Openings in the roof allow natural sunlight to fall directly on the aquaria, so there is no need to use artificial light sources. The combination of the open-watersystem and the natural sunlight create the natural circumstances that are needed to replicate the underwater world outside the aquarium. Everything in the aquaria, from the fish and corals to the sand on the bottom of the exhibition tanks, originates from the seas surrounding the island of Curaçao. Nothing in the displays is artificial, everything is 100% real. The same conditions apply to the lagoons in which the dolphins, sealions, sharks, rays and turtles are kept. The only thing that separates these lagoons from the open ocean are breakwaters built out of big rock boulders and an occasional fence, allowing fresh seawater to freely flow through all the lagoons. The Curaçao Sea Aquarium operates according to the principle that all animals need to be kept in circumstances that as much as possible mimic their natural living conditions. This goal is accomplished by employing all the available natural sources and resources surrounding the aquarium.
Reviewed By AmyH818 - Greensboro, United States
We enjoyed this experience in Curacao on a cloudy day. We enjoyed the dry land dolphin experience, feeding sharks, dolphin show, flamingo feeding, sea lion show, etc. Seeing animals in ocean habitats was fantastic.
10. Mambo Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,282 reviews
Reviewed By 341stacyg
This is a busy beach but it's large and can accommodate the visitors. We showed up at noon and had no issue finding a chair. Lots of shops and restaurants and free entry. The beach is sandy and protected by a breakwater so it's very calm. It gets deep quite quick. We didn't shop but ate at one restaurant. A tip, when considering the price of chair rental, the maderno beach bar charges $20 for a chair by the pool with access to the pool of course. It comes with water and watermelon. It's a relatively modest price for a luxurious experience.
