Upon entering Curacao, don't be surprised to hear people saying "Bonbini" to you! This means "Welcome" in the language called Papiamento, which is a mixture of the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, and Arawak Indian languages. The largest island of the Netherlands Antilles is full of exciting activities and interesting sights like the many markets, coral reefs, underground and underwater caves, golden beaches, remarkable fishing, championship golf, and exuberant nightlife. The island's gentle, leisurely lifestyle and storybook towns lend a touch of its Dutch roots to this tropica ... More
Feel like you are staying on a lush private plantation and enjoy the attentive service, deluxe rooms, fine cuisine and sizzling nightlife, which are the claims to fame of this resort. Set on a private beach, enjoy water sports by day and spend your evenings indulging in the Emerald Lounge for cocktails and tapas then head to the Emerald Casino.
Hotelkurahulanda is a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of the Dutch Colonial center of Willemstad, Curacao. It's all yours, right here, alive with art, culture, and history!
Set amidst the color and beauty of the historic Dutch Caribbean city of Willemstad is the all-new Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino. Built within and around the fascinating Rif Fort, a 19th century landmark designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. With a variety of boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants, including the open-air boulevard of Renaissance Mall, the shopping and entertainment options at Renaissance Curaçao are nearly endless. Exclusively for guests, the Infinity Beach Club is Renaissance Curaçao’s centerpiece to the sun. It features an elevated beach experience, infinity pool, spa cabanas, sweeping views and a beachside bar & grill. At night, the pulsing Carnaval Casino is not to be missed.
Contemporary luxury resort in a historic setting, 2 private beaches – This beachfront resort is located in a historical suburb of Willemstad, the capital city yet it is an oasis of tranquility and relaxation. A perfect reflection of feeling at home. You’ll enjoy new or remodeled rooms as well as an infinity pool, brand new spa and wellness center, shopping, live entertainment, 3 bars and 4 fine dining venues. Guest rooms are modern and all have private balconies, some with spectacular views of the sea.
On the western coast of Curacao, this quaint hotel offers solitude and luxury in a tranquil beachfront setting. Accommodations are lavishly appointed, and most have fitted kitchens.
Floris Suite Hotel is a 72-unit all-suite resort hotel located on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, with comfort and luxury that comes together to create a unique atmosphere.
This elegant resort is set right on the beach in Piscadera Bay on the south coast of Curacao, near the historical and cultural capital of the island. Enjoy diving, dining, nightlife, a casino & more.
Guests at this all-villa property have access to a private nearby white-sand beach, two swimming pools, gym, tennis courts, and an array of land and water activities. A kids' club entertains young travelers, and everyone enjoys dinner with an ocean view.
Super-Inclusive® mid-rise on the beach, with energetic atmosphere – Located off the coast of Venezuela, the first Super-Inclusive® destination in the southern Caribbean boasts the most extensive activities schedule of any resort on the island, and it caters equally to couples, singles, and families. The sprawling property opens onto a 1,500-foot stretch of white sand and calm turquoise water.
At the Papagayo Beach Resort you can be rest assured that you shall want for nothing, this hotel is best described as pure luxury and service with colonial style villa bungalows.
Upon entering Curacao, don't be surprised to hear people saying "Bonbini" to you! This means "Welcome" in the language called Papiamento, which is a mixture of the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, and Arawak Indian languages. The largest island of the Netherlands Antilles is full of exciting activities and interesting sights like the many markets, coral reefs, underground and underwater caves, golden beaches, remarkable fishing, championship golf, and exuberant nightlife. The island's gentle, leisurely lifestyle and storybook towns lend a touch of its Dutch roots to this tropical retreat. Discovered in 1499 by a lieutenant of Columbus, it was declared useless because there was no gold. By 1634, the natives were conquered by the Dutch, who used its excellent harbors for military exercises.
Today, leisure boats fill the waters, and the idyllic climate and landscape are their own kind of gold. The 19th-century plantations now welcome visitors as inns, museums,and restaurants. The miles of golden beaches and palm trees, the Dutch ambience of the capital Willemsted, the sounds of soca, meringue, and tambu music, and the cultural festivals give Curacao a dual personality of Caribbean zest mixed with European style.
New York City 5.5 hrs
Miami 3 hrs
Philadelphia 5 hrs
Boston 6 hrs
Los Angeles 8 hrs
Chicago 6 hrs
Dallas/Fort Worth 7 hrs
San Francisco 8.5 hrs
Willemsted: A gorgeous city full of charm and grace, Willemsted can be characterized best by the architecture, which is a tropical adaptation of 17th-century Netherlands. Visitors are charmed by the windmills, which still serve the residents as their source of electricity. The city is divided by the Caribbean's largest bay, St. Anna Bay, which splits Willemsted into the 2 areas known as Punda and Otrabanda.
Punda: The oldest part of the city is located on the eastern side of St. Anna Bay. One of the main attractions here is the Floating Market, where merchants sell their wares and food from schooners lining the canals. Many other markets, as well as museums and government buildings, are located in Punda.
Otrabanda: Located on the western side of St. Anna Bay, Otrabanda contains some of the city's oldest buildings. Its streets rise from the waterfront and lend an Old World charm to this part of the city.
Christoffel National Park: If you love wildlife, this park in the northwest portion of the island is going to be your favorite. From geckos and iguanas, to Curacaon deer and goats, there are many free-roaming animals to encounter.
Curacao is the largest Island of the Netherlands Antilles, measuring 37 miles long by 7 miles across, and located 35 miles north of Venezuela. It has a semi-arid environment akin to the American Southwest. As a result, the dominant plants are several species of cactus, aloe plants, and the divi-divi, which is the national tree. Beaches dominate the coastline, except in some northern and southern sections, which have limestone terraces instead. Mangrove trees line the northern and southern coasts.
Its location south of the hurricane belt of the Caribbean works in Curacao's favor, giving it an almost unbroken climate of dry, sunny weather with temperatures ranging from 75°-85° year-round. What qualifies as the rainy season comes during November and December, though the strong showers are usually brief. Days are hot, though trade winds moderate the heat, and nights can be comparatively chilly for the tropics, averaging in the low 70° range.
Because of the sparse rain, and lots of sun, any time is a good time to visit Curacao. Carnival lasts from January through March, and as it's the island's "national party," very popular among tourists. Winter is the high season, with northerners escaping the snow. Spring and fall are the least crowded seasons.
Curacao is known for its European style, nearly perpetual sun, and affordability.
The coral reefs are an attraction for scuba divers and snorkelers from all over the world.
The island has a laid-back ambience mixed with a natural Caribbean ebullience.
Island Tour: A good way to begin sightseeing is to take one or more of several "orientation tours" to familiarize yourself with Willemsted and various other points of interest, so you can better plan your activities around what interests you most!
Hato Caves: Located on the eastern side, this is one of the most intriguing sites on the island. Interconnected underground caves display an otherworldliness of stalactites, stalagmites, and ancient native petroglyphs. These caves were formed from the receding waters of the coral reefs and are situated atop high limestone terraces.
Curacao Seaquarium: If you aren't a diver or snorkeler, you can still check out more than 400 species of underwater creatures housed in a natural environment. A special feature of the Seaquarium is the hands-on "Shark and Animal Encounter," where you can swim with the animals!
Christoffel Park: A thrill for nature lovers, this 4,500-acre preserve is set on the island's highest point and is filled with hiking trails winding through fields of rare flowers and trees. It also passes near wild goat and bird habitats that you can better explore with an expert guide if you prefer.
Land & Water Sports: Curacao offers a vast array of recreational activities, including golf, tennis, horseback riding, windsurfing, water-skiing, sailing, and deep-sea fishing. With the abundance of sun and beach, of course, many visitors enjoy just relaxing and sipping a tropical drink by the sea!
Seaworld Explorer: Take a tour of submerged wrecks and coral reefs aboard a submarine that provides unparalleled underwater views.
Floating Market: Every visitor can find a little something to take home as a memento of Curacao at this bustling market full of Venezuelan, Colombian, and island schooners in the canals. The wares are sold right out of the boats, making this one of the most unique shopping experiences in the world!
Curacao Liqueur Distillery: Enjoy a free snifter of the liqueur that made the island famous. Open daily, this is your chance to taste the sweet drink at its source.
Scuba Diving: This is one of the best dive centers on Earth, with over 100 excellent sites. Curacao affords experienced and inexperienced divers alike an extraordinary collection of sights. Snorkelers, of course, also have a fantastic experience.
Curacao Museum: Housed in a 19th-century sailors' hospital, this museum exhibits early 20th-century Dutch paintings, antique furniture, antique maps detailing the history of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao), and some native art. Other museums displaying art and classic European craftsmanship are worth a visit, and most are located in and around Willemsted.
Mikve¢ Israel-Emanuel Synagogue: Built in 1732, this is the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. It is home to the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum, which displays antique and religious artifacts donated by families from around the world.
Protestant Church Fortkerk: As a "parting gift" from his 26-day siege of the island in 1804, Captain William Bligh (of HMS Bounty fame) left a cannonball permanently embedded in the wall of this church. Active since 1635, the church contains a museum and is noted for its ancient silver chalices.
Forts: In order to protect the harbors from pirates in the 1800s, the Rif and Water Forts were constructed. Walk along the ruined walls of the old Rif guardhouse, or dine in one of the restaurants in its vaults. On the other side of St. Anna Bay, the ruins of Water Fort have been remade into bars, restaurants, and shops.
Curacao offers a large selection of international restaurants, including French, Italian, and American Continental. Traditional Dutch cooking is popular, utilizing the bountiful fresh seafood and many cheeses. Criollo is the authentic Creole style of cooking which is accented by its spicy flavors. As the Papiamentos say, "E kuminda ta dushi," meaning "the food is great!"
Gourmet
Blues: This restaurant treats you to a panoramic view of the Caribbean sunset and rich, creative recipes served in a dining room atop a pier. Specialties range from fresh seafood of many varieties, to lamb and chicken dishes, all in large portions. Penstraat
Astrolab Observatory Restaurant: Named for the world-class collection of astrolabes, sextants, and other scientific memorabilia on display in the dining room, this AAA 4-Diamond Award-winning restaurant serves contemporary continental gourmet cuisine both indoors and out. Replete with sumptuous teak furniture and pink marble flooring, the room is decorated in German Art Nouveau style. The menu focuses on seafood and beef, with dishes like herb-crusted rack of lamb, oven-roasted Caribbean Reef langouste, and grilled Chilean sea bass. There is an extensive wine selection; it is also served by the glass. Langestraat 8, Willemstad
Highly Recommended
Da Taveerne: This French restaurant, featuring an exhibit of local Curacaos artists, is located in a brick building built by an exiled Venezuelan revolutionary. The chef specializes in seafood such as monkfish, fresh oysters, lobster, and salmon, as well as a rack of lamb in a ratatouille sauce. Silena
Fort Nassau: Innovative Caribbean and European seafood are the specialties at this authentic 18th-century stone fort-turned-restaurant, perched high on a cliff with a commanding 360-degree view of Curacao and Piscadera Bay. Grilled prime tenderloin with a Cabernet Sauvignon sauce, caramelized fresh fillet of salmon with spicy sauce, and grilled shrimp salad with orange vinaigrette are among the favorites here. Fort Nassau (near Point Juliana), Willemstad
Local Flair
Golden Star: This eatery is popular with locals and tourists for the unbeatable Criollo (Creole) cooking. Almost like a roadside diner, it features traditional recipes based on seafood, beef, goat, lamb, and homegrown vegetables. Socratesstraat
Old Market: Noise, crowds, family-style seating, good eats -- follow the locals to this downtown Willemstad landmark for authentic Curacaoan dishes like cactus soup, gumbo, and cucumber stew, all ladled out of gargantuan pots in generous portions. The prices can't be beat at this fun lunch-only cafeteria, located just behind the post office. Breede Straat (Punda), Willemstad
Romantic
Fort Waakzaamheid Bistro: On thesite of the former Rif Fort, this restaurant has a splendid view of Otrabanda and the harbor entrance. Arriving in time for the sunset will reward you with one of the most beautiful dining scenes in the Caribbean, perfected with a menu of flawlessly prepared international dishes. Otrabanda
Bistro Le Clochard: Set in the beautiful, old stone-vaulted 19th-century Fort Rif at the gateway to the harbor, this eatery looks out over Fort Amsterdam, Willemstad, and the arriving and departing ships. There is a covered terrace for outdoor dining. The accent is on French, Swiss, and international delicacies, including classic Swiss fondue, roast rack of lamb, and Parmesan-crusted red snapper. Reservations recommended. Riffort Otrobanda, Willemstad
Every night club, bar, hotel, casino, and restaurant has a Happy Hour with tropical drinks and Criollean food. The nightlife in and around Willemsted includes a few dance clubs, which focus on soca, meringue, reggae, and salsa music.
Club Façade: This club features 3 dance floors, a huge bar, and live music in a modern building.
Studio 99: The most exciting dance club in Curacao has a jungle decor complete with coconut palms. The blue Curacao liqueur flows fast, and the party never lets up!
Casinos: Try your hand at blackjack, roulette, or just a simple one-arm bandit at one of the many casinos that stay open until 4:00am.
Carnival: By far the grandest and most exciting event on Curacao is Carnival. For 3 frenetic days, locals and visitors wear outrageous outfits and dance through the streets of Otrabanda and Punda. Easter Monday
Curacao Jazz Festival: A mellow event enjoyed by all, this series of shows features many local and internationally renowned jazz artists who create an unforgettable musical and social event. Past performers have included George Benson, Al Jarreau, Spyro Gyra, and Dave Brubeck. October
Regatta Shmatta: Competitors of all kinds with vessels of all kinds get together for this fun event to celebrate the end of the year. December
Wear lightweight, natural fabrics year-round, but bring a light jacket for winter nights. Locals tend to dress nicely for a night on the town, and some restaurants and casinos even require jackets for men. Hikes through national parks are best with long pants and hiking boots to shield your skin from cacti and rash-inducing plants.
We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.
Gambling/Drinking: You must be 18 years or older to gamble and/or drink.
Sunburn & Heatstroke: The tropical sun can be harsh, especially in summer, so wear plenty of sunblock and a hat, and drink lots of water.
Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands Antilles. English, Spanish, and French are spoken by most of the locals. The most common language, however, is the native dialect Papiamento, which is a hybrid language derived from Spanish, French, English, Dutch, and Arawak Indian.
The electricity rating is 110-130 volts/50 cycles -- similar, but not identical, to the US. Most of your appliances will work, but the discrepancy can cause problems like overheating and poor timekeeping, so an adapter is advisable.
Entry: You'll need a valid passport or proof of citizenship, like a birth certificate with a raised seal, and a government-issued photo ID, as well as an onward or returning ticket.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Curacao Customs: Adult visitors 18 years of age and older may bring into the country up to 2 litres of liquor, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 250 grams of tobacco as well as any personal items.
Departure Tax: Upon leaving Curacao, a $20.00 departure tax is levied.
US Customs: You can return to the US with $400 worth of duty-free merchandise. This may include 1 liter of alcohol, 5 cartons of cigarettes, and 100 cigars. The importation of Cuban tobacco products is strictly prohibited and punishable by heavy fines and/or criminal prosecution.
Curacao Tourist Board: 19 Pietermaai, PO Box 3266, Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, phone 011-599-9-434-8200, fax 011-599-9-461-2305, email info@ctdb.net
Florida: 7951 SW 6 Street, #216, Plantation, FL 33324, phone 1-800-328-7222 toll free in USA, email jbgrossman@aol.com