ever heard of curacao? me neither until we booked our flights in to this small dutch island. i’m sharing the ultimate guide to visiting curacao to tell you what you need to know about your next favorite vacation.
part of the abc islands (aruba and bonaire are its sisters) curacao isn’t your typical island. it’s a desert. this means you’ll see more cacti than palm trees (they’re imported) and locals eat more iguanas than seafood. yep, i said it — iquanas.
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what curacao lacks in tropical feels, it gains in so many ways. here are the best parts of the island:
- the people. warm spirits and big smiles describe the island natives. from our stay at scuba lodge boutique hotel and ocean suites to our trip to klein beach with klein curacao boat trips, our hosts went above and beyond.
- the water. curacao is a famous spot for scuba diving. i’m not the best swimmer and deep water scares me. nonetheless, i couldn’t pass up snorkeling for the first time with scuba lodge’s dive center. i saw schools of fish and sea turtles just chilling underwater. wow.
- the language. curacao is a dutch island located in the caribbean. this means it has lots of influences and dutch, spanish and english are all widely spoken. so no need to pull out your rosetta stone before boarding your flight.
- the weather. visiting curacao during the winter means mild temperatures and low humidity. the weather was perfect during our stay, and it never got super hot or cool. the average temperature during the day was 80 degrees and around 70 at night.
i’m a realist and couldn’t write this post without being honest about all aspects of the island. keep reading for some simple challenges we experienced during the stay.
- the food. typically food is one of the best experiences of my vacations. unfortunately, it wasn’t the greatest in curacao. most restaurants near hotels serve things like pizza and pasta. plus, i wasn’t pressed to try the national staples like cactus and iguana. i hear the local market serves great national cuisine, but it’s only open during lunch hours.
- the transportation. curacao is small so of course uber and lyft aren’t transportation options, and taxis can get expensive. renting a car is probably the best option for getting around.
- the luxury. don’t visit curacao prepared to experience five-star luxury in the way we define it in the united states or europe. hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc. will be comfortable, but far from luxurious. we didn’t miss it though — the views and vibe make up for it.
now that you know what to expect, let me share the best part.
where to stay and what to do in curacao:
- scuba lodge & ocean suites: our home away from home was a colorful boutique hotel in willemstad. it’s a short walk to downtown and surrounded by restaurants and bars. our first room needed some tlc, but when we switched it was much better. much love to the staff who took the time to pack and move our things for us! pro tip: enjoy breakfast overlooking the ocean at least once during your stay.
- diving and snorkeling: curacao is known for it’s marine life, and it’s a hot spot for divers. we joined scuba lodge’s dive center and had so much fun snorkeling and visiting two beaches on the island. plus, the crew is super friendly and knowledgeable.
- boat trip to klein beach: we hit up our friends at klein curacao boat trips to find the perfect boat trip to klein beach. they connected us to a boat and crew who not only showed us a great time (lots of beer and local rum shots!), but also hosted a delicious lunch. it was some of the best food we had on the island.
- massages at renaissance curacao resort and casino: the renaissance is a popular hotel among tourists who visit via cruise ship. by some magic, they imported sand and salt water from the ocean to make their very own beach on the second floor of the hotel. getting a beach front massage was pure bliss. they also offer facials and body scrubs.
- party at saint tropez ocean club: the island has a different party spot every night and saint tropez was lit. several bars, an infinity pool, dj, good drinks and hookah are just a few reasons that it’s a must visit. it’s the friday night turn up of all turn ups.
have you ever visited curacao? drop your comments or questions below!
what i’m wearing
- straw hat | penny rivers
- cat eye sunnies | j.crew
- black & gold bikini |pretty little thing
- black & gold bikini cover up |pretty little thing
- palm leaves bikini | pretty little thing
- gold earrings | bauble bar
- ray ban sunnies |saks fifth avenue
- white culottes |zara (similar here)
- bangle bracelets |free maiden
- white linen shirt |everlane
- gold hoop earrings |hautelook
this post was written in partnership with scuba lodge, renaissance curacao and klein curacao boat trips. thank you in advance for supporting the brands that support politics & fashion.