Curaçao Travel Guide
Turquoise coves, candy-coloured Willemstad, turtles at Playa Piskado and reefs right off the beach. Your bon bini to the dushi island, in English and Dutch.
From the harbour city to the wild west
Curaçao is about 60 km long. Willemstad sits in the middle, resort beaches line the east, and the quieter Banda Abou coves stretch out west.
Willemstad
Curaçao's colourful capital: two historic quarters, a floating bridge and the island's best food scene, all walkable.
Westpunt
The island's wild northwest tip: cliff jumps, turtles by the fishing pier, the highest peak and pounding north-coast waves.
Jan Thiel and Spanish Water
The southeast's resort hub: Jan Thiel's beach clubs, the calm Spanish Water lagoon and the departure point for Klein Curaçao.
Klein Curaçao
A flat, uninhabited island off the southeast tip: white sand, turtles, an old lighthouse and a rusting shipwreck.
Pietermaai and Scharloo
Willemstad's restored merchant districts: grand mansions, boutique stays and the liveliest evenings on the island.
Lagun and Banda Abou
Curaçao's rural west: cliff-framed coves, turtles in clear water and the island's most important freedom story.
Blue Bay and Sint Michiel
A quieter base just west of Willemstad: a long beach with a reef wall, a golf course and an old fishing village.
Things you can't miss
Handelskade, Punda
The pastel waterfront that put Willemstad on every postcard, best seen from across the bay in Otrobanda.
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Playa Piskado (Playa Grandi)
A small fishing beach near Westpunt where green sea turtles graze a few metres from the shore.
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Playa Kenepa (Grote Knip)
The postcard beach of Curaçao: a white crescent between cliffs, with a viewpoint everyone stops at.
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Christoffel National Park
Curaçao's largest national park, home to the island's highest peak and an early-morning summit hike.
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Shete Boka National Park
Thundering surf, a sea cave you can walk into and turtle nesting coves on Curaçao's rugged north coast.
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Hato Caves
Guided tours through limestone caves with stalactites, a bat colony and Amerindian rock drawings, five minutes from the airport.
Read guide →Curaçao island map
Tap a pin to open the guide. Zoom out to see Aruba and Bonaire next door.
Caribbean colour with a Dutch accent
Willemstad's pastel waterfront, the swinging Queen Emma Bridge and centuries-old landhuizen give Curaçao a character no other Caribbean island has. Papiamentu, Dutch, English and Spanish mix on every street corner.
Out of town the island turns wild: cactus-covered hills, crashing waves at Shete Boka and calm, crystal-clear coves on the west coast where you can snorkel straight from the sand.
- Snorkel with sea turtles at Playa Piskado
- Take a boat to uninhabited Klein Curaçao
- Stroll Punda and Otrobanda at sunset
Photo: Thank You (23 Millions+) views, CC BY 2.0
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Prefer your own pool?
For families and groups, a villa near Jan Thiel, Spaanse Water or Blue Bay often beats a hotel: more space, a kitchen and your own pool. Our friends at Papaya Chiki rent holiday villas on Curaçao.
View villas at Papaya ChikiAruba, Bonaire & the region
Curaçao is the middle of the ABC islands. Short flights connect you to Aruba's white beaches, Bonaire's world-class reefs and the South American mainland.
Aruba from Curaçao
Curaçao's western neighbour is a short hop away: big resort beaches, a desert national park and a very different vibe.
Bonaire from Curaçao
Curaçao's quieter eastern neighbour: world-class shore diving, flamingos, salt flats and a slow island rhythm.
ABC Island Hopping
Combine Curaçao with Aruba and Bonaire: who flies between the islands, what paperwork you need and routes that work.
Caribbean and Latin America Connections
Curaçao is a handy springboard: direct flights to Sint Maarten, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia and beyond.
Curaçao travel blog
Curaçao in 7 Days: A Practical Itinerary
One week, one rental car and a sensible pace: Willemstad, the wild west, a boat day and plenty of beach time.
Read article →The Best Beaches in Curaçao
From turtle coves at Westpunt to lively beach clubs near Willemstad: the bays we would drive across the island for.
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Snorkelling and Diving in Curaçao
Warm, clear water and a reef just a few fin kicks from the beach: where to snorkel and dive, from first timer to advanced.
Read article →Curaçao FAQ
Do I need a passport to visit Curaçao?
Yes. Dutch citizens need a valid Dutch passport; the Dutch ID card is not accepted. Other nationalities travel on a passport and should check visa rules.
What is the Curaçao DI card?
The Digital Immigration Card is a free online form every non-resident visitor completes on dicardcuracao.com, from 7 days before departure.
How long is the flight from Amsterdam?
About 9 hours 45 minutes nonstop with KLM, TUI or Corendon, and about an hour less on the way back.
What currency does Curaçao use?
The Caribbean guilder (XCG), introduced in March 2025 and pegged to the US dollar. Dollars are widely accepted; euros generally are not.
Do I need to rent a car?
It is not essential, but the best beaches are in the west and buses are infrequent, so most visitors rent a car for at least part of their stay.