- AreaSaliña, east Willemstad
- OpenMon–Fri, 8:00–17:00
- Time45 min–1 h
- Best forTasting, souvenirs, rainy days
That electric-blue drink in cocktail bars around the world has its roots here. Landhuis Chobolobo is a 19th-century country mansion in the Saliña district, a ten-minute drive east of Punda, and since the 1940s it has housed the distillery of Senior & Co, makers of what they call the Genuine Curaçao Liqueur. The family recipe dates from 1896, and the small copper still is from the same era.
The laraha orange
The story starts with a failure. Spanish settlers planted Valencia oranges, but in Curaçao's dry soil and climate the fruit turned small, green and bitter, and inedible. The trees survived, though, and the peel of this laraha orange turned out to hold an intensely fragrant oil. Dried laraha peels are the key ingredient, and the blue is simply colouring: the liqueur is also made clear, orange, green and red, plus flavours like coffee, chocolate and rum raisin.
Visiting
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00–17:00; closed at weekends. Check holiday hours on the distillery's website.
- Guided tour: about an hour, through the landhuis and the distillery, ending with a tasting and a cocktail. Tours run at set times through the day; booking ahead is wise when cruise ships are in.
- Self-guided: you can also look around the grounds and the shop at your own pace.
- Under 18: children are welcome on the tour but tastings are for adults only.
Getting there
Chobolobo is a short taxi ride from Punda or Pietermaai and has its own parking. With a car you can pair it with Hato Caves on the way to or from the airport, or with an afternoon in Pietermaai and Scharloo. Tours can be booked through GetYourGuide, and many island sightseeing tours include a stop here; compare options on Viator. Need wheels for the rest of the trip? See our car hire guide.
Tours: Landhuis Chobolobo
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Frequently asked questions
Is Landhuis Chobolobo open at weekends?
No. It opens Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 17:00.
Is blue Curaçao made from oranges?
Yes, from the dried peel of the laraha, a bitter orange that grows on Curaçao. The blue is colouring.
Do I need to book the tour?
Walk-ins are often possible, but booking ahead is safer on busy cruise days.
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