Curaçao Things to Do

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This is a must see when you go to Willemstad. The museum is located in many different buildings and its is absolutely beautiful. The museum spans ancient history to mostly slave history and specifically slaves in Curacao. You could potentially spend a lot of time here or not much time at all. There is a gift shop, sculpture garden, coffee shop and cafe area.

There are interesting caves and good to see with children. There is a fee that pays for the guide who brings you to the cave and walks around with you. The caves are humid and warm. Inside the park there is a snack area where you can buy drinks. You can also walk around the park. I didn't have time but its would have been nice to walk to the Indian paintings. Some of the highlights of the cave is a statue that looks like the Virgin Mary and the bats that fly around.

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This is an interesting area to walk around. If its a hot day think twice about visiting the park because there is absolutely no shade. In some areas there are lots of cactus but mostly there's just a lot of rocks. Bring lots of water because you cannot buy any there. You can spend about 2 hours here walking around (or you can even drive to each sight). There is one main trail that leads you to three areas along the water. The most southern sight is called Boka Pistol. Here is a cool area where the ocean meets the rocks and creates a blowhole where the water shoots up and out. The next sight is called Boka Kalki. Here is another beach stop. People have left pebbles and rocks as messages on the beach. The last sight is Boka Wandomi. This was my favorite. Make sure you climb sown the stairs to the sand. One side of the cliff has man made chairs and seats that are fun. You can also see a natural bridge that reaches out into the ocean. There is also a cave that you can go into. Entrance fee was NAfl 2,65.

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The proprietor of where I stayed recommended this as the best place to snorkel. I would have to agree. Caracas Baai is a series of long beaches separated by rocks. I drove all the way past the fort to the last beach. At the end is a scuba place. There is a nice snorkeling spot called the Tugboat where there is a sunken tugboat. The beach at this end is not the greatest but the snorkeling is very good. I also had my best meal here on the way to the beach. There is also an interesting small fort here that you can climb up and get a great view of the surrounding area.

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Porto Mari is located on the west coast about halfway between Willemstad and Westpunt near St. Willibrordus (by car). This was my favorite beach on the island. It is a comparatively long beach with beautiful sand and clear water. There were nice lounge chairs and umbrellas for your use. At one of the beach is a bar area where you can buy drinks and I'm sure food although I didn't. I went on a week day and I think the weekend would be very crowded. I forget my wallet this day so I couldn't pay the entrance fee ($2), but they let me in anyways. There are also 2 reef systems for snorkeling and I did see divers around as well.

To get there from Willemstad hop onto Weg Naar Westpunt and follow the signs.

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Go into Willemstad. Park on the Punda side so you don’t have to deal with going over that Juliana bridge so often. This thing is really high, with only about a 3 ½ foot high guard rail that is only about two feet from where your vehicle drives, and cars are whizzing by. Parking no problem in Punda. Go to The round house market. Lots of locals selling their wares. Trinkets, fruits and veggies, fish. Walk down where the floating market is, really interesting. Evidently these guys make their way from Venezuela every morning before sunrise to sell fish, fruits and vegetables. Hard life! Do a little shopping and have lunch at an outdoor café’! Have an Amstel! Walk over to Otrobanda. They have some more outdoor vendors!

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Rent a car and take the Westpunt-route for a day trip. From the resort area go over the Juliana bridge, continue on this road until you got to the main round-about where you turn into Westpunt towards the Airport and stop at the HATO caves. Interesting. $12 for two. There are some Indian drawings on the side of the cliffs and a guided tour through the caves. Make stops at Landhuis Papaya, Landhuis Daniel and Landhuis Ascension. Shortly after the Wind Mills on the north coast, about ½ of a mile, there is a sign to the right that says San Pedro. If you have a 4x4, take that. It’s a great ride. On the Hato Plains. There are tons of 4x4 trails, and you can see wild goats, and Iguanas, get close up to the wind mills, can walk up to the Northern rocks and get splashed. Worth the jaunt.

Continue up the same road west and pass the little slave-house museum. It’s called Kas di Palu Maishi. Continued on to Christoffel Park. You see some impressive vegetation, wild parrots, great Island views. Well worth it. You need a 4x4. From here go to Boca Tabla Cool cave where the sea comes in. Take a peak at the Natural Bridge. Gon onto Westpunt and stop at Jaanchies restaurant. This place is great!! Jaanchi and his son are the hosts, waiters, and cooks. They do everything. Lunch there is a hoot. Birds fly throughout the place, very cozy, and the food is awesome. Try the Wahoo, and shrimp special – comes with potato wedges and veggies, and do try some Iguana, you know the deal, tastes like……..
Stop for a beer at Palya Forti. This place has a great view over the bay with some boats below. Wouldn’t eat here, but it is a nice place for a beer. Go onto Landhuis Knip and check out the two beaches there. You can snorkel here, very clear. These are nice beaches.

1. Sunsplash Water Sports - 525-8545 - Wilco was the best. We went there for banana boat rides one day and quickly went back for a jet ski tour of Spanish Waters. It was awesome and a must see. The million dollar houses and yachts were beatiful and there is not better way to see them than by jet ski. The people were all great and I could not say enough. They also run the bar on the beach at Baya Beach Club which was a really fun place to hang out.

2. Irie Tours - 526-3662 - Dennis was the man. This was by far our favorite day of the trip. They loaded up the van with a cooler of drinks and for the whole day we toured the west side of the island from Porto Mari to Westpunt. This side of the island is less developed but the beaches are the nicest beaches I have ever seen in the world. Dennis could not have been more helpful or friendlier. I can't stress enough IF YOU GO TO CURACAO YOU NEED TO DO THIS TOUR. You could do it with some other bigger companies but I guarantee you will not have as good of a time.

3. Lets Go Watersports "Captain Goodlife" - Unfortunely I forget his phone number but this place was great. If you go on the Irie Tour of the westside you will probably stop here for lunch (it was the best of our trip). This place was a dive house, restaurant and house all by itself on Santa Cruz beach. If you scuba dive I dont think you will find a better deal on the island. It was $10 for a trip to the mushroom forest vs. about $70 at the resorts. This was really the most authentic "beach house" I have ever been to, it was right out of a movie. Captain Goodlife his wife and kids couldn't have been more hospitable. Definitely worth going to for the day or at least stopping by for lunch with Irie Tours. Oh, and if you like lobster bring a flash light he will take you out to pick them and then you can bring them back to his place and cook em up.

I can't stress enough how great those three place and people were. They will make your trip.