What to see in Curaçao?

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Landmark

Sint Willibrordus

Landmark

Landhuis Papaya – Banda Abou

Eighteenth-century plantation house undergoing restoration by a local family, surrounded by papaya and tamarind groves. The owners sell their fruit directly on-site each morning – an authentic taste of traditional cunucu agriculture away from organised tours.

Landmark

Landhuis Ascension – Banda Ariba

An 18th-century manor house perched on the heights of the eastern coast, commanding panoramic views across the Atlantic-facing Caribbean Sea. Less visited than its western counterparts, it retains its architectural authenticity and the distinctive cactus garden typical of the cunucu.

Landmark

Landhuis Jan Kok

Blood-red seventeenth-century landhuis set amid salt ponds with commanding views of flamingos. The exterior alone merits the journey – an iconic image of Curaçao that few visitors discover.

Landmark

Tula Monument – Ronde Klip

Memorial to Tula, leader of the 1795 slave rebellion, erected facing the sea at the very site of his execution. A powerful place of remembrance, rarely mentioned in guidebooks, that illuminates the island's profound history.

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Nature

Klein Curaçao – Uninhabited Island

An uninhabited islet two hours by boat to the south-east, featuring an abandoned 19th-century lighthouse and immaculate white sand beaches. Sea turtles nest here regularly and the surrounding wrecks attract experienced divers – a day's expedition that leaves a lasting impression.

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Nature

Spaanse Water – Curaçao's Inland Lake

The largest saltwater lagoon in the Netherlands Antilles at 6km², connected to the sea by a narrow channel. Local sailing boats moor here year-round, whilst mangroves shelter herons and pelicans – a miniature Mediterranean at Curaçao's heart.

Nature

Boka Sami – North Coast

Tucked-away cove on the north coast where a natural lagoon sheltered by rocks offers peaceful swimming despite Atlantic swells. Locals from the Barber area come here weekends with their families – no official car park, no signage.

Nature

Fuik Bay – Mangroves and Fly-Fishing

A vast, shallow bay in the south-east of the island, fringed by mangroves that serve as a nursery for fish. Local fishermen practise fly-casting from kayaks at sunrise – a discreet yet vital ecosystem for Curaçao's marine biodiversity.

Nature

Boka Wandomi – Wild Northern Coast

A steep-sided cove on the north shore where Atlantic swells surge into spectacular rock formations during heavy swell. Accessible via an earth track from the main road, this spot is favoured by local surfers and nature photographers.

Nature

Playa Cas Abou – Secret Northern Sector

Beyond the main Cas Abao beach, a coastal trail winds past rocky coves that are virtually deserted and accessible on foot. Locals come here to fish and hunt for octopus in the rocks – a wild side tourists never witness.

Nature

Boka Ascension – North Coast

A wild inlet on the north coast where the sea crashes against fossilised coral formations, creating natural geysers. Accessible on foot from the main road, you'll rarely encounter anyone but local fishermen.

Nature

Flamingo Sanctuary – Jan Kok Salt Pans

The Jan Kok salt pans host a colony of flamingos feeding at dawn and dusk. By approaching quietly on foot along the embankments, you can observe them within metres without special equipment – a moment of raw nature.

Nature

Jan Kok Salt Ponds

Pink salt marshes frequented by wild flamingos, most visible early in the morning. This overlooked corner of the western coast reveals a Curaçao far removed from beaches and hotels, with an almost surreal atmosphere.

Park

Landhuis Dokterstuin – Botanical Garden

A former plantation transformed into a private botanical garden cultivating traditional medicinal plants of Curaçao. The owner, a descendant of the original family, leads visits in Papiamentu and shares ancestral remedies – a rare ethnobotanical experience.

Park

Banda Abou National Park – Coastal Trail

A wild southwestern coastline with fossilised coral cliffs, marine grottos and cactus vegetation typical of the cunucu. A mineral, arid terrain for hiking that stands in stark contrast to postcard-perfect beaches.

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Activity

Diving at Klein Curaçao

Deserted islet 25 km offshore with a ruined lighthouse, pristine white-sand beach and some of the Caribbean's best-preserved coral drop-offs. The sunrise boat crossing with local divers is an experience in itself.

Activity

Curaçao Aloe Plantation – Spaanse Water

Traditional aloe vera plantation in the island's eastern cunucu, with guided tours explaining artisanal gel production. Curaçao aloe was once exported worldwide – a forgotten industry that this family farm keeps alive.

Activity

Curaçao Ostrich Farm – Groot Sint Joris

An African ostrich farm established in Curaçao's arid cunucu countryside since the 1990s, offering guided tours and ostrich rides. Surprising and quirky, this place appeals equally to children and curious adults keen to see how the island has diversified its agriculture.

20Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

Beach

Playa Porto Marie

A private beach featuring a thriving artificial reef and one of the island's finest snorkelling spots for beginners. The transplanted coral structure represents a unique marine conservation project in Curaçao.

Beach

Playa Santa Martha – Baai Santa Martha

Expansive sheltered bay with fine-sand beach that sees few visitors because it's far from the main hotels. Healthy coral reef runs the full length of the bay and shallow waters make snorkelling accessible to everyone – families from Banda Abou have claimed it as their Sunday beach.

Beach

Playa Manzalina – Banda Ariba

Golden-sand beach on the east coast, protected by a coral barrier that forms a shallow natural lagoon perfect for children. Popular with Banda Ariba families on Sundays, it remains blissfully unknown to tour operators despite its quiet charm.

Beach

Playa Grote Berg – Banda Ariba

An isolated white-sand beach on the eastern shore, accessible only by a 2km earth track from the main road. The absence of facilities and rough Atlantic-side waters make it a place of absolute solitude – locals from Banda Ariba come here with family on Sundays.

Place

Bandabou – Route of the Landhuizen

Driving or cycling circuit through the island's western section linking a dozen colonial plantations, some ruined and others restored, traversing arid cunucu dotted with candelabra cacti and free-roaming goats. A way to read the landscape as a history book.