Curaçao is a beautiful Caribbean get-a-way with its snow-white beaches and palm trees. This island really has it all; beautiful beaches, great restaurants, luxurious hotels, adventurous hikes, and many more great things to do when on holiday. Visit the Hato Caves, explore flora and fauna in the Christoffel park, or visit one of the many beautiful beaches such as Mambo beach.
The best activities to do when on holiday to Curaçao
Many think that Curaçao is all about beaches and never leaving the resort. Nothing is less true.. there are so many activities to do and beautiful places to see on this Caribbean island. There are some adrenaline rush activities, beautiful natural parks, and different hikes that you can do. If you want to go hiking, read this blog about the most beautiful hikes in Curaçao.
Visit The Hato Caves
A true tourist spot is the Hato Caves. The Hato Caves is more than 300.000 years old and is the most prominent cave on the island. The cave was used as a hiding spot for enslaved people in the early days of the slave trade in Curaçao. This limestone cave is located above the ground instead of under the ground, which makes this a unique place. A very knowledgeable and entertaining guide will lead you through the cave and tells you all about its history and cultural significance of the cave.
After visiting the cave, you can also have a look at the cactus garden, with many different kinds of cacti located on the terrain of the Hato cave. There is also an Indian Trail, which is a self-guided 20-minutes walk in which you will learn a lot about Curaçao’s flora and fauna. You can also see the Indian carvings from 1500 years ago.
Go On An Exciting UTV Tour
You should book a UTV tour with Curaçao Activities for a real adrenaline rush. You will drive a UTV through the rough terrain on the island’s western side. You will not only drive on the sandy, sometimes wet after a rainy day, planes on San Pedro but also visit a small but hidden cave and make a stop at the Watamula Blowhole, where the water bursts out of a sea cave. After this adventurous drive, you also stop at DaaiBooi beach for a refreshing swim.
Hike The Christoffelberg For Breathtaking Views
If you are fit enough and in for an adventure: go for a hike on the Christoffelberg (Christoffelmountain). This 372-meters high mountain is worth the climb, the views from the top are breathtaking. It will take around 45-60 minutes to reach the top, but you really have to climb the rocks, especially at the end, so it can be tricky. Beware of bringing enough water, sunscreen, and some food with you.
A special tip for if you are an early bird: climb this mountain before sunrise. You have to start really early, the park opens at 6.00 so check sunrise time to be on time. Only a hand full of people will do this, so it’s really quiet and peaceful at the summit. You will probably see the most beautiful sunrise on this island.
After a bit easier descent, you can also visit the Christoffel park. Here, you can find 7 more walking trails to admire more of Curaçao’s beautiful flora and fauna. However, if you are tired of the hike on the Christoffelmountain, you can also follow a few of the trails by car ;-).
Explore The Underwater World: Go Diving With Trunk Divers
Curaçao is also an excellent island for diving, and we were ready to explore the underwater world of Curaçao with Trunk Divers. They are located on Kokomo Beach and really take the time to teach you all the ins and outs of diving. You can go for a discover dive, but you can also follow the open water or even the advanced open water course here.
Visit The National Park: Shete Boca
Another must-see on the island is the Shete Boca park, which literally means 7 inlets. Here, you can see the rocky wave-exposed north coast. Visit Boka tabla for an underground cave, where you can see the waves crashing into this cavern. Boka Wandomi is a beautiful limestone natural bridge. At Boka Pistol, you can see the water shooting up in the air, and at Boka Kalki, you can sometimes see the sea turtles laying their eggs.
You can walk to all the different inlets, but be sure to bring enough water and sunscreen; there is not a lot of shade in this dry area. You can also go by car on the dirt roads that bring you close to most of the inlets.
Go For A Really Exciting Activity To The Blue Room
Another really exciting activity is visiting the Blue Room. The Blue room is an underwater cave, where the sun shines into the cave, which creates a beautiful blue light. First, you have to get to this place, for which you’ll need to walk. The Blue room is located on the private property of San Nicolas and therefore not accessible by car without permission.
The starting point is playa Santa Cruz. From there, a small hiking trail starts,which will lead you to Playa Santa Pretu first. This is the only beach that doesn’t have the typical Curacaoan white sand but black volcanic sand. You will reach this place in 10-15 minutes already. From here, it’s a 30-minutes walk to reach the Blue Room. Don’t forget to bring enough water and sunscreen!
You will need snorkeling gear to reach the Blue Room, so don’t forget! It can be pretty challenging to get to the underwater cave because you need to swim underwater for a few meters while water is flowing in and out of the cave. Only try this when you are a confident swimmer; it can be dangerous, especially when the sea is rough! However, it’s worth it, because it is beautiful inside the Blue Room!
Dont forgetthe beautiful beaches of Curacao
Curaçao is well known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and bright blue waters. If you want to learn more about all the different beaches you can find in Curaçao, read the blog on the most beautiful beaches in Curaçao.Here, I will share a few of them that you should really visit when on holiday to Curaçao.
Visit The Most Famous But Also Most Beautiful Beach Mambo Beach
Mambo beach is probably the most famous and touristic, but also one of the most beautiful beaches on Curaçao. This man-made lagoon has it all: a gorgeous white sand beach, plenty of bars and restaurants, and a large boulevard with many shops. There are many different beach bars to choose from. However, I will share my favorite spots on this large beach.
My favorite spot is Hemingway beach. It has very luxurious sunbeds, good beach service, and probably the quietest beach spot on Mambo Beach. Beware that if you visit Mambo beach, you are not allowed to just lay your towel on the beach. You must rent a beach bed. When at Hemingway, you can easily move to their restaurant to have a great lunch with the most stunning views.
Another, a bit more casual location on Mambo Beach is Chill bar. Here, you can sit back, have a cocktail, and relax. The hammocks give this place a relaxing vibe, and the hundreds of painted driftwood signs make this a cozy location. Every Friday at 17 it is happy hour when Chill bar is becoming a very famous location every week again!
Go For A Relaxing Day At Kokomo Beach
Another must-visit when in Curaçao is Kokomo Beach. It is a great low-key beach bar where you can lay on the beach or chill in the large lounge areas. A nice advantage of Kokomo Beach is that they serve great lunch and finger foods. Don’t forget to take one of the famous curaçaoan pictures on the Kokomo swing in the water!
Feel Pampered During A Day At Kokos
Kokos is located on the other most touristic boulevards of Curaçao: Jan Thiel baai. At the quiet end of this beach, you can find Kokos, a truly tropical and luxurious place to lay on the beach. Their sunbeds are the best you can find in Curaçao, and they serve delicious cocktails! If you want to be completely pampered for a day, you have to go there.
Visit My Favorite Tiny Beach: Kleine Knip
The Kleine Knip is my absolute favorite beach on Curaçao. It is located next to the really famous and touristic Grote Knip but in my opinion more beautiful and less busy and touristic. However, even this tiny beach is getting more popular nowadays. If possible, fill a coolbox with drinks and snacks, or even bring your own bbq! This place really is like paradise.
Where to eat & sleep in Cuaracao
There are many restaurants, resorts, and bars on the island. I will share a few of my favorites.
For The Complete Package, Go To Avila Beach
Avila beach is one of the island’s largest resorts and one of the most beautiful places. You can stay in the resort to have access to this beach all the time, or you can get a day pass to visit this beach. It is almost always quiet here, and this place has different restaurants and bars where they serve delicious food and drinks!
Go To Restaurant De Dames For The Best Lunch And Smoothies On The Island
For the best lunch dishes, you should visit the restaurant De Dames. Their location might not be the most scenic, in the middle of a shopping mall, but their food definitely makes up for this. They also really brightened up the place with a lovely fountain. Their menu is extensive, with sandwiches, pancakes, and the possibility to create your own salad! Make your healthy and delicious lunch complete with one of the many smoothies they have.
Visit Klein Santa Martha For A Unique Overnight Stay
If you want a special place to stay overnight, you should go to Klein Santa Martha. Klein Santa Martha is one of the many country houses on the island, a large sugar-cane and divi-divi plantation from the 17th century. It was one of the top three salt producers on the island. However, it has been transformed into a boutique hotel and restaurant. They have a couple of beautiful rooms and a swimming pool so book in advance!
There are many things to do on holiday to Curaçao, but I think these are the real must-visits. If you don’t want to figure out which activities you can do in one or more weeks on the island: read our travel itineraries for 1, 2, or 3 weeks on this beautiful Caribbean island. Do you think that we miss one or more must-sees on the island? Please leave a comment! 🙂
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