From pristine shores, clear blue waters, beautiful coral reefs and dive sites to colourful colonial-style buildings in pastel hues, museums, appetising cuisine, and great snorkelling points and lookout spots, Curacao is a huge surprise from end to end. Of the countless things to see here, though, the following rightfully has earned a place in visitors’ travel list.
The Forts in Willemstad – Majesty in Every Sense
The charming Curacao capital is home to several imposing forts, namely Fort Nassau, Rif Fort, and Fort Amsterdam, which are definitely worth seeing up close. Of those three, although all are equally impressive, Fort Amsterdam is, hands down, the one with the highest prominence as it is the only one declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also fully functional (not as a fort, obviously!) as it is where you will find both the Curacao government and the Council of Ministers’ offices and the Governor’s office.
As for the other two forts, Riff Fort was built in 1828 and is situated in Otrobanda. Today, it is turned into a one-of-a-kind shopping centre. Finally, Fort Nassau is a late-1700s fort that used to be a control tower and a signal post for many years. Sitting in a prestigious location outside Willemstad, it offers pristine cityscapes and panoramic views of the island.
Playa Porto Mari – An Outdoor Paradise
Those enthusiastic about outdoor activities, especially endeavours by the beach, will probably find their earthly heaven at Playa Porto Mari. It is a super-fun place with on-site snorkel rentals and three nature trails, making it ideal for mountain biking, hiking, diving, swimming, and snorkelling, among others.
The rehabilitated reef comes loaded with natural beauties and amenities, such as shaded chairs and rinsing facilities, alongside a vibrant beach bar and a restaurant serving palate-caressing Dutch and Indonesian dishes. And, if you decide to come here around sunset, expect to lay your eyes on one of the most romantic spectacles in your life!
Tip: Don’t be surprised if you bump into iguanas and pigs while exploring Playa Porto Mari. This is their home! You have the highest chances to spot one of the two (or even both) cute husky hogs sunbathing here if you come around 4.30 in the afternoon.
Also, the beach is open from 9.30 am through 6.30 pm and there is a small entrance fee (around $3 per person).
Mambo Beach – Everything in One Place
Mambo Beach is perhaps the most popular stop for cruise tours around the island and other cays nearby. Also called Seaquarium Beach, it is a man-made shore with a party atmosphere featuring a fantastic white-sand beach, transparent waters, and lots of on-site tourist facilities like a beach volley court, lively bars, restaurants, and shops, as well as large amounts of shade and all the piña coladas you can drink!
Plus, opportunities for a thrilling scuba diving trip and snorkelling experiences. Seaquarium Beach is also perfectly suited to children even during windy days that make the waters rough around Curacao, as the beach’s breakwater keeps everything calm at all times. Just keep in mind that topless bathing is forbidden on this beach.
Mambo Beach is open from 8.30 am to 5 p.m. and there is a small entrance fee (around $3.50 per person).
The Exhibits at the Curacao Museum
The Curacao Museum is housed in a stunning colonial-style building and is one of the most popular museums on the island, located in west Otrobanda. Inside it, you will be able to see numerous exhibits, from paintings by both international and local artists and 18th-century furnishings to Indian artifacts dating back to the pre-Columbian times and charts and maps of the Caribbean region and America, to name just a few.
The View From Landhuis Jan Kok
Landhuis Jan Kok is one of the oldest plantation homes on the island which enables visitors to get a closer look into the years of slavery and the brutality the enslaved Africans were experiencing. Constructed in 1840, Landhuis Jan Kok is actually an upgrade to an early-1800s plantation house and was named after Jan Kok, an 18th-century slave master, who was particularly notorious for his barbaric manners. Today, several important features of the old days remain intact, such as an old slave bell. The atmosphere changes, though, and becomes more light-hearted as soon as you access the terrace and are struck by the incredible vistas of the St. Marie bay flats. If you are lucky, you may even spot flamingos doing their thing in the distance!
The Stunning Sunset from a Santa Martha Bay Lookout spot
Although Curacao is exotic and picturesque, offering heart-stopping vistas and sunset views from several different points across the coastline and main land, Santa Martha Bay definitely stands out. It is probably the unique sense of tranquillity and serenity you get as you are surrounded by captivating Mother Nature and fill your soul with moments that can hardly be experienced elsewhere.
The scenery is spectacular as it is. However, it slips into its most idyllic colours when the sun is about to disappear behind the horizon. Right at this moment, it will be just you, the gorgeous views spreading below your feet, and the whistle of the wind (whose gusts may even throw your hat off your head!).
To get to Santa Martha bay’s lookout point, open your Google Maps, type “7VCG+25V, Curacao” into it, and follow the given instructions/directions. Please be careful when navigating through the road as it is easy to miss the small dirt road you need to walk to reach the spot. So, keep an eye for it. Also, the road is quite hilly so be prepared for it, too.
Other Exquisite Things to See in Curacao
- Jan Thiel – It is a fun, lively, beachy neighbourhood that is referred to as the beating heart of Curacao’s night and beach scene. It is also where Mambo Beach is located.
- The Willemstad Floating Market – This is a great place to visit if you would love to see a part of the locals’ daily routine. The Willemstad Floating Market is a meeting point for Curacao residents, who come here to shop around for fresh vegetables and fruits at particularly low prices. Depending on when you visit this place, you may even get seafood. Besides the market, though, there are many more sounds and sights in the surrounding area that open your chances for wider explorations of the bustling capital.
From pristine shores, clear blue waters, beautiful coral reefs and dive sites to colourful colonial-style buildings in pastel hues, museums, appetising cuisine, and great snorkelling points and lookout spots, Curacao is a huge surprise from end to end. Of the countless things to see here, though, the following rightfully has earned a place in visitors’ travel list.
The Forts in Willemstad – Majesty in Every Sense
The charming Curacao capital is home to several imposing forts, namely Fort Nassau, Rif Fort, and Fort Amsterdam, which are definitely worth seeing up close. Of those three, although all are equally impressive, Fort Amsterdam is, hands down, the one with the highest prominence as it is the only one declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also fully functional (not as a fort, obviously!) as it is where you will find both the Curacao government and the Council of Ministers’ offices and the Governor’s office.
As for the other two forts, Riff Fort was built in 1828 and is situated in Otrobanda. Today, it is turned into a one-of-a-kind shopping centre. Finally, Fort Nassau is a late-1700s fort that used to be a control tower and a signal post for many years. Sitting in a prestigious location outside Willemstad, it offers pristine cityscapes and panoramic views of the island.
Playa Porto Mari – An Outdoor Paradise
Those enthusiastic about outdoor activities, especially endeavours by the beach, will probably find their earthly heaven at Playa Porto Mari. It is a super-fun place with on-site snorkel rentals and three nature trails, making it ideal for mountain biking, hiking, diving, swimming, and snorkelling, among others.
The rehabilitated reef comes loaded with natural beauties and amenities, such as shaded chairs and rinsing facilities, alongside a vibrant beach bar and a restaurant serving palate-caressing Dutch and Indonesian dishes. And, if you decide to come here around sunset, expect to lay your eyes on one of the most romantic spectacles in your life!
Tip: Don’t be surprised if you bump into iguanas and pigs while exploring Playa Porto Mari. This is their home! You have the highest chances to spot one of the two (or even both) cute husky hogs sunbathing here if you come around 4.30 in the afternoon.
Also, the beach is open from 9.30 am through 6.30 pm and there is a small entrance fee (around $3 per person).
Mambo Beach – Everything in One Place
Mambo Beach is perhaps the most popular stop for cruise tours around the island and other cays nearby. Also called Seaquarium Beach, it is a man-made shore with a party atmosphere featuring a fantastic white-sand beach, transparent waters, and lots of on-site tourist facilities like a beach volley court, lively bars, restaurants, and shops, as well as large amounts of shade and all the piña coladas you can drink!
Plus, opportunities for a thrilling scuba diving trip and snorkelling experiences. Seaquarium Beach is also perfectly suited to children even during windy days that make the waters rough around Curacao, as the beach’s breakwater keeps everything calm at all times. Just keep in mind that topless bathing is forbidden on this beach.
Mambo Beach is open from 8.30 am to 5 p.m. and there is a small entrance fee (around $3.50 per person).
The Exhibits at the Curacao Museum
The Curacao Museum is housed in a stunning colonial-style building and is one of the most popular museums on the island, located in west Otrobanda. Inside it, you will be able to see numerous exhibits, from paintings by both international and local artists and 18th-century furnishings to Indian artifacts dating back to the pre-Columbian times and charts and maps of the Caribbean region and America, to name just a few.
The View From Landhuis Jan Kok
Landhuis Jan Kok is one of the oldest plantation homes on the island which enables visitors to get a closer look into the years of slavery and the brutality the enslaved Africans were experiencing. Constructed in 1840, Landhuis Jan Kok is actually an upgrade to an early-1800s plantation house and was named after Jan Kok, an 18th-century slave master, who was particularly notorious for his barbaric manners. Today, several important features of the old days remain intact, such as an old slave bell. The atmosphere changes, though, and becomes more light-hearted as soon as you access the terrace and are struck by the incredible vistas of the St. Marie bay flats. If you are lucky, you may even spot flamingos doing their thing in the distance!
The Stunning Sunset from a Santa Martha Bay Lookout spot
Although Curacao is exotic and picturesque, offering heart-stopping vistas and sunset views from several different points across the coastline and main land, Santa Martha Bay definitely stands out. It is probably the unique sense of tranquillity and serenity you get as you are surrounded by captivating Mother Nature and fill your soul with moments that can hardly be experienced elsewhere.
The scenery is spectacular as it is. However, it slips into its most idyllic colours when the sun is about to disappear behind the horizon. Right at this moment, it will be just you, the gorgeous views spreading below your feet, and the whistle of the wind (whose gusts may even throw your hat off your head!).
To get to Santa Martha bay’s lookout point, open your Google Maps, type “7VCG+25V, Curacao” into it, and follow the given instructions/directions. Please be careful when navigating through the road as it is easy to miss the small dirt road you need to walk to reach the spot. So, keep an eye for it. Also, the road is quite hilly so be prepared for it, too.
Other Exquisite Things to See in Curacao
- Jan Thiel – It is a fun, lively, beachy neighbourhood that is referred to as the beating heart of Curacao’s night and beach scene. It is also where Mambo Beach is located.
- The Willemstad Floating Market – This is a great place to visit if you would love to see a part of the locals’ daily routine. The Willemstad Floating Market is a meeting point for Curacao residents, who come here to shop around for fresh vegetables and fruits at particularly low prices. Depending on when you visit this place, you may even get seafood. Besides the market, though, there are many more sounds and sights in the surrounding area that open your chances for wider explorations of the bustling capital.