Curacao is an island in the Caribbean, located just off the northern coast of South America. It’s a small but diverse nation, with a city and a vast flat, dusty countryside to explore. We stayed in the town of Willemstad for a week and then ventured north to see the country. It wasn’t what we expected.
What country does Curaçao belong to?
Curacao belongs to the Kingdon of the Netherlands and is one of the Dutch Caribbean islands, along with Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.
Colourful and vibrant Willemstad
Curacao has a long and unique history reflected in the island’s art. From the beautiful Dutch-influenced architecture in Willemstad to the colourful street art throughout the city.
We stayed in the Punda district of Willemstad, where you will find shops, restaurants and bars on every corner. Art pieces are throughout the area, from brightly painted buildings to art installations in alleyways and on the side of buildings.
There is so much to see in this area alone, and it’s a great pull for tourists, which is easy to get to from the cruise port across the Queen Emma Bridge.
Staying in Willemstad
Given this was a city break for the first part of the visit, we decided to stay in the city’s heart, allowing us to walk around rather than drive. Kelly had found a great place above a shop close to the Queen Emma bridge. We had easy access to bars and restaurants below and some retail therapy.
This apartment was spacious, beautifully decorated and even had roof access to enjoy a spot of wine under the stars.
Apartment Living Space
Walking around Willemstad.
Most things we were interested in were within walking distance. There are plenty of people at all times of the day and night. Staying in the Punda district meant we had everything we needed only a few streets away.
As I mentioned, nearly all the building were brightly coloured, some were in better shape than others, but there was plenty of unusual things to see.
In the evenings, lights adorned the streets. For the time of year we were visiting (December), Christmas decorations were dotted around the city, with bars and restaurants decorated with festive lights and signs.
This location makes it easy to walk nearby districts and visit the local bars and shops.
The Queen Emma bridge is a pontoon-style bridge that connects Punda with Otrobanda. It is only for pedestrian access and frequently opens when big ships must pass through. A free ferry service comes alive when the bridge is open for anyone who wants to cross immediately.
Art District
We visited the famous art district a few minutes from where we were staying. It’s a historical area, so many buildings are painted with murals depicting local life by various artists.
A sight we found that piqued our interest was this one. Although we didn’t go around on a guided tour and missed out on a lot of information about the history, we still enjoyed walking around and finding new things on every corner.
Click here to find out more about this interesting area in Willemstad – Scharloo Abou
It was while we were walking around aimlessly that we accidentally ran into an exciting guy who managed to turn his garden into its’s art installation. His pieces are a collection of things he has put together and gifts sent from visitors who stumble into his garden.
Colourful buildings and art are scattered throughout the area within a few minutes walking distances. We came across so many pieces of art and a very Instagram-ready bar called Mundo Bizarro without even searching for any.
Going north – dusty roads and cacti.
The countryside of Curacao is a paradise for lovers of nature. The island is home to a diverse array of plants and animals, and the landscape is a mix of flat plains, rocky hills, and lush forests. The island is also home to many beautiful beaches, perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and relaxing.
Driving out of the city, heading north after a few minutes, the scenery changes dramatically. The colourful buildings are replaced with more industrial buildings. The roads are in good order, but as you venture away from the main parts of the city, the roads become dusty. The view moves away from buildings into a dusty brown landscape with bushes and cacti. Although there were a few brightly coloured houses and shops along our journey, adding cacti along the highways and in the distance gave me a South American vibe, at least. I will better understand this when we visit Costa Rica and Mexico.
We stayed in a resort on the island’s west side, about 20 minutes from Willemstad, called Coral Estate Luxury Resort. While we didn’t know if we wanted to rent a car, we had visions of spending our days on the beach, not wanting to go anywhere. That idea changed after a day at the resort. We felt that we were missing out on visiting the island if we didn’t venture out, and especially when you are out of the city, a car is a must.
Although we did enjoy the Resort, the restaurant was lovely, for example. Live music was an excellent addition as we hadn’t heard it for a long time. However, we hired a car and explored more of the island.
Flamingoes
One of the most iconic sights in Curacao is the flamingoes. The island is home to the Caribbean’s largest flamingo population, and the bright pink birds can be seen throughout the island. We were staying near a protected area of salt land where the flamingoes are comfortable enough to return to. The locals are very protective of them, and anyone venturing too close will be politly reminded to keep a distance as to not scare them.
We managed to get out and walk around the salt flats. Not where the Flamingoes were. However, although we ventured out early, it was still scorching, and we only managed an hour or two out in the open. I was hoping to see some wildlife, but it was too hot for them to come out and say hello. Here are a few I managed to capture.
Beaches
Like some other nearby islands, the beaches are not always sandy and are instead mixed with stones or broken-up coral. While resorts are close to beaches, and some have claimed it all, a few are within reasonable driving distance. However, some are busier than others.
Here are some of the ones we visited.
Conclusion
Curacao is a small but vibrant island with a unique mixture of art, nature, and flamingoes. We enjoyed the two distinctly different parts of the island. Our recent travels took us to a lot of places that were remote or small villages. So for this trip, we had the pleasure of Willemstad, which was more like a city we remembered from back home. Luxury branded shops, big supermarkets with European and American style products, and then the vast dusty expanse of the countryside.
A beautiful and easy country to enjoy.