“Sometimes, the unplanned moments make the best stories”
Before I get into any details about our trip, I have something to tell you. JC had no idea where in this world Curacao was.
He asked me: “Babe, Where is Curacao?” Instead of Saying it with a ‘S’ sound he said with a ‘K’.
It made me giggle a little. I corrected him and he told me that one does not have to know how to pronounce it in order to visit it.
Hey, fair enough! As long as you get to go that is all that matters!
In case you were wondering though, the ‘ç’ is pronounced like ‘s’.
So, where exactly is Curacao?
You can find this Dutch Caribbean Island about 40 miles (65 km) north of the Venezuelan coast.
It is also about 70 miles (113 km) east of Aruba.
Our experience?
First of all, we did not have that much time here. We were on a cruise ship that had a 7 hour stop over.
And second, we honestly did not plan much for this trip.
I think we were too busy sipping on cocktails on the ship, that we totally forgot to properly plan what we will do with our time here.
As unplanned as it was though, we still had an amazing time.
So, let’s take a look at some things you can see and do when you head over to Curacao.
It’s time for sightseeing!
Willemstad is the capital city of Curacao. Downtown Willemstad is divided into 2 main parts, Otrobanda, and Punda, which are connected by the floating Queen Emma bridge.
Things to see & do in Otrabanda
1. RIF FORT
From the cruise terminal, our very first sight to see was Rif Fort.
This former fort is now a waterfront mall with a courtyard, stores & bars/eateries.
Climb up the fort’s stairs and you will get what used to be a commodore’s eye-view.
2. KURA HULANDA MUSEUM
From the fort, we walked straight all along the water to try and find the museum.
We passed a big open space called Brionplein where you will find the OTROBANDA letters.
As we got to the museum, there was not much to see and we did not go in as we were restricted on time. Bummer!
If you have the time, go inside. The museum features history & exhibits relating to the local slave trade.
3. BASILICA OF SANTA ANA
If you love seeing churches when you travel then make a trip here.
4. QUEEN EMMA BRIDGE (KONINGIN EMMABRUG)
Also called the Swinging Old Lady, or floating bridge, this bridge opens laterally for ships. Pretty cool right!?
This is definitely a good place for photo ops with the colorful buildings, the historic waterfront known as Handelskade, in the background.
Things to see & do in Punda
As soon as you cross the bridge, you are in Punda.
The first thing you will see is a big, bright yellow building. The Penha Building.
Fun fact: It is one of the most photographed buildings by tourists.
So, do not miss out on a photo in front of it.
1. KONINGIN WILHELMINAPARK
We walked straight up Breedestraat towards the park which will be on your right.
Here you will find the Curacao letters as well as the Dushi letters. Great photo ops once again. I would say these are must-haves!
In case you didn’t know, the word Dushi is a word in Papiamento (their native language), that can mean sweetheart, babe, sexy or you can use it for tasty food and even describe good things in life.
Use it where you see fit, lol!
Right across from it you will also see Tele Museum and Church Emanu-El.
2. MIKVE ISRAEL-EMANUEL SYNAGOGUE
We made our way to the synagogue through a small little street full of shops.
The words ‘Accessories Gift’ was written in red on a white building. Go in there!
The Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue is the oldest surviving synagogue in the Western Hemisphere and offers a Judaica museum, gift shop & tours.
Again, we saw the building but did not go in, however, this is a major tourist attraction and if time is on your side then take a tour!
3. OLD MARKET, NEW MARKET & FLOATING MARKET
All 3 of these markets are along the water, a lagoon called Waaigat.
At Old Market, you will find Plasa Bieu, known for amazing food.
If you are looking for local food, this is the place to go!
New Market, called Ronde Markt, is a traditional Curacao market. Here you will find vegetables, fruit, local dishes and souvenirs at great prices.
At the Floating Market, you will find small boats that come from Venezuela to sell fresh fruit and vegetables. We were blessed enough to see this, but rumor has it that the floating market closed recently after 101 years.
So, What is next?
As I said before we had no plan. After sightseeing for about 2 hours we decided to head back towards the ship to ask around about transportation to a beach.
Trust me, there will be more than enough people to help you with transportation to different beaches.
If you are staying in Curacao it is probably better to rent a car.
The beaches range from about 50 minutes away to as close as 15 minutes from Otrabanda.
Read this post about the best beaches in Curacao.
Curacao Liqueur Distillery Tour and Mambo Beach
After standing around looking for people to share a taxi with us we had no luck.
Out of nowhere, a group of people appeared who invited us on a private tour and to watch the sunset at Mambo beach for a super discounted price.
Why not?! Let’s go!
Queen Juliana Bridge
We had no idea this tour was even an option. And it was definitely a nice addition to our trip.
We got to drive over the Queen Juliana bridge which was quite an experience high up in the air.
This bridge is 185 feet (56.4 meters) high and the view from up there includes the entire panorama of Punda, Otrobanda, and the Schottegat and is one of the highest vantage points on the island.
First stop, Landhuis Chobolo. This is a 19th-century mansion where the liqueur distillery is.
We learned about to production process, got to taste different liqueurs and then had the opportunity to buy a cocktail or eat locally made ice cream or Caribbean food outside in the courtyard.
Our favorite liqueur was, of course, the world’s oh so famous, Blue Curacao, which is used in many cocktails.
Off to Mambo Beach we go…
We had about an hour or so of daylight left, therefore tanning was not an option at that time, however, we were just in time for a breathtaking sunset.
Mambo beach is possibly one of the most talked about beaches.
It combines dining, shopping, entertainment and one of the best beaches the island has to offer!
It is said that snorkeling is great here too! So take advantage of that if you do spend the day here.
This beach is exactly what Curacao is about… COLOR!
White sand, blue water, bright pink beach chairs, and green palm trees.
What more could one ask for!?
We had an AMAZING time here and so happy for the way it all worked out.
Conclusion…
No matter how unplanned this day was, it all worked out so perfect.
Our experience in Curacao was definitely special and one we could not ever forget.
We’d like to hear from you:
Have you been to Curacao and if so what were some of your favorite things to do?
What recommendations do you for activities or sightseeing?
If you have not been yet then let us know if this is a place that is on your bucket list!
