(The banner photo for this post that you may or may not be able to see depending on the device you are using is the Aida Perla cruise ship, with about 1,600 passengers, docked in Willemstad, Curacao, Nov. 25, 2023)
I only ventured into the downtown area a couple of times. I wasn’t interested in doing much shopping, and I wondered about the crowds that might come from the cruise ships that docked regularly. On the day three ships were in port, one the enormous Symphony of the Seas, they added about 8,000 people to the island, all disembarking in Willemstad. Can you blame me for avoiding that?
There are some pretty sights to see in the downtown area called Punda, starting with the row of houses that hark back to the Dutch colonial period. Though the beautiful storefronts only extend for a block or two, they are lovely.
Smaller cruise ships moor across the canal just beyond this block, with a lovely view of the town during their stay. A long pontoon bridge connects the two sides of town. It opens and closes during the day and pedestrians have to scuttle off or get trapped for about an hour. It’s fun to see the bridge open if you are not in a hurry to get anywhere. Small ferries operate back and forth even when the bridge is open, so it’s only a minor inconvenience.
Like many Caribbean islands, most goods here are imported, which is why I was happy to visit a shop of locally made crafts and products. I did buy a cute octopus for my granddaughter. I also found a metal a parrot to add to my collection. It has a sly look that gives it some personality. We purchased it at the row of stalls considered to be the floating market, where the vendors are stationed beside boats.
We did a few silly things, like pose in cutouts of “typical tourists”. The opposite side had “tourists” of color. The white ones were fat, the others were not. Hmmm. Next, we did some drumming with the local troupe of troupials.
The kids posed in front of the giant CURACAO sign. It is too big to get a good photo, everyone looks tiny. I think you could fit the passengers from an entire cruise ship in front of this.
There is a lot more to explore in Willemstad. We barely started in on the side of town with the cruise ship terminal, called Otrobanda. The weather was too hot, too sunny, and too humid for walking around. We were grateful to find a few souvenirs, stroll a short way, and return to our shaded pool and beach.
GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT CURACAO
Before you plan a trip to the Caribbean, make sure it’s the right destination for everyone in your group. We went to Curacao with at least one person who reacts badly to high heat and humidity. If your traveling companions break out in a rash when the humidity is high, or from bright sun, Caribbean islands may not be their ideal vacation.
Travel: It’s a long way to Curacao
If everyone is ok with lots of heat, humidity, and bright sun, then Curacao is a fine choice. From the west coast of the US the trip was long, but went smoothly. Flights to Curacao from the US mostly connect through Miami. (There are a number of direct flights from Amsterdam.)
We had no trouble on arrival. Everyone had filled out the Curacao arrival card and saved a screenshot/printed a copy of it. We got through immigration and customs easily and picked up our rental car.
Car Rental
All the major rental car companies operate in Curacao right at the airport. We rented from Budget and had no difficulties. Driving is on the same side as in the US. Roads include a main highway between the airport and Willemstad, the largest city and capital, and many smaller roads, some lumpy with repairs, others full of potholes, and a few unpaved. Drivers have to be alert and cautious, as many intersections don’t have traffic lights or stop signs.
Car return and Departures are at opposite ends of the airport. It was a VERY long walk from the rental car return to the terminal with all our luggage. If you’re with others, you might want to drop people and luggage at the departure terminal and have one person return the car.
Weather
We visited Curacao in late November. The weather felt stifling, hot and humid, the kind of day when it’s difficult to imagine doing anything other than lying on a beach chair under an umbrella. Staff members at our resort commented that we were fortunate that the long stretch of hot weather they’d been having had let up! The afternoon breeze cooled things down a bit, but air conditioning was essential for comfortable sleep. Toward the end of our visit, the humidity decreased noticeably and the temperature went down slightly. I suspect weather from December to April (the high season) is more comfortable than November.
Going to the Beach
Much of Curacao’s shore is rocky or covered with broken coral. It’s pretty but demands footwear even for swimming. Sandy beaches are usually edged with coral, too. We all brought water shoes. Some resorts have constructed their own lagoons, where you can snorkel along the rocky perimeter and sit on a stretch of sandy beach inside the lagoon.
The beaches we visited were relatively small, and crowded with sun lounges and umbrellas. We stopped at Playa Kalki, near the westernmost point of the island when the tide was coming in and it washed under most of the beach chairs on the narrow beach. I was a bit surprised at how popular it was.
Playa Grandi was a big treat, because sea turtles were swimming there on the afternoon we visited. We went late in the day and found parking easily, but all the businesses closed at 5 pm and we couldn’t rinse off after our swim—a minor inconvenience. We paid $12 for a pair of lounge chairs and an umbrella. We didn’t get to other beaches, but renting beach chairs and an umbrella is the thing to do.
Money
Curacao uses the Netherlands Antilles Guilder as its currency, and most businesses also accept US dollars. This can get confusing, as the exchange rates are different (1.8 NAG = US $1). Businesses usually post two prices. We had no trouble paying in dollars, though change is usually given in the local currency. If you use a $20 bill for a small purchase, you may end up with more NAG than you would like. We experienced some minor difficulties, like having to ask specifically for correct change, as quite a few vendors don’t see why a tourist should get change.
Shopping
Curacao is a popular port for cruise ships. We could see the mooring for the largest cruise ships from our resort, and there was a new cruise ship almost every day. Some of these were relatively small, like the sail assisted Club Med 2 (350 passengers). Others were immense, like the Symphony of the Seas (5-6,000 passengers). Most passengers spend at least a short time shopping in the picturesque downtown of Willemstad.
Curacao is best known for the orange-flavored liqueur of the same name, but most of the items for sale to tourists were the same things you see on every Caribbean island, t shirts to key rings. There is a waterside market area that includes fruit and vegetable sellers, and a short stretch of international shops.
Look for shops that sell locally made goods, including food products, carvings, paintings, and other artwork. I liked seeing what local artisans produce.
Safety
Within a resort, all you need to do it put your valuables in the hotel safe and remember to close the door of your room. When you’re out exploring, though, keep in mind that Curacao has high unemployment among young people. Tourism brings people to the island who want to show off the fun they’re having, while local people of the same age may be struggling. There is a fair amount of petty theft, including breaking into rental cars. That can be an expensive occurrence, and you should take seriously the advice to leave nothing at all in your car when you park. Consider leaving your glove box open to show there is nothing in it. Be practical and don’t carry all your money with you, don’t keep money in a purse with a dangling strap, and don’t leave your backpack unzipped. It’s common sense.
Llywindatravels 2025 