I am always amazed at the beautiful destinations that Tanavi comes up with for us to travel. She likes to explore places less explored and finds a sense of achievement in introducing them to her friends and family. One such place was Curaçao. It is a tiny island country in the Netherland Antilles. In my personal opinion how this country caught her attention was its name, Curaçao which translates to “heart” in Portuguese. Being a Goan, it fascinated her to see a familiar word and her curiosity increased when she realized that one of her friends lived there for a while. It was decided that we would go to explore this less known country and it did not disappoint.
Things to do:
Walk the colorful streets of Curaçao
If the title did not give it away yet, the first thing you will notice about Curacao is its colorful buildings. As soon as you enter the main city you will be welcomed by a stretch of colonial buildings standing tall welcoming you to this beautiful city with a heart (pun intended!). You could spend hours just admiring the archeological marvels and get lost in the streets of Curacao. There are multiple shopping centers, restaurants, and bars at every nook and corner for you to explore. You can also find some hints of history here and there in the form of tanks and cannonballs. There is a fort with a beautiful view of the city on one side and the ocean on the other! You can also see the Queen Juliana Bridge from the city. Make sure you stay to see the buildings during the day and at night. The city has a different vibe to it after sunset.
Wait to see the bridge move
Connecting the city is a mobile bridge, Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. You will get to experience the movement of this bridge when ships and boats pass the canal almost every 15-20 minutes. Experience it from the ground or from the bridge itself. It is an engineering marvel!
Visit the Ostrich farm
A visit to the Ostrich Farm is a great way to learn about these magnificent flightless birds. They have a guided tour where you will get to learn about how these birds are bred. You will also be able to feed them and stand on an egg! WHAT?? Stand on an egg? Yes!! An ostrich egg is strong enough to take the weight of a human! If you are an adventurous eater, you can try ostrich eggs and meat at the cafe adjoining this farm.
Visit Fort Nassau
There isn’t much to see here. If you love shopping, there is a little shopping center in the fort. However, the fort gives you some colorful backgrounds for photo ops. You get a good view of the Queen Juliana Bridge from here.
You have to visit where it all began- Blue Curaçao
Blue Curacao liqueur is famous all over the world. However, it all began here in this country. Unfortunately, the one who made it did not patent it and it was reproduced by others elsewhere. However, if you want to try the real deal you have to try it in Curacao at the distillery. They have multiple flavors of the drink as well and some very talented bartenders who know what they are doing. If you can resist the temptation of getting some home with you 🙂
Explore the beaches and underwater life
Curacao has one of the bluest clear waters. Mambo beach is one of the famous beaches in Curacao. This little island country is a great place to explore underwater life if you enjoy scuba diving or snorkeling. Mambo Beach (very touristy!), Jan Theil beach, Playa Forti, Playa Kenepa, Playa Lagun, Playa Cas Abao, Porto Marie, and Matamula are some of the beaches that you must explore from their torques blue waters and beautiful white sands!
Visit the floating market
Due to its close proximity to South America, there are vendors from Venezuela that come to Curacao in their boats to sell their fresh produce. Numerous boats dock close to the Punda side of Willemstad, with their colorful produce. Hence, the name floating market. Get your daily fix of fruit and veggies here!
Eat and drink like the locals
No matter where we go, we try to eat what the locals eat! Curacao is more famous for its colorful drinks! We already talked about Curacao liquor, but also try awa di lamunchi, rom berde at Netto Bar, and fria (a local soda). Stoba (a stew of a kind) and Keshi Yena (the official dish of Curacao) are a must-try. Gouverneur de Rouville, is a restaurant that is perfect for an evening dinner while overlooking the cityscape of Curacao. Hofi Cafe, is another cafe that is popular among the locals. It is an organic cafe with a farm in the back! Beware of dogs though! I was almost chased by one LOL. The people of Curacao are very friendly, so don’t miss a chance to share a drink with the locals outside a bar.
Visit the National Parks
The Christoffel National Park is a scenic drive with hiking opportunities. It is a great way to spot some local flora and fauna. The entire drive takes around 3 hours or so. Another must-visit National Park is the Shete Boka. Massive waves crash against rock formations, splashing water which is a nice respite from the scorching heat! Don’t miss the iguanas basking in the sun!
Visit an Aloe Farm
The climate of Curacao makes it a great place for aloe vera to grow. You can stop by a farm and explore how aloe is grown and harvested. The gift shops also give you an opportunity to shop for creams, balms, candles made with aloe.
Visit the Aquarium
The aquarium in Curacao is really unique! Tanavi is not a fan of animal shows, because of animal abuse. I remember convincing her to just see this one. She did not agree even after max convincing until she walked by and saw another show going on. The aquarium is open to the ocean and you will see dolphins that are trained and are allowed to swim in the ocean. So no restrictions in their movements. There is plenty of fish to see inside of the aquarium and you can feed flamingos too. There is a sea lion show which is fun as well. This place is a must-visit if you have kids.
