Overview
The island of Curaçao is one of the ABC islands, along with Aruba and Bonaire. While there are plenty of beaches on the island and Curaçao is known for its scuba diving, there is much more than just sand and sun on this Caribbean hotspot that is worth exploring.
Located off the coast of Venezuela, Curaçao — or Dushi Korsou, as the locals call it — was a part of the Netherlands Antilles until 2010.
The island’s name, according to one theory, is derived from Spanish and Portuguese words meaning healing or heart. That’s likely because sailors centuries ago found a cure for their scurvy in the island’s natural fruits and the Vitamin C they contained.
Discovered by Europeans in 1499, the island has long been an important shipping destination, thanks mainly to St. Anna Bay, a natural deep-water harbor that to this day welcomes freighters and tankers by the dozen; watching the harbor’s traffic makes for a peaceful way to spend the afternoon.
Headlines
Attraction
Christoffelpark
Christoffelpark is the largest national park on Curaçao and features a variety of local flora and fauna, including wild orchids, the Palabrua, the rare native…
Attraction
Curacao Maritime Museum
In a picturesque mansion located on the Waaigat inlet and dating to 1729, the Maritime Museum features an incredible collection of artifacts and stories about…
Attraction
Curaçao Ostrich Farm
The Curaçao Ostrich Farm may seem like one of the most random attractions on Curaçao, but it is actually one of the more interesting destinations…
Attraction
Fortchurch Living Monument
Dating to 1769, Fort Church is the oldest church on the island.
Attraction
Hato Caves
The Hato Caves were once located beneath the sea, but as sea levels fell, they emerged from the waves.
Attraction
Klein Curacao
Though Klein Curaçao is uninhabited, it is one of the most popular destinations for travelers who visit the main island of Curaçao.
Attraction
Mikve Israel Emanuel Synagogue and Jewish Museum
One might not expect to find a large Jewish population in the middle of a Caribbean paradise.
Attraction
Museum Kurá Hulanda
Slavery is a major part of Curacao’s history, and the Kura Hulanda Museum takes an in-depth look at how the institution shaped the island’s history.
Attraction
Octagon Museum
Simón Bolívar's two sisters lived in this octagonal building while Bolívar worked in a house on a hill overlooking Willemstad's harbor.
Attraction
Plasa Bieu
The best way to experience the real Curaçao is at Plasa Bieu (Old Market) in the heart of Willemstad.
Attraction
Post Museum Curaçao
Post Museum Curaçao is a museum in Curaçao dedicated to the history and development of the island’s postal system. Established on Dec. 1, 1991, the…
Attraction
Queen Emma Bridge
Queen Emma Bridge is a floating pontoon bridge across St. Anna Bay connecting the Punda and Otrobanda quarters of Willemstad.
Restaurant
Fort Nassau Restaurant
Fort Nassau Restaurant is located in the 18th-century Fort Nassau overlooking Willemstad and its harbor in Curaçao.
Restaurant
Jaanchies Restaurant
Jaanchie’s Restaurant is a family-operated restaurant in Sabana Westpunt, Curaçao.
Restaurant
Mundo Bizarro
Mundo Bizarro is a restaurant and bar in the Pietermaai district of Willemstad, Curaçao.
Restaurant
Plasa Bieu
Plasa Bieu, meaning “Old Market” in Papiamentu, is a traditional food market in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Restaurant
Restaurant & Café Gouverneur de Rouville
Restaurant & Café Gouverneur de Rouville is a restaurant in the Otrobanda district of Willemstad, Curaçao.
