More Days in Curaçao

More Days in Curaçao

 

I have a blog titled "1 Day in Curacao" you are welcome to click on, but please use this free travel guide if you're lucky enough to spend MORE than just 1 day in beautiful Curaçao. I did a LOT of research prior to our trip, to ensure we made the most of it, but below are some awesome (and not so awesome) places we were unable to get to see. 

Black font is research we did prior to our trip, and pink font is feedback from our own personal experience.

In Town/Port:

Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue

Punda has the oldest Jewish synagogue in the western hemisphere (still in use). $10 to tour Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, but ppl say it's worth it. 1-2 hours to walk around the gorgeous place with unique sand floors.

The Synagogue holds worship services on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 10 a.m. The museum opens its doors Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 

I wish we would have been able to tour here, but we visited after it had closed for the day.

Floating Market

By the waterfront, is the Floating Market. We visited here, but at night after it was closed. looks like it would be a fun place to shop for local goods/food. 

Fort Amsterdam

The oldest and most interesting of the 8 forts still standing in Curaçao. Has a courtyard, a church, a cannon wall. 

Plasa Bieu

If we need to eat while on the island, Plasa Bieu is the place to go. Plantains, jerk chicken, pumpkin pancakes, meat stews; 4339+QVH, De Ruyterkade, Willemstad, Curaçao. Matt and I wanted to maximize the cost of the cruise, so we got on/off the ship to eat as needed.

Sea Aquarium

Curaçao's sea aquarium has real sea-water pools fed by the ocean; located on the water-front of the west-coast of Willemstad. Has sea-lion, dolphin, and shark show held daily. Could spend 2-3 hours here. Can use the beach after to swim and snorkel. $21 per adult. Open 8a-5p. $15. This leads me to Mambo Beach, and other various beaches.

Beaches:

Mambo Beach

Mambo Beach (aka Seaquarium Beach). Man-made and located 4 miles south of Willemstad. White sands and crystal blue waters like the rest of this magical island. They have sand volleyball courts and alcoholic drinks available. Ocean Encounters is where you can rent snorkel gear or take a scuba trip. There is also a boardwalk with shops, restaurants and many bars. The waves are low, so well-suited for kids. We were told there's a large amount of shade available on the beach, and the on-site amenities are nice (bathrooms available and lockers for valuables), but it gets very crowded. Very touristy.  

Cost: 

$8 each from cruise port to Mambo beach; 

$3.50 entry fee

$5-$7.50 beach chair rental

$26 beach bucket of 6 beers (275ml)

I would suggest finding another beach. The cruise ship will advise you for this one, but there are other nicer beaches, that are free. This one is just a convenient tourist beach. Every review I have read and mult people on the ship that we asked, say this is an over crowded beach, sand isn't that nice, costs money, and hard to find a beach chair. If you want a lot of bars close by to drink near the water, then maybe it's for you.

Kleine Knip

Obsessed. Highly Rec. Check out our full review here, with pictures and all.

Playa PortoMari ($3)

• "Has a rehabilitated double reef and on-site snorkel rental. The beach also serves as a trailhead for three nature trails that are great for hiking or mountain biking. 
• If you're hungry after all the physical activity, you're in luck: Playa PortoMari features a beach bar and restaurant that serves up enough Indonesian sateys and Dutch kroketten
• Known as the pig beach. But please don't go here with the sole intent to see the wild pigs. It's not like that one Pig Beach in the Bahamas where you are guaranteed to see little (ok big) piggies.
• A 20-mile drive northwest of Willemstad
• Hours: 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m
• Cost: Admission costs $3 per person and chairs cost an extra $3.50, but children 3 & under are free.
• For more information about beach activities, visit Playa PortoMari's website

Cas Abao Beach ($6)

• Known as the Snorkeling beach
• "The white-sand beach is surrounded by cliffs and lush greenery, and shaded by thatched palapas (large palm umbrellas). Sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and a rainbow of tropical fish beckon snorkelers into warm, turquoise waters."
• Apparently you get a full-body massage right on the waterline.
• The Beach Bar & Restaurant offers a range of snacks and drinks
• They rec water shoes or sandals bc of the pebbles and broken coral
• Cost: $6 but have amenities like showers; they also say it can be $6 for a car of 4 people, instead of per person. $7 on Sundays.
• About 20 miles northwest of Willemstad, near the town of Fontein. 
• Accessible by car, and there is a parking lot on site. 
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Playa Lagun (free)

• Located in a narrow cove with calm waters perfect for snorkeling. There are facilities to rent scuba and snorkel gear.
• Not a lot of amenities, but peaceful and plenty of shade
• They rec water shoes for the rough terrain
• Can rent chairs for a fee, and get some refreshments from a bar overlooking the cove

Other Beaches include:

• Blue Bay Beach -people say it’s overpriced get
• Playa Santu Petra
• Playa Santa Cruz
• Karakter Beach

Have any info on these? I'd love to learn more :)

Outside of town/port:

The salt flats near Jan Kok: 

“Near the village of Williwood, you can find the salt pans of Jan Kok, also known as the Flamingo Sanctuary Sint Willibrordus. This is a popular tourist attraction as it is on the road from Willemstad towards the beaches of Banda Bou.” There are other spots to see flamingos, but this sounds like it is the closest to the boat). They rec binoculars. 

"The Flamingo Sanctuary allows tourists to view the flamingos from a viewpoint. At the plateau near the road, you have a breathtaking view over the salt pan and the flamingo family that lives there.  You just pull over and park by shrubs. Upon arrival, you have to park your car along the road since there is no parking lot next to the viewpoint. Do not leave anything of value in your car when you head towards the plateau."

Address: 1b Weg naar St Willibrordus, Jan Kok, Curaçao

I could not for the life of me figure out how to find this. So unfortunately we didn't go. Anyone else have luck finding it?  

"The best time to see flamingos is in the mornings until 11:00 AM or around sunset. The birds will be present in large numbers at those times."

Boka Charomba and its cactus forest:

"A fascinating forest of giant cactus should be considered an obligatory stop in Curaçao. This is one of Curaçao’s best kept secrets, as travelers exploring the area will probably encounter only one or two fishermen during the whole day.

Once at Boka Charomba, visitors can follow a path that leads to the cactus forest at the top of the cliff, as well the best view of Boka Charomba’s inlet. It’s a very strange experience to walk along a coastline and starting to see how the whole area surrounding turned slowly into a forest of cactus. These can reach heights up to 10 meters and are commonly known as the Kadushi cactus.

If you want to see the turtles, but not embark on a hike, an easier option is to go straight to Playa Charomba, on the southern side of Boka Ascencion. There’s a parking lot directly off the main road, just before the Landhuis, and the beach only takes a few minutes to reach."

We passed the parking/trailhead for this, but we decided to skip it as we wanted to prioritize the Chete Boka National Park and a beach instead. 

Address: Boka Ascension: 7WCW+G3V, Assension, Bisento, Curaçao

Turtuga trail: 7WCW+VF9, Boka Ascension, Assension, Bisento, Curaçao

Blue Room Cave:

I read lots of reviews for this one bc I REALLY wanted to go. AMAZING! But go with a guide. Bc some days the water can be bad. Have to hike 20 min. Then climb or jump into the water. Then dive down to swim under water into the cave. Have to be able to swim and tread, bc you can’t touch the bottom. The entrance is good, on a good day, which is rare. Other days the water is rough and ppl get pushed into rocks and cut their heads. Need water shoes bc rocks are rough climbing in and out. 

Watamula Hole:

"An ideal free attraction that is worth seeing. Amazing rainbow, sometimes double with each ‘blow’ of water. An ideal photo opportunity for lasting vacation memories. Be sure to wear tennis shoes, not sandals to protect your feet." 

Address: 9RRV+5G4, watamula hole,, Westpunt, Curaçao

Some ppl say it’s not worth it, bc it's a far drive. And on a dirt road (tricky/not possible with a rental car). And if u go at low tide…there's nothing to see. 

National parks:

Christoffel National Park

"In 1978, the island's highest point (Christoffel Mountain), three plantations, a mine and a village near the northern tip of Curaçao merged to create Christoffel National Park. The park houses indigenous flora and fauna, such as barn owls, the rare and endangered Curaçao white-tailed deer and 450 species of plants, including wild orchids. While you can take a scenic drive through Curaçao's largest national park, hiking or mountain biking is the best way to experience Christoffel's rugged landscape."

Unfortunately, we did not get to hike this, as we didn't arrive on the island via cruise hip until 9am. The park rangers do not let you start your hike past 10am, to ensure your safety bc of how hot it can get. We saw mixed times, some stating you cannot start your hike after 9am, bc of the high temps and lack of share. So get there early, like 6 or 7a. Bring plenty of water, and com

Duration: 2-3 hours, or half a day if you start from the visitor center.

Hours: daily 6am-2p

Cost: $15 for a 1-day pass (adults) or $5 pass (children 6-12) that includes admissions to Savonet Museum (located on the Savonet planation & rich in the park's history). Cost for just the museum is $3 for adults and $2 for kids.

Location: 25 miles NW of Willemstad

Bring comfy shoes as it get rockier closer to the summit, and plenty of water. There are 2 driving and 8 hiking trails. They offer Jeep safaris and a guided climb up the mt. 

For more information, visit the park's website.

Shete Boka National Park

Amazing. Highly Rec. Check out our full review here, with pictures and all.

1 Day in Curaçao

Curaçao in 1 day

Day 4: Tuesday Jan 23rd 

Docking at 9am; Departing at 10p

Black font is research we did prior to our trip, and pink font is feedback from our own personal experience.

Our plan for this cruise stop was to rent a car, and travel around the island as much as we could. The town is gorgeous with lots to do, and is within walking distance of the cruise terminal, but we figured we might run out of things to do/see if this is all we did all day. We wanted to get the heck out of the touristy part of the island/cruise world, and try to see as much of the ACTUAL country as possible. Matt and I figured if we are spending time and money to travel to another country we have never seen before, and might not get to again, let's make the most of it. So once we had our rental car (easy pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal)...we headed out!

We hiked Shete Boka National Park, snorkeled and sun-bathed at Kleine Knip Beach, and then came back to explore Willemstad, specifically the town of Punda.

In order to do this, we rented a car and went off and did our own thing. 

Please refer to this other post on my blog for more deets on renting. But in brief, we paid $126.30 to rent a Kia Picanto from Smart Wheels (pickup and drop off at the cruise terminal), and went off to explore the island.

Once we got our rental car, we headed to 1 of 2 National Parks in Curaçao, and then a public beach (Kleine Knip). We did this as soon as we got off the boat, so we would have as much daylight as possible, when exploring an unfamiliar country. When we returned back to town to return the car, we got back on the boat to eat dinner (free) and then get back off and explored Willemstad/Punda.

Shete Boka National Park:

Shete Boka National Park is described by visitors as a "breathtaking natural wonder." It translates to “seven mouths” in reference to the series of inlets located along the shoreline, as it spans 6+ miles along Curaçao's north coast. It has 10 "pocket" bays where many species of sea turtles nest and lay their eggs. 

As you walk along the coastline- the ground is either pebbles making up distinct pathways, or is hardened coral creating terraces along the blue waters of the ocean. 

Look off into the distance to see limestone hills. 

Lizards roam the area if your lucky enough to spot one.

 

Popular spots in the park include:

• Boka Tabla -waves crash into an underground cavern; basically a half submerged cave where waves come crashing in; you can actually go down in and walk across a metal grate holding you above the open seas; Matt did this, and goat SOAKED when a huge wave came in; typically you don't get wet, but he caught it RIGHT before park rangers came to block the area off because the seas were getting too rough
• Boka Pistol - a place to see more fantastic waves and coral rock walls. One of the “geological wonders within the park is Boka Pistol, where you can witness powerful blowholes in action. These blowholes are openings in the rocks that channel crashing waves into narrow passages, resulting in water jets shooting up into the sky. The force and sound are truly impressive, giving rise to the name ‘Pistol'
  
  
  
• Boka Wandomi (Natural Bridge) -The formation is a natural limestone arch carved out by the relentless force of the sea over thousands of years. The waves coming in and crashing against the shore has eroded part of the cliff away, creating what looks like a bridge over the ocean. 

Pro-tip: winds can be strong on this part of the island, and there is little shade = sunscreen, hat, protective clothing, water. We went on a day where it was completely overcast (even raining!) and I got BURNT bc I didn't wear sunblock. We were actually soaked at one point, like dripping wet from the rain, and 10 minutes later completely dry bc of the strong wind. 

Hours: 9a-5p daily; no admittance after 4p

Cost: $15.00 for adults; $2.00 for children 6-12; free for children 0-5

Totally reachable by car. We parked in the main parking lot, right after you pay to enter. Grab a map here; it's a crummy map, but it's helpful. 

There are bathrooms here. We parked here and walked to all the other spots in the park bc we had a rental car and were worried what the roads would be like- didn't want to get stuck in mud bc of the rain or hit any pot-holes and damage our low sitting car. But it didn't look too bad along the road to get to various viewpoints if you wanted to drive. 

More info: check out their official website

After the national park, we headed to the beach. 

Kleine Knip Beach (free):

Kleine Knip is nestled just south of Westpunt, around 25 miles from Willemstad on the northwestern coast of the island. As Kleine Knip is not a private beach, it's free to use and there is no closing time. 

White sand with beautiful clear blue waters. "Kleine Knip is one of the prettiest and most underrated beaches in Curaçao, typically overlooked in favor of the neighboring Grote Knip beach, which is larger and has more amenities." It is not dominated by tourists, so it's a great spot to relax without a lot of ppl. 

This is apparently the "best public beach." It is a small, cute beach surrounded by cliffs on both sides (cliffs have cacti all over them!) 

Parking lot can be a bit rough. We avoided the mud since it has recently rained. 

Cost: Free, but you can pay $15 for umbrellas and lounge chairs. We opted to just use our beach towels. I brought a towel/blanket thing instead of one of the cruise-ships beach towels. It is lighter weight, I use it as a blanket/pillow when traveling through the airport, and it doesn't target you as a "tourist" when you're on the island. 

Kleine Knip does not have bathrooms, showers, or beach cafes. However, there was a food stand/truck that looked good. 

"Therefore, this low-key spot is best suited for those who enjoy a natural, simple beach experience." This was great for Matt and I bc it was free, we packed snacks to eat, had our water bottles filled up, brought our own towels to sit/lay on, and brought our own snorkel masks. (Here is the link to the ones we like on Amazon). Oh my gosh the snorkeling! AMAZING!

Getting into the water is a little rough on your feet, but not enough that I would bother to bring my water shoes. As soon as you are past the waves breaking (small little bobs) you are standing on hardened coral with fish all around. 

Swim out just a bit further, and the coral is EVERYWHERE. I have been snorkeling before in various places with tour guides, and this was the best. So many different kinds of plant life, and so many different kinds of fish. You didn't even have to swim- you just floated on the surface of the water. Water was calm. Matt and I went out in rounds exploring the L side of the cliffs and then the R, as this was where most of the coral was tucked in and lively with fish. Healthy coral, clear water, and a variety of fish.

This is where I was kicking myself for not thinking sooner to purchase a GoPro to capture some underwater shots. Ugh. But hey. That's ok. Matt bought one as a gift to me for my birthday shortly after, and it gives us an excuse to go snorkeling again. 

After hitting up Shete Boka National Park, and Kleine Knip Beach, we headed back to town. We couldddd have kept going with the rental car, but we were being cautious with returning the car in time, wanted to eat, and wanted to explore the city of Willemstad still.

In town/port:

The are where most large cruise ships will dock is on the Mega Pier side of the port. This is near the St Anna inlet, on the south section of the island of Willemstad (the capital of Curaçao). The town is just a short walk from the pier/docks.

You will pass through the Renaissance Resort on your walk from the Mega Pier Terminal to the town of Willemstad. Renaissance Resort used to be Rif Fort. It still has the original structure, but it is now filled with adorable outlets and places to eat. 

Head up to the roof for a neat view.

View atop Rig Fort

You can then explore nearby streets with 2 famous connecting malls.

We aren't huge into shopping, so we wanted to get going to the bridge and the colorful houses, so we headed on to the bridge.

Keep your eyes peeled for "Chichis" and "Mamas" en route to the bridge, and randomly dotted all over the island. These 7-foot-tall voluptuous statues celebrate the role of Curaçao's sisters and mothers in local life.

Queen Emma Bridge is gorgeous. Its nickname is the "old swinging lady" as it is the only functional pontoon bridge remaining in the world. One of the oldest.

We were lucky enough to hear the alarm go off, see the gates shut, and watch the Queen Emma Bridge swing open 2x to allow boats to pass. Depending how large the passing boat, the bridge might be "blocked" for quite a bit of time, leaving the peds on the bridge, "stuck" until the bridge is locked to land again, and the gaits open back up.

Punda:

As you cross over, you enter Punda, a historical neighborhood of Willemstad. Punda is the heart of the town. Very cute, lots of places to shop. Full of life and colors with murals and colorful buildings all over. One of the best photo ops in Punda is Handelskade: the waterfront collection of multi-colored buildings that has become Curaçao’s most characteristic image. Think of it as Rainbow Row in Charleston! It's a stretch of Colonial Dutch buildings painted in brilliant pinks, blues and yellows that line the waters of St. Anna Bay. "In the 1800s, the governor decreed whitewashed buildings gave him migraines, so he ordered every building to be repainted any color other than white. However, according to local legend, he had an investment in the local paint factory!"

We also heard another story from a worker on our cruise ship, that ships coming in were blinded by the sun reflecting off all the white houses, and asked the mayor to paint the buildings. There was a misunderstanding, and instead of painting them ALL yellow, pink, blue, etc. he thought the captains wanted each building a DIFFERENT color.

Punda Love Heart is a hot tourist attraction, as people will travel from all over the world, bringing with them a special love lock, to attach to the sculpture. 

I have a separate blog post with some more sites worth (and not worth) visiting on the island, if you have more time than just 1 day. Click here to check them out!

Overall- I LOVED Curaçao. I felt very safe driving around exploring on our own. Gorgeous town in Willemstad with lots to see and do.