Curaçao: A Colorful Pause in Paradise
We finally got to check out Curaçao—a place we’d been super excited to visit, especially since we are huge fans of Aruba. And Curaçao was simply amazing. The beaches were beautiful, and if you’re into snorkeling & diving, there’s a ton to love about this island – and don’t let me forget to mention the people!! Curacao definitely did not disappoint.
Curacao is the larger island of the ABC islands – in both size and population. However, because Curacao didn’t capitalize on tourism as far back as Aruba, it feels less crowded in many ways. There aren’t nearly as many resorts, hotels, or villa rentals in Curacao. Another thing to keep in mind is that taxis are not very plentiful in Curacao and can be somewhat expensive. Therefore, if you really want to explore the island (and you will), you will need to rent a car. The good news is that they drive on the same side of the road and the speed limits are never super high; the bad news is that in heavily congested areas, such as Willemstad, the traffic can be crazy. The cost of renting a car was really quite reasonable. We paid $299 for 5 days (small SUV), and I know for certain our taxis would have been well beyond that price. We were also in Curacao during Carnival, as well as peak season, so there was a minimum 3-day rental in almost all cases. We did not pick the car up at the airport, but had it delivered to our hotel 2 days after we arrived, and then they picked it up before we left for the airport. Nice and simple, and convenient for us! Note: parking is free all over the island, with the exception of maybe the downtown Willemstad area – look for meters.
The beaches in Curacao are stunning to say the least. If you are looking for long, white sand beaches that stretch for miles, Curacao may disappoint. But if you love clear-blue waters, with lots of marine life, unique one-of-a-kind beaches, you will be in your happy place! Many of the best beaches are on the West End of the island, and you need to drive to them. On the 2nd day on the island, we decided on a beach exploration day giving us time to return to one if we chose to do so later in the week. Here’s a quick look at what we saw:
- Playa Kalki – this beach was the furthest away (about 60min from Willemstad). It was a fairly long stretch of beach, although a little narrow. There were loungers & cabanas available ($), as well as a restaurant onsite – overlooking the beach. The water was stunning and snorkeling is supposed to be great on this beach. Recommend water shoes for the waters edge.
- Playa Lagun – we did not stay long at this beach, but in my opinion, it’s a hidden gem, so to speak. This beach had very clear waters and was full of marine life. It is a more relaxed style beach – not as commercial. I would say it was more simplistic and truer to the area.
- Playa Kenepa Grandi (aka Grote Knip) – this beach has a lot of paved parking, and we could easily see why it was so popular. While we did not go down to the beach, as it was located well below the overlook, the water was some of the most stunning water I saw. It was in a larger cove-like area (not small), and there are beach chairs and umbrellas to rent, along with a small bar area.
- Cas Abao – this one is known to be considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. It is a longer stretch of a beach, with beautiful water. However, I was a little disappointed. Not sure if it is because I’ve been lucky enough to see so many amazing beaches in the Caribbean (my expectations may be high), but most pictures on the internet do not show how commercialized it is. Rental lounge chairs on beach, very rocky shoreline (water shoes recommended), showers, bathrooms, & food available at the beach area. I am not much of a snorkeler, but we were told by locals there was good snorkeling here too. I would recommend you arrive early! This was the only beach we visited in which we had to pay for parking – $7 per car weekend & holidays / $6 otherwise.
- Blue Bay Beach – we ended up here late in the day and enjoyed an early dinner/cocktail hour. This is located in the gated area of Blue Bay Curacao Beach & Golf Club. We did not have to pay to enter, but did have to show ID. This beach was a very calm cove, and plenty of palm trees all over this beach. It definitely had more of a “resort-vibe” to it, with loungers, beach bars & service. I would recommend getting here early for chairs for sure.
Accommodation options on the island range from ultra-luxury to casual. Some of the more well-known resorts on the island would be Sandals Royal Curacao (all-inclusive, adult only), Curacao Marriott Beach Resort, & Renaissance Wind Creek Resort.
We stayed at the exclusive 5-Star Baoase Luxury Resort, a small boutique resort which I would highly recommend. Although it is not adult-only, I would describe it as “adult-focused”. From the moment of our arrival, the staff treated us like family – greeted us by name, came to take care of even the “smallest of needs/requests”, and even the manager, France, was there to wave us goodbye at the end. Their genuineness to please was well-noted. The overall feel of this resort was what I would call casual-sophistication or barefoot elegance.
One of the absolute highlights of our stay at Baoase Luxury Resort was the food. Seriously, the culinary experience was next-level. Every meal felt like a treat, with dishes that were not only delicious but also beautifully presented and super creative. The flavors were bold, the ingredients fresh, and the variety kept things exciting. From breakfast to dinner, it was clear the chefs put a ton of thought and love into every plate. It honestly felt like we were dining at a top-tier restaurant every single day….but even better, we were dining right on the beach! I will write a whole blog on this resort, so stay tuned.
We chose a 3-BR Villa, as we were traveling with our best friends. We enjoyed the shared indoor-outdoor living space the villa provided to us immensely! We had breakfast delivered every morning to the patio and spent our evenings winding down together. The patio had a direct swim-out to the infinity-pool that overlooked the beach, which honestly we did not use much. But our patio felt so private and peaceful.
So, if you’re dreaming of 5-star luxury wrapped in a peaceful, intimate setting, Baoase is pure magic. It has all the elegance you’d expect, but with a serene, low-key charm that makes it feel like your own private paradise.
While in Curacao, I also had the opportunity to do a site visit at the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort. This is a luxury family-friendly resort that is set on its own private beach. In 2019, the Curacao Marriott went through massive renovation with modern new updates throughout its 336-rooms. The resort is near the downtown area of Willemstad – just a short taxi-ride away. As you walk into the resort, the open-air lobby immediately draws you in and then it’s “the view” that captures you. The beach, albeit a little rocky, does have the beautiful clear blue waters that leave you in awe. The resort boasts two pools – one adult only & one main pool. The cabanas around the adult pool are “first come”, so no need to reserve and you don’t pay extra. We spent most of our day at this pool, and it never felt crowded. We even were able to secure a cabana at 11am, which I was pleasantly surprised. It is also nice that the adult pool has seats up near the oceanfront to sit on. The main pool looked very nice as well, and it is a key area for families. If you have a rental car while on the island, you do not have to pay for parking – YAY – always a plus!
One of the most popular excursions to do on Curacao is the Klein Curacao Island Tour. Renowned for its pristine white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant marine life, this island has become a sought-after destination for day trips. It is often said to be some of the prettiest water in the Caribbean. The tour (usually by catamaran) is an all-day experience, as you can expect 1-1.5hrs in travel in each direction (depending on weather and water), and it is often noted that seasickness is very normal. There is very little natural shade on this island, so choosing your tour operator can be important. Only a few provide shade options. The sun in Curacao is very strong, so having a place for shade may be important for many to consider. We chose not to do this tour, as I really didn’t want to succumb to seasickness and the lack of shade for a whole day event did not appeal to me. And I feel confident that I’ve seen water and islands just as pretty!
With that being said, we did choose to do a ½ day Sailing with Maxie’s Sailing. From my initial communication with Maxie’s Sailing until even after the sail, their professionalism and warmth were amazing. Upon meeting Hilde & Norbert at the marina, we immediately connected and enjoyed the conversations and hospitality. We were greeted onboard with a glass of champagne, and they made sure we were quickly comfortable before we set sail. They shared so much information on the island, about them, we had a delightful journey. The sailing took us past Sandals Royal Curacao. Although the resort looked very nice and modern, after seeing it in “real life”, I was re-assured we had made the right choice staying at Baoase. We sailed along the southeastern side of the island heading to Fuik Bay for some snorkeling. This bay is known to be another of Curacao’s hidden gems, and it is only accessible via boat. It’s famous for its Sunday Boat parties, but we were there during a weekday and had it mostly to ourselves. Unfortunately, we were not impressed with the snorkeling or Fuik Bay. Maybe it was an off day or maybe we didn’t swim far enough out. What we all saw was very cloudy (almost like a dust settling over everything under the water). While the water itself was very greenish-blue, the overall scenery somewhat “blah”. Once we got out of the water, our hosts had set up the most fabulous charcuterie and drinks. Hilde “wowed” us for sure – it was such a treat. After lunch, we sailed back enjoying the views and the nice breeze along the way. Despite maybe our disappointment with the snorkel part, we all enjoyed our time with Hilde and Norbert. They were genuinely great hosts who you couldn’t help but enjoy. Their love for sailing, Curacao, and connecting with people were so evident and so appreciated!
As our stay in Curacao came to end, we knew it was going to be hard to leave such a relaxing, beautiful place! It’s even harder dealing with reality once you are back home. But as I reflect on our trip, I am so glad we had the opportunity to visit Curacao. I would go back to Baoase without a second thought (once my purse fills back up – LOL!), However, I am not sure I would plan a trip back to Curacao anytime soon. I think there are other islands that just fit my style better. But each adventure, each new destination gives me the opportunity to see another piece of the world. And for that I’m grateful!
