Fun and Unique Things to Do in Curacao

The stunning island of Curacao is an amazing Caribbean vacation spot. The island itself is beautiful, colorful and filled with tons of amazing activities and experiences. There is no shortage of fun and unique things to do in Curacao, and this guide will share all of the best things to do during your trip – no matter the length.

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The Best Things to do in Curacao

Go Snorkeling at Tugboat Beach

There are tons of places to go snorkeling in Curacao, but Tugboat Beach is one of the very best!

At this beach you can snorkel out to a sunken tugboat and see tons of amazing fish and sea creatures along the way. You can rent snorkeling equipment at Tugboat Beach and it’s a great place to spend the day.

Visit the Many Beaches

Curacao is filled with tons of amazing beaches and there are so many unique options.

Three of my favorite beaches are Cas Abao, Playa Porto Mari and Playa Canoa. Read more about these beaches and what makes them so special in my Curacao vacation guide!

Take a Painting Class

Some of the popular beaches in Curacao offer painting classes and it is so fun to paint a souvenir with a view of the ocean. The artists are amazing teachers and they help you create the perfect design to remember your trip to Curacao.

Both Playa Porto Mari and Tugboat Beach offer these classes. You can walk in any time of day, and they are very low-key and fun.

Take a Boat Trip to Klein Curacao

A full day boat trip to the uninhabited island of Klein Curacao is such a fantastic adventure! Just make sure to bring seasick medicine, because the ocean can be rough.

I recommend booking with Mermaid Boat Tours, as they are one of the only companies with a beach structure on the island.

Check out my full guide to Klein Curacao, with all the tips and information you’ll need for your boat adventure!

Take a Sunset Boat Cruise

I really wanted to take a sunset boat cruise, but unfortunately I got so seasick on my trip to Klein Curacao that I was nervous to get back on a boat.

There are so many cool options to choose from though, and they all look like a lot of fun!

Curacao Sunset Cruises:

• Happy Hour Sunset Sail
• Sunset Sailing Trip
• Spanish Water & Sunset Cruise
• Curacao Sunset Fishing Cruise

Swim With Dolphins

At the Curacao Sea Aquarium, through the Dolphin Academy, you can swim, snorkel or scuba dive with the cutest dolphins! It is so much fun to do and an awesome experience while on the island. This is great for kids and adults.

Have a Sunset Dinner on the Beach/Ocean View

There’s something so special about watching the sunset on the beach with a good dinner. There are many places to enjoy a sunset beach dinner in Curacao, but some of the best are:

• De Heeren @ Sea – beautiful ocean views in Pietermaai
• BijBlauw – beautiful ocean views (Greece vibes!) in Pietermaai
• Karakter – a beautiful restaurant on the beach

Be sure to check out my full guide to food and dining in Curacao!

Take an ATV Tour

An ATV tour is such a fun way to explore Curacao and to see parts of the island that you might miss otherwise! I had a fantastic half day ATV tour with Eric’s ATV Adventures – and I definitely recommend them.

If you have time, a full day tour would be amazing too, as it would allow you to see even more of the island!

• Buggy Private Tour in West Side Curacao
• Curacao Half Day ATV Adventure Double seat ATV Tour

Take a Walking Tour of Willemstad

Willemstad is such a beautiful and colorful city, and it also has a really unique history. I highly recommend taking a walking tour of the different neighborhoods of Willemstad with Dundu Tours.

I went on the walking tour of Otrobanda and it was such a fun experience!

Check out Dundu Tours Facebook page for information on all of the unique tours they offer! They have everything from food tours, to breakfast tours and e-scooter tours!

Ride Scooters Around Willemstad

While you’re exploring Willemstad, you’ll see lots of e-scooter tours driving around the city! These tours are a great way to see many areas of Willemstad in a single tour. Driving the e-scooters is also a ton of fun.

You can book your scooter tour with Dundu Tours through their Facebook page.

Admire the Street Art in Willemstad

In addition to the brightly painted buildings around Willemstad, in the neighborhood of Otrobanda specifically, you’ll find amazing street art. Much of this street art was painted by locals during the neighborhood’s Kaya Kaya Party, and it’s super impressive!

Grab a coffee and spend the morning walking around the neighborhood and enjoying the beautiful art and murals!

Stand on The Queen Emma Bridge While it Swings Open

The Queen Emma Bridge in Willemstad is really unique! It’s a pontoon bridge that swings open to let boats pass through. You can stand on the bridge while it’s moving and it’s a fun experience!

I recommend only standing on it if a small boat is coming in, so it doesn’t swing open too much and keep you trapped on the bridge for a long period of time. If a large boat is moving though, you may be stuck on the bridge for 10+ minutes.

Check Out the Museums

There are great museums to check out in Curacao to learn about the history and culture of the island. These museums are also fantastic to visit if it’s very hot or rainy outside.

• Kura Hulanda Museum – learn about the slave trade and history of slavery in Curacao.
• Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue – the oldest Synagogue in the Western Hemisphere! Learn about the history of Judaism in Curacao.
• Maritime Museum Curacao – learn about maritime history in Curacao. They also offer guided boat tours!

Check out Hato Caves

The Hato Caves are more than 300,000 years old, and are open to the public to visit on guided tours! Visiting Hato Caves is a great way to learn about the archeological history of the island.

Hato Caves are located right across the street from the airport, so they’re a great first stop when you arrive on the island.

If you prefer to visit Hato Caves as part of a day tour to many sites on the island, check out:

• City Highlights and Cave
• Hato Caves, Turtles & Beach
• Ostrich Farm and Hato Caves Adventure
• Curacao Beach and Hato Caves Tour

Try the Famous Blue Curacao

Curacao is famous for its liqueur made of dried, bitter oranges. Blue Curacao (named for its bright blue color) is the most well known variety.

While on the island you can visit the Curacao Liqueur Distillery at Landhuis Chobolobo to learn about the production of the famous Blue Curacao. You can also have drinks at the bar and even take a cocktail making workshop!

Have Coffee at the Beautiful Cafes

The coffee in Curacao is so good – I never had a bad cup of coffee in my entire time on the island. There are tons of great cafes all around the island, and I recommend checking out as many as you can.

A few of my favorites are:

• Reina Cafe
• Bonchi Coffeehouse
• Cafe Copacabana
• Van Gogh Coffee (they also have a cute drive through)

For more information about the best restaurants Curacao, check out my food and restaurant guide!

Have a Farm-to-Table Brunch

Curacao imports most of its food from the US and Europe, and there are not many farms growing produce on the island. However, this is now beginning to change and more farms are popping up.

This is fantastic, as it’s leading to a greater availability of fresh produce on the island. In order to support these small farmers, I highly recommend checking out Hofi Cas Cora, a farm-to-table restaurant.

You can visit and take tours of the farm and buy local produce, and if you visit on the weekend, you can also enjoy a farm-to-table brunch at the eatery made with all local ingredients!

Check Out the Historic Forts

All across the island you’ll find old forts built in the 1500 – 1800s. These forts are very cool to visit!

• Fort Beekenburg (1703) – a very well preserved Dutch fort near Tugboat Beach.
• Rif Fort (1828) – located in Otrobanda, it currently operates as a walled shopping and restaurant area.
• Fort Amsterdam (1634) – a Dutch fort in Punda, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Fort Nassau (1797) – a Dutch fort that currently houses a restaurant with 360 degree views of Curacao!

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So there you have it! I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best things to do on the beautiful island of Curacao!

Be sure to check out my Curacao vacation guide with all of the information you’ll need for planing your trip, including hotel recommendations and travel tips!

If you have any questions, or anything to add to this post, let me know in the comments!

Lastly, I appreciate you sharing this post with someone you know who’d love a trip to Curacao!

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More posts for planning your Curacao vacation:

• Foodie Guide to the Best Restaurants and Food in Curacao
• Curacao Vacation Guide
• Klein Curacao Boat Trip – Travel Guide and Tips

♡Kate

Note: this guide includes affiliate links, read our disclosure here.