Curacao

Caribbean tips you can trust

Why
Curacao
is special

Curacao is best known for its plantation tours, its multi-hued Willemstad waterfront facades, and its shopping for tourists.

What Curacao lacks

Laadscape appeal

Curacao is short on gorgeous beaches. Most of the island's landscape is flat and arid, in contrast to the lush tropical shores and volcanic mountains found on many other Caribbean Islands. And, tourism plays a second fiddle to the oil refinery industry, which dominates the island's character.

On the other hand

Curacao has low-duty-free shopping, active casinos, and a photogenic Willemstad old town. This has encouraged cruise ships to make this island a port of call.

More Curacao
tips & insights

Plantation tours

They explore the historic plantation houses and lands in Christoffel National Park. The full tours include an old fashioned plantation-style lunch.

Tambu

This heartfelt traditional music and dance express the suffering of the slaves.

Cuisine

Curacao's festive dish is Rijsttafel, a meal comprising up to several dozen different dishes. Rijsttafel originated in colonial times in Indonesia, made its way to Holland, and then crossed the Atlantic to Curacao.