Curacao

What to do in Curacao

Island Tour

A good way to begin sight-seeing is to take one or more of several "orientation tours" to familiarize yourself with Willemsted and various other points of interest so you can better plan your activities around what interests you most!.

Hato Caves

Located on the eastern side, this is one of the most intriguing sites on the island. Interconnected underground caves display an other-worldliness of stalactites, stalagmites, and native ancient petroglyphs. These caves were formed from the receding waters of the coral reefs and are situated atop high limestone terraces.

Curacao Seaquarium

If you aren't a diver or snorkler, you can still enjoy more than 400 species of underwater creatures housed in a natural environment. A special feature of the Seaquarium is the hands-on "Shark and Animal Encounter," where you can swim with the animals!.

Christoffel Park

A thrill for nature lovers, this 4,500-acre preserve is set on the island's highest point and is filled with hiking trails winding through fields of rare flowers and trees. It also passes near wild goat and bird habitats that you can better explore with an expert guide if you prefer.

Land and Water Sports

Curacao offers a vast array of recreational activities including golf, tennis, horseback riding, windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, and deep sea fishing. With the abundance of sun and beach, of course, many visitors enjoy just relaxing and sipping a tropical drink by the sea!.

Seaworld Explorer

Take a tour of submerged wrecks and coral reefs aboard a submarine that provides unparalleled underwater views.

Floating Market

Every visitor cn find a little something to take home as a memento of Curacao at this bustling market full of Venezuelan, Colombian, and island schooners in the canals. The wares are sold right out of the boats, making this one of the most unique shopping experiences in the world!.

Curacao Liqueur Distillery

Enjoy a free snifter of the liqueur that made the island famous. Open daily, this is your chance to taste the sweet drink at its source.

Scuba Diving

This is one of the best dive centers on Earth, with over 100 excellent sites. Curacao affords experienced and inexperienced divers alike an extraordinary collection of sights. Snorkelers, of course, also have a fantastic experience.

Curacao Museum

Housed in a 19th-century sailors' hospital, this museum exhibits early 20th-century Dutch paintings, antique furniture, antique maps detailing the history of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao,) and some native art. Other museums displaying art and classic European craftsmanship are worth a visit, and most are located in and around Willemsted.

Mikve¢ Israel-Emanuel Synagogue

Built in 1732, this is the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. It is home to the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum, which displays antique and religious artifacts donated by families from around the world.

Protestant Church Fortkerk

As a "parting gift" from his 26-day siege of the island in 1804, Captain Bligh left a cannonball permanently embedded in the wall of this church. Active since 1635, the church contains a museum and is noted for its ancient silver chalices.

Forts

In order to protect the harbors from pirates in the 1800s, the Rif and Water Forts were constructed. Walk along the ruined walls of the old Rif guard house, or dine in one of the restaurants in its vaults. On the other side of St Anna Bay, the ruins of Water Fort have been remade into bars, restaurants, and shops.