From crystal-clear beaches and colourful Willemstad to an unforgettable day exploring the island by car, Curaçao surprised me in all the best ways.
My husband and I had been craving something different. We wanted a Caribbean beach vacation, but we also wanted to visit somewhere we hadn't been before and have the opportunity to explore beyond the resort.
Curaçao kept coming up in my research, and I knew I wanted to experience it firsthand before I could confidently recommend it to my clients.
We stayed at an all-inclusive resort, but some of my favourite memories actually came from getting out and exploring the island. That said, there were some pretty incredible moments at the resort too. One evening, we were sitting on our balcony when sea turtles swam right up near the shore in front of us. It's one of those little travel moments I still remember years later.
Falling for Willemstad
I was surprised by how much I loved Willemstad. It's such a cute, colourful city and completely different from anywhere else I'd visited in the Caribbean.
I loved walking around, seeing the colourful buildings and watching the Queen Emma floating bridge open and close as boats came through. We could even watch the cruise ships coming into port. There was also much more shopping and dining than I expected.
It's definitely somewhere I'd recommend setting aside some time to explore rather than spending your entire vacation at the resort.
The Joy of the Open Road
One of the best things we did was rent a car and spend a day driving around the island.
I'm so glad we did, because it completely changed how I experienced Curaçao. We made lots of little stops along the way, found beautiful beaches and got to see parts of the island we never would have seen if we'd stayed at the resort.
We also stopped at the Blue Curaçao distillery and, of course, came home with some Blue Curaçao — plus a couple of other colours for making fun drinks at home.
But the absolute standout for me was Grote Knip (Knip Beach).
To this day, it is one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been to. I remember swimming quite far out, looking straight down and still being able to clearly see the bottom probably 20 or 30 feet below me. The water was that clear.
If you're visiting Curaçao, Knip Beach is one place I absolutely wouldn't miss.
Who Will Love Curaçao
I think Curaçao is a great choice for couples, families and groups, especially if beautiful beaches and warm Caribbean weather are high on your list.
It is a relatively small island, though, and I think that's important when deciding if it's the right destination for you. If you're someone who wants a packed itinerary with a different tour or museum every day, Curaçao may not be your best fit.
But if you want beautiful beaches, time to relax with family or friends, a colourful city to explore and the option to get out and discover the island on your own, I think it's a really solid choice.
There's also a good variety of places to stay, from luxury adults-only resorts to family-friendly properties, with both all-inclusive and à la carte options.
Having experienced Curaçao myself makes a huge difference when I'm helping clients decide whether it's right for them. I know what the island feels like, how easy it is to explore and, just as importantly, who I think will love it.
I would absolutely go back.
In fact, this trip is what made us decide we need to visit all three ABC islands. Aruba is next on our list, and hopefully Bonaire won't be too far behind.
