10 Things to Do in Curaçao Island for Caribbean Fun!

Experience Curacao Island Happiness…

How could I possibly have more to write about the Caribbean island of Curaçao, given that this is now my SEVENTH article from my epic Curaçao trip?

Ooh, trust me — there are ostriches and edible iguanas that still need discussing, and photos too beautiful to keep hidden. Let’s go!

Because I need to move on with my life and start writing about other places, this will be the last post in this Curaçao series (unless I do a return trip, of course…), so this is when all the lesser-known gems are revealed.

Whether or not you’re planning Curaçao island travel soon, sit back and enjoy a scroll through these luscious views while we dive into what to do in Curaçao for maximum delight…

1. Spot the little yellow birds!

The Venezuelan troupial — a species of New World oriole — is the national bird of Curaçao, and geez is it ever lovely. You will find flocks of these wee, golden cuties serenading strangers, showing off their jolly feathers, and adorning street art.

Are you getting hungry already, imagining those little wings flapping? Let’s lunch…

2. Eat at Plasa Bieu.

I had fabulous food in Curaçao, but my favorite meal of all was the home-style cooking found at Yvonne’s in Plasa Bieu: a large cafeteria-style hall in Willemstad that is wildly popular with locals and tourists alike.

Below, see my “stoba” stew (the meat was so tender it melted off the bone!), plantains, rice, and funchi: a sort of corn polenta with similarities to African dishes like ugali, banku, or my #1 dish from Ghana: fufu.

Isn’t it delicious how Curaçao is a blend of European, African, Caribbean, and other flavors???

Now that we’ve eaten, let’s see some history next…

3. See the oldest surviving synagogue in the Americas.

Continuing the theme of Curaçao’s wonderful cultural diversity, Willemstad’s Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue dates back to 1674, and is nestled (in gold) artfully between green, red, and yellow buildings, as you can see below.

Especially given my DNA results, it was a thrill to be near this important Jewish history. Next, let’s drive a few minutes outside the city for an epic attraction…

4. Tour a giant ostrich farm!

The Curaçao Ostrich Farm — one of the biggest outside of Africa — is just 15 minutes east of Willemstad, and offers a great educational “safari” truck tour with the most adept trilingual guide I’ve ever seen.

You can even RIDE the ostriches… but as our guide explained (in English, Spanish, and Papiamento, no less), “Most people are so terrified from the experience that they beg it to stop, run away in terror, and never, ever do it again.”

Ok, in an awkward twist, I am refusing to include my ostrich photos to accompany this tip, despite having snapped hundreds during my tour. Why? To be honest, the ostriches were, um… not the most attractive models.

Sorry! I don’t want to offend ostrich lovers, but my aim with this blog is to share beauty and happiness, and those photos just instill… gasps.

In lieu of scowling, scraggly ostrich faces, therefore, I shall give you instead a breathtaking photo I took of a teal parrot that was hanging out at the entrance to the farm. Isn’t she stunning? Gaze, then let’s head back to Willemstad.

5. Dig the Dutch-Caribbean architecture.

Mix the triangles and loops of Amsterdam’s edifices with the pulsing colors of the Caribbean, and you’ve got Willemstad. You can spend a whole day just wandering the town and smiling at the hues and shapes.

Have you heard the story of why Willemstad is rainbow painted? Legend has it that in the early 1800s, all the buildings were painted white, which gave the governor of Curaçao island, Albert Kikkert, major migraines when the sun ricocheted off.

To ease his throbbing noggin, the story goes that Kikkert ordered all buildings in town to be colored all shades possible.

Now here’s the sneaky twist: It turns out that Kikkert was an investor in the only paint factory on the island, meaning this colored paint order led to quite a profit in his pockets!

Corruption or no, the colors of Curaçao’s capital have sure paid off in making visitors and photographers like me turn euphoric.

For more on the architecture of specific areas in Willemstad, check out my pieces on the Pietermaai District (a crumbling area which is now half rebuilt through eye-popping art) and Scharloo (the former Jewish merchant neighborhood in which the buildings look like wedding cakes).

Now let’s mosey to the internationally-infused waterfront!

6. Explore the floating market (if it still exists).

Because Curaçao is less than 40 miles north of Venezuela’s coast, fishermen from the South American country have brought their fresh catches to Willemstad’s market each day for over a century.

I took these photos several months ago, but double check that the market is still around before heading there, as politics in Venezuela have caused supply and commerce problems, and my current research suggests this historic institution is on pause.

I love the sparkle in this fisherman’s eyes, below, and truly hope the fishermen are still in business.

Though Curaçao island is most famous for is multi-colored bay (pictured in the first photo in this article), I was deeply moved by the beauty of this quiet waterway behind the floating market. Just drink in those shimmering colors!

For our next stop, let’s turn away from the water and towards the stalls that line it, and the large, round market nearby: Ronde Markt.

7. Go shopping.

I’m not a big souvenir person, but I have to admit that Curaçao has some of the most unique goodies a shopper can snap up. Take these unique medicinal oils from Ronde Markt, pictured below, for example. Shark (“Tribon”) Oil?! Whoa!

You will also find a fun mix of clothing in Willemstad that reflects the diversity of Curaçao’s cultures. I loved seeing the signs in Dutch, and learning that “Uitverkoop” means “Sale.”

Never would have guessed that one! I would have thought that word meant “Unseating a government via a coup undertaken through underwear.”

Meanwhile, along the water, there are colorful stalls staffed by people who have come from all over the Caribbean and beyond. Rainbow colored iguana statue, anyone?

8. Swim in amazing beaches.

Well, this one is obvious. Curaçao has some of the most beautiful ocean swimming in the world, as you can see from my article about touring the best beaches of Curaçao.

If you’d rather stay in Willemstad, however, don’t be sad that it doesn’t have natural beaches — the great hotel where I stayed (affiliate: easy link for hotel info here) offers a human-made “infinity beach” two stories above the ocean, and you can visit for a day rate, even if you’re not staying there!

9. Feast on iguana and tutu.

Whilst touring the heavenly beaches around Curaçao, stop for a meal in the north of the island at Jaanchies: one of the most relaxing, welcoming, delightful places I’ve ever eaten.

This homey restaurant has an open wall overlooking an enchanting bird garden. I could have gazed at those opera-singing troupials for hours!

For food, my dear hosts urged me to try the… iguana stew as an appetizer! It was not as confusing a taste as I expected — just somewhat boney, and with the odd effect of conjuring visions of skittering green animals cavorting through my belly.

I am not including the iguana stew photo for similar reasons to my ostrich pic abstention: the experience was better than the visuals! I have a meal I DO want to show you, though, so I can explain what it is:

The plate shown above was our entree from Jaanchies, and, though you may recognize fish in the middle (Curaçao is, after all, an island, and offers excellent seafood), you may be confused about the logs on either side.

Those food logs are called tutu, and are similar to the funchi explained earlier, except in addition to the cornmeal, mashed black-eyed peas are added. Truly yummy and filling! Let’s head back to the city now…

10. Embrace the rainbow art of Willemstad!

Beyond the architecture itself, Curaçao’s capital brims with vibrant street art. You know you want to pose between the wings on this mural…

Inside buildings, too, decor is creative and fun. Ogle this atrium from the waterfront restaurant, Gouverneur, where I ate the first night:

People watching in Willemstad is also world-class. It made me smile to see so many beautiful families, couples, and humans in general strolling by the multi-colored walls.

Enjoy Your Curacao Vacation!

So there you have it: my LAST Curaçao article (until the next trip??) of the seven in this year-long series about the island. I suddenly feel strangely at sea, not having thousands of beautiful Caribbean photos on my computer, begging to be placed in an article, anymore…

I guess I’ll just have to head out on the next adventure! Good thing my suitcase is already packed, because I head out tomorrow. Stay tuned to find out where!

So what about YOU? What are your thoughts and experiences around Curaçao, the ABC Islands, and these photos and tips?

Do share!

I was a guest of the Curaçao Tourist Board, but all opinions and ostrich judgements are my own.