Best times to visit
Anytime! Curaçao has remarkably consistently great weather, usually at least as good or better than any Caribbean destinations outside the ‘ABC’ Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao). There are never hurricanes and the occasional tropic storm passes by quickly.
A passport is required, but no visa from the US.
Transportation
Flying to Hato International Airport (CUR)
JetBlue has direct flights from JFK
Otherwise the flights are often through Miami
On the ground
Taxis are a bit pricey, and the public transportation system is cheap but not great. Rent a car; parking is usually not a problem. Renting a car from one of the airport companies is fine; you can sometimes get a better deal from a smaller local firm but they’re not allowed to meet you at the airport.
Coral Estate
Coral Estate is basically paradise. The landscaping and architecture are very nice, the staff are quite helpful, you’re swimming in the Caribbean after a minute of walking from the Lanai, and there are nice restos and pubs right in the resort.
It does not have a sandy beach, so swim shoes are recommended to get past a minor smooth rocky area and then swim in perfectly clear warm water with the tropical fish!
Coral Estate has a good scuba/snorkeling shop and they offer scuba training and certification right on the resort.
The resort also has spa services.
Best beaches
Awesome sandy Caribbean beaches are just a few minutes away by car. All the best ones are in the NW not far from Coral Estate. We recommend Daaibooi (the closest awesome beach), Playa Lagun (usually has huge beautiful sea turtles and lots of fish), Grote Knip (stunning views with refreshments/services), and Kleine Knip.
For a rowdier beach experience (more crowds, bars, nightlife etc), go to Jan Thiel and Mambo Beach.
Willemstad: Punda and Otrobanda
Willemstad is one of the most beautiful towns on Earth, with a cool rotating bridge right in the middle of it. The higher part of the city is called “Otrobanda” and has a lot of interesting architecture, art, and places to eat. The lower part is “Punda” and is a great area for shopping as well as eating and imbibing. It’s an easy 20-minute drive from Coral Estate and parking is usually not difficult to find.
Punda has the oldest continually operating Jewish synagogue in the western hemisphere, from the 1700s: Mikvé Israël-Emanuelsynagoge
Other attractions
Ostrich farm
Aloe vera farm
Blue Curaçao distillery
Nena Sanchez art gallery and shop
Other art galleries
Kleine Curaçao – a tiny uninhabited paradise island that’s a short boat ride away; you can book a trip there from the dive shop at Coral Estate.
The eastern side of the island has strong, wild waves that have carved out scenic ‘bokas’ (mouths) in the island. Shete Boka (“Seven Mouths”) is popular
Caves
Christoffelpark – climb a small mountain
Languages
English and Spanish are very widely spoken.
The official languages are Dutch and Papiamentu (originally a slavery creole based on Cape Verdean Portuguese). You don’t need to know them to get around, but Philip totally geeks out on these and loves to confuse the locals with linguistic code switching!!
Currencies
The main currency is the Netherlands Antilles guilder (ANG), which is tied to USD at about $0.56 to 1 ANG.
USD and euros are also sometimes accepted.
VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted.
For hard currency, generally when we travel anywhere, we prefer to withdraw small amounts of local currency using our debit cards; the fees are minimal and the exchange rate is usually better. The currency exchange counters tend to rip you off.
Grocery stores
There are several options; the most convenient and well-stocked one is Centrum Supermarket Piscadera. Enjoy creamy Dutch cheese along with tropical fruits and lots of fresh fish!
The Lanai has a great well-equipped kitchen for easy cooking. Restos can be expensive, so cooking at the resort is oft a good option.
Safety
Curaçao is safer than most places in the Caribbean. Occasionally there’s petty theft; lock your rental car and don’t leave anything valuable in plain sight, just like when you’re in Philadelphia!
Electricity
Curaçao uses standard European outlets. International Travel Power Adapter.
Navigation / Apps
Use maps.me, and download its Curaçao map, for easy offline nav to all the best spots.
Many locals use WhatsApp for comms, frequently exclaiming “App me!”
De Visserij has phenomenal fresh inexpensive seafood and a bar.
Zuikertuin Mall – has a great coffee place Kaffie Kaatje, and the mall has high-quality clothing stores.
Remember to fill out the Curaçao digital immigration card: https://dicardcuracao.com/dicard
Casita Curacao 