Beyond the Beach: 5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do in Curaçao

By Jacquelin Carnegie
The island of Curaçao, in the Dutch Caribbean (formally the Netherlands Antilles), is right next to Aruba and well worth a visit. This island has beautiful beaches and a fascinating history. 

 Willemstad
(photo: Curaçao Tourist Board)

Plus, it’s outside the hurricane zone! In addition to lounging on a beach chair, you can visit Curaçao's beautiful capital, Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with lovely, restored Dutch colonial buildings, great shopping, waterfront restaurants, and interesting historic sights. If a destination wedding appeals to you, get married in the oldest synagogue or in a beautiful old church. Already got kids: go on an ostrich safari. Into wellness: try herbal remedies. Interested in history: visit an anthropological museum and take a culinary/cultural walking tour, then head back to the beach and relax.
TAKE A CULINARY WALKING TOUR
Culinary/Cultural Walking Tour

Floating Market
(image: Baselmans)

(Clarita, claritahagenaar@hotmail.com; Cell/WhatsApp: 005999 684 0373) - A wonderful way to explore Curaçao's culture is through food. Go on a culinary stroll through the historic, old town of Willemstad, stopping for a fruit smoothie in the Otrobanda neighborhood before crossing the bridge into the Punda district. Check out the fresh fruits and veggies at the Floating Market, examine the day’s catch at the new Round Market. Then, have lunch with the locals at the Old Market (Yvonne di Plaza’s booth is a good pick).

TRY HERBAL REMEDIES
Den Paradera: Dinah Veeris’ Botanical Garden
Seru Grandi Kavel 105A, Banda Riba; www.dinahveeris.com 
Dinah Veeris provides traditional, Caribbean herbal treatments by propagating over 300 species of wild medicinal plants in her botanical garden. Visit and try some of the remedies from herbal creams to coconut soap.
Curaloe Aloe Vera Plantation  

Kura Hulanda's beach 

West Groot Sint Joris, Santa Catharina; www.curaloe.com
Aloe Vera contains more than 75 nutrients. The gel is considered a “miracle cure” for the skin and the juice is recommended as a nutritional supplement. Learn how it’s harvested and processed and pick up some pure aloe products.

GIVE YOUR KIDS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
The Curaçao Ostrich Farm 

(photo: Ostrich Farm)

West Groot Sint Joris, Santa Catharina; curacaoostrichfarm.com
If you’re traveling with kids, take a “photo safari” ride through the farm and learn all about these weird and wonderful birds; it’s a fun and educational experience. Afterwards, if you’re brave enough, chow down on an ostrich burger in the lovely open-air restaurant.

VISIT A FASCINATING MUSEUM & ART GALLERIES
Kurá Hulanda Museum

Klipstraat 9, Otrobanda, Willemstad; www.kurahulanda.com
After soaking up some rays, spend time in this fascinating, anthropological museum. The exhibits focus on the predominant cultures of Curaçao offering a world-class chronicle of the Origin of Man, the African slave trade, West African Empires, Mesopotamian relics and Antillean art.

Market (artist: Jan "Jakke" Francke) -
Landhuis Daniel

Art Galleries - Take home some meaningful souvenirs; artwork by local talent: curacao-art.com
Gallery Alma Blou (Landhuis Habaai, Frater Radulphusweg 4, Otrobanda, Willemstad; www.galleryalmablou.com) - This gallery has a lovely collection of Curaçao paintings, photographs, pottery, sculpture and handmade jewelry.

  

Landhuis Bloemhof (Santa Rosaweg 6, Saliña, Willemstad; www.bloemhof.cw) - Built in 1735, this

Mon Art (artist: Herman van Bergen)

plantation (landhuis) has been a venue for art exhibits since the 1950s, showcasing local and international artists.
Mon Art Handmade (Landhuis Bloemhof, Santa Rosaweg 10, Willemstad; http://bit.ly/2f2SVyb) - This gallery has unique, local, handmade crafts, paintings, gifts, and souvenirs. 

GET MARRIED
After exploring Curaçao, you might fall in love with the place and each other. No matter what your religion, you’ll find a wedding planner to help you organize the big day.
Mikvé Israel-Emmanuel (Hanchi di Snoa 29, Punda, Willemstad; www.snoa.com)
This is the oldest synagogue continuously used for religious services in the Western Hemisphere. It was built in 1732 by a Sephardic Jewish community that relocated from Amsterdam. With its sand floor, cobalt-blue windows, dark mahogany interior and candle-lit, brass chandeliers, it is just stunningly beautiful.
Fort Church (Fort Amsterdam, Punda, Willemstad; http://bit.ly/2I8cjWv) - Built in 1769, this is Curaçao's oldest Protestant church.

Carnival (Jan-Feb) is a great time to visit 
(photo: Curaçao Tourist Board)

Basilica Santa Ana (Breedestraat 31, Otrabanda, Willemstad; http://bit.ly/2D4qrfy) - Founded in 1752, Santa Ana was elevated to basilica and co-cathedral status by Pope Paul VI in 1975.

Where to Stay: There are all kinds of accommodations in Curaçao (www.curacao.com) from rental apartments to resort hotels. Here are two nice options:
Kurá Hulanda (Otrobanda, Willemstad; www.kurahulanda.com) - This is a unique, stunning place for an in-town experience. The Kurá Botanica Hotel is in Otrobanda, a beautifully-restored section of Willemstad, lined with little townhouses. You'll feel as if you’re staying in a small European village, not in a hotel. (It's an adults-only property.)

Kura Hulanda

Sandals Royal Curaçao (Santa Barbara Plantation, Porta Blancu, Nieuwpoort; http://bit.ly/1k0fyvp)
This is the new Sandals resort, a great location on 44-secluded acres. The hotel looks out on Spanish Water Bay and the Caribbean Sea.  There’s great Scuba diving and water sports, pools, a private beach, tennis courts, and hiking & biking trails. Private bungalows and more. If you’re into golf, it's next door to The Old Quarry, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Pete Dye.
Getting There: Flights on American and JetBlue from the USA; KLM from Europe.

Willemstad, Curaçao (photo: Rodry)

Editor's Note: 
a) Since 2010, the Netherlands Antilles no longer exists as such. Curaçao is now autonomous, but there's still Dutch influence. b) The currency is the Netherlands Antillean guilder (florin), but the dollar is widely accepted. c) The local languages are Dutch and Papiamentu (Curaçao creole), but almost everyone speaks English and Spanish.