Willemstad, Curaçao

Historic city center

The main attraction of Curaçao’s capital can confidently be called the buildings with their exceptionally vivid colors. No wonder the city with its harbor was recently included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. All buildings in Willemstad are made in the colonial style. The historic districts look like classic Dutch towns. Interestingly, today modern structures in the city are also built using elements of colonial architecture to preserve a unified and unique style of Willemstad. The true symbols of the city are three bridges, named after the queens of the Netherlands-Emma, Juliana, and Wilhelmina. Willemstad’s waterfront stands out for its incredible beauty, lined entirely with grand mansions in the Dutch colonial style of the 18th century. Today, they represent a special cultural value.

Aquarium

Curaçao Seaquarium is a unique aquarium complex created in 1984. Here you can see marine animals, feed flamingos, stingrays and sea turtles under the guidance of an instructor. At the seaquarium you can dive with scuba gear, swim with a snorkel, watching beautiful sea turtles, stingrays and other colorful fish, and even pet some of the animals. The aquarium houses 46 pools of different shapes and sizes, containing about 400 specimens of Caribbean marine flora and fauna. All the aquariums are lit with natural sunlight and supplied with clean seawater collected from a specific depth in nearby reefs, so the residents of the complex live here in conditions that are virtually natural.

Dolphin Academy

The Dolphin Academy opened its doors to visitors in 2002 with the aim of creating opportunities for close interaction between people and trained dolphins-bottlenose dolphins-debunking unreliable myths about these marine animals, and promoting the protection of the marine environment and its inhabitants. Today, 20 dolphins live at the Academy, and each one has a name that the animal responds to. The dolphins are not kept in aquariums; instead, they live in a small lagoon directly connected to the open sea. Six special programs have been designed for visitors, offering the chance to get to know and interact with the dolphins, learn about their habits and behavior, and swim or go underwater together with the animals in the lagoon or in the open sea. At the end, each guest will receive a dolphin kiss.

Beaches

Blue Bay Beach features soft white sand and shallow ocean waters off the coast, making it an excellent choice for families with children. The beach offers a wide range of attractions and great facilities. The nearby city beach in Willemstad, Mambo, located next to the Oceanarium, is very popular and is ideally suited for families with children thanks to the calm, shallow sea, clean white sand, and well-developed infrastructure. Grott Knip Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Curaçao due to its white sand, clear turquoise water, and the surrounding emerald hills. This beautiful beach is the one most often featured on postcards with views of the island. The pebble-and-sand Caracasbay Beach is very popular for snorkeling and swimming. This beach is part of an underwater park. Along the shore, there are several small restaurants, and the water is usually calm.

Hato Caves

The main natural feature of the area around Willemstad is the stunning Hato Caves, which became well known during the era of the slave trade. It was in these fantastic underground natural formations that escaped slaves hid many years ago. Among other similar sites, the Hato Caves stand out for their giant stalactites that ominously hang from the ceilings. The eerie feeling from their sight is enhanced by special lighting, under which the stalactites and stalagmites cast completely unique shadows. There are several picturesque bodies of water and beautiful waterfalls in the caves. The caves are home to iguanas and bats.

Zoo Tropical Park

The Curaçao Zoo, located on the Corot plantation, is very small, but packed with activities for children. Here you can see tropical Caribbean plants and, of course, the four-legged residents of this area. Monkeys, lions, bears, crocodiles, other mammals, and lots of birds live here. There is also a children’s entertainment center in the park, where kids can not only interact with animals but also learn a lot of new and interesting facts about different species. The park also features two children’s playgrounds for kids of all ages, and a children’s farm where children can ride various domestic animals and even feed rabbits, donkeys, pigs, goats, and sheep. A botanical garden is located next to the zoo.

Curaçao Island Sightseeing Tour

During this excursion, you will travel past wet salt flats to the caves of Hato, impressive grottoes full of stalactites, stalagmites, and crystal-clear pools. Visit the Curaçao Museum, which features both a modern art exhibition and a historical display of daily life in Curaçao from the mid-19th century. Enjoy beautiful views of Punda and Otrobanda. Visit the Hobi-lobibo estate to taste the famous Blue Curaçao liqueur and see the process of how it is made. Drive through the center of Willemstad and see the main attractions. You will have the option to stay in the city center to explore the sights on your own or stroll through the shops.

Curaçao Distillery

The Curacao Liqueur Factory is located in the historic Chobolobo estate, built at the beginning of the 19th century. The story of the invention of liqueur began with the arrival of Spanish colonizers in Curacao. They brought here orange saplings of the “Valencia” variety, which in Spain were famed for their juicy and sweet fruit. However, due to the hot and dry climate, the oranges on Curacao grew bitter and inedible. The orchards were abandoned and left to run wild. And only many years later it was discovered that their zest, dried in the sun, releases essential oils with an extraordinary aroma. A descendant of the “Valencia” variety was named the “Golden Orange of Curacao,” and its zest is added to the liqueur. The unique recipe for Curacao liqueur belongs to the Senior family, which, after several experiments, launched mass production of this drink. Visitors to the Liqueur Factory can watch the production process, sample the liqueur, and buy a few bottles of Genuine Curacao.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can review them after booking your cruise in your “Customer Personal Account”.