Willemstad, Curacao
Overview of My Trip
Private Tour- Tours By Locals
- Plaza/grand square
- Oldest Synagogue
- Liqueur Distillery
- Fort Nassau
The final stop of our Carribean cruise, Willemstad, Curacao is a small island located about 80 miles from the previous island of Aruba! One of my favorite ways to see sights in a new city is finding a local to share personalized stories! Typically, “Tours by Locals” is an amazing sight to find tours and adventures fitting the sites your party wants to see however, I want to preface this by saying this was not my favorite tour. The pacing was just a bit slow for me and felt like a significant amount of driving time compared to the stops we visited. Since this location is a common port city, and most likely a cruise is the only reason you’re visiting… maybe stick to a cruise excursion or leisurely wander through the markets. With that said, this island of color is definitely worth a visit so “Bon Bini” (or “Welcome”) to the island of Curacao!
Wilhelmina Plein
Located a walkable 20 minutes from the cruise port, the Wilhelmina Plein is the main plaza or square seen in ever picture of Curacao! Decked out on all sided by the unique architecture and colorful paint, this art capitol of Curacao is a must stop on any visit! Let me take you through a quick tour of the main sights to snap a picture with or simply enjoy as you wander from shop to shop.
Dushi Curacao Sign- The number one spot to capture a picture for your Instagram feed, the Dushi Curacao sign is hard to miss with its bright colors and giant size. Since the majority of people on the island are tourists, it isn’t hard to find someone to snap a picture of your entire party.
Queen Emma Bridge- The entrance from the port side to more localized Curacao, the Queen Emma Bridge spans across the St. Anna Bay. It’s hard to avoid crossing this architectural beauty, with silver arches covering the entire length of the bridge. Keep your eyes open as you cross though, because there is an abundance of bikes crossing at any given time. The views are well worth your eyes though as the bridge offers some of the most beautiful glimpses into the colorful city.
Coo-Coo Clock Show- Located off of the plaza where we grabbed some lunch, there is a gigantic coo-coo clock where a song of bells is played at the top of the hours. Follow your ears and the clock will be relatively easy to find.
Grab a Bite to Eat- Known as one of the trendiest islands of the Caribbean, the food of Curacao is no different! This island has a combination of Dutch cuisine and traditional Caribbean flair! With almost no chain restaurants in sight it’s well worth your time to find a sit-down local spot to grab a bite. Though it’s a local specialty, stew is going to feel heavy in our western belly’s especially in the heat. Keep in mind you are on an island and seafood is always a good pick!
Synagogue Turned Justice Center?
Right along the same square as “Dushi Curacao” is this hard to miss yellow tower. Though currently operating as a justice center (political palace), this building was originally a Synagogue (Jewish place of worship). The island has so much Jewish history that we’ll dive into more with the official oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere.
Key to Architecture
It should as no surprise that the Dutch colony also takes heavy inspiration from the Netherlands in the architecture of the city. Based on 17th century Dutch architecture the swirling molding and bright colors have created its own style in terms of Dutch design.
Places I Wish I Had Visited:
Hatto Caves- A drive outside of the city center, the Hatto Caves are a natural wonder across the North Side of the island. The system of caves allows guests to take a tour through the waterside rocks covered in stalactites/mites and neighboring animal park. Think aa the State park of the island. Hato Caves » Activities (curacaohatocaves.com)
Fort Amsterdam- The oldest fort in Curacao, the Fort Amsterdam is named after the Dutch city of the same name. Used to secure the colony against the Spanish, also battling for the land, this fort stands as a symbol of the Dutch forever marking Curacao as a colony of their own. Tours and availability to go inside is offered to learn more of the history.
Floating Market- One of my favorite things to do in a new city is to explore a local festival or market. The “Floating Market” is a farmers market located along the coastline of Curacao. Though there is a substantial number of exotic fruits – most have been imported as the island isn’t ideal growing conditions for almost any vegetation. The market is a perfect place to spot a souvenir though with local arts and crafts vendors.
Underwater Marine Park – While every Caribbean Island claims to be a diver’s paradise, I definitely believe this secret area of Curacao takes the cake! With fully sunken ships and other nautical items this park is truly another world under water. I recommend signing up for some kind of tour or excursion to reach the park however, since it is a good distance outside of the city.
Dushi – Compliment or Insult?
Though it sounds like insult in the English language, Dushi means something different in the local language of Papiamentu. Meaning sweet, Dushi is a term of endearment and commonly used on the island in pet names and even to describe the island nation. This is why the sign in the city center reads “Dushi Curacao” or “Sweet Curacao”.
My Roots In Curacao
Oldest Synagogue
Though modern-day Curacao is home to a relatively small Jewish population of around 300 active members, roots in the religion trace back to the 1700’s and the oldest synagogue in the Americas or Western hemisphere. The still active place of worship host Shabbat and entering the building was like entering a piece of my history.
Religion has always been a weird topic in my family with my mom’s side being Christian and dads’ side being Jewish. I grew up not practicing either religion though over the past few years I’ve found myself exploring more of the cultural meaning behind religion. I may not speak Hebrew or Yiddish, or practice Shabbat every 7th day, but I have the roots in this beautiful practice and want to learn about it in every way possible.
Regardless of religious beliefs it’s worth learning and visiting places of other people’s worship. Learn. Grow. Keep an open mind. We are learning and there’s something to learn from every religion, culture, and place.
Ashkenazi Jew
My roots are Ashkenazi Jew
“Jews of central or eastern European decent. More than 80 percent of Jews in the world today are Ashkenazim; they preserve Palestinian rather than Babylonian Jewish Traditions, and some still use Yiddish.”
Curacao of Curaçao
Traditional Liqueur
Limoncello in Positano, Italy. Wine in the French Riviera. Whiskey and moonshine in Tennessee. No matter what your beliefs on alcohol are, beverages and drinking culture are a huge deal across the globe and Curacao is no different with their signature drink of well… Curacao!
This blue liquor almost single handedly carries the economy of Curacao as their only export! Will such importance on the alcohol it’s well worth your time to visit a distillery and dive into the process of making the drink. I promise even if you aren’t a fan of alcoholic beverages… the machines, dried leaves, variety of colors and flavors, and support of the island make the stop worth it!
Bon Bini Experience
Meaning “Welcome” in Papiamentu, the Bon Bini experience of diving into drinking culture was an eye-opening experience away from the party culture found in the US. From generous employees taking the time to showcase steps of the process or cheering a drink with us, to the relaxed environment, I truly felt welcomed into the distillery!
Ending off the tour we tasted Curacao ourselves and the more unique flavors found at this distillery. My personal favorite was a chocolate flavor liquor though, my grandpa found the flavor a bit too sweet!
ABC Island: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao
The “ABC” islands are used to describe the 3 Caribbean islands that are under the Netherlands Antilles (colonies). While all 3 were originally under Dutch rule, Aruba has since gained its own independence as a country! If you want to here more about my adventures on the “ABC” islands check out my Aruba post here.
Fort Nassau
Sitting above the entire bay on Sablica hill is the beautiful Fort Nassau. Easily overlooked from the road below a stone tunnel guides you up multiple sets of stairs to the best view overlooking all of Curacao. Now we personally didn’t do the fort justice in our time on the island so here’s what I would recommend.
Starting off with a meal, take a look at reservations for the restaurant located inside the fort. It’s worth noting that it will be busier in the wintertime and less crowded in the summers. From the original cannon decor to seafood dishes, this is the perfect sport for a lunch break. After eating head up to the gazebo and top of the structure as you look at the unique plant life and signs depicting the history of this fort.
My last tip for visiting is to look off the sides of the stone walls into the water. What will look at first like a junkyard or pile or trash will be revealed as remnants of the old walls crumbling or canons tossed over the edge!
“Curacao relies on tourism to fuel its economy – they need us travelers!”
Final Thoughts on Curacao
I always want my blog to be a place that positively promotes the idea of exploring the world and new cultures. That being said I want to share the sides of travel that aren’t as fun and exciting and unfortunately Curacao was one of those experiences for me.
It was my least favorite of all the Caribbean islands I’ve visited and I partially blame myself for not preparing properly. The locations we visited were a ways apart allowing little time to explore on land and I missed the adventure of an adrenaline based experience.
While this island would not be my pick for a future trip as it didn’t cater to the travel style I love, I am by no means telling you not to visit. Much like Aruba, Curacao relies on tourism to fuel it’s economy – they need us travelers! Do some research in advance to find out if it fits you and your travel group!
