Curacao attractions

Standing on a prominent bluff, the rusty cannons of craggy Fort Nassau point out to sea. Over the centuries, the fort has protected Curacao from the Spanish, French, English, and buccaneers. Built in 1797, the fort was only called upon in battle when the English invaded. Now decommissioned, it remains an important signal station for vessels in St. Anna Bay.

Explore the Caribbean’s underwater world at the Curacao Sea Aquarium in Willemstad. Set in an old naval vessel, the aquarium lets you embark on a unique marine adventure featuring natural habitats that are continuously filled with fresh seawater. Ocean- and coral reef-related research projects are also conducted on site.

Colonial relics, maps, and Antillean art come together at the Kura Hulanda Museum, with a world-class collection of African artifacts. This well-regarded anthropological museum focuses on the cultures that have contributed to Curacao’s makeup over the centuries, including African slaves, West African empires, and pre-Columbian traders.

The lively Rif Fort courtyard complex is a major shopping and entertainment hub in Willemstad, located at the entrance of St. Anna Bay. It’s also home to some of the island’s finest restaurants. Originally built to protect the bay and the outer part of Willemstad’s Otrobanda neighborhood, the fort eventually lost its military use and has since been transformed into a popular tourist area.

Curacao’s largest nature reserve is Christoffel National Park, the ideal place to see the rare Curacao white-tailed deer, native barn owl, and wild orchids. The best way to explore is by the park’s eight hiking trails, graded from easy to challenging, including a hike to the top of Christoffel mountain. Scenic driving routes also wind through the park.

Set amid Curacao’s dramatic desert landscape, Curacao Ostrich Farm is not only home to the world’s largest birds, but a place to see emus, crocodiles, and pot-bellied pigs. Over 400 ostriches of all ages live at the farm, and the adorable babies are incredibly photogenic. Don’t forget to make time for the souvenir shop to grab gifts for any ostrich-loving friends back home.

Downtown Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fairytale world of gingerbread Dutch houses, cobbled lanes, and water views. Red-roofed gabled houses painted in sorbet colors of pink, blue, and orange line the narrow lanes looking onto the canals of Curaçao's St. Anna Bay. The downtown area is divided into Punda, on the canal’s right bank, and Otrobanda, on the other side of the canal.

Located on the west side of the Caribbean island of Curacao, Kokomo Beach offers laid-back vibes, turquoise waters, and lounge chairs positioned in the shade of palm trees—a true idyllic tropical getaway. There’s also a professional dive center here for those who want to explore the waters off the coast, which boast plenty of tropical fish and coral gardens.

On the island of Curacao, Blue Bay Beach epitomes the fantasy of a Caribbean getaway, with palm trees, lounge chairs, shade umbrellas, water sports, several restaurants, and a golf course. A favorite among families and locals, the beach boasts azure waters and plenty of on- and offshore amenities.

The clear, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea surrounding this sunken tugboat are a bonus—the main attraction is the intact boat hull, which has been transformed into an underwater jungle. As you glide through the water, you'll be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors, with schools of vibrant fish darting in and out of the coral formations.

With its vibrant yellow exterior, the Savonet Museum stands out against its green grass surroundings and the brilliant blue Curacao sky. Wander through the museum, a preserved plantation house, to learn about the indigenous people of Curacao, slavery, and the former colony's independence.