Last Updated
Not Cancun and its jam-packed Hotel Zone, Punta Cana, and its bar-lined waterfront, and that is most undoubtedly not Jamaica with the reggae golf equipment and beachfront villas:
Fast-approaching the pantheon of Caribbean Greats, Curaçao is one of many fastest-growing locations within the area proper now, bringing in a document 1.57 million guests final yr and with a major 30 p.c enhance in U.S. arrivals.
If it does not sound like all that many, enable us to remind you it is a tiny island, solely 171 sq. miles in measurement and with a inhabitants of roughly 147,000: in different phrases, over 1,000,000 company in a single yr is large.
So, what’s driving this unprecedented progress?
One Of The Caribbean’s Truly Unspoiled Gems
Curaçao could also be small, however it’s on no account missing in pure and cultural choices:
Belonging to the Netherlands’ Caribbean territories––as in, it is formally part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its residents are Dutch––it’s markedly distinct from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and different Latin-majority islands.
It has a colonial capital in Willemstad, however not of the sort you’d look forward to finding round right here: as a substitute of ornate Baroque church buildings and Spanish-style plazas, count on rows upon rows of Dutch-inspired, Northern Mannerist facades, and canal-traversed heart.
Unlike Amsterdam’s, nevertheless, homes right here usually are not constructed with darkish bricks and have brightly painted exteriors as a substitute: likewise, the road meals stalls lining the canal fronts are much more prone to promote native pumpkin pancakes or papaya stew than stroopwafels and gouda cheese.
There aren’t any towering Gothic cathedrals both, although you possibly can marvel at a Seventeenth-century Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, one of many oldest within the Americas, established by Jewish settlers on the peak of the Transatlantic Trade.
It’s nonetheless the Netherlands, kind of, only a completely different taste of it.
What To See In Curaçao In 2025
Curaçao is related to unspoiled white sands and flamingos, and for those who’re on the lookout for flocks of the gracious pink-feathered creatures, the Jan Thiel flats are the place you will discover them.
For paradisiacal Caribbean seashores, a few of the prime picks embrace Carcasbaai, a deep-water bay hugged by teal seas, Mambo Beach, a classy white-sand strip boasting many facilities, together with Bonita Beach Club the place nice seafood is served, and Playa Grandi:
Backed by a laid-back fishing village, it has a compact sandy expanse that not often ever feels crowded, and it is a widespread hotspot for sea turtle hatching.
If you are based mostly in Willemstad and also you’re down for just a little journey, we advocate you ebook this electronic scooter southeast tour, with stops in Carcasbaai, the historic Fort Beekenburg, an 18th-century Dutch stronghold, and many diving websites round Tug Boat Beach.
Nearby, you will additionally get to go to one of many island’s prime sights, The Quarantine House, a former leper colony the place incomers who had fallen sufferer to the plague can be positioned (don’t be concerned, it is completely secure now)––and all of this from solely $59 per particular person!
Why Do Americans Love Curaçao
Cultural gems apart, Curaçao is primarily a resort destination, and that is why Americans are loving it on the minute:
What with the loopy world of politics again residence and the restricted paid trip days they get yearly, it is no surprise they’re favoring a Caribbean island like Curaçao: it is often a stress-free escapade, and there is plenty of pampering concerned in these luxurious inns.
This February, an all-inclusive, week-long keep for two at The Rif At Mangrove Beach will set you again $3,523, in keeping with the common value for five-star Caribbean stays.
There’s a much-cheaper, equally superb Tropical Breeze Curaçao for $639, that includes an out of doors pool surrounded by lush vegetation, a spacious bed room, and a hammock-equipped backyard, and the most effective half is that it has its personal non-public beach.
Curaçao is not precisely an reasonably priced vacation spot, with the common value a finances week-long journey for 2 being $2,235 (comprising lodging, meals, transportation and sightseeing prices), however the expensiveness is essentially offset by the larger sense of exclusivity it gives, in comparison with a jam-packed Cancun, and delightful sights.
In truth, Americans find yourself staying a median of 6.4 nights on the island, because the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) stories, with most vacationers hailing from New York, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, and Georgia, so it is not like they’re in a rush to pack up and depart.
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No adverts, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where vacationers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even discover like-minded journey buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your electronic mail deal with to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox.
This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.
