Having only ever heard of the liqueur and not even sure what that was (now I know it is flavoured with the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit grown on the island), I jump to the map to see where it is my crew and I will be spending a well deserved week off. I am instantly excited at the prospect of being able to go to Venezuela but sadly although it's only forty miles north of the country, a day trip isn't really possible.
A little search on the internet gave me negative reviews or lukewarm sentiment, titles such as 'Why I didn't like Curacao, but didn't hate it either'. Having now spent a week there and loving it more than the other places we visited during this whole Caribbean season, I can tell you Curacao is worth a visit.
What not to miss in Curacao
1.Eat at Fort Nassau
Curacao isn’t best known for its availability of fine restaurants. Sure sampling a local dish at the Punda Market is great for a cultural experience but if your meal was anything like ours your taste buds won’t come away completely satisfied. Fort Nassau has the view (an almost 360 outlook of the city) and the food (an excellent value 3 course and a la carte menu) our deck boys raved about the pumpkin ravioli to start.
2.Take a day trip to Klein Curacao
‘Little Curacao’ is a beautiful little island, there are several companies offering day tours most days throughout the week. Bounty Tours offers an package for just under $100 on the Jonalisa, which includes a tasty lunch and unlimited drinks. Mermaid Tours is also highly rated.
3.Visit Playa PortoMari
There are countless beautiful sandy bays on the west coast of the island to visit, more or less much the same. The white sands and clear waters at PortoMari provide an ideal haven for a lazy afternoon but also hosts several nature trails for adventurers and a rare double reef for snorkel lovers. The beachside bar serves a lovely Panini and Sangria by the jug, beachside massage is at your own risk…Read my blog ‘Half Body Massage’ for more information.
http://noseafood.weebly.com/blog/half-body-massage
Curacao isn’t best known for its availability of fine restaurants. Sure sampling a local dish at the Punda Market is great for a cultural experience but if your meal was anything like ours your taste buds won’t come away completely satisfied. Fort Nassau has the view (an almost 360 outlook of the city) and the food (an excellent value 3 course and a la carte menu) our deck boys raved about the pumpkin ravioli to start.
2.Take a day trip to Klein Curacao
‘Little Curacao’ is a beautiful little island, there are several companies offering day tours most days throughout the week. Bounty Tours offers an package for just under $100 on the Jonalisa, which includes a tasty lunch and unlimited drinks. Mermaid Tours is also highly rated.
3.Visit Playa PortoMari
There are countless beautiful sandy bays on the west coast of the island to visit, more or less much the same. The white sands and clear waters at PortoMari provide an ideal haven for a lazy afternoon but also hosts several nature trails for adventurers and a rare double reef for snorkel lovers. The beachside bar serves a lovely Panini and Sangria by the jug, beachside massage is at your own risk…Read my blog ‘Half Body Massage’ for more information.
http://noseafood.weebly.com/blog/half-body-massage
4.Contact this guy – Tjapko Smits
There is always that one person that you meet on your travels that really makes your experience, I only wish I knew of his existence before he was all booked up. Tjapko offers kite surfing lessons and the use of his private lake for the more experienced kite surfer. A happy go lucky, Dutch guy with some very interesting stories from his travels and homes around the world. For those that don’t fancy kiting he is still worth a call, he also offers team treasure hunts, catamaran trips and knows the greatest spots for cheap beers and the finest chicken wings I have ever nibbled on.
Email him at [email protected]
Visit his website www.KitingCuracao
Give him a call on +5999 6613109
Or find him on Facebook and Twitter – KitingCuracao
5. Eat Empanada and Arepa
Empanada – a stuffed pastry filled with meat, chicken or cheese
Arepa – a maize dough flatbread stuffed with any of the above
I wish I could remember the name of this particular hole-in-the-wall that served delicious and cheap local foods, it is on a side street just after The World’s Best Mojito as you are coming from the markets and Main Square.
There is always that one person that you meet on your travels that really makes your experience, I only wish I knew of his existence before he was all booked up. Tjapko offers kite surfing lessons and the use of his private lake for the more experienced kite surfer. A happy go lucky, Dutch guy with some very interesting stories from his travels and homes around the world. For those that don’t fancy kiting he is still worth a call, he also offers team treasure hunts, catamaran trips and knows the greatest spots for cheap beers and the finest chicken wings I have ever nibbled on.
Email him at [email protected]
Visit his website www.KitingCuracao
Give him a call on +5999 6613109
Or find him on Facebook and Twitter – KitingCuracao
5. Eat Empanada and Arepa
Empanada – a stuffed pastry filled with meat, chicken or cheese
Arepa – a maize dough flatbread stuffed with any of the above
I wish I could remember the name of this particular hole-in-the-wall that served delicious and cheap local foods, it is on a side street just after The World’s Best Mojito as you are coming from the markets and Main Square.
6.Party at Mambo Beach
Beachfront cabanas, top hits from 2000 on loop, pina coladas from a carton and countless selfie sticks waving in the air. You don’t go there for peace and quiet and its certainly not the most beautiful of Curacao’s beaches (although I was jumping up and down with excitement when I first took a ganders at the dreamy view) but it sure is good fun and a big plus is that the water is extremely calm due to the man made barrier.
Beachfront cabanas, top hits from 2000 on loop, pina coladas from a carton and countless selfie sticks waving in the air. You don’t go there for peace and quiet and its certainly not the most beautiful of Curacao’s beaches (although I was jumping up and down with excitement when I first took a ganders at the dreamy view) but it sure is good fun and a big plus is that the water is extremely calm due to the man made barrier.
7.Santa Barbara Resort
This area is truly the most beautiful that I saw during my time on the island. It would be a lovely place to treat yourself for a few nights or just visit for a round of golf, cool off in the swimming lagoon, or take one of the hiking trails; the fairy hike or the meditation trail.
8.Paint your own Chichi
Serena’s artwork can be seen all over the city. Her adorable little dolls ‘Chichi’s are the ideal souvenirs to take home to your friends and family. What will make them even more special and give you something alternative to do one morning on the island is to decorate your own at Serena’s Art Factory.
Currently classes are taking place on Friday mornings, she doesn't take reservations so you just show up before 9.30am.
Visit Serena’s website for more details
http://www.chichi-curacao.com/home
This area is truly the most beautiful that I saw during my time on the island. It would be a lovely place to treat yourself for a few nights or just visit for a round of golf, cool off in the swimming lagoon, or take one of the hiking trails; the fairy hike or the meditation trail.
8.Paint your own Chichi
Serena’s artwork can be seen all over the city. Her adorable little dolls ‘Chichi’s are the ideal souvenirs to take home to your friends and family. What will make them even more special and give you something alternative to do one morning on the island is to decorate your own at Serena’s Art Factory.
Currently classes are taking place on Friday mornings, she doesn't take reservations so you just show up before 9.30am.
Visit Serena’s website for more details
http://www.chichi-curacao.com/home
Read more stories from Curacao and other exciting worldwide destinations @ noseafood.weebly.com