From the Rockies to the Reefs: A Family Guide to Curaçao
Trading Colorado’s peaks for the turquoise waters of the Southern Caribbean isn’t just a change in altitude—it’s a total reset. As a landlocked family, we’re always hunting for the perfect beach escape, and Curaçao officially stole the show.
From scoring a "bonus vacation" in Panama to finding the best espresso on the island, we’ve navigated the logistics so you don’t have to. Whether you're looking for hidden snorkeling coves or the best family-friendly resorts, here is everything you need to know about planning your own island getaway.
GETTING THERE:
Being from the landlocked state of Colorado, it takes some effort to get to the Caribbean. During my search, I discovered the Panama Stopover via Copa Airlines, a Star Alliance partner. The program allows for a complimentary stopover for anywhere from 1-2 days at no additional airfare cost. We decided to add a stopover on our return trip. It allowed us to have a mini-vacation within a vacation. It broke up the long travel day into manageable segments for our son, and we got another pin on our map without paying for a separate flight.
American Airlines is another great option as it offers direct flights to Curaçao out of Miami.
Entry Requirements: You must complete a Digital Immigration Card within 7 days before arrival. Travelers ages 16 and older can also apply for the Express Pass as an additional step and breeze through customs at the airport. https://www.curacao.com/en/questions/curacao-express-pass-service
GETTING AROUND:
Renting a car is highly recommended as the roads are easy to navigate and Google Maps is reliable. All of the major car rental chains are available. Grocery stores are plentiful, our favorite to stock up on essentials is the Carrefour Market about 15 minutes from the airport.
WHERE TO STAY:
There are plenty of boutique hotels, vacation rentals and resorts to choose from. During both of our visits we stayed at the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort which is a great location with free parking on site. The Marriott offers a full buffet breakfast and Titanium members can enjoy the Reef Lounge which includes breakfast for two plus unlimited access to snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and evening Happy Hour from 5pm-7pm. We are Titanium members so we chose this option at check-in and it was an additional $20/ day to add our son. Non-Titanium members can opt-in to the Reef Club for an additional $40/day. Considering I became BFFs with the espresso machine, I would say we got more than our money’s worth.
Other notable resorts include the Royal Sea Aquarium, Avila Beach Hotel and Lionsdive Beach Resort. There are also numerous vacation rental properties on the island. One that we plan to try next time is the Coral Estate Rentals.
WHEN TO VISIT:
Curaçao lies below the hurricane belt and generally has perfect weather year round. The rainy season is September - November which tends to have the lowest prices. When we were visiting in November we had about 20 minutes of rain the entire stay!
THINGS TO DO:
Beaches for snorkeling & Diving:
Cas Abao beautiful but popular cruise stop
Porto Mari (full restaurant/bar and resident pigs who are the main attraction)
Grote Knip stunning and remote
Daaibooi incredible snorkeling and sea turtles!
Cas Abao Beach
Other Honorable Mentions:
Tugboat beach
Take a Boat to Klein Curacao for the day. However, caution if you’re prone to seasickness
Adventure / Culture & Education:
Eric’s ATV Adventures - the East Tour includes a ride through an Aloe Vera farm, a stop at the Ostrich farm for a snack, a hike through caves and a stop at the giant wind farm on the north side of the island.
Zipline adventures - Hofi Mango
Hiking and exploring caves during our ATV tour.
PACKING ESSENTIALS:
Snorkel Gear
Water shoes
European Plug Converter
Reef Safe Sunscreen (easily purchased at a local grocery store)
Money - Most restaurants and stores accept major credit cards. It’s a good idea to have some cash on hand.
GENERAL FAQs:
Can I drink the water? Yes, the tap water is safe and high-quality.
What currency is used? The Antillean Guilder (ANG) is official, but US Dollars are widely accepted.
Is it safe? Curaçao is generally safe; the US State Department lists it as Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.
What Languages are Spoken? English is widely spoken. Most residents speak several languages including English, Dutch, Spanish and the local language, Papiamentu, which is a blend of Portuguese, Spanish and African influences. Here are some handy phrases in Papiamentu that you can use:
Bon bini: Welcome
Bon dia / Bon tardi / Bon nochi: Good morning / afternoon / evening
Kon ta bai?: How are you?
Danki / Masha danki: Thank you / Thank you very much
Dushi: This is the most famous word on the island; it means sweet, nice, or "sweetheart".
Ayo: Goodbye
