Curaçao! Taking a break by the colored shore

Wanting to celebrate a birthday we planned a trip to Curaçao, the wonderful island that appealed to all of us as the perfect relaxing destination we needed.

From the airport it was straight to the hotel, a great resort right by the beach with great places at a walkable distance, as well as its own car rental place. Even though we stayed at the hotel most of the time, we did take time to go around and visit every corner around the town. Willemstad is home to the historic center of the island, all around the pier Handelskade which is famously known for the pastel-colored buildings and the Queen Emma Bridge which swings around to let boat into the harbor. All the buildings around are amazing, a mix of different styles of European architecture with the feeling of the Caribbean that entrances you. There are great places to eat all around the place, as well as shop, such as the Rif Fort or the Mambo Beach Boulevard (a great place to find tacos). You can also spend the day visiting museums such as the Maritime or Kura Hulanda.

Having rented a car, we took a couple of days to tour the island. One of the greatest destinations was Cas Abao Beach. Just a short drive away, this white sand beach is an absolute dream; from the palms surrounding you, to the turtles swimming by in the sea, everything gives off a feeling of magic. The great Beach Bar & restaurant will surely make you happy all day while you take in the sun and go around snorkeling. This beach may have some extra expenses for showers and such, but its worth it if you have the time and specially if you enjoy marine life.

Another great stop on our journey was Klein Curaçao. This small uninhabited island is just an hour or two away on a boat ride and you’ll be immersed in a rocky coast with old shipwreck around it as well as pristine beaches, depending on the side of the island you’re in. If you’re traveling with a tour company, this will give you the chance to use their facilities while you’re there, be sure to choose the one you’ll enjoy the most. Besides walking by the beach, I found walking by the lighthouse and shipwrecks something absolutely unique. This day trip was really fantastic and couldn’t have gone better.