Curacao · Caribbean
Curacao is the Caribbean island that looks like Amsterdam got shipwrecked in the tropics. Willemstad's Handelskade waterfront — those iconic pastel Dutch colonial buildings reflected in St. Anna Bay — is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most photographed streetscapes in the Caribbean. But the real draw is the coastline: dozens of small cove beaches tucked between rocky cliffs, each with its own personality. Playa Kenepa is the stunner, with turquoise water framed by cliffs. Cas Abao is the snorkeling spot. The island sits outside the hurricane belt, so the weather is reliable year-round. The food blends Dutch, Caribbean, and Indonesian influences — a legacy of colonial history — and a plate of keshi yena (stuffed cheese) at a local spot will cost you about $8.
Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire share Dutch heritage and year-round sunshine but deliver completely different beach vacations. This comparison breaks down sand quality, snorkeling access, hotel costs, and travel logistics to help you pick the right ABC island for your trip.
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Curaçao has no legal nude beaches and no clothing-optional resorts. What that means for topless sunbathing, the island's best beaches, and where to find legal nude beaches nearby.
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Solo travel in the Caribbean works best on Puerto Rico, Barbados, Curacao, Aruba, the USVI and Cayman — walkable, bus-linked, Level 1 advisories. The real cost is the single supplement.
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The best Caribbean markets: Castries (St Lucia), Marigot (St Martin), St George’s spice market (Grenada) and Willemstad’s Floating Market. Go before 9am, bring cash, skip conch and coral.
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Four Caribbean ferry chains work without a plane: the Virgin Islands from $25, Guadeloupe to St. Lucia on L’Express des Îles, the Grenadines, and St. Maarten to Anguilla in 20 minutes.
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Caribbean wellness retreats ranked: BodyHoliday St. Lucia includes a daily treatment, COMO Parrot Cay and Six Senses La Sagesse run the deepest programmes, Sivananda Bahamas is the budget pick.
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