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A southern Caribbean gem with a Dutch flair that has it all for families: eco-attractions, great beaches, historical culture, friendly locals and more.

Just a mere 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Curacao, part of the Netherlands Antilles, is a melting pot of over 50 cultures.  The 171-square-mile island is renowned for its coral reefs and deep sea diving and is immune from most tropical storms, as it is located safely outside of the Caribbean hurricane belt.  The year-round temperature averages 82°F.

In addition to the cultural and historic attractions in this guide, there are 36 beaches where locals and tourists can enjoy the clear and sparkling waters and pristine sands. These beautiful beaches are reason enough to visit Curacao, but a family looking for fun activities will not be disappointed. Nature lovers can explore wildlife on land or in the sea; families will enjoy the colorful architecture and some fascinating history.

Great Fun for the Kids

(to age 8)

Curacao Ostrich Farm
599 9 747 27 77
One of the largest ostrich farms found outside Africa, this ranch located by Santa Catharina is home to more than 600 of these unique birds.  Here you can feed, touch, and even ride ostriches.  The farm offers hour-long safari rides to tour the property.  Stopping at all the corals, the tour helps visitors get acquainted with the ostriches on-site and then it ends where everything begins: at the nursery where the eggs hatch.  After the tour, visitors are encouraged to stick around and dine at the African Zambezi Restaurant and enjoy the campfire in the evening.

Christoffel Park
599 9 462 42 42
On the northwestern sector of the island in Westpunt, the 1860-hectare Christoffel Park is the largest national park on Curacao.  Calling the wooded hills home is a variety of local birds, including the palabrua, a rare native barn owl and even the endangered Curacao White Tailed deer of which there are only 250 left in the world. Eight well-marked hiking trails are available for families to take a leisurely stroll and for more adventurous climbers, hiking up the 1,230 foot Mont Christoffel is always an option.  Deer watching, animal presentations, cave excursions and other special activities are also offered.  Opened to the public Monday through Saturday from 8am-4pm and Sunday from 6am-3pm, the park offers guided offers for $15 (standard admission is $9).  Horseback riding, mountain bikes, ATV and jeep tours are also available for an additional price. 

Willemstad Trolley Tour
599 9 461 00 11
All ages will enjoy Curacao’s capital and typical Caribbean port town, Willemstad, which was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997. Dotted with colorful and impressive architecture that is reminiscent of 17th Century Dutch colonial buildings, the streets are fun for any family to explore.  According to local legend, an early governor declared that no house could be painted white as the reflection of the sun hurt his eyes and since it was law, all buildings, each marked with the date of construction, were painted vibrant and bright hues of blue, orange, yellow, pink, green and others.  Later it was learned that this governor, although accountable for Curacao’s lively-colored streets, merely just owned stock in a local paint company.  Separated by the St. Anna Bay, Willemstad has two sections: Punda, the original city, on the east, and Otrobanda, meaning “The Other Side,” on the west. The two districts can be crossed by the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge or by ferry.  Both sides offer meandering streets to discover, relaxed plaza cafes to enjoy and first-rate duty-free shopping.  Kids will love the colorful vendors and markets that sell fresh fruits, vegetables and meats.  And for international flair, there are floating markets along the bay where lively vendors from South America come to sell their goods.  An easy way to explore with little ones or anyone who is physically challenged (it can get hot and streets are cobblestone) is with a trolley tour. Lasting just over an hour, the open-sided cars leave in mid-morning from Fort Amsterdam.