The Best of the Caribbean by Day and Night

With crescent-shaped beaches and translucent turquoise waters, who wouldn't want to spend their dream honeymoon on a tropical island in the Caribbean? 

Curaçao

Part of the ABC island chain that includes Aruba and Bonaire, this Dutch-Caribbean island is coming into its own as a fabulous destination with spectacular beaches, plenty of history and a lively capital that make it a pleasure-packed getaway.

handelskade in willemstad harbor
Photo courtesy of Island Outposts

Day: Curaçao has dozens of beaches — Cas Abao and Jeremi are two standouts. Other activities include hiking to the summit of the 1,240-foot Mt. Christoffel (on a clear day, you can see Venezuela) and a boat trip to Klein Curaçao, an offshore island with fabulous snorkeling and diving. In the capital Willemstad, pastel-colored Dutch colonial houses line the inner harbor of this UNESCO World Heritage site, where you can visit the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. The duty-free shops are worth a look for souvenirs like wooden clogs and bottles of blue Curaçao (a citrus-based liqueur).

Night: Join fellow tourists on the Handelskade, a harborfront street lined with festive, open-air restaurants. Grab a terrace table at the casual Iguana Café (dinner for two, $60) for a front-row seat to the gorgeous sunset while dining on the catch of the day. Late night, pop into Willemstad’s various cocktail lounges, jazz clubs, casinos and clubs.

Where to Stay: The 83-room Sonesta Kura Hulanda Village & Spa is a high-end boutique hotel housed in beautifully restored 17th- and 18th-century Dutch colonial buildings. Combine it with a few days at sister property Kura Hulanda Lodge & Beach Club, set on a secluded cove on the island’s westernmost point, for a taste of the island’s breathtaking white coral beaches. Room rates start at $289 a night.

curacao
Photo courtesy of Curaçao Tourist Board

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