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Fort Amsterdam, Curaçao

Outdoors · Curaçao

7 best outdoor things to do in Curaçao

Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Charles Hoffman from New York, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0

Quick answer

Start with Playa Kenepa, Christoffel National Park and Shete Boka National Park. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 11–17 hours across 3 areas; 3 are free.

Key facts

Places in this guide
7
Free entry
3
Time to see them all
11–17 hours
Areas
Westpunt and Banda Abou, Hato and Jan Thiel

Outdoors in Curaçao

Beach · Westpunt and Banda Abou

1.Playa Kenepa

Arrive early on weekends, when the beach fills with local families, and bring snorkel gear for the rocks on either side.

Time needed
Half a day
Cost
Free
  • Iconic
  • Free
  • Kids
  • Photo spot
  • Outdoors

Nature · Westpunt and Banda Abou

2.Christoffel National Park

Start the Christoffelberg climb as early as the park allows; access to the summit trail is usually cut off later in the morning because of heat.

Time needed
Half a day
Cost
Low cost
  • Nature
  • Active
  • Views
  • Outdoors

Nature · Westpunt and Banda Abou

3.Shete Boka National Park

Visit on a windy day for the biggest waves, and stay behind barriers; swimming is not possible on this coast.

Time needed
1–2 hours
Cost
Low cost
  • Nature
  • Views
  • Kids
  • Photo spot
  • Outdoors

Beach · Westpunt and Banda Abou

5.Playa Piskadó

Keep a respectful distance from the turtles and never feed or touch them; the fishermen's pier is a working area.

Time needed
2–3 hours
Cost
Free
  • Free
  • Kids
  • Nature
  • Outdoors

Experience · Jan Thiel

6.Tugboat wreck at Caracas Bay

Go on a calm morning and with a dive or snorkel guide if you are unsure of the entry; the wreck is a short swim along the shore.

Time needed
1–2 hours
Cost
Low cost
  • Active
  • Nature
  • Outdoors
  • Off the beaten path

Nature · Westpunt and Banda Abou

7.Flamingos at the Jan Kok salt pans

Stop on the way to Westpunt in the morning, and bring binoculars or a zoom lens; never walk out into the pans.

Time needed
20–30 minutes
Cost
Free
  • Free
  • Kids
  • Nature
  • Photo spot

Grouped by area

Outdoors in Curaçao by area
AreaPlacesTime needed
Westpunt and Banda AbouPlaya Kenepa, Christoffel National Park, Shete Boka National Park, Playa Piskadó and Flamingos at the Jan Kok salt pansHalf a day + Half a day + 1–2 hours + 2–3 hours + 20–30 minutes
HatoHato Caves1 hour
Jan ThielTugboat wreck at Caracas Bay1–2 hours

Booking and timing

Of these 7, 3 free, 4 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Playa Kenepa; group the rest by area to save travel time.

How to fit them into 4 half-days

Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.

  • Half-day 1 (Westpunt and Banda Abou): Playa Kenepa, at least 3 hours.
  • Half-day 2 (Westpunt and Banda Abou): Christoffel National Park, at least 3 hours.
  • Half-day 3 (Westpunt and Banda Abou): Shete Boka National Park → Playa Piskadó → Flamingos at the Jan Kok salt pans, at least 3 hours.
  • Half-day 4 (Hato and Jan Thiel): Hato Caves → Tugboat wreck at Caracas Bay, at least 2 hours.

The best months to be outside

  • April: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Dry and warm as high season winds down after Easter.
  • May: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 3 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot and dry with lower prices; one of the best-value months for a beach trip.
  • March: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. Sunny and windy, with very little rain; excellent beach and hiking weather.

The neighbourhoods they are in

  • Jan Thiel — Resort bay, beach club and villas on the southeast coast near Spanish Water
  • Westpunt and Banda Abou — Quiet western countryside of cove beaches, cliffs and national parks

More of Curaçao

All things to do in Curaçao · Where to stay · When to go.

Questions travellers ask

+Where should I start in Curaçao?

Playa Kenepa. Grote Knip, or Kenepa Grandi, is the island's most photographed beach: a white-sand cove framed by cliffs and turquoise water, with a viewpoint above it.

+Which of these are free in Curaçao?

Playa Kenepa, Playa Piskadó and Flamingos at the Jan Kok salt pans.