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Not Cancun and its overcrowded hotel zone, Punta Cana, and its bar-lined waterfront, and this is certainly not Jamaica with the reggae clubs and beachfront villas:
The pantheon of Caribbean Greats is fast approaching, Curacao is currently one of the fastest growing destinations in the regionbringing a record 1.57 million visitors last year and a significant 30 percent increase in U.S. arrivals.
If it doesn’t seem like much, let us remind you that this is a small island, only 270 square kilometers in size and with a population of about 147,000 inhabitants: in other words, there are more than a million guests in one year. enormous.
What drives this unprecedented growth?
One of the truly unspoilt gems of the Caribbean
Curaçao may be small, but it certainly does not lack natural and cultural offerings:
Belonging to the Caribbean territories of the Netherlands – as in: it is officially part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its citizens are Dutch – it is clearly different from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and other Latin American majority islands.
It has a colonial capital in Willemstad, but not the kind you’d expect around here: instead of ornate Baroque churches and Spanish-style squares, expect rows upon rows of Dutch-inspired, Northern Mannerist facades, and canal crosses center.
Unlike those in Amsterdam, however, the houses here are not built of dark brick, but have brightly painted exteriors: similarly, the street stalls along the canals are much more likely to sell local pumpkin pancakes or papaya stew than syrup waffles and Gouda cheese.
There are no towering Gothic cathedrals either, but you can marvel at a 17th-century Mikvé Israel-Emanuel synagogue, one of the oldest in the Americas, founded by Jewish settlers at the height of transatlantic trade.
It’s still the Netherlands, a bit, just another one taste of it.
What to see in Curaçao in 2025
Curacao is associated with pristine white sand and flamingos, and if you’re looking for flocks of the graceful pink-feathered creatures, the Jan Thiel Plains are where you’ll find them.
For paradise Caribbean beaches, some of the best choices are Carcas Bay, a deep-water bay surrounded by blue-green seasMambo Beach, a trendy white sandy beach with many amenities including Bonita Beach Club where delicious fish dishes are served, and Playa Grandi:
Backed by a relaxed fishing village, it has a compact expanse of sand that rarely feels crowded, and it’s a popular hotspot for sea turtle hatching.
If you live in Willemstad and fancy a bit of adventure, we recommend booking this electronic scooter southeast tourwith stops in Carcas Bay, the historic Fort Beekenburg, an 18th-century Dutch stronghold, and many diving spots around the tugboat beach.
Nearby, you can also visit one of the island’s top attractions, The Quarantine House, a former leper colony where newcomers who fell victim to the plague would be housed (don’t worry, it’s completely safe now)–– and all this from just $59 per person!
Why do Americans love Curaçao?
Cultural gems aside, Curacao is primarily a vacation destination, and that’s why Americans love it right now:
With the crazy world of politics at home and the limited paid vacation days they get every year, it’s no wonder they prefer a Caribbean island like Curaçao: usually it’s a stress-free outingand there’s a lot of pampering involved in those luxury hotels.
An all-inclusive one-week stay for 2 people in February The Reef At Mangrove Beach will cost you $3,523, in line with the average price for five-star stays in the Caribbean.
There is a much cheaper, equally amazing one Tropical Breeze Curacao for $639, with an outdoor pool surrounded by lush vegetation, a spacious bedroom and a garden with hammocks, and the best part is that it has its own private beachH.
Curaçao is not exactly an affordable destination; the average cost for a week-long budget trip for two is $2,235 (including the cost of accommodation, food, transportation and sightseeing), but the duration is largely compensated by the greater feeling of exclusivity it offers beautiful sights compared to busy Cancun.
In fact, Americans spend an average of 6.4 nights on the island, as the Curacao Tourist Board (CTB) reports, with most travelers coming from New York, Florida, New Jersey, Texas and Georgia, so it’s not like they’re in a hurry to pack and leave.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
