Curaçao Itinerary: What to Do in 3, 5 or 7 Days
Wondering how to plan your trip to Curaçao? The island is small (about 60 km / 37 miles long), but the best beaches are in the west, Klein Curaçao is reached from the east, and Willemstad sits in the middle. So it pays to group your sightseeing by area to avoid driving back and forth.
Here are our itinerary ideas for 3, 5 or 7 days – adapt them to your own pace.
Curaçao in 3 days: the essentials
Day 1 – Willemstad
Spend the morning in Punda (the Handelskade, Fort Amsterdam, the synagogue), cross the floating Queen Emma Bridge to Otrobanda, have a local lunch at the old market, then dinner in Pietermaai. 👉 Our Willemstad guide
Day 2 – The west coast beaches
Grote Knip, Kleine Knip, then snorkeling at Playa Lagun or Playa Kalki, where you’ll often meet wild sea turtles. 👉 Our favorite beaches
Day 3 – Klein Curaçao
A full day on the uninhabited island. 👉 Our favorite trip
Curaçao in 5 days: nature and sea
Follow the 3-day itinerary, then add:
Day 4 – Christoffel Park and Shete Boka
Climb Mount Christoffel at sunrise, then explore the wild coastline of Shete Boka and cool off with an afternoon swim. 👉 Opening hours and tips
Day 5 – Diving or a buggy tour, then sunset
In the morning, a beginner dive with the sea turtles or a buggy ride across the Hato plain. In the evening, a private sunset cruise on Spanish Water. 👉 Diving, the buggy tour and the cruise
Curaçao in 7 days: take your time
With a week, you can do it all without rushing, and add:
Day 6 – The east of the island
A beginner dive on the Tugboat wreck or with the turtles of Caracas Bay, flamingos in the salt flats, a visit to the Curaçao liqueur distillery at Landhuis Chobolobo, then sundowners at Mambo Beach or Jan Thiel. 👉 Diving in Curaçao
Day 7 – Free day
A second dive, your favorite beach, a trip to the market or a private tour to see the island from a different angle. 👉 Private tours
Our tips for planning your trip
- Rent a car: it’s the easiest way to reach the west coast beaches. Before you hit the road, read the guide to driving in Curaçao by our friends at The Little Green Boat.
- Get up early: the heat and the crowds build quickly during the day.
- Book Klein Curaçao and diving ahead in high season.
- Keep a spare “weather” day: if the sea is too rough for Klein Curaçao, you can reschedule.
👉 Looking for more local itineraries, with museums, landhuizen and Creole food? Check out The Little Green Boat’s 5 themed itineraries.
👉 Also worth reading: 15 must-do activities, where to stay and when to go.
🗺️ The interactive map of Curaçao
Beaches, restaurants, museums, viewpoints… Our friends at The Little Green Boat have pinned their best spots on a free map, perfect to keep on your phone during your stay.