Curaçao: A Small Island, Great Trips by Rental Car

From West Point to East Point, the distance is Curaçao is less than 60 kilometers as the crow flies (the distance by road isn’t much longer), so why would you rent a car? Isn’t there public transportation on this Caribbean island? Yes, there is, but it’s quite limited. Buses run every 15 minutes only to the most popular destinations, but to many other places just once every two hours. During your vacation, you’ll want to make the most of your time on beautiful Curaçao, so renting a car is the obvious choice. The scenic routes invite you to explore the island in a rental car, and you’ll discover that the hidden gems off the beaten path are only accessible if you’ve rented a car.

Curaçao is small enough to take day trips by rental car from a single base, such as historic Willemstad or the popular Jan Thiel. But why not rent a car right at the airport and decide along the way where you’d like to stay a little longer? It’s the best way to discover the real Curaçao: sun, sea, and sand; beautiful spots for diving or snorkeling; as well as fantastic nature reserves, cultural riches, and historical heritage. Rent a car and hit the road!

We’re not describing a set road trip here, but rather giving you tips, organized by interest. That way, you can plan your own day trips or road trip around Curaçao and create fun combinations. For example, visit a historic country house first and then head to a beautiful snorkeling spot. Or drive through a nature reserve in your rental car and then relax on a sandy beach with the occasional dip in the sea.

Rent a car and go beach-hopping on Curaçao

Curaçao is known for its beautiful beaches with crystal-clear water along the island’s south coast. The nearly forty beaches all have their own unique character: one beach is ideal for families with children, while at another, young people let loose at wild parties in the evening; still other beaches boast a stunning underwater world and are therefore popular with divers and snorkelers; and some small beaches are perfect for those seeking peace and quiet. If you’ve rented a car, you can easily drive to all these different beaches. If a particular beach is a bit of a letdown and isn’t quite what you expected, just hop back in your rental car and drive to the next one!

The popular beaches are easy to find, but we’d like to highlight a few hidden gems here. Curaçao’s largest beach is one such gem: the secluded Playa Largu, which is accessible only via a dirt road from the San Juan country house. It’s a slightly rugged beach, but snorkelers will be in heaven among the rare (and endangered) Elandgewei coral. You can also follow the sandy path to visit other quiet beaches in the area, such as Playa Mansalina and Playa Shon Mosa. You’ll find even more peaceful beaches near the village of Lagun: Playa Jemeri and Playa Lagun. The latter is also a great spot for snorkeling, as you can spot lobsters, porcupinefish, and zebrafish among the coral just off the shore.

One of the few beaches on Curaçao’s rugged north coast is the ultimate spot for surfers: Playa Kanoa. The road leading there is paved, but there are often potholes, so drive carefully in your rental car!
Would you like to learn how to (wind)surf? Curaçao is ideal for this, not least because the seawater is always pleasantly warm. You’ll find surf schools at Caracas Bay (next to Jan Thiel) and Sint Joris Bay, among other places, both easily accessible by rental car. You can also take a lovely walk along Sint Joris Bay.

Curaçao’s Colonial History by Rental Car

Did you know that this small island has hundreds of protected historic buildings? Most are located in the old heart of Willemstad, and you don’t need a rental car to visit them. But scattered across the island, you’ll find even more remnants of the colonial era: country estates, forts, and other defensive structures. The more than sixty former plantation houses dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries are often situated in beautiful natural surroundings. On the Curaçao Monuments website, you’ll find a handy map showing the locations of all the historic buildings. This makes it very easy to plan a route to follow in your rental car.

Are you interested in the history of Curaçao, particularly its history of slavery and life on the plantations? Then pay a visit to the Tula Museum, which reopened in January 2024 and is named after the man who led the slave revolt on Curaçao. It’s located in the Knip country house, and the surrounding grounds feature slave huts. The museum is situated along the road to the popular Grote Knip Beach and is therefore easily accessible by rental car.

Rent a car and explore Curaçao’s nature reserves

For nature lovers, a visit to Christoffel Park is a must. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery, the rare plants and animals, and, of course, the iconic Christoffelberg (372 m), from which you’ll have a fantastic view of Curaçao. You can drive through the park in a rental car, but you’ll truly experience nature only when you follow one of the eight hiking trails.

Less than 2 kilometers from Christoffel Park, you’ll find the entrance to another national park: Shete Boka. The sea crashes spectacularly against the rocks, coves, and caves, causing the water to shoot up like a fountain. You can drive to the various coves in a rental car, but to get up close, you’ll need to walk short distances.

The Hato Caves (near the airport) are very well-known and definitely worth a visit. But there are also (stalactite) caves to explore elsewhere on the island, including at Tera Kora. Near this village, trails have been marked out leading to various caves.

With a little luck, you might spot flamingos from your rental car as you drive past the salt pans at Jan Kok and Sint-Willibrordus. Your best chance of seeing them is early in the morning.

Marijke’s Nature Trail, on the west side of the island, is a very well-known (and therefore often crowded) hiking trail. Not far from there, but on the east coast, is the much quieter Turtuga Trail, offering stunning views of Boka Ascension Bay. After a hike through this area, enjoy delicious local dishes at the nearby Dokterstuin country house!

Exploring Dive Sites on Curaçao by Rental Car

Nearby Bonaire is often considered the ultimate diver’s paradise, but Curaçao is certainly no slouch in that regard. The island offers an enormous variety of underwater experiences—from colorful coral reefs to shipwrecks, from walls to pinnacles, and from caves to drop-offs. Plus, there’s an incredible abundance of stunningly colorful tropical fish. Divers of all levels will find something to enjoy in the waters around Curaçao.

There are special dive maps marking the locations, but if you drive along the coast in a rental car, you’ll find that most dive sites are clearly marked on brown signs. To transport your diving gear, it’s convenient to rent a pickup truck in Curaçao. You can find these in our “Standard” car class. Just load all your diving gear into the open bed, and you’re ready to drive to the next beautiful dive site!

Marine Park is a stunning underwater nature reserve. It stretches from Jan Thiel to the easternmost tip of Curaçao, covering a distance of over twenty kilometers. There are more than 65 different species of coral, and the number of fish species exceeds 350! Unfortunately, the top diving spot in this park, Oostpunt, isn’t accessible by rental car—only by boat.

You can, however, drive your rental car to Playa Santa Cruz beach, but even from there you’ll need to take a small boat to the Blue Room—an enchanting cave where filtered sunlight turns everything blue, even underwater.

Are you on vacation with divers and non-divers? Then drive your rental car to Playa Kalki at Westpunt. It’s one of Curaçao’s most beautiful dive sites and is nicknamed “Alice in Wonderland” for good reason. Divers and snorkelers marvel at the mushroom-shaped coral formations and colorful fish, while those who stay behind enjoy the intimate sandy beach.

Playa Porto Marie is also perfect for a mixed group of divers, snorkelers, and sunbathers. The long, white beach offers all the amenities you need, and underwater, a surprise awaits: no fewer than two coral reefs right next to each other.

No luggage to lug around? Rent a convertible on Curaçao!

Would you like to take day trips from a single base using a rental car? Then consider renting a convertible on Curaçao. It’s wonderful to drive across this stunning tropical island with the wind in your hair! For a trip where you’ll be staying overnight in different places, a convertible is less suitable due to the lack of trunk space.

Discover the Caribbean paradise of Curaçao with a rental car

You’ll see them as you travel around Curaçao: the official bus stops. Often nothing more than a wider stretch of road where a “bus stop” sign makes it clear what it is. It’s no fun having to wait there in the blazing sun for a bus. So rent a car to get around Curaçao. You’ll have wonderful flexibility. If you see a sign for a sightseeing spot along the way, you can decide on the spot to drive there. And you can stop at that cute little restaurant or a shop to stock up on supplies. Speaking of which: with a rental car, you won’t have to lug around bags full of food, swim gear, snorkeling equipment, and everything else. Plus, the cooler in the trunk keeps your drinks nice and cold. For the best vacation experience on this Caribbean island, rent a car in Curaçao!