Curaçao is having a moment… this southern Caribbean country has just broken its yearly record for tourist numbers, and it shows no signs of slowing down since it’s adding even more reasons to visit this year.
Curaçao has long been a popular tourist destination for American travelers, with a record-breaking 90,000 Americans visiting the country last year. The most popular month to visit is July, while travelers give themselves an average 7 days to explore this colorful paradise.
With 35 spectacular beaches, diverse heritage, and stunning European architecture, Curaçao is proving to be an attractive destination for tourists. The island offers unrivaled natural beauty to explore, especially for divers and adventurers.
Below are 5 reasons that will make your decision even easier to choose this remarkable island for a vacation (or to work from):
1) Additional Direct Flights Are Being Added To Curaçao
JetBlue has just added two more weekly flights to Curaçao International Airport from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) starting in April. Currently, JFK only has 3 non-stop flights per week, but with this addition, there will now be five. The flight time is under 6 hours and will depart from New York at 8 am.
Other non-stop flights depart from Miami, Newark, and Charlotte, which are serviced by United and American Airlines a few times a week.
2) The New Sandals Royal Curaçao
The highly anticipated Sandals Royal opened last year, which was a big driver in attracting new tourists to the island. The luxury resort is situated in the southern part of the island on a 3,000-acre property and contains an infinity pool, which is also the brand’s first-ever bi-level pool that overlooks the crystal blue ocean.
The resort houses eight restaurants, three gourmet food trucks, and 13 bars, so you’ll have plenty to choose from for your food and beverage service. Two of the suite categories offer butler services, and select suites also have access to convertible MINI Coopers to take a drive around the island.
The New Zoëtry Curaçao Resort & Spa
The second resort that opened in 2022, attracting an influx of tourists, is the luxurious boutique resort Zoëtry Curaçao, which is part of the World of Hyatt. Surrounded by the luscious Curaçao nature and a private, white-sanded beach, the resort features three restaurants and bars, a café, and a tennis court.
The resort is an all-inclusive experience that incorporates everything you need for your stay, such as endless dining and drinks, personal services, elevated amenities, and personalized experiences.
Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival
A festival for all ages and considered one of the best parties of the year, this popular music festival is back after a two-year hiatus and will be bringing together all genres of music – not just jazz.
Big names have played during this festival, such as John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and Mariah Carey, so you’ll want to check the line-up when it’s announced to see if one of your favorites will be performing. The festival will be taking place from August 31 – September 2, a time when it is traditionally held to stimulate tourism for the low season.
Curaçao Carnival
You might be surprised to hear that Curaçao holds the Caribbean’s largest and longest Carnival celebrations. This month-long event that goes until late February is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets and turns the streets into colorful and vibrant displays with music pumping throughout.
One of the best attractions is the Marcha di Despedida on the eve of Ash Wednesday, which concludes the festival and has a captivating display of floats parading through Curaçao. King Momo, a “villain” made of straw that represents sins, bad luck, and infertility, is burned at midnight to end the festival.
Tumba Festival is also a popular attraction for the Carnival and is one of the biggest musical events on the island that brings together a list of talented local musicians, performers, and composers for a four-day event.
