10 Free Activities in Curacao

Everybody loves a freebie, right?!  I mean what is there not to love about getting things for free? In this post I will share 10 free activities that I found to do while visiting the island of Curacao, from searching for street art, to hiking in Curacao.

Taking a vacation can already cost an arm and a leg, so not many people have an extra few hundred dollars laying around to spend on tours, activities and adventures. If you look really hard and research your destination, there are always free activities to do in order to save money.

Curacao is known to be one of the more costly of the Caribbean Islands. While Curacao offers an abundance of beautiful beaches, I was looking for some other free activities to do while I was visiting Curacoa and this is what I found:

10 Free things I found to do in Curacao

Beach

Pack a picnic lunch and head to the beach for the day.  Most of the beaches in Curacao are open to the public for their enjoyment, free of charge.

Spend the day in the sun, swimming, snorkeling or diving.  Bring your own blanket, snacks and beverages for a completely free day.

Blue Room Cave

Don’t let the name scare you off.  For the adventurous traveller, take a short hike to Blue Room Cave and reward yourself with a dip in the crystal blue waters.  If you are hesitant to swim on your own, kayaking, snorkeling and diving tours are available, for a fee.

Port

Curacao is a popular island for cruise ships.  The port is an active, vibrant place and always has ships coming and going.  Relax port side and watch the ships come and go and take in an endless amount of people watching. There are plenty of restaurants and “bars” in the port area, however, if you are looking to save money, bring a picnic along with you.

Rif Fort Village

Visit the Rif Fort Village which is a refurbished fort located right on the waterfront.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the sounds of the Caribbean music ringing through the air.

This is also prime real estate for people watching. If you feel the urge to splurge, this area is home to many bars and restaurants.

Queen Emma Bridge

Once you have had enough of the people watching in the Rif Fort Village, continue on and you will immediately come to the Queen Emma Bridge.  This pontoon bridge spans the St. Anna Bay connecting the two sides of the capital city of Willemstad. The bridge will swing open to allow the ships to come and go.  Locally this bridge is referred to as the “Swinging Old Lady”.

When the bridge is open, two ferries come to life to transport pedestrians from one side to the other, free of charge.  This is also a fantastic spot to watch the ships and to people watch.

Downtown Willemstad

Willemstad is my favorite part of the entire island, and it doesn’t cost a cent to wander the streets of Willemstad and admire all of the candy colored buildings.  This is the best spot on the island for window shopping, and is a must do freebie while in Curacao.

The only caveat is that many of the restaurants and local pubs are enticing, hence, if you think that you might have limited will-power, have some money on hand.

Island Tour

If you have rented a car or have other means of transportation, pack a picnic and explore the diverse topography of the island.  You will find sandy beaches with the calm water of the Caribbean, as well as rocky shorelines and choppy waters which is where you will find people surfing and kiting.

Aloe Vera Plantation

The aloe vera plant is one of the few plants that is able to grow in Curacao.  For those of you who are interested in the benefits of the “home grown” aloe plant, then this is a place to visit.  You will observe the large aloe vera fields, as well as receive a brief history about the plant, free of charge.  There is a small store on site which sells skin care products, bath and shower products, and even aloe beverages which benefit your health and well-being.

Serena’s Art Factory

When visiting Caracao, you will hear the word “chichi”. To find out the meaning and the history behind a “chichi”, visit Serena’s Art Factory and you will learn all of the details. It is quite interesting and you will learn the meaning of chichi. If you’re lucky, you will witness an artist at work creating a one of a kind chichi.  This is a free activity, however, if you wish to arrange to join a workshop, a reservation must be made.  There is a fee if you choose to do this activity.

Curacao Liqueur Distillery

I always like to save the best for last!  To learn about and taste test Curacao’s native drink, the Blue Curacao, a visit to Curacao’s Liqueur Distillery must be put on your list.  Take a self-guided tour and learn everything there is to know about the making of Blue Curacao.  Once you complete the tour, you must indulge in the free taste test.

For a more in-depth look at the makings of the Blue Curacao, guided tours are available for a fee. In order to indulge in a little more than what the taste test provides, you will need some cash, as there are various types of drinks available. Why not sit back and sip on the drink of the locals while lounging on the outdoor patio?

Arriving By Cruise Ship?

For those of you arriving by cruise ship, downtown Willamsted, Queen Emma Bridge, and Rif Fort Village are all well within walking distance from the ship.

Free Things To Do In Curacao: In Conclusion …

As you can see there are a lot of free activities on this beautiful island of Curacao. This vacation doesn’t have to break the bank as there is enough to do without spending a cent.  If money is no object, there certainly are many more activities and adventures which you can participate in. So my friends, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get ready for takeoff!

ENJOY 🙂

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