Crystal clear water, a colorful underwater world and palm trees. That’s the first thing you think of when you think of Curaçao. A tropical climate and a workation go very well together. Especially when it’s cold and wet in the Netherlands. So Working Remotely went to investigate in January to see if this island is a good destination for digital nomads during a workation. Spoiler: it’s a great place to work remotely.
Curaçao’s nicest neighborhoods
The island is not very big, but there is plenty to do. I myself have been a lot to Pietermaai, West Point and Jan Thiel. A car is indispensable here to get from a to b. The public transport does not run at fixed times and waiting half your day at a bus stop is a waste of time.
- Pietermaai
When you see images of Curaçao, the colored houses quickly catch your eye. They do very well in photos. You will find them especially in Pietermaai. It is great fun to walk around here and marvel at all the bright colors and murals. There are also countless nice restaurants where you can eat delicious food. Many are in beautiful spots right on the water.
- West Point
Several times I rented a car to go to the west side of the island. There you will find beautiful beaches with crystal clear water. In many of these places you can do fantastic snorkeling. You spot tropical fish in all shapes and colors, highly recommended! Diving is also very popular here. Many evenings I watched the sunset here. I am especially a fan of the small idyllic beaches. My favorites are:
- Playa Lagun (utterly idyllic)
- Little Cut (hello paradise)
- Pirate Bay (beachfront cocktail)
- Grote Knip (beautiful spacious beach)
- Playa Forti (quiet and top views)
- Playa Porto Marie (no pig seen)
- Tugboat Beach (unique underwater shipwreck)
- Playa Grandi (turtles seen, but being fed)
- Mambo Beach (beautiful, but hipster)
- Jan Thiel Beach (busy and popular)
Safety in Curaçao
Whatever country you travel to, always pay attention to safety. This is no different in Curaçao. I don’t walk through the streets there alone at night after dark. We did a photo shoot for our website at the colored houses and walked through the streets with laptops under our arms. In retrospect, this turned out not to be a good idea. Locals told us it could just happen that someone wants to pulle that laptop out of our hands. So watch your stuff carefully. Especially your phone and laptop, you don’t want to lose them during your workation. So store it well in your accommodation.
What to do during your workation in Curacao
For the vacation part of the workation, you are definitely in the right place in Curaçao. There are many beautiful things to see and do. Personally, I don’t need to go out every day, I find that too busy in combination with work. I do regularly go out in the afternoon or on a day off. Here are my tips for fun activities during your workation:
- Beach hopping (there are many idyllic little beaches)
- Walking Pietermaai (including to the Pondjesbrug)
- Sunset (very beautiful at Playa Forti)
- Drinks (for example, at Mambo Beach)
- Climbing Mount Christoffel (quite a tough hike)
- Shete Boka National Park (rugged and photogenic coastline)
- Partying on the beach (for example, at Zanzibar in Jan Thiel)
Favorite accommodations for a workation
There are many large resort and private villas on the island. There is more than enough choice and something for every budget. Whether you are a low budget digital nomad or a big spender and want a luxury workation. Even if you prefer cozy and small scale there is plenty to choose from. During my workation I tested 3 different types of accommodations. Here I have been:
- Papagayo
When you think of a beautiful resort, with all the amenities, you’re talking about Papagayo Beach Resort. It has a hotel, a resort with beautiful villas and a beach club. I was in a villa, just a 5-minute walk from the little beach. There during the day I could work quietly outside on the terrace, in the shade under the canopy. After work dived into the infinity pool is at the beach club.
- Boutique Hotel ‘t Klooster
This is a beautiful boutique hotel in the middle of Pietermaai. Throughout the neighborhood you will find cute colored houses, quaint streets, delicious restaurants and it is a 10-minute walk to the famous Pondjesbrug (Queen Emma Bridge). In Boutique Hotel ‘t Klooster there are several nice workplaces and you will be completely immersed in a tropical vibe. If you want to cool off after your working day, just jump into the pool.
- Private villa
Especially in the Jan Thiel area there are many villas for rent. Some more beautiful than others. Some of these can be booked through Working Remotely. These are villas from 6 to about 20 people. Some can be combined and you can go even with even larger groups. All with plenty of workspaces, good wifi and a lovely private pool.
! If you want a competitive price with these accommodations, please send me a message.
A workation in Curaçao is certainly possible, despite the time difference and with proper preparation. Learn more about preparing for a workation on this beautiful Caribbean island in this blog.
