Lively, warm, and culturally rich—these are just a few adjectives that capture the essence of Curaçao.

Why Curaçao? I was in a mid-Google search of “affordable countries to visit in the Caribbean” when Curaçao popped up.

I have to be completely honest. I barely knew anything about this unknown island. That made it all the more exciting. Have I read any blog posts about Curaçao? Did I know of any friends or relatives who have visited Curaçao? Nope. It was mysterious; therefore, I had to go. I booked my flights and oceanfront hostel, and off I went.

While visiting, I wondered why Curaçao isn’t as well-known as its neighboring islands. In my opinion, it’s one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets. The beaches are gorgeous, the town is full of life and history, and it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with the gorgeous pastel-colored architecture.

Surprisingly, many people have never heard of Curaçao or have no idea where it is. Just forty miles off the coast of Venezuela, this island is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Dutch is the official language, but Papiamento is the most common—a Spanish Creole language with admixtures of Portuguese and Dutch. Papiamento is also spoken on the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Bonaire.

Below are the top 3 reasons I loved Curaçao:

1. The Beaches

Curaçao’s beaches have crystal-blue oceans and white-sand beaches. Isn’t that what we all look for in the perfect beach? The number of beaches you can visit in Curaçao is endless, and each has its own unique traits. Since there are so many amazing beaches to visit, I recommend renting a car. I know, I always recommend renting a car, and it’s not for everyone, but if you can, I highly suggest it.

Here is the list of beaches that I visited and what stood out most:

• Playa Kenepa Chiki is known for its beautiful, crystal-clear water.
• Playa Kenepa Grande is one of the popular beaches, with an awesome cliff to jump off from. Initially, I was terrified and chickened out several times, but the jump was worth it.
• Playa Jeremi is a secluded beach with no facilities, perfect for those seeking solitude.
• Jan Thiel Beach is one of the more popular and crowded beaches, but it is still worth checking out.
• Kokomo Beach has a gorgeous sunset and a cute swing to take pictures on, that’s if you can get on without sliding off!
• Playa Kalki is a smaller beach with beautiful views. Be sure to bring water shoes, as the ocean floor is rocky.
• Cas Abao is a popular, more crowded beach. I enjoyed a relaxing massage and lunch here.

Some beaches were more crowded and popular than others due to music, food, or location, but it depends on your preference. My goal was to relax on this trip, so I favored the more secluded beaches. But again, each beach is truly beautiful.

2. Diversity & Culture

Curaçao is a multilingual island where Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, and English are commonly spoken. And it is SO dushi to see all these different cultures come together in one country. You must be wondering if the word dushi is a typo; it isn’t. The word dushi in Papiamento has many meanings, such as nice, sweet, sexy, beautiful, and tasty, just to name a few—all positive things! You’ll see and hear the word being used around the island often.

Ironically enough, we were visiting while they celebrated their carnival, the Gran Marcha (the grand carnival parade), and what an amazing experience it was! The entire island was a part of this huge celebration. The beautiful smiles, Caribbean music, and colorful costumes were the icing on the cake.

3. Colorful Architecture

You MUST visit the rainbow of colorful buildings in Willemstad.

There you can find Queen Emma floating bridge that connects Punda and Otrabanda—the two sides of the capital. Check out the views during the day AND at night. I loved taking a walk after a nice dinner and seeing the buildings come to life at night. Also, check out the colorful houses and buildings in Punda, Otrabanda, and Pietermaai Historic District. Pietermaai District is filled with small shops, bars, restaurants & hotels. Whether you decide to walk, drive, or take a cab, explore the island until you’re exhausted because the pastel architecture is truly a sight for sore eyes.

FYI for all my vegan and vegetarian readers—there are meatless options in Curaçao. Pirate Bay has a delicious vegetarian lasagna. Right across from Pirate Bay is Tomatoes, where you can find good pizza. But, my two favorite restaurants were Bali and Ginger, both of which have great meatless dishes. Enjoy!

I hope this blog post gave you some insight into how magical and dushi Curaçao is!