Unlocking the Family Magic: Things to Do in Curacao for Kids

Dive into the Caribbean Wonderland – A 2024 Guide to Family Adventures in Curacao

There are so many unique things to do in Curacao! Curacao is a fantastic place to visit with children. This gorgeous island boasts some of the best marine life in the region. With endless beaches to choose from and ideally located out of the hurricane paths, Curacao truly is paradise.

Whether you are traveling with toddlers, kids or teenagers you will find an array of Curacao attractions that the whole family will enjoy. My kids loved this island!

Curacao Attractions For Kids

Check out one of the many gorgeous Curacao beaches.

• Jan Thiel is a good choice for kids. There is a playground and snacks are available.
• The beach near the sea aquarium has a breakwater so it has nice and calm waters for the kids to play in-great for toddlers and babies to dip there fee in!
• Blue Bay beach has a shallow sloping beach ,a playground, pool, restaurant and bathroom facilities.
• Cas Abou beach has lots of fun activities for a fee, such as water trampolines and banana boats. There is a restaurant and daiquiri bar for the grown-ups.

• Snorkeling is one of the most popular things to do in Curacao. The marine life is very diverse in the waters around the island. Choose a beach that has a breakwater so the waters are calm for the kids to swim in. Its worthwhile to get proper fitting snorkel masks for the kids before you go so that the water doesn't leak in. Don't forget to bring water shoes and biodegradable sunscreen so you don't harm the reefs. My kids and I did this for hours- the underwater views are spectacular!

• Curacao Butterfly Garden is a great place to spend a couple hours. Start off with the tutorial on butterflies so your kids can learn all about them. Next is a tour of the butterfly gardens and finally stop for a fresh fruit juice or healthy lunch at the restaurant.

• Hato Caves is another one of the interesting Curacao attractions for kids. Tours are given on the hour. Check out the limestone stalagmites and live bats!

•  The Curacao Sea Aquarium has several activities the kids will enjoy. Check out the hands-on sea aquarium, the live feeding shows and the flamingo pool. Don't miss the dolphin and sea lion shows. My kids enjoyed this, especially the dolphin show and watching the shark feeding frenzy!

Take a virtual tour of the Curacao Sea Aquarium:

More Fun Things to Do in Curacao

• Dolphin Academy is the place to go for swimming with the dolphins. The dolphin encounter is open to kids of all ages (kids under 8 must be accompanied by a paying adult) or the dolphin swim is open to kids 8 and older. There is even a sea keeper assistant program for kids ages 9-14. The dolphin academy is located on the grounds of the Curacao Sea Aquarium. We did the dolphin encounter and must admit it seemed a bit expensive for what we got- we should have [paid the extra and done the dolphin swim!

• Marco's Fish Farm is great for the whole family. The kids can fish for tilapia, take a tour of the farm, do arts and crafts and go for a dip in the splash pool. They will love hanging out with the resident peacocks, lizards and more. This is great for toddlers and small children!

• Take a tour with the Maritime Museum aboard a water taxi and explore one of the oldest and busiest ports in the Caribbean. The tour ends with a visit to the museum.

• Horseback riding is a fun thing to do in Curacao with kids. There are several reputable horse stables that can take you horseback riding along the trails or on the beach. What better way to explore the island!

• Head to Shete Boca National Park to see the stunning beauty of boca tabla these natural caves carved out by the ocean water. You can enter a small cave (be careful as it can be quite slippery), see a blow hole and a natural bridge.

• The Ostrich Farm is one of the largest breeding farms outside of Africa. Take a tour and touch one, feed one and maybe even ride one! This is one of the most unique things to do in Curacao with kids. There is an African themed restaurant on site where you can even try Ostrich steak. Check out the nearby Aloe Farm to learn about the many uses for this plant.

• Scuba diving is one of the top things to do in Curacao for tourists. If your kids aren't PADI certified enroll them at one of the many diving schools for a course. Introductory pool courses are available for 8 and older with open water diving starting at age 10. It does take several days to complete so it might take a chunk out of your vacation!

• Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that links Punda and Otrobanda areas of Willemstad. When you hear the horns make sure you exit the bridge as it will soon swing open to allow the boats to pass by. You can take the free ferry across the water while the bridge is open.

• Grab an ice cream as you stroll the Handelskade harbor front and check out the brightly painted colonial buildings. Shop for souvenirs at the stores or market stalls along the way.
  

• If your family enjoys hiking then visit Christtoffel park and head up one of the 8 trails. Keep an eye out for the white tailed deer, land snail and lizards. Don't miss the cactus garden or orchids along the way. There are also pickup safari tours with a guide available-you must reserve these in advance. 

So what did you think about our guide of fun things to do in Curacao?

More Articles to plan your family trip to Curacao!

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