Curaçao, the most LGBT+ friendly destination in the Caribbean

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There is much to be expected from a country that sells itself as “the most LGBT+ friendly destination in the Caribbean”. The island is very popular for LGBTs tourists for the realization of wedding ceremonies, including specialized professionals such as the planner Matsy Cijntje (@lgbtweddingscuracao). Hotels are also keen to advise that their facilities are ideal for such egalitarian celebrations as the traditional Avila Beach and the Papagayo, where the Brazilian singer Ludmilla and Brunna Gonçalves renewed their vows in July this year.

Territory of the Netherlands, language is not a barrier for the island that has papiamento as a mother tongue, as the Curaçaleños learn Dutch, English and Spanish at school. Altogether, about 55 cultures coexist in the country whose capital, Willemstad, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for preserving the centuries-old architecture of its historic center (Punda).

The population of Curaçao is equivalent to a countryside city of São Paulo, like Itapetininga, for example, with 155,000 inhabitants. The island 35 other beaches with coves are spread over 444 km² – equivalent to 2/3 the size of Florianópolis, but without the traffic jam. Another feature of the destination is that Curaçao is outside the hurricane belt, with January as the coldest month, with an average temperature of 26.5 °C, and September as the hottest, with an average of 33 °C.

It is an island frequented by personalities who seek a vacation away from the spotlight, such as Ivete Sangalo, Xuxa, Eliana, Preta Gil and Dominique Jackson (the Elektra in the series“Pose”). On the island’s residents, we’ve listed the LGBTQIA+ Curaçao personalities in this article.

PRE-PA-RA: Documentation

Since January, the country has been open to receive tourists from Brazil, even providing an opportunity for digital nomads with the “home office” program. The return of in-person events took place at the end of September, with five meetings to celebrate Pride 2021.

Brazilian tourists do not need a visa for Curaçao, but there are some other requirements:

• Passport with at least six months to expire;
• International certificate of vaccine against yellow fever and covid(for those who need yellow fever vaccine, it starts to be valid 10 days after application);
• PCR or Antigen with a negative result performed within 24 hours before departure;
• Filling in two forms on the dicardcuracao.com website;
• Travel insurance with covid coverage.

ACCOMMODATION

Two lodging options that strongly meet sustainability criteria and commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community have been mentioned here before: the Avila Beach Hotel and the all-inclusive Mangrove Beach Corendon by Hilton.

RENT A CAR IS NECESSARY

Curaçao is small, but not small enough to go walking to places. The beaches are far from Willemstad and the best option is to rent a car, as public transport is very scarce and there is no Uber service on the island. Taxis are rare and expensive, the price being informally negotiated before departure.

The daily rate for a car is similar to that in Brazil, at least at Brio Car Rental, a company managed by Marcos, a Brazilian who has lived on the island for years. The negotiation of a car rental at Brio Car Rental can be done directly with Marcos via WhatsApp and the car is delivered by him at the airport, where he kindly explains a little about differences in Curaçao traffic and mentions some “etiquette” rules of the country, for example, always keep a distance of three meters from the vehicle in front and pay attention to speed, as most drivers in Willemstad are elderly.

It was Marcos who also explained that taking coolers with beers/drinks to the beach is a habit in Curaçao, as some of them do not have restaurants. For this demand, the Brio Car even leaves a cooler in the trunk of each vehicle.

PURE SHORES: Beaches

There are public and private beaches. In the former, entry is always free and many have little infrastructure and services. Private beaches are in private areas and entrance fees are charged for access.

In addition to the cooler in the trunk, Marcos from Brio Car Rental created a guide that can be called “Essential”, which objectively details prices, services and tips for the main beaches. Below are some tips from Brio, starting with “Playa Porto Mari”, which flies an LGBT+ flag at the entrance and is great for flirting.

PORTO MARI
– The most frequented by LGBTs;
– You can bring cooler;
– Private beach, pays US$ 3 per person;
– Open from 9am to 4:30pm;
– Deckchair for rent for US$ 3;
– It has a great structure of bathrooms and restaurant;
– There are diving companies;
– The beach has two resident piglets: Willy and Woody;
– On the way to the beach, you can pass by “Willwood”, where you can see flamingos.

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KENEPA GRANDI
– Curaçao most popular;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter;
– There are chairs for rent;
– It has restaurant and bathroom;
– It has a viewpoint deck for good selfies.
– Nearby, there is also the beach“Kenepa Chiki”, the “smaller version” of the beach.

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PISKADÓ
– It’s where you swim with turtles, with the best time being around 11 am;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter;
– There are chairs, umbrella and snorkel for rent.

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KALKI
– There are diving companies;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter;
– It’s on the tip of the island, in Westpunt.

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FORTI
– It has a restaurant with a gazebo;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter.

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MAMBO BEACH
– It is a complex with several beaches, restaurants and hotels;
– It’s next to the “Sea Aquarium”;
– Happy hour on Fridays;
– You cannot bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter;
– There are chairs for rent.

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JEREMI
– Small and charming beach;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter.

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LAGUN
– It has a glass gazebo and also a good restaurant:
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter.

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SANTA CRUZ
– It is from this beach that the walk to “Blue Room” cave leaves. Best time for the tour is at midday, as the sun is above the cave;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter.

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CAS ABAO
– There is a company that rents kayaks, offers divings and a massage service;
– It has a great structure for bathrooms and a restaurant;
– You can bring cooler;
– Private beach, you pay to enter: $6 per car during the week and $7 on weekends and holidays. Car with a maximum of 4 people.
– There is chairs for rent for US$ 3.

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DAAIBOOI
– Great for snorkel;
– It has a restaurant and bathrooms;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter.

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KARAKTER
– Private beach, offers “day use” which includes use of the swimming pool;
– It has a great restaurant, just let they know at the entrance that you will go to the establishment;
– It has one of the best SPA services on the island;
– Suggestion: try the apple pie.

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CARACASBAAI
– Rent transparent kayak;
– It has a very good restaurant;
– You can bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter.

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KOKOMO
– It has a swing for taking pictures (the easiest way to climb it is from the side);
– Has a restaurant;
– You cannot bring cooler;
– Public beach, you don’t pay to enter;
– There are chairs for rent.

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BLUE BAY
– It has a restaurant, bathroom and happy hour on Fridays;
– Stay in a condominium with a golf course;
– Private beach, you pay to enter;
– There are chairs for rent.

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JAN THIEL BEACH
– Full with hotels and restaurants (Papagayo, Zanzibar, Tinto), being possible to enjoy the swimming pools;
– Happy hour on Saturdays;
– Private beach, you pay to enter;
– You cannot bring cooler;
– There are chairs for rent.

Suggestions and tips from Marcos, from Brio Car Rental:

• Piskadó, Kali e Forti beaches are close to each other, here’s the tip to visit them on the same day;
• Other “packs” of tours to do on the same day, because they are nearby: Jeremi, Lagoon e Santa Cruz beaches; the Kokomo e Blue Bay combo;
• When visiting Cas Abao, it’s worth leaving at 4 pm and heading to Daaibooi or Karakter to see the sunset;

RESTAURANTS

Komedor Krioyo (2 units: Banda Bou and Schottegatweg)
Typical Curacao food
Instagram: @restaurantkomedorkrioyo
Instagram: @restaurantkomedorkrioyoplus

Blues (Inside Avila Beach Hotel)
Caribbean-style Fish & Meat
Website: bluescuracao.com

Osteria Rosso (Inside Trupial Inn Hotel)
Italian food
Instagram: @osteriarossocuracao
Website: osteriarosso.com

Mistral (Punda)
Breakfast, lunch and more
Instagram: @mistralcuracao
Website: mistralcuracao.com

La Bohème (Punda)
Instagram: @labohemecuracao
Website: labohemecuracao.com

Porto Restaurante (Otrobanda)
Instagram: @portocuracao
Website: portocuracao.com

Pizza Mare (Mambo Beach)
Italian Food
Instagram: @pizzamarecuracao
Website: pizzamarecuracao.com

The Green House (Mambo Beach)
Mediterranean food, seafood & meat
Instagram: @thegreenhousecuracao
Website: thegreenhousecuracao.com

Brisa do Mar (Caracasbaai)
Sea food
Instagram: @brisadomarpopsplace
Website: brisadomarpopsplace.everyorder.io

Saltwater Rifterrace (Piscadera)
Instagram: @saltwater.rifterrace

De Visserij (Piscadera)
Instagram: @devisserijcuracao

Zanzibar (Jan Thiel)
Instagram: @zanzibar_curacao
Website: janthielbeach.com

TOURS

Aquafari
Aquatic Safari
aquafari.net

Seabob Curaçao
Aquatic Scooter
seabobcuracao.com

Curaçao Green Wheels
Electric scooter
curacaogreenwheels.com

Irie Tours
Boat tours
irietours.com

Landhuis Chobolobo
Liquor factory
chobolobo.com

MORE INFORMATION

In addition to tracking the Curacao LGBTQIA+ personalities in this article, travel and island information is regularly updated at curacao.com.

Locally, the island has created the“Dushi Stay App” (download here on the App Store and here on Google Play), which allows visitors to stay up-to-date with the latest information when in Curaçao. There is also in the app all kinds of content about the measures that have been taken and the protocols that companies adhere locally. This initiative is part of the “A Dushi Stay, the Healthy Way” program, in which government and business work together to keep travel to Curaçao safe.

Hato International Airport is the largest in the Caribbean and to reach Curaçao there are daily connections departing from different Brazilian cities by Copa Airlines, Avianca and American Airlines.

SERVICE

www.curacao.com
Facebook: CuracaoBrasil
Instagram: @VisiteCuracao
TikTok: @curacaotb