Curacao cruise port – fast facts
– There are over 5 cruise berths in Curacao.
– Most cruise docks are 10 minutes walking distance of Willemstad.
– Taxis available at the cruise dock.
– Public transportation: not recommended.
– Beaches: No beaches within walking distance. Transportation required.
Welcome to the Curaçao cruise port guide. Curaçao has about 159.000 inhabitants. Its capital is Willemstad. This is also where your cruise ship is going to dock when making Curaçao its port of call. Willemstad is a city split in two. Punda is where you find the famous Dutch Warf and markets (see picture). The other half of the city is called Otrabanda, meaning “other side”. This is where most cruise ships will dock. The mega cruise pier is at historical Rif Fort. This and many other forts, plantation houses and old warehouses show the vibrant history of Curaçao as a Dutch colony, slave trade centre and oil refinery. Curaçao is a true cultural treasure. If you take a look at its holidays for example, you will notice it inherited the Dutch, Jewish, Venezuelan and local holidays. That is the beauty of Curaçao! The locals celebrate holidays of many different cultures because you tolerate them, but also mainly because you always want a reason to celebrate.
The island lies about 60 km off the coast of Venezuela. It is about 70 km long and 12 km wide. Its landscape is dry and the vegetation matches the climate. While the island might not have the most beautiful forests or scenery of the Caribbean, it does have 28 beaches of which some are even in the world’s top 10. Find out which ones we recommend in the Curaçao cruise port guide.
Curaçao cruise port guide – docked
Cruise ships dock at one of the following cruise docks: 2 Mega piers, Mathey Warf, Groote Wharf or Nieuwe werf. Most likely you dock at the Mega pier, but if there are more ships in town the Mathey Warf, Groote Wharf and Nieuwe Werf will also be used. See map above for the exact location of all cruise docks. To see where your cruise ship is going to dock check: www.curports.com/cruise/cruise-schedule/
Mega pier 1 and 2.
This cruise dock is about 500 to 700 yards from Riffort. At the dock you will find an information booth, free wi-fi, taxi stand, tour operators and souvenir shops. You will also find a lot of facilities, cafe’s, restaurants and shops at the Riffort area close to the pier.
The Mathey Warf.
This pier is located behind the pontoon bridge in Otrabanda. From here you are about 500 yards away from the city centre of Willemstad. You will find an information booth, taxi stand, tour operators and souvenir shops on the dock.
The Groote wharf.
This cruise dock is also behind the pontoon bridge but on the Punda side of town. From here it is a 600 yard walk into town. Although the Mega Pier provides the best facilities for cruise passengers, the other docks are also just a small walk away from transportation, shopping and the city centre.
The Nieuwe werf.
This dock is the one furthest away from the city centre. From here it is about a 30 minute walk into the city centre. See map above for its exact location. Check with your cruise line if they provide a shuttle service into town. For history and shopping you don’t have to go far. Where ever you dock in Curaçao the historical city is close by. It is easy to navigate by foot and has lots of historical sights and shopping to offer. To get further afield you might want to consider one of the following options:
Taxi from cruise terminal
Usually there are a limited amount of taxis waiting at the pier for you. Negotiate a price before getting into the taxi. The price from the dock to Seaquarium beach is approximately $25 and to Blue Bay also around $25. Taxis cost around 45 US dollar per hours depending on your negotiation skills. All prices are per taxi, up to 4 people. When in doubt about the prices ask for the Curaçao taxi tariff list.
Trolley train
There is a trolley train in Curaçao that gives 1 hour guided tours through the city. It leaves at 10 am from Fort Amsterdam. See location on the map above. Check in at 09.45 am. The cost is 25 US dollar for an adult / 15 USD per child (pay cash) per person.
Public Transport
Find the public bus station at Otrobanda and Punda. See map above for their exact location. You can choose to tour the island by public transport, although we don’t recommend it because it is not reliable.
Beaches
There are no beaches within walking distance. You will need to take a taxi to be able to reach the beach. We feel the best beaches to go to are:
Hooks hut: which is also the closest beach to port. Hook’s hut offers a restaurant and bar at the beach in a informal setting. Bring a towel and sunscreen.
Sea Aquarium beach: This is the most popular beach on the island especially for the younger crowd. Find several beach clubs, souvenir shops and restaurants here. All beaches have facilities. Bring a towel and sunscreen.
Porto Mari: A littler further from town is where you will find Porto Mari. It is a beach that is primarily used by locals instead of tourists. It has white sandy beaches and a really nice atmosphere. All facilities are there. Bring a towel and sunscreen.
Grote Knip: This beach that has repeatedly been featured in magazines as being one of the top beaches in the world. However it is also one of the furthest beaches from port. It is about 45 minute drive from port / +/- 45 USD dollar one way by taxi. It is where you will find turquoise waters, white sandy beach and it is not crowded at all. This is the ultimate beach. Find a small bar and limited facilities here. Bring a towel and sunscreen.
Snorkeling Curaçao has brilliant snorkelling and diving spots. When you are interesting in diving make sure to prearrange a dive with one of the local operators. If you are interested in diving you will have success at almost any beach on the island. A special one that we can recommend: Blue Bay is a resort area where you will find coral reefs and turtles. Combine sunbathing, cocktails and snorkelling on this brilliant resort. Negotiate a taxi for approximately $25 one way.