One Week in Curaçao

Start in the heart of Willemstad, the capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin on the Punda side along the Handelskade, the row of pastel Dutch-colonial townhouses that line the harbour and give the city its postcard look. Walk out onto the Queen Emma Bridge, the floating pontoon bridge that swings open to let ships pass, then explore the small lanes of Punda on foot.

Step into the Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, one of the oldest synagogues in continuous use in the Americas, famous for its sand-covered floor. Nearby, Fort Amsterdam anchors the old defensive heart of the town.

Join a Willemstad walking food tour to taste your way through the old town, from local snacks to the national dish, keshi yena, a baked round of cheese filled with spiced meat. If you would rather go at your own pace, cross to the Otrobanda side and visit the Kura Hulanda Museum, a thoughtful museum on the island's history and the transatlantic slave trade.

End the day with dinner on the waterfront, watching the Queen Emma Bridge glow against the harbour. The Handelskade is especially photogenic after dark when the colourful facades light up.

Spend today on the sheltered southeast coast, an easy drive from town. Start at the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, where you can get close to the island's marine life, then head next door to the Dolphin Academy. The swim-with-dolphins programme is a popular family experience, and the Sea Aquarium encounters let you meet rays, sea lions and other animals up close.

Settle in for the afternoon at one of the area's calm, well-equipped beaches. Jan Thiel Beach in the Jan Thiel resort area has loungers, restaurants and clear water, while the lively Mambo Beach boulevard mixes swimming with shops and bars. For a quieter scene, drive a little further to Caracasbaai near the Spanish Water lagoon, a local favourite with easy snorkeling, or the small, sheltered Director Bay.

Stay out east for dinner along the Jan Thiel strip, which has a good spread of restaurants and a relaxed evening buzz, or head back into Willemstad for a waterfront table.

Drive west into the rural Bandabou region, where Curaçao's most photogenic beaches line the calm leeward coast. Start at Cas Abao, a wide crescent of soft sand with clear turquoise water, loungers and a beach bar, then continue to Playa Porto Mari near Sint Willibrordus, known for its double reef just offshore and great for an easy snorkel from the sand.

Carry on to the twin coves of Playa Kenepa Grandi (Grote Knip) and the smaller Playa Kenepa Chiki (Kleine Knip), two of the island's most beautiful beaches, framed by low cliffs with brilliant blue water. If you want one more stop, the small fishing cove of Playa Lagun is a calm, sheltered spot where turtles often glide through the shallows.

Time your drive back so you reach a west-coast viewpoint near sunset, then return to Willemstad for dinner. A relaxed evening on the Jan Thiel strip is another good option for more dining choices.

Set out early for the far west and Christoffel National Park, the island's largest nature reserve, home to Mount Christoffel and trails through dry tropical forest where you may spot the rare Curaçao white-tailed deer and abundant birdlife. Energetic hikers can join the Christoffel sunrise hike, a steep early-morning climb rewarded with sweeping views; if that is too much, the park's scenic loops and shorter walks are gentler alternatives.

Drive to the neighbouring Shete Boka National Park on the rugged windward coast, where Atlantic waves crash into limestone inlets and the Boka Tabla cave booms with the surf. This is sightseeing, not swimming, so admire the power of the sea from the cliff paths. Afterwards, cool off at the Westpunt beaches: the cliff-backed Playa Forti, the lively fishing cove of Playa Grandi where turtles feed near the boats, the secluded Playa Jeremi, and the laid-back Daaibooi on the way home.

It is a long but rewarding day, so keep the evening simple with a casual dinner back near Willemstad or your base. If you are still out west around sunset, the cliffs at Playa Forti are a memorable place to watch the sky change.

Curaçao is one of the world's best places for shore diving, with healthy reefs you can reach by walking straight in from the beach inside the protected Curaçao Marine Park, which runs along much of the leeward coast. Spend the morning underwater, whether you are a certified diver exploring the reef wall or a snorkeler floating above it. Operators can guide you to classic entry points and set you up with tanks and gear.

In the afternoon, ease off with snorkeling with turtles at one of the leeward beaches where green turtles are regularly seen, such as Playa Grandi or the calm cove of Playa Lagun. If you would rather stay closer to town, the reefy fringes of Director Bay and Caracasbaai near Spanish Water are good, accessible snorkel spots.

After a day in the water you will have earned a relaxed dinner. Head back to Willemstad or the Jan Thiel strip and refuel with fresh local seafood.

Give a full day to the island's signature excursion: a Klein Curaçao day trip. Boats depart early, most from the Spanish Water marina on the southeast coast, and cross open sea to the uninhabited islet of Klein Curaçao. The reward is a long, untouched white-sand beach, an old lighthouse, and some of the clearest snorkeling water around.

Spend the day swimming, snorkeling over the reef, and relaxing on the sand; most tours include lunch and gear, and sea turtles are often seen in the shallows. As the boat heads back in the late afternoon, you get a last long look at the Curaçao coastline from the water.

Back on the main island, wind down with a relaxed dinner in Willemstad or near Jan Thiel. After a full day in the sun, an early night is easy to justify.

On your last day, mix culture with a little nature close to town. Tour the Curaçao liqueur distillery at Landhuis Chobolobo, where the bright-blue liqueur is still made, and join the short blue Curaçao distillery tour with a tasting. From there, head into the central countryside to spot the wild flamingos that gather at the Jan Kok salt flats near Sint Willibrordus.

With extra time, the herb and healing garden at Den Paradera makes an easy add-on on the way back toward town. Save the Hato Caves for last, a network of limestone caverns with stalactites, pools and resident bats that sits right by the airport, so you end the loop next to your departure point. The flamingos are also lovely in the softer light of late afternoon if you would rather see them on the way out.

Round off the week with a farewell dinner on the Willemstad waterfront, watching the Queen Emma Bridge light up one last time. Curaçao International Airport (CUR) is only about 15 to 20 minutes from town, so you can linger a little before heading off.