Heading To Curaçao? Here's What You Need To Know About Visiting
The Dutch Caribbean island now requires additional testing for the sake of making everyone’s visit safe.
Caption: Newly renovated and far more vibrant, this popular resort offers plenty of space and privacy.ske that dream come true just yet. Still, that doesn't mean a trip is off the table, as we're presumably joined by a lot of travelers in dreaming about getting back to those iconic food trucks sooner than later. But before we book, there's a new rule to know about.
In the ongoing effort to reduce the number of Covid-19 cases, authorities are now requiring travelers from high-risk countries, and who haven't been diagnosed with the virus in the past six months, to take an antigen test on the third day of their visits. The procedure will take place at one of several local labs and is in addition to the mandatory PCR test that must be conducted within 72 hours of departure.
Booking the appointment is now the final step in the entry process, as guests must first fill out the digital immigration card, followed by the Passenger Locator Card, and then upload the results of the negative PCR test. Once the antigen test is scheduled, living life the Dushi way is next on the agenda.
What Updated Goodness Awaits
Curaçao's natural beauty and awesome resorts are self-evident, but it doesn't hurt to shine a spotlight on this off-the-radar gem every now and then. Some of the island's best resorts have undergone significant renovations but never quite received their moments in the sun, so to speak, due to the pandemic.
In November 2019, Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort unveiled its colorful new look (Caribbean luxury with a touch of the Old World), but even if you fear change it still sits on the same gorgeous stretch of beach and boasts two pools and a variety of amenities and restaurants. (We certainly wouldn't mind making it to Çspice's Father's Day BBQ this year.)
Similarly, Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino reopened in December 2019 after extensive renovations to everything from the lobby and guest rooms to the Wind Creek Carnival Casino and Infinity Beach Club, where guests will enjoy lighter fare and colorful cocktails with perfect views.
The island's only five-star property, Baoase Luxury Resort is also arguably Curaçao's coolest place to stay. Returning patrons will enjoy the changes to the on-site dining experiences, as the Culinary Beach Restaurant received a new look and a new restaurant and bar boast incredible views of Willemstad. And if the sights are the main attraction, the resort also added a rooftop terrace that looks out over Baoase's central lagoon.
The New and Exciting
Two new resorts will also soon join the list of Curaçao's most celebrated properties, especially with one of them set to be the island's biggest to date. That honor will go to the all-inclusive Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort, which opened last July and will be completed by the end of 2021. When all is said and done, there will be 800 rooms, multiple pools, a waterpark, lazy river, and seven on-site dining options.
And if fun is a family getaway priority or the reward for a successful workation, Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino has enough activities to pack a first trip and run over into the eventual second visit. For starters, this resort is home to one of the island's only microbreweries and the casino is the only place where people will find a poker room. But head outside and take advantage of the National Geographic and PADI-certified dive center before enjoying classes for dancing, cooking, and Spanish and Papiamentu lessons.