The Best Things to Do with Kids in Curaçao: Our Personal Tips as Local Parents
- Jul 11
- 9 min read
Curaçao is famous for its beautiful beaches, year-round sunshine, and relaxed Caribbean atmosphere. But as parents, we also know that a great family holiday is about more than spending every day at the beach. Children want to explore, play, swim, meet animals, and sometimes simply burn off some energy.
As parents of a young son, we have discovered many child-friendly places around the island over the years. In this guide, we are sharing our personal favorites to help you make the most of your family vacation in Curaçao.
1. Kitesurfing for children from around age 10
Many people think kitesurfing is only suitable for adults, but children can learn this amazing sport too. From around the age of 10, depending on height, weight, swimming ability, and concentration, children can often join a first introductory lesson.
For children, the main focus is creating a fun and safe experience. We therefore adapt the activity to the child’s age and to the wishes of both the child and the parents.
Depending on the child, the experience can include a combination of different activities, such as a board ride or monkey ride with the instructor, practising with a trainer kite on the beach, launching a real kite, and learning basic kite control in the water.
We also take photos and videos during the activity, so families can look back on the experience at home.
Parents and older children can also join a full kitesurf lesson, either together in a duo lesson or individually. Curious about how we teach students to kitesurf safely and efficiently, step by step? Read more about our teaching method on the website.
2. Windsurfing or stand-up paddleboarding
For children who love the water, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding are great alternatives. On calmer days, paddleboarding is perfect for exploring the coastline together.
Older children often enjoy learning their first windsurfing skills and making their first short runs on a windsurf board. Both windsurfing and paddleboarding are available at the Windsurf School at Spanish Water.
3. The mangrove beach, Zest, and Koko’s
Next to Papagayo Beach, the popular beach at Jan Thiel, you will find a small and peaceful mangrove beach. The water is shallow and clear, and small fish often gather around the mangrove roots.
You can reach the beach from Koko’s restaurant or via a small side path through the bushes. To get there, you walk a short distance over rocks through the water, which makes the visit feel like a mini adventure for children.
In the morning, Koko’s is a lovely place for breakfast and coffee. The menu includes healthy breakfast options, fresh fruit, and delicious French toast.
Later in the day, an ice cream at Zest is always a good idea. There is also a small playground where children can play.
At Papagayo Beach, you will also find the swimming steps near Zanzi. It is a fun place for a quick swim, although it can sometimes be busy with tourists.
4. Kabouterbos, Parke Den Dunki, and the salt pans
Kabouterbos is a classic outing for families with young children. It is a nice place to walk, play, and let children use their imagination.
Parke Den Dunki, near Sorsaka, is another wooded area and is larger than Kabouterbos. It is a good place for children to climb, run, and play.
From Parke Den Dunki, you can continue walking to the nearby salt pans, where flamingos can often be spotted. Take the path on the right through the forest and follow the signs until you reach the salt pans.
5. Hofi Mango
Hofi Mango is a beautiful green oasis on Curaçao. You will find walking trails, a playground, a restaurant, and even a zipline for adventurous children.
It is an ideal place for a relaxed morning or afternoon with the family.
6. Curaçao Ostrich Farm
The Curaçao Ostrich Farm remains one of the most popular outings for children.
The restaurant, playground, observation tower, and petting farm can be visited free of charge. There is an entrance fee for the bus tour through the ostrich farm.
During the tour, children can feed the ostriches, stand on an ostrich egg, and see the crocodiles.
This family activity is easy to combine with a visit to the Aloe Vera Plantation, the Chichi Art Factory, and the kite beach. All of these places are located along the road to Sint Joris Bay.
7. Marie Pampoen
Marie Pampoen is located close to Mambo Beach and is a large seaside park where children can ride bicycles, scooters, or skateboards. There is a skate park, beach volleyball court, several playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, and plenty of shaded areas.
You will also find a kiosk serving good coffee, smoothies, and toasted sandwiches. Clean public toilets are available as well.
8. La Hacienda Olivia
La Hacienda Olivia is a restaurant with a playground and farm animals, including donkeys, goats, and horses.
During weekend activities, children can feed the animals and take pony rides. It is especially fun for young animal lovers. Information about upcoming weekend activities is usually shared on the La Hacienda Olivia Facebook page.
9. The playground in Otrobanda and ice cream at Kura Hulanda
This is a lovely combination for an afternoon in Willemstad. Start by exploring the city, admiring the murals and crossing the Queen Emma Bridge. Afterwards, let the children play at the playground in Otrobanda before enjoying authentic Italian gelato at Il Gelato in Kura Hulanda.
Kura Hulanda is a colorful courtyard area with small boutiques, the Bagira art gallery, and several good restaurants. It is well worth a visit. Markets and live music are also held there regularly.
Playing at the Otrobanda playground in the heart of Willemstad is a perfect way to break up a city visit with children.
10. Sambil and Kidi’s Park
On a very hot or rainy day, Sambil shopping mall is a convenient option. The indoor play center Kidi’s Park is especially popular with younger children and offers hours of play in a safe environment. There is another play area for small children in the food court. Older children can visit Extreme Zone, an indoor trampoline park.
Sambil also has many clothing stores and a cinema, so there is something for the whole family.
11. Playa Kalki and Tamasito Cave
Playa Kalki is a beautiful beach where children can swim and snorkel. There is also a restaurant at the beach.
Above Playa Kalki, you will find Playa Beach Club, which has a beautiful infinity pool that is free to use. The pool is suitable for both younger and older children.
The surroundings are well maintained, with clean showers, toilets, and changing facilities. Food and drinks are also available.
For a little more adventure, you can visit nearby Tamasito Cave.
From the Playa Beach Club parking area, follow the hand-painted signs towards the cave. You can park near the entrance. At first, it may look as though you should follow the path on the left towards the sea. The cave is actually on the right-hand side, next to the path, where you will see steps leading down.
On the road from Playa Beach Club to Tamasito Cave, you will also pass a playground, making this a varied family outing.
12. Blue Room and kayaking
For families with older children, the hike to Blue Room is a great adventure.
The trail starts at Playa Santa Cruz. On the right-hand side, before Captain Goodlife’s restaurant, a path leads uphill. Follow the trail and you will first reach Playa Pretu, also known as the black beach, before continuing to Blue Room.
Another option is to rent a kayak from Captain Goodlife or join one of his boat and snorkel trips to Playa Pretu, Blue Room, and an underwater shipwreck. The clear water, the blue glow inside the cave, and the unforgettable personality of the captain make this a special experience.
Santa Cruz beach itself is also worth visiting. It is a quiet, local beach with relatively few tourists. Barbecues are allowed, and there are brightly colored picnic tables in the shade of the palapas. Beach barbecues are also allowed at Daaibooi and at the beaches of San Juan.
13. Kunuku Aqua Resort
Kunuku Aqua Resort has several swimming pools and water slides and is a favorite with families on Curaçao.
Day passes are available, and children can easily spend an entire day here.
14. Corendon Mangrove Beach Aquapark
The aquapark at Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort is another popular option.
With several swimming pools, water slides, and play areas, it is usually a guaranteed success with children.
Day passes are available, although they are generally a little more expensive than at Kunuku Aqua Resort.
15. Curaçao Sea Aquarium and Mambo Beach
Curaçao Sea Aquarium is a fun activity for children who are interested in marine life. The dolphin show and the boat with underwater viewing windows are among the highlights. Feeding the stingrays and flamingos is also great fun.
Several additional experiences can be booked, including swimming with dolphins and feeding sharks. Although the dolphins live in a controlled environment, their enclosures are connected to the ocean, and some of the dolphins are regularly taken into the open sea.
After visiting the aquarium, you can easily walk to Mambo Beach for an ice cream, a drink, or a swim.
16. Amazonia
During a guided tour at Amazonia, children can meet parrots, reptiles, monkeys, and other animals. It is both fun and educational for the whole family. There is also a swimming pool, and day passes are available.
Amazonia is located on the eastern side of the island, close to the Aloe Vera Plantation, the Chichi Art Factory, the Ostrich Farm, and the kite beach. These activities can easily be combined.
17. Snorkeling with turtles at Playa Piskado
For older children who can snorkel confidently, Playa Piskado is one of the most memorable places on Curaçao. Playa Piskado, also known as Playa Grandi, is a fishing beach where local fishermen clean their catch. Because of this, sea turtles are often present, and visitors can snorkel nearby.
Food and drinks are available at the beach, and there are sunbeds, toilets and a shower.
A popular nearby lunch spot is the restaurant at Playa Forti. There is also a playground. The restaurant offers beautiful views, and people sometimes jump from the cliff into the sea (for safety reasons, this is not something we would recommend).
18. Tugboat, Fort Beekenburg, the Quarantine Building, and Director’s Bay
These places are all located close to each other and can easily be combined into a full day out.
At Tugboat Beach, you can snorkel in clear water and see a sunken shipwreck just below the surface. There is a café, sunbeds, toilets, and a changing area. Visitors can also join a workshop where they paint wooden signs made from driftwood.
Close to Tugboat, you will find the old Quarantine Building. This abandoned building has a mysterious atmosphere and can be explored freely. Be careful, as there are some holes in the floor. For children, walking through the building can feel like a real adventure.
Fort Beekenburg is located on the same route. The fort was built in 1703 to defend Spanish Water. It is free to enter and fun to explore.
If you continue up the road, you will reach Director’s Bay. This beach was once reserved for Shell directors. After Shell stopped operating on the island, it was opened to the public. The beach is mainly made up of coral stone, so it is not the most comfortable place for sunbathing. However, there are picnic tables, it is often quiet, the snorkeling is good, and the view over the bright blue ocean is beautiful. It is definitely worth a short visit when you are in the area.
After exploring these locations, you can have lunch at the Windsurf School or at El Brisa del Mar, which is our personal favorite for lunch. Both are located at the bottom of the road.
19. Pirate Bay and Kokomo Beach
Pirate Bay and Kokomo Beach are both located relatively close to Willemstad and are easy to reach. Both beaches have restaurants, showers, and changing facilities, making them practical for families with young children or babies.
Pirate Bay is also home to The Dive Shop. Paddle boats and jet skis can be rented through Breeze. Kokomo Beach has live music every Sunday.
20. Porto Mari
Porto Mari is one of the favorite family beaches on Curaçao.
The water gets deeper gradually, there is a good restaurant, and children often love seeing the famous beach pigs. It is a wonderful place for a relaxed family beach day.
Enjoying Curaçao with the whole family
Curaçao has much more to offer families than many visitors expect. Whether your family enjoys nature, animals, beaches, adventure, watersports, or simply finding a good playground, there is always something fun to do.
We hope these personal tips help you create beautiful memories during your stay on the island.
Have you discovered another child-friendly place on Curaçao? Let us know. We are always happy to add new family favorites to our list.
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