Touching down at Curacao International Airport in Curacao makes it easy to explore, with nearby places close enough for simple day trips. Curacao is a dry, cactus-dotted island just off the coast of South America, with a Dutch colonial capital painted in candy colors. Locals speak Papiamentu, a lively mix of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and African languages, and the island has a confident, multicultural personality all its own.

Curacao standouts: - Walk the colorful Handelskade waterfront in the Punda district of Willemstad - Cross the Queen Emma Bridge, a floating pontoon bridge that swings open for ships - Explore the Otrobanda neighborhood and the Kura Hulanda Museum - Snorkel or dive at Tugboat Beach and other easy shore sites - Swim at Grote Knip, also called Playa Kenepa, or the cove at Playa Lagun - Climb Mount Christoffel early in the morning in Christoffel National Park - Watch waves crash into the sea caves at Shete Boka National Park - Visit the Chobolobo mansion where Blue Curacao liqueur is made - Try keshi yena, cheese stuffed with spiced meat, or a bowl of goat stoba

Curacao is an island, so day trips mean the coastline and the sea. Klein Curacao, a flat uninhabited islet with a lighthouse and a wide white beach, is a popular boat trip of about two hours each way. Bonaire and Aruba are short flights away for divers and island hoppers. On the island itself, the drive from Willemstad to the wild western tip takes around an hour, past salt flats with flamingos and quiet fishing villages. Come for Carnival in February, or in spring for the Seu harvest parade, when traditional songs and drums fill the streets.