Planning A trip to Curacao? Whether you’re exploring colorful Williamstad, lounging at Sandals Royal Curacao beach resort, or diving into the Islands vibrant underwater world, packing the right gear is key to staying comfortable and most importantly, stylish. This packing list for Curacao will help you figure out exactly what to wear, and what essentials to bring – so you’re ready for the sun, surf, and Island vibes.
Where did I stay?
I stayed at Sandals Royal Curacao Resort, and it was the best on the island!
Lightweight and Breathable Clothing
Curacao can be very warm and at times can get very humid, especially in August and September. Curacao has a warm, tropical climate with high humidity year-round. It’s a very windy island which definitely helps you feel cooler at times. I chose lightweight and breathable clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton, linen or moisture-wicking blends to stay cool and dry.
Think clothing like this:
Cotton/Linen Dresses, mostly sleeveless. I wore a lot of Midi dresses simply because I didn’t want my shorter dresses to blow up in the wind. I did pack some very lightweight wraps to wear in restaurants. Although everything is pretty much outdoors.
During the day I wore a lot of casual sundresses, beachy-type cover-ups too. Of course most days I lived in a swimsuit.
I packed shorts and tanks because I love to play pickleball and walk as well. My favorite shorts from Athleta, the Linen Retreat Shorts, I live in them and they are great for humid climates.
I stayed away from packing too many items that are dark and stuck with whites and brighter colors. White reflects the sun better! Perfect for those sunny days…. although I’ll talk later about the cloudy days.
Swimwear for every water adventure
With Crystal – clear waters, Curacao is a hotspot for snorkeling, scuba diving, and relaxing Beach days. Make sure to pack:
- Two to three swimsuits — you’ll want dry options.
- If you plan on snorkeling I recommend bringing a practical swimsuit that won’t fall off of you. You don’t want to be worried about your swimsuit falling off instead of looking at the beautiful fish that you’ll see in Curacao. I’m pretty sure I saw “Nemo”, “Dory” and others while snorkeling.
- I packed cute beach/pool flip flops.
- You’ll also need to pack a really good water-type shoe if you plan on doing any excursions. The beaches are very rocky in Curacao.
- I bought a super cute hat on Amazon and wore that every day. It was great because it protected me from the sun, It made me look put-together and I didn’t have to worry about my hair in the humid, windy climate.
- Pack a pair of Breezy cotton pants and a tank if you plan to go on a sunset cruise. I bought a cute pair at Target. You won’t have to worry about your dress blowing over your head.
- I brought a really lightweight, gauzy, long sleeve top for the Sunset Cruise. It gets breezy out on the water! No hats on the sunset cruise unless you have a neck toggle on it.
Stylish yet casual cover-ups
When you’re moving from Beach/Pool to restaurant or walking through town, a good cover up is essential. lightweight kaftans, sarongs, or simple button up shirt over your swimwear will work great and are perfectly acceptable in most casual spots
Don’t forget your fun sunglasses. I’m obsessed with having my shades match my outfits. Plus it always looks great in pictures.
Evening wear: Island casual
Dining out in Curacao is usually casual, but you’ll still want to look polished. Think maxi dresses or dressy sundresses, linen pants paired with nice tops, collared shirts for men, comfortable sandals or moccasins. Men should bring a nice lightweight pair of linen pants as some restaurants require Men to wear pants.
You likely won’t need Formal Wear unless you’re attending a special event.
Footwear: comfort means function
I made the mistake of forgetting to bring water shoes. I can’t stress this enough. Go get yourself a pair of water shoes with straps that hold them on your feet. Sort of like the Tevas we all owned at one point in time. Bring the right shoes for every part of your trip. Sandals for everyday wear, water shoes for snorkeling and boat excursions and some of the Rocky beaches, walking shoes or sneakers for exploring and day trips. If you plan to hike at Mt. Cristoffell you’ll need to pack your hiking shoes or sneakers with a really good tread on them.
Skip the heels!! I never wore heels the whole time. Curacao’s cobblestone streets and beachy terrain call for flats!
Sun Protection Essentials
Where to begin… The Sun in Curacao is strong so sun protection is a must!! Located just off the coast of Venezuela, you are way down there! You’re below the hurricane belt which is nice for Jun- Nov travel but there was a big storm front coming off of Venezuela and we had several overcast days, with the sun never peaking out at all. We chose to sit by the pool that day. That night everyone we saw was so sunburned. Most people wore sunblock too! I’ve never been to an island where it was so cloudy all day and yet we all got so much sun. I’d recommend:
- Reef safe sunscreen, we want to protect the reefs in curacao and the oils in suntan lotions are not good for the ecosystems in the reefs. Wondering what a great reef-safe sunscreen is? Here’s a great list of some of the best ones.
- Wide brim hat or baseball cap
- Sunglasses!!!
You’ll be grateful you pack these when you’re soaking up all those Caribbean rays.
Bags to Bring
Three bags will cover you for almost every situation:
- A Day pack or small backpack for excursions and Island Adventures. I used the same one for my carry-on.
- A beach bag for towels, sunscreen and water when you’re heading to the sand. I purchased a really inexpensive bag at TJMAXX and ended up just leaving it there.
- I packed a small wicker clutch for the evenings that went with everything I wore.
Final tip: Definitely bring a reusable water bottle, I like the Stanley 30 oz flip top that doesn’t leak.
Packing for Curacao is all about keeping it light, breathable, and sun-smart. With this packing list and the right wardrobe you’ll be ready to soak up every bit of Curacao’s vibrant charm – stylishly and sustainably!!!
