Going Beyond the Blue: What’s New in Curaçao for 2026

New hotels, immersive experiences, and outdoor exploration shape the year ahead

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the heels of a breakthrough year in the global spotlight, Curaçao enters 2026 with unprecedented momentum and a bold vision for the future. While celebrated for its turquoise waters, the island is now redefining the Caribbean experience by leaning into its unique duality: rugged adventure and sophisticated culture. This year, Curaçao unveils an ambitious new chapter marked by high-profile hotel debuts, expanded outdoor excursions, and immersive tour offerings that invite travelers to explore the destination’s vibrant heritage and natural wonders more deeply than ever before.

A Banner Year of Global Awards and Accolades

Curaçao’s transformation into a premier global destination was recently validated by a series of record-breaking accolades. From mainstream recognition to historic luxury honors, the island swept the travel industry’s most prestigious awards.

Mainstream Recognition

• USA Today’s 10Best: Curaçao was crowned the #1 Caribbean Island to Visit in 2026, a major milestone for mainstream travel appeal.
• Good Housekeeping: Voted a Top Beach Escape in the 2025 Travel Awards, validating the island’s appeal for family and leisure travelers.

Historic Milestones in Hospitality

• Baoase Luxury Resort: For the first time in history, a Curaçao property claimed the region's top honor, voted the #1 Resort in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards, while also ranking among the Top 25 Hotels in the World.
• Condé Nast Traveler: In a rare dual distinction, Baoase was also named the #1 Resort in the Caribbean by the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, cementing its status as a global luxury leader and further proving Curaçao’s growth as an elevated destination.

Best-in-Class Wellness and Scuba

• Zoëtry Curaçao Resort & Spa: Recognized as a Top Wellness Resort in the 2025 Men’s Health Travel Awards, highlighting the island’s expanding footprint in the wellness and recovery space.
• Scuba Diving Magazine: Affirming its status as a premier underwater destination, Curaçao swept the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, taking home honors across 13 different categories.

Together, these accolades reflect a year of extraordinary momentum and global attention for Curaçao, validating its standing as one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic, diverse, and award-winning destinations.

Where to Stay: New Openings and Noteworthy Updates for 2026

Curaçao’s hospitality landscape is undergoing a three-fold evolution in 2026. The island is set to welcome a wave of flagship new-build resorts, significant expansions of existing properties, and an assortment of elevated dining and wellness experiences designed for the modern traveler.

Highly-Anticipated New Debuts

• The Pyrmont Curaçao, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort: Marking a milestone for the island, this property debuts as the first Marriott all-inclusive and first Autograph Collection hotel in Curaçao, blending luxury with the ease of travel.
• TUI BLUE Curaçao: Scheduled for a September 2026 debut, this 300-room resort focuses on sustainable tourism and world-class diving on the island’s scenic coast.

Property Transformations and Expansions

• Scuba Lodge Lagun Beach: In a major western expansion, the iconic Bahia Apartments & Diving is undergoing a complete transformation into the second location for the beloved Scuba Lodge brand, offering a nature-centric, diver’s retreat.
• Avila Beach Hotel: The island’s oldest operating historic hotel continues to modernize, introducing newly upgraded Oceanfront Blues Rooms in its adults-only Blue Wing, featuring pier-based wooden structures with 360-degree Caribbean views.
• Coral Estate Luxury Resort: Expanding its high-end portfolio with two new masterpieces: Villa Azure Vista, a six-bedroom retreat with multiple pools, and Villa Brillante, a sleek, ultra-modern residence.
• Kontiki Beach Resort: Following the successful integration of The Beach House apartments, the resort will further expand with 22 new luxury rooms by October 2026.

Elevated Experiences at Existing Hotels

• JFK Steakhouse (Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort): The island’s first authentic American-style steakhouse, offering premium cuts and a sophisticated wine program.
• Ç Spa & Wellness (Papagayo Beach Resort): The newly opened wellness destination is now the largest spa on the island, offering a sanctuary for recovery and relaxation.
• Flexible Wellness: Dreams Curaçao, Sunscape Curaçao, and Zoëtry Curaçao have introduced new spa day-pass experiences, making luxury wellness accessible to off-site visitors seeking a day of rejuvenation.

New Ways to Explore: Adventure, Culture, and Conservation

Beyond its famous shores, Curaçao is expanding its land-based and underwater offerings, providing travelers with more ways to engage with the island’s rugged landscapes, vibrant history, and delicate ecosystems.

A Playground for Adventure and the Outdoors

• Christoffel National Park: Building on the success of its full-moon night hikes, the park now offers private rock climbing tours and guided horseback riding expeditions from the historic Landhuis Savonet to the rugged Boca Grandi.
• Blue Finn Charters: Seeking to reach the island’s hidden gems, Blue Finn has debuted a Jeep Beach Hopping experience to remote shores and experience the destination’s more than 30 diverse beaches to enjoy.
• Glass Bottom Boat Tours: Bearded Butlers brings back a glass bottom boat tour allowing travelers to marvel at Curaçao’s vibrant marine life.

City, Culture, and the Arts

• Kura Hulanda Museum: The island’s premier anthropological museum is unveiling refreshed exhibition spaces with modern enhancements to create a more immersive historical narrative.
• Punda Vibes City Tour: Blue Finn Charters has launched a new four-hour guided city tour that dives deep into the architecture and local pulse of the historic Punda district.
• Pink Trolley Tours: A new, photo-driven trolley experience now winds through downtown Willemstad, specifically designed for travelers looking to capture the capital’s most "Instagrammable" heritage sites.

Environment, Education, and Sustainability

• Mangrove Kayak & Planting: At the new Seru Largu National Park, travelers can now pair mangrove kayak tours with hands-on planting sessions to actively participate in coastal conservation.
• Lionfish Caribbean Cooperative: Now operating as a cooperative, this initiative invites visitors to support marine conservation through expert-led lectures and initiatives that protect the reef from invasive species.
• Limpi Recycling: A new interactive educational experience is launching that demonstrates the plastic recycling process, transforming waste into locally crafted souvenirs.
• Reef Restoration Tours: Small-group, conservation-focused diving tours are now available within the Curaçao Marine Park, allowing guests to assist in coral outplanting.

More Connected: Expanded Air Service for 2026

As global interest in the Dutch Caribbean reaches an all-time high, Curaçao has become increasingly accessible via major North American hubs. Expanded airlift for the 2026 season ensures that the island remains a premier destination for every type of traveler.

New and Notable Gateways

• First Nonstop Flight from the Midwest: Expanding Caribbean access for the Midwest, American Airlines debuted a Saturday-only nonstop route from Chicago (ORD) to Curaçao this past December, the first direct service of its kind from the region.
• Increased Canada Frequency: Both Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL) have seen a boost in connectivity via Air Canada and WestJet, with expanded seasonal and year-round flight options to meet the surge in Canadian demand.
• Regional Crossroads: Connectivity has also surged from South and Central America, with direct routes from Belo Horizonte (CNF), Lima (LIM), and Bogotá (BOG), making Curaçao one of the most accessible islands in the region.

Consistent North American Access

• Established U.S. Hubs: These new developments join a robust network of existing nonstop flights from major U.S. gateways, including Miami (MIA), Charlotte (CLT), Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK), and Newark (EWR).

With additional new routes set to be announced later this year, access to the island continues to expand, making it simpler than ever for travelers to experience all that Curaçao has to offer.

For more information, visit www.curacao.com

About Curaçao Tourist Board:
Curaçao is a cosmopolitan Caribbean island where culture, creativity, and coastline converge. Anchored by Willemstad - a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its iconic Handelskade waterfront, vibrant street art, and thriving design scene - the island reflects a rich blend of African, European, Latin American, and Caribbean influences shaped over centuries. Today, Curaçao’s cultural landscape continues to evolve through curated art tours, historic neighborhood experiences, museums, and a culinary scene that ranges from beloved local Truk’i Pan eateries to refined, chef-driven dining. The destination has emerged as a rising star on the global travel stage, earning international accolades for its beaches, diving, wellness offerings, and luxury hospitality. Paired with an expanding portfolio of elevated accommodations and increasing air connectivity from North America and Canada, Curaçao offers travelers an immersive island experience that balances authenticity, creativity, and refined comfort. Learn more at www.curacao.com.