If you’re travelling to Curaçao towards the end of the year, you may have read about the rainy season. Don’t let the name put you off. Here in Sint Michiel it rarely means a washed-out holiday. It means a greener island, fewer crowds and the occasional excuse to slow down.
What the rain is actually like
Curaçao sits in a dry part of the Caribbean. Even in the wetter months, roughly from October into the new year, rain usually arrives as short, heavy showers. They roll in, drench everything for a while and move on, and the sun is often back before your coffee has gone cold. Days of steady rain are the exception rather than the rule.
The upside is real. The hillsides around the Sint Michielsberg turn green, flowers bloom across the island and the garden at Mondi Lodge comes alive. Our palapas are open-sided with covered porches, so listening to a tropical downpour from your hammock is part of the experience.
Things to do when it rains
- Explore the Hato Caves. These limestone caves near the airport are visited on guided tours that leave on the hour from 9am to 2pm. Inside you’ll find stalactites, still pools, ancient rock drawings and a colony of fruit bats.
- Lunch at Plasa Bieu. The old market hall in Punda is covered, lively and full of the island’s best home cooking.
- Wander Willemstad between showers. The colourful Handelskade and the Queen Emma Bridge look especially bright after the rain, and there are plenty of cafés to duck into.
- Stay in. Cook something in your kitchenette, read on the porch and watch the iguanas come out as soon as the sun does.
Packing for the wetter months
Bring a light rain jacket, quick-drying clothes and sandals you don’t mind getting wet. For hiking, trails can be muddy after heavy rain, so pack shoes with good grip and head out early.
Why we like this time of year
The island is quieter, the light is soft after a shower and the air smells of wet earth and flowers. Our solar panels still do most of the work, because the sun is never gone for long.
See our Experiences page for more ideas on and off the beach.
Come and see the green side of Curaçao. Check availability.