There’s a New Way to Fly to the Caribbean Island of Curacao, Where Travelers Keep Flocking

The historic capital. The hip, fun beaches. The buzzing culinary scene. The jaw-dropping diving. The last few years have been a golden age of travel for the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, and the travelers just keep flocking. 

Now, there’s another convenient way to fly to the southern Caribbean hotspot: Brazil’s Azul, which just launched a new nonstop route between Fort Lauderdale and Curacao. 

The new nonstop service is running four times per week, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

It’s an important boost from the increasingly important South Florida market for Curacao, which has been seeing record-breaking visitor numbers for most of the last two years – a trend that has shown no signs of slowing down. 

What about prices? Well, given current flight prices it’s a good value. 

You can fly roundtrip in Azul’s basic fare class for about $569.98, according to Azul’s website. By comparison, a similar American Airlines itinerary from Miami this month will cost you around $1,078 roundtrip, according to Google Flights. 

Are you thinking about a trip to Curacao? First, you’ll need to choose the right hotel. What you may not know is that the island has one of the more layered, diverse hotel stocks in the Caribbean, from ultra-luxe boutique hotels like the fabulous Baoase Luxury Resort (one we’ve stayed at multiple times and strongly recommend) rooms from $1,375; the sparkling new Sandals Royal Curacao (a hotel that helped usher in the island’s recent tourism boom when it opened back in 2022); the recently-transformed Kura Botanica, a charming, adults-only village-style property; and then some great options right in the middle of Willemstad like the Brion City Hotel — a property with a nice boutique pool that you can stay at for just $119 per night. 

If you’re looking to experience Curacao’s unique all-inclusive experience, there are some other new options, too, from Wyndham’s value-friendly Kunuku resort (rooms from $274) to the Mangrove Beach all-inclusive, which is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. But be forewarned: this is not an all-inclusive destination where you stay in your hotel. Curacao is meant to be traveled, to be explored, and that means getting out, renting a car and immersing yourself in its many wonders.

Then you need to get out and explore the island. But where to begin? Is it the secluded, uncrowded beaches on Curacao’s western coast? Or the party scene at Mambo? Maybe you want to jump right in to its varied gastronomic scene, starting with the Brass Boer, the Curacao outpost of the three-Michelin-star Die Librije in Holland; or check out some if its rich historical sites like the Fortchurch Living Monument or one of its many art galleries. And no trip is complete without an evening strolling the Rif fort. 

Every time we’ve visited, we’ve been struck by just how much the island has to offer. And now it’s even easier to get there.