If you’re looking for the best Instagram spots in Curaçao, this island makes it really easy to come home with a full camera roll. I’d pull over for one view, take a few photos, then do it again ten minutes later because something else caught my eye. Between the colorful buildings, bright blue water, and random stops along the road, I kept finding good shots without even trying.
I started in Willemstad and immediately pulled my phone out because the buildings were exactly what I pictured—bright, stacked, right along the water. I walked over to the Otrobanda side and turned back toward Punda, which is the angle everyone uses, and it made sense as soon as I saw it.
I kept walking around after that and found more photo spots just by turning corners, especially once the light started changing later in the day. If you want more exact stops, check out my guide on Willemstad Walking Guide: What to See, Do, and Eat.
I walked across the Queen Emma Bridge next and stopped halfway through because the view lined up perfectly with the buildings behind me. It’s a floating bridge, so it shifts slightly while you’re on it, which made the photos feel a little different than a normal walkway.
I took photos from both sides after crossing since the angle changes depending on where you stand, and I ended up liking both directions for different reasons.
I drove west to Playa Kenepa Grandi, parked, and walked over to the overlook to get that iconic cliffside shot with the bright blue water below. The water was that unreal bright blue you see in photos, and it actually looked like that in person.
I grabbed a few shots from the top, then went down to the beach after because at that point I was getting in the water no matter what. If you’re planning your beach days, I break this area down more in Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips).
I stopped at Playa Kalki and set up near the cliffs, then got in to snorkel before coming back out to take photos. The rocks and the way the beach curves made the photos look different from the others I had already taken.
It also wasn’t packed, so I didn’t have to work around people in the background, which made everything easier to shoot without waiting around.
I took photos from the top first, then went down after to snorkel since that was really why I came to this beach. If you want more details on this spot, see my full Directors Bay Curaçao Snorkeling Guide + Tips.
I drove over to Playa Forti and walked straight to the edge where people were cliff jumping. I didn’t jump, but Brad decided to brave the 40-foot jump, so we stood there watching people go for it and got some really good shots from the top before it was his turn.
You may not want to grab the screenshot of you mid-jump though (not exactly your best angle ha). We grabbed lunch at the restaurant right there after, and Brad earned that meal—honestly, the stress of me watching everyone else was enough for me to earn mine too.
We made a quick stop at Santa Martha Bay Viewpoint and pulled over as soon as the view opened up. It overlooks a wide bay with hills around it, and it felt a little calmer than the other beaches.
We got there closer to sunset, so the lighting was changing while I was there and the view looked different within a few minutes.
I got in the water at a few different beaches and ended up liking those photos just as much as the actual locations. The water is so clear that even simple floating shots looked good on camera.
I started going out earlier in the day for better lighting, then timed a few places around sunset after seeing how much it changed the colors. I wore water shoes most days since some of the beaches were rocky, and that made it easier to move around without thinking about where I was stepping. Although, I would take them off for photos if it wasn't too rocky.
I kept my plans loose and pulled over anytime something looked good, which is how I found a few of my favorite photo spots. If you’re planning your trip overall, I’d look at Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors to map things out.
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I’d go into this with a plan and hit these spots first because they’re the ones that consistently gave me the best photos. I still pulled over a few extra times when something caught my eye, but these are the places you’ll be glad you added to your agenda.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
