Made in Curacao tour

Willemstad, Curaçao • January 1, 2016

About This Experience

This half-day excursion from Willemstad, booked through Holland America Line, featured visits to three local production sites: an aloe vera plantation, a historic liqueur distillery, and the Caribbean’s first winery. Transportation was by motorcoach with minimal walking. The tour concluded with optional free time in central Willemstad.

From Island Soil to Signature Spirits

Our excursion began at the cruise terminal in Willemstad, where we boarded a modern, air-conditioned motorcoach under clear skies typical of Curaçao’s dry winter climate. The group consisted of approximately 25 participants, allowing for smooth coordination and easy access at each stop. As the vehicle made its way through the city center, our guide offered live commentary in both English and Dutch, introducing the capital’s historical layout, Dutch colonial heritage, and the role of Willemstad as a commercial and cultural hub in the southern Caribbean.

Historic Willemstad and Queen Juliana Bridge

Our tour began with a scenic motorcoach drive through Willemstad’s historic districts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its blend of Dutch colonial urban planning and Caribbean color. Along the route, we passed rows of restored 18th- and 19th-century mansions, each painted in bold pastels like lemon yellow, powder blue, and mint green. These gated homes often featured symmetrical façades, shuttered windows, and decorative gables, including the tiered Wedding Cake House, named for its layered, neoclassical styling.

Further along, we ascended the Queen Juliana Bridge, which connects the Punda and Otrobanda neighborhoods across Sint Anna Bay. At over 185 feet tall, the steel-arch bridge ranks among the highest in the Caribbean and was designed to accommodate large ocean-going vessels below. From the summit, we could see our cruise ship docked at the Mega Pier to the right and the expansive Shell Isla Refinery to the left—once central to Curaçao’s industrial economy. Below the bridge and along the hillsides, clusters of modest, color-block homes lined the streets, showcasing Curaçao’s everyday architecture in a palette of coral, violet, lime, and gold.

Stop 1: Curaloe Aloe Vera Plantation

The tour’s first stop was the Curaloe Aloe Vera Plantation, situated in the dry, inland region of Seru Grandi, where the soil and climate are well-suited to cultivating this drought-tolerant plant. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the plantation owner, who conducted a concise outdoor demonstration on the plant’s lifecycle and its therapeutic and cosmetic uses.

Using a freshly harvested leaf, she sliced open the thick outer skin to reveal the translucent inner gel, explaining its applications in moisturizers, healing salves, and nutritional supplements. Guests were invited to apply the raw gel directly to their skin and sample a small tasting cup of aloe vera juice, a slightly bitter extract taken internally for its purported digestive and anti-inflammatory benefits.

After the hands-on presentation, we entered the visitor center and retail boutique, which offered a wide array of Curaloe-branded products made on-site. Available for sampling and purchase were skincare items such as lotions, gels, and creams, as well as wellness drinks. Though the manufacturing floor was closed due to the New Year’s holiday, the stop provided a comprehensive look at one of the island’s signature agricultural exports.

Stop 2: Landhuis Chobolobo & Blue Curaçao Tasting

Our second stop brought us to Landhuis Chobolobo, a stately 19th-century Dutch colonial mansion located in the Scharloo district of Willemstad. The estate now serves as the home of the Bon Bini Distillery, operated by Senior & Co., the original producers of Blue Curaçao liqueur. With its bright yellow façade and palm-shaded courtyard, the site is a visual landmark as well as a historical one.

Guests began with a self-guided tour through a small indoor exhibit space that outlined the history of the distilling process, including the use of Laraha citrus peels, copper stills, and aging techniques. Informational panels explained how Curaçao’s most famous export achieved global popularity in the 20th century as both a cocktail ingredient and a symbol of island identity.

Visitors were free to take photographs throughout the courtyard, which retained its original architectural elements such as shuttered windows, colonnaded verandas, and thick stucco walls. The walk-through concluded at the Bon Bini gift shop, where guests were offered complimentary tastings of multiple Curaçao liqueurs—including the classic blue version, as well as other fruit-infused varieties. A wide selection of branded bottles, miniatures, and souvenirs were available for purchase.

Stop 3: Curaçao Winery

The final destination on our itinerary was Curaçao Winery, located in the semi-rural outskirts just beyond Willemstad. Established in recent years, the winery holds the unique distinction of being the first commercial wine-producing estate in the Caribbean—a notable achievement on an island where rum has long dominated the alcoholic beverage scene.

Upon arrival, our group was led by a local guide through the modest but carefully maintained vineyard plots. The guide detailed how the winery overcomes the challenges of limited rainfall and porous volcanic soil by using drip irrigation systems fed by the island’s scarce freshwater supply. The vineyard utilizes specially selected grape varietals suited to hot, sun-intense climates and integrates European cultivation techniques tailored for the tropics.

After the walk-through, we were welcomed to a covered veranda at the back of the estate’s main building. From this elevated terrace, we enjoyed open views of the vineyard rows stretching toward the horizon, with glimpses of the Caribbean Sea beyond. Seated comfortably, guests were offered a guided tasting of the three wines currently produced on the estate, each poured in generous sampling portions. The session included notes on flavor profiles and production methods, offering a rare look into a nascent wine industry thriving in an unexpected locale.

Free Time in Willemstad

Following the conclusion of the organized tour, we were returned to the Willemstad cruise pier with ample time remaining before the ship’s departure. With the terminal located just a short distance from the city center, we opted to walk into downtown Willemstad for some independent exploration. Though most shops and restaurants were closed in observance of New Year’s Day, the public promenades remained open and accessible.

One highlight of this unstructured time was visiting the Queen Emma Bridge, a well-known pedestrian pontoon bridge that spans Sint Anna Bay and links the historic quarters of Punda and Otrobanda. Completed in 1888, the bridge rests on 16 floating pontoons and is hinged at one end, allowing it to swing open laterally to make way for incoming and outgoing marine vessels. Locals affectionately refer to it as the Swinging Old Lady.

As we stood near the water’s edge, a warning chime signaled an upcoming bridge movement. Moments later, the entire structure began to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise, slowly and steadily swinging aside to create a navigable channel for an approaching cargo ship. The brief but impressive display of maritime infrastructure served as a fitting final moment in a city where colonial heritage and modern industry coexist along the waterfront.

Who Is This Tour Best For?

• First-time visitors
• Architecture and history lovers
• Food and drink enthusiasts
• Local product collectors
• Cruise passengers with limited time

Tour Summary

• Tour Name: Made in Curaçao
• Offered By: Holland America Line
• Total Duration: 4.5 hours
• Main Stops: Willemstad city center, Curaloe Aloe Vera Plantation, Landhuis Chobolobo, Curaçao Winery
• Drive-By Highlights: Wedding Cake House, Royal Dutch Shell Isla Refinery, Queen Juliana Bridge

Excursion Disclaimer: Descriptions of shore excursions on OceansAfoot reflect individual travel experiences and are not official representations of the cruise lines or tour providers mentioned. All information is based on personal participation, publicly available facts, or traveler observation.

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