For our most recent couple’s trip, we visited the Caribbean island of Curacao. It’s part of the ABC Islands (the other islands are Aruba and Bonaire), located near Venezuela. The ABC islands are former Dutch colonies but now enjoy self-governing status.
Kenton and I stayed at the Baoase Luxury Resort Curacao (“Bow-az”). It’s a peaceful vacation spot on the island’s southern end, tucked away in a tropical setting. We booked one of the beachfront pool suites, the Bunga Budiwati, for four days.
Baoase Luxury Resort
Curacao has a semi-arid landscape and lies outside the Caribbean region’s hurricane belt. Its warm climate welcomed us when we arrived after our 9-hour flight. On the way to the resort, we were able to sightsee around the capital of Willemstad before arriving at Baoase’s Resort. From the moment the wooden gates of the Baoase Resort opened to us, we felt an array of peace and serenity.
The Balinese-inspired resort, which has been operating since 2009, has 23 luxury rooms, suites, and villas. It’s built around an over 70-year-old Banyan tree that’s considered sacred among Indonesians, whose women prayed to it for eternal love. It’s also known for protecting the spirits of the dead. We found several statues of Buddha spread around the Baoase luxury resort and an abundance of plant life around the accommodations.
Half of the resort’s units have their own pool, including the one where we stayed. Compared to the more spacious villas, which have up to four bedrooms, Baoase’s suites only have one, as they’re designed for romantic getaways.
Bunga Budiwati
The Bunga Budiwati unit is one of the eight beachfront pool suites built on the resort’s western corner. When viewed from the top, the southern and lower western portions of Baoase are surrounded by water. We have our own plunge pool that looks out to the ocean. There’s also a private stairway that takes us directly to the beach. The room features hardwood floors, high ceilings, and an outdoor bath with a handcrafted stone tub and rain shower. But the suite also has an indoor bathroom with double washbasins. Plus, there’s a roofed patio with a kitchen counter and minibar where we sat and had breakfast each day.
Other Suites
Baoase’s other intimate options include the honeymoon suites and romantic pool suites, the floor areas of which are smaller than the beachfront pool suites. At Baoase Resort, all suites are ground-floor units, except for the honeymoon rooms, which are second-floor accommodations with direct access to a private pool or the resort’s main infinity pool.
Villas
Vacationing families or groups, in my opinion, will enjoy the villas the most. The Private Pool Villa, which is suitable for four adults, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Tropical Pool Villa, accommodating six adults, has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Superior Private Pool Villa, which can fit eight guests, has four bedrooms and three baths. The 2-level Master Villa, originally designed as the private vacation house or resort owner Ad van der Valk, can accommodate up to 12 persons.
Rooms
Baoase luxury resort curacao has three rooms. The Banyan Tree Room and Loft Room are next to each other and connect to the Master Villa. Meanwhile, the third unit—the Colonial Room—which is a second-floor, 2-person bedroom like the two other rooms, is found above the Front Office.
Baoase Culinary Beach Restaurant
On our first evening, we had dinner at the Baoase Luxury Resort’s fine dining restaurant. The hotel sets tables by the seashore for a private dining experience. They also offer private cabana dinners upon request. Guests get a book-like wooden box containing silverware for an added luxury touch. Among plenty of menu options, we enjoyed a meal of lobster and steak.
Baoase Spa and Wellness Services
During our stay, we treated ourselves to a couples massage at Baoase. We chose to have them on the massage huts overlooking the beach. It lightly rained during our services, making it that much more relaxing.
Where Else Did We Eat?
Saint Tropez Ocean Club and Bar
This open-air resto-bar is part of Saint Tropez Boutique Hotel in the capital’s trendy neighborhood of Pietermaai District, a 10-minute walk from downtown Willemstad. The menu consists of international dishes with a Caribbean twist. It’s open from 8 am to 10 pm and offers great sunset views. The restaurant has Sushi and Cocktail Day every Monday.
Fort Nassau Restaurant
Built atop a hill at the entrance of Willemstad’s harbor, this casual-fine dining restaurant was formerly the site of Curacao’s 18th-century military station with the same name. It offers an incredible 360-degree view of the capital, including the Queen Emma Bridge, which lights up at night. The best time to dine here is right before the sun is going to set. That way, you can catch the fantastic views before night falls.
What Fun Activities Did We Do?
Sight-Seeing in Punda
We took a rental car to visit Punda, the eastern side of the capital that’s popular for the Handelskade. This historic stretch of the pier is known for its colorful 17th-century Dutch buildings with UNESCO World Heritage designation. We walked along the Queen Emma Bridge to get a good look at these structures. It’s one of the most famous spots in Curacao to capture a picture. The area also offers great souvenir shopping.
Eric’s ATV Adventure
Kenton and I rented individual ATVs for a scenic tour of the city. We rode with a group for East Tour, which included driving through some dirt roads. The trip included a visit to a bat cave. It was quite a workout, as it took four hours to complete the adventure.
Yacht Tour
We also chartered a yacht in Punda named Don’t Worry for some sunset viewing. They served us drinks and hors d’oeuvres during the trip. You can rent the Yacht through the hotel. Just go to the front desk and tell them you want to rent the Don’t Worry Yacht for the day. The captain will take you around the sea and teach you a lot about the island, its history, and the area’s current status. We charted it while the sun was setting, and it was a night to remember.
Are you planning a trip there? Or maybe you already had the trip! Contact me, and let’s share our experience!
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