Everything you need to enjoy a fun, stress-free island getaway in the Dutch Caribbean.

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We just got back from an amazing family vacation in Curaçao. The beaches, stunning turquoise water and vibrant culture made it our favourite family destination to date! I thought I would share what we packed and used on our trip. I did a lot of research before we left, and was glad to have brought along what we did.

Here’s what my family brought to Curaçao. Most of these are items that we probably could have found in Curaçao, but brought from home. Buying these at home saved us lots of money and time!

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Snorkel Gear

We packed along snorkel gear for our family of five. We dedicated one checked bag to beach stuff and packed our snorkels and fins in that. You can rent snorkel gear at almost all of the beaches in Curaçao. However it was much more affordable for us to buy them at home. Plus it saved us from having to do that at every beach. We kept our snorkel gear in the trunk where it was ready when we hit the beach!

We ended up buying three these full sets with fins from Amazon. And then bringing along 2 snorkel sets we already owned. This Amazon set worked great.

Reef Safe Sunscreen

Sunscreen is readily available at all grocery stores in Curaçao, but very expensive. Make sure you are choosing Reef safe sunscreen to protect the coral! We brought lots of reef safe mineral sunscreen with us.

Water Shoes

The beaches in Curaçao can be rocky or full of coral, so water shoes are a must! I bought these affordable ones on Amazon for the whole family.

Dry Bag

These water proof Fanny packs worked great! They kept out keys, cash, credit cards, and phones dry while we swam and snorkelled. Curaçao is very safe. However there is still petty theft. If we were all in the water at the same time we would wear these in the water. They were comfortable to wear and kept everything dry!

Beach Towels

Beach hopping in Curaçao is a must! Our AirBnb provided beach towels so I didn’t pack our Turkish towels. I really regret this, because the towels provided by the Airbnb were were heavy and took forever to dry. I wish we had brought our Turkish towels; they are light, roll up small and dry quickly!

Floatie

These water hammock floats are perfect for travel! Easy to pack and perfect for the pool and ocean. We enjoyed floating in the pool at our Airbnb and they were great for snorkeling as well.

Waterproof Camera

We bought this action camera on Amazon for our trip. It comes with a lot of accessories, including a waterproof case. We got some amazing snorkeling videos with this camera! We bought a floating handle attachment for it as well. My boys wanted to take videos cliff jumping into the ocean. Very happy with this purchase. We captured some great memories in the water!

Waterproof Phone Case

We brought a couple of inexpensive waterproof phone cases as well. My boys used these while snorkeling and got some great photos. The quality of the photos and videos through the case were not as good as with the action camera. However, it was still great to capture on your phone in the water.

Clothing

• Lightweight, breathable outfits

• Swimsuits (at least 2)

• Rash guards or UV shirts

• Water shoes

• sandals

• Wide brim sun hats

• Sunglasses

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Toiletries & Health Items

• Reef-safe sunscreen (lots of it!)

• After-sun aloe or lotion

• Bug spray

• Personal toiletries (toothbrush, shampoo, etc.)

• Medications

• Travel-size hand sanitizer

• Basic first-aid kit (bandages, antiseptic wipes, antihistamine)

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Beach & Water Gear

• Snorkel sets

• Floaties

• quick-dry towels

• beach bag

• Dry bag or waterproof fanny pack for phones and keys

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Travel Day & Excursion Must-Haves

• Daypack or backpack

• Reusable water bottles (tap water is safe to drink)

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Tech & Extras

• Charging cables + power bank

• Travel adapter (Curaçao uses European outlets—type C or F, 220V)

• Waterproof phone case

• waterproof Camera or GoPro (optional but fun!)

• Ziplock bags

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Documents & Money

• Passports (check expiration dates)

• Printed or digital flight confirmations

• Hotel/rental info

• Credit & debit cards + small cash (USD is widely accepted)

• Travel insurance documents

• Copies of IDs and prescriptions (keep digitally too)

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Free Printable: Curaçao Packing Checklist

Make your life easier! Download our packing checklist (click the link below to download the printable version).

[Download the Packing List PDF Here]

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Packing Tips from Our Family Trip

• Pack light—you’ll live in swimsuits and cover-ups most days.

• Bring one small carry- suitcase per person.

• Have one large checked bag for snorkel and beach gear.

• Curaçao grocery stores carry most basics (like diapers, snacks, and sunscreen) but prices are higher.

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Final Thoughts: Enjoy Every Moment!

Curaçao is one of the most family-friendly islands in the Caribbean, and with a little planning, your trip can be both relaxing and adventure-filled. With this packing list in hand, you’re ready to soak up the sunshine, the culture, and some quality family time—without worrying about what you forgot.

Got questions about travel gear, beach tips, or Curaçao activities? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to help!

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