Your vacation experience is not complete without exploring the many commercial centers of Curaçao. There is something for everyone, from Punda’s high end fashion and jewelry establishments, to Otrabanda’s colorful market-like stands and affordable knickknacks. Curaçao enjoys a diverse and multi-cultural society, which is aptly reflected in its diverse shopping repertoire.
The place to start in Punda is the picturesque Breedestraat – or Broad Street – where a few of the most exclusive stores are located. Fashion, electronics and jewels are synonymous with the buzzing street, which goes right through town. Then the Gomez square and Heerenstraat also offer plenty of variety. Here you can also find souvenir shops that sell take-home items such as the authentic Blue Curaçao liquor, ceramic art Blue Delft, and even Dutch Gouda Cheese.
Don’t forget to cross the Emma bridge and walk around Otrabanda – literary meaning the other side – where the main shopping street is also called Breedestraat. Also located in Otrabanda are galleries like Alma Blou and Mon Art (Riffort), where the works of many local talents are displayed. For the art aficionados that are looking to buy some unique works, Otrabanda is definitely an undiscovered gem.
With the ongoing developments on the island, other shopping areas outside Willemstad are also worth checking out. Booming Saliña, a seven minute drive from Punda, is becoming quite a mini apparel haven. Here you can find the Saliña Galleries adjacent to countless other shops, just walking distance from each other.
Just five minutes further on the Schottegat belt, you will find the Promenade shopping center, where you will hit upon the most fashionable clothing, shoe, jewelry and furniture stores. Not to miss are the exclusive stores in the newly renovated Zuikertuin Mall, which houses numerous well-known brand names under one roof.
True to its mercantile heritage, Curaçao provides ample variety for the most die hard visitors to shop till they drop. So have your credit cards at hand – Visa, American Express and MasterCard are widely accepted – and have the time of your life!
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