Curaçao offers a different interpretation of the Caribbean getaway, combining more than 35 beaches and year-round sunshine with a cultural landscape shaped by 55 different cultures. During the winter months, travelers can move easily between the island’s natural and cultural sides, from snorkeling and diving in clear Caribbean waters to exploring the colorful streets of UNESCO-listed Willemstad and its Dutch-Caribbean heritage.

The island’s multicultural identity is equally evident at the table, where culinary traditions reflect the many influences that have shaped Curaçao over generations. Its position on the outer fringes of the Hurricane Belt adds another dimension to a winter escape, while the return of nonstop service from Chicago this winter makes the island more accessible to travelers looking for sunshine without settling for a purely resort-based experience.

The Curated Take: Curaçao is compelling precisely because the beach is only the beginning. The combination of European architectural heritage, Caribbean landscapes and a multicultural food scene gives travelers reasons to leave the resort and engage with the island itself. For winter travelers, that creates a more layered escape: time in the water, followed by an afternoon in Willemstad and an evening exploring the flavors and traditions that make Curaçao distinctly its own.