A Jeep Trip to the East Side of Curaçao: From the Botanical Garden to an Off-Road Adventure

On a jeep tour to the east side of Curaçao, you discover a completely different side of the island than the well-known beaches and bays. You visit a botanical garden, go off-roading at Koraal Tabak, climb up to a cave and end the morning with a dip in the sea. I joined the ‘East & Snorkel’ tour, and I’ll tell you what to expect along the way and what’s handy to bring.

The morning starts at Dinah’s Botanical & Historic Garden

The first stop of the tour is Dinah’s Botanical & Historic Garden, the well-known herb garden of Dinah Veeris. Here, our guide Sandra walks us through the garden. She’s a local woman who has been giving tours for about twenty years, maybe even longer. You can tell right away that she knows a lot about the plants and herbs that grow on Curaçao.

During the tour, Sandra talks enthusiastically about the different kinds of plants and herbs. She explains what they’re used for and what role they play on the island. Her stories are interesting, but also told in a fun, warm way with plenty of humor. It’s a relaxed start to the morning before we head off in the jeep.

Off-roading by jeep at Koraal Tabak

After the visit to the botanical garden, it’s time for a bit more action. We drive the jeep toward Koraal Tabak, near Sint Joris Bay. Here we leave the paved roads behind and go off-road over rougher terrain.

That’s a completely different experience from a regular drive around the island. The ground is bumpy and the jeep really bounces along. So hold on tight, and keep in mind that it can get pretty windy along the way.

The scenery is worth it, too. Along the coast stand wind turbines that are a recognizable part of the landscape. It’s a nice spot to stop for a moment and take photos before we move on to the next location.

A short climb to the cave

Next, we make a short climb to the cave. You have to walk uphill a bit, so it’s a good idea to wear shoes or sturdy sandals with enough grip.

Once at the top, you have a view over the plain at Koraal Tabak. It’s a lovely spot to look around and take photos. The climb isn’t just an activity in between, but also a chance to see the area from a different vantage point.

Past the aloe plantation

During the tour, we also pass an aloe plantation. Aloe vera is a plant used in things like skincare products, and it fits right in with Curaçao’s dry landscape. The stop is also practical: you can change here for the last activity of the morning.

Ending with a dip at Directeursbaai

After the off-roading and the climb to the cave, I loved ending the morning at Directeursbaai (Director’s Bay). A quick swim to cool off before heading back. You can also snorkel here. If you didn’t bring your own snorkel gear, you can borrow it from the guide.

For me, this was a great way to wrap up the tour. After an active morning, it felt good to take one more swim in the sea before we hit the road again.

Practical information about the East & Snorkel jeep tour

The tour takes about half a day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You’re picked up at your hotel or rental; depending on where you’re staying, that’s between approx. 7:30 and 8 a.m. Keep in mind that because of the transfers, you may be back a little later than the tour’s end time.

During the excursion you get water and a granola bar. Personally, I’d also bring an extra snack if you get hungry quickly, because it can take a while before you’re back home.

Is the jeep tour to Curaçao’s east side worth it?

I thought it was a fun excursion, precisely because there’s so much variety on the program. Sandra’s enthusiastic stories in the botanical garden, driving over the rugged terrain and the view from the cave made the morning worth it for me. And a swim at the end was of course a nice bonus.

If you like doing something active on vacation and want to explore a different part of Curaçao, this jeep tour is definitely worth considering.