Local Food Walk: taste real Curaçao home cooking with the mamita’s
Forget the restaurant. On the Dundu Tours Local Food Walk, you stroll through the Otrobanda neighborhood and pull up a chair with the mamita’s: local women who cook for you using centuries-old family recipes. Under a big tree, in a garden, right in the middle of the neighborhood. Three tastings, drinks and three hours of stories about Curaçao’s culture. Hopi dushi! (Papiamentu for: very tasty!)
- WhatWalk with 3 tastings
- StartBrionplein, Otrobanda
- WhenTuesday and Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
- DurationAbout 3 hours (until approx. 6:30 p.m.)
- Group4 to 10 people
- PriceUS$ 82 pp, incl. food and drinks
At a glance
The Dundu Tours Local Food Walk is a food tour of about three hours through the Otrobanda neighborhood of Willemstad. You taste three dishes from Curaçao’s cuisine, prepared by local women (the mamita’s) using centuries-old family recipes, with seasonal, local ingredients. Drinks are included. The tour starts every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Brionplein and ends around 6:30 p.m. at Kura Hulanda. Groups have 4 to 10 people. A ticket costs US$ 82 per person; online you pay a deposit of US$ 7 per person, and the rest at the start. Dietary requirements can be accommodated, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance. Not suitable for children under 8.
Why the Local Food Walk?
Home-cooked, not a restaurant
The mamita’s set their tables in lovely spots around the neighborhood: under a tree or in a garden. You eat what they’ve cooked for you that day.
Centuries-old family recipes
Dishes passed down from generation to generation, made with local, seasonal ingredients.
Small group
With 4 to 10 people, it’s friendly and personal. There’s plenty of time to chat with the cooks.
Otrobanda from the inside
You walk through an authentic neighborhood that the crowds haven’t discovered yet, past street art and hidden corners.
Jacqueline as your guide
Owner of Dundu Tours and one of the few certified city guides in Willemstad. She knows the mamita’s personally and tells you all about Curaçao’s cuisine and culture.
No single-use plastic
Everything is served without single-use plastic. Delicious and good for the island.
Meet Jacqueline
Jacqueline is the owner of Dundu Tours, and your guide. She was born and raised in Curaçao and is one of the few certified city guides in Willemstad. Official organizations increasingly ask her to guide for them, and she knows the stories behind every facade.
You’ll spot her right away: in her colorful traditional clothing she’s a one-of-a-kind sight in the streets of Willemstad. And you’ll hear her from afar, because her infectious laugh is impossible to resist. In their reviews, guests mention her enthusiasm again and again as the highlight of the tour.
On the Local Food Walk she’s in her element: she knows the mamita’s personally and takes you to their tables. “Jacqueline is a lovely person, so open and warm,” one guest wrote.
On a cruise?
The Local Food Walk runs on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m. and starts at Brionplein, a short walk from the cruise piers in Otrobanda. It only works if your ship stays in port until the evening.
- Starts and ends in Otrobanda, close to the cruise piers
- Pay only a US$ 7 deposit online; the rest at the start
- Three tastings and drinks: an early dinner, the local way
Check your all-aboard time before you book. Not in port in the evening? Take the morning Willemstad walking tour instead.
How the Local Food Walk goes
- 3:30 p.m. Start at BrionpleinYour guide meets you on the Otrobanda side of the Queen Emma Bridge (the floating bridge), looking out over the Handelskade.
- Walking through OtrobandaThrough streets and alleys, past street art and historic houses, with stories about life in the neighborhood.
- Three tastings with the mamita’sAt three spots in the neighborhood you taste a different dish each time. What’s on the table depends on the season and the cook.
- Drinks along the wayDrinks are included, as are the cooks’ stories about their dishes.
- Around 6:30 p.m. finish at Kura HulandaThe tour ends in Otrobanda, within walking distance of the starting point.
The route and dishes vary: the mamita’s cook with whatever the season brings.
Local Food Walk price
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Local Food WalkAbout 3 hours, including 3 tastings and drinks | US$ 82 pp |
| Combine with the walking tourSame guides, Otrobanda or Scharloo route | US$ 24 pp |
When you book, you only pay a deposit of US$ 7 per person; the rest you pay at the start of the tour. No booking or reservation fees.
Is the Local Food Walk right for you?
Perfect if you…
- love eating local and trying new flavors
- are looking for the real Curaçao, off the tourist trail
- love stories about culture and history
- have a free afternoon on a Tuesday or Thursday
Less suitable if you…
- are traveling with children under 8
- have limited mobility: you’ll be walking for about three hours
- would rather enjoy a long sit-down meal in a restaurant: check out our restaurant tips
Included
- About 3-hour walk through Otrobanda
- 3 tastings of Curaçao cuisine, prepared by local mamita’s
- Drinks
- Certified local guide
- Dietary requirements accommodated (let us know when you book)
Not included
- Hotel pickup (we’re happy to arrange a taxi)
- Tip for the guide and the cooks
Start, finish & parking
Starts at Brionplein in Otrobanda, at the foot of the Queen Emma Bridge (the floating bridge), opposite the Handelskade. Parking is available opposite The Movies cinema. You finish around 6:30 p.m. at Kura Hulanda, within walking distance of your car.
Good to know
- The Local Food Walk runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 participants.
- Vegetarian, an allergy or another dietary requirement? Let us know when you book.
- Not suitable for children under 8.
- You walk for about three hours, partly in the afternoon sun.
- Language: The Local Food Walk is normally given in Dutch. As more and more non-Dutch-speaking visitors come to Curaçao, guests who don’t understand Dutch join the tour more often. Ideally, each tour is given in one language everyone understands well, but that isn’t always possible. In that case the guide finds a middle way; since many Dutch people also speak English, the tour is then often given in English.
- When you book, you pay a deposit; the rest you pay at the start.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Changes are possible, subject to availability.
What to bring & Mark’s tips
- Have a light lunch. That way you’ll have room for all three tastings.
- Wear sunscreen and a cap. At 3:30 p.m. the sun can still be quite strong.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the streets of Otrobanda.
- Bring some cash for a tip for your guide and the cooks.
- Learn two words in advance: danki (thank you) and hopi dushi (very tasty).
- Combine: do the walking tour through Scharloo in the morning and the food walk in the afternoon.
What guests say
“What a wonderful and positive experience! Every single dish was delicious and surprisingly flavorful!”
★★★★★ Lia
“Definitely recommended! We walked past beautiful spots and had a delicious meal, truly local.”
★★★★★ Puck
“It was an amazing experience. The mamita’s had made mouthwatering dishes.”
★★★★★ Ansje
Reviews translated from our Dutch website.
Why book with NaarCuracao?
- Long-standing local partner of Dundu Tours, for years
- Lowest price guarantee, no booking fees, no platform mark-up, and only a small deposit online
- Personal service via WhatsApp, also outside office hours
Only twice a week, max. 10 guests
The Local Food Walk runs only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with room for a maximum of 10 people. So book in time: you only pay US$ 7 per person now.
Book your Local Food Walk
Choose a Tuesday or Thursday and the number of people. Add any dietary requirements in the comments.
Frequently asked questions about the Local Food Walk
How much is the Local Food Walk in Curaçao?
The Local Food Walk costs US$ 82 per person, including three tastings and drinks. When you book, you pay a deposit of US$ 7 per person; the rest you pay at the start.
When is the Local Food Walk?
Every Tuesday and Thursday. The tour starts at 3:30 p.m. and lasts about three hours; you’re done around 6:30 p.m. Prefer a different time? Ask us via WhatsApp.
What do you eat on the Local Food Walk?
You taste three dishes from Curaçao’s cuisine, prepared by local mamita’s using centuries-old family recipes. The menu changes with the season. Curious which dishes are typical? Read our guide to local food in Curaçao.
Who are the mamita’s?
Mamita’s are local women from Otrobanda who cook at home using family recipes. They set their tables in lovely spots around the neighborhood, such as under a tree or in a garden.
Who is the guide on the Local Food Walk?
Usually Jacqueline, the owner of Dundu Tours and one of the few certified city guides in Willemstad. Sometimes you’ll walk with one of her colleagues, such as Xiomara.
Can I join with a dietary requirement or as a vegetarian?
Yes, dietary requirements are taken into account. Let us know your requirement or allergy when you book.
Where does the Local Food Walk start and end?
The tour starts at Brionplein in Otrobanda, at the foot of the Queen Emma Bridge (the floating bridge), and ends around 6:30 p.m. at Kura Hulanda. Parking is available opposite The Movies cinema.
Is the Local Food Walk suitable for children?
The Local Food Walk is suitable for children ages 8 and up.
What language is the Local Food Walk in?
The Local Food Walk is normally given in Dutch. When guests who don’t speak Dutch join, the guide finds a middle way and the tour is often given in English.
Can I cancel the Local Food Walk for free?
Yes, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start. Changes are possible, subject to availability.
Can I do the Local Food Walk during a cruise stop?
Only if your ship stays in port until the evening. The walk runs on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m. and starts at Brionplein, a short walk from the cruise piers in Otrobanda.
Taste Curaçao like the locals
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Max. 10 guests.
