In the Curaçao Marathon in the Caribbean, it’s not about the time; it’s about ‘maratourism’
View of the Queen Juliana Bridge during the Curaçao Marathon, with the Queen Emma Bridge below (Esportividade)
What drives participants in the Curaçao Marathon to wake up at 2 a.m., start running at 3:15 a.m., and cover 42.195 kilometers under temperatures beginning at 28ºC (thermal sensation: 34ºC)? Everyone has their own answer, but one of them — including mine — is the chance to see the dawn from the top of the 56-meter-high Queen Juliana Bridge, overlooking St. Anna’s Bay and the Caribbean Sea.
Andrei captures the start of the 2024 KLM Curaçao Marathon (Marathon Photos)
Before the start, Kees van Muiswinkel, president of the Run in the Sun Foundation and organizer of the event’s 11th edition, even suggested the possibility of athletes completing just one lap (21.097 km) and still receiving their medal. But who would want to miss the breathtaking sunrise view on the second lap? That’s what I thought in the first few kilometers after experiencing what it’s like to run in such high temperatures: I was running 30 to 40 seconds slower per kilometer, putting in the same effort as I did when training in São Paulo. The absence of wind in some sections made the conditions even more challenging.
Night stage of the 2024 Curaçao Marathon (Marathon Photos)
Due to the low turnout for the marathon — the busiest races being the 5 km (Saturday afternoon), 10 km, and 21.097 km (Sunday) — the race dynamics were completely different from Berlin, for example. Instead of following a large group, as is common in the German capital, in Curaçao I mostly followed one or two people from time to time (mainly Dutch tourists, who are the most frequent visitors to the island, a former colony of the Netherlands but still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and sometimes I ran alone. However, I didn’t feel lonely at any point because the people recruited by the organizers were very present, offering water and moral support.
Watch this short video and feel that same support:
Ver essa foto no Instagram
The temperature alone makes running in Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, a challenging experience. But there is an extra layer of challenge: the climbs. There are four challenging climbs, two on each lap, adding up to an elevation gain of over 200 meters. Amazingly, the climb to the highest point of the Queen Juliana Bridge stands out as the race’s most unforgettable moment. The breeze offers slight relief from the heat while runners eagerly anticipate the stunning view. The descent is even better.
Andrei running over the Queen Juliana Bridge (Esportividade)
Over the Queen Juliana Bridge, I could see the city’s other bridge, the Queen Emma, which we also crossed twice. It’s a postcard of the capital of Curaçao: when it opens sideways, it allows boats to pass through. In the late afternoon of Saturday, November 23, 2024, I waited there for reporter Renata Sá, who was running the 5 km race. As I gazed at the Queen Juliana Bridge, I thought, “In a few hours, I’ll be up there, taking it all in” [see photo below].
Athletes of different ages run the 5km race in Curaçao (Esportividade)
Knowing from the outset that I wouldn’t beat my PR (personal record) this Sunday, I adopted a different strategy for the KLM Curaçao Marathon. Instead of focusing on performance, the emphasis was on the experience. After all, you don’t go to Curaçao with amateur goals in mind. Unlike Europe’s cold, fast marathons, participants in this Caribbean country/island marathon are mostly there to savor the experience, treating it as both an accomplishment and an unforgettable part of their vacation.
Participants in the KLM Curaçao Marathon crossing over the Queen Juliana Bridge (Marathon Photos)
Beyond the iconic bridges, the route weaves through residential and commercial areas, including the Rif Fort in Otrobanda—an old fortress now transformed into a lively hub of bars and restaurants. The shops were still closed because it was early in the day. I passed the two hotels we were staying at: the Brion City Hotel and the Courtyard by Marriott. On Sunday, due to the early start time (3:15 a.m.), the Courtyard by Marriott team prepared a custom breakfast for me, including bananas, bread, and juice in a takeaway box, to be enjoyed in the room. Since the Courtyard by Marriott is about 450 meters from the starting point, I was at the starting line in just a few minutes.
Andrei points to the Caribbean Sea in the final kilometers of the Curaçao Marathon (Esportividade)
We got a closer look at the Caribbean Sea in the last few kilometers of each lap, a truly special stretch, especially on the final lap, knowing that the finish line was in sight.
Andrei Spinassé completes the 11th KLM Curaçao Marathon (Marathon Photos)
The feeling of completing the 11th KLM Curaçao Marathon—coincidentally my 11th marathon—was truly unforgettable. At that moment, I knew I had made the most of every part of the race—even with all its challenges. The time? 4h33min21s—a result that placed me 42nd out of the 83 finishers. But honestly, I didn’t care.
Short video: Cas Abao, a slice of paradise on Curaçao’s stunning coastline:
Ver essa foto no Instagram
When marathon runners don’t achieve their best time or when the race doesn’t go as planned, they often return home feeling dejected. That was certainly not how I felt in Curaçao. Completing a marathon is already quite a (personal) achievement. Exploring beautiful beaches is another unforgettable delight. And all this on the same trip? Awesome!
Run training on one of the idyllic beaches of Curaçao, in the Caribbean (Esportividade)
Tips: even if you don’t need a visa to enter, you must present proof of vaccination against yellow fever. Additionally, you must fill out a form before boarding (click here). Renting a car is recommended to explore beaches and parks more freely. Although Curaçao is closer to Venezuela than Colombia, connections are typically made through Bogotá (Colombia) and Panama. Direct Azul flights from Confins Airport in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte (state of Minas Gerais) take six hours to reach the destination. Registration for the 12th edition of the KLM Curaçao Marathon, organized by the Run in the Sun Foundation, is now open; the event will occur on November 29-30, 2025.
Esportividade’s coverage of the 11th KLM Curaçao Marathon was supported by the Curaçao Tourist Board, Courtyard Curaçao, Brion City Hotel, ClassPass, and Baixa Pace glasses.
Read:
Quentíssima, prova de 5 km que abre Maratona de Curaçao, no Caribe, é também ‘calorosíssima’