Curacao: Buggy Adventure Tour North Side & St Joris Plains

Summary

Rugged trails, wild wind and the raw north coast of Curacao

You’ll kick up dust driving your own buggy through Curacao’s wild north side with a local guide, stopping at hidden caves and watching waves crash against rugged cliffs. Expect salty air, wind in your hair, and moments you’ll want to remember long after you’ve washed off the dust.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I was a little nervous when we pulled up to the buggy shop across from Sunscape Resort. The buggies looked like something out of a Mad Max movie, all dust and chunky tires. Our guide, Miguel, handed me goggles and grinned like he knew what was coming. “You’ll get dusty,” he said. He wasn’t kidding — by the time we’d rattled onto the sandy plains of St Joris, my shirt was already half brown and I could taste salt in the air (maybe some grit too). But it felt good to just let go and bounce along behind the wheel.

The wind on Curacao’s north side is no joke — it howls across these cactus fields and you can smell the dry earth mixing with sea spray before you even see the water. We stopped at this cave (Miguel called it something like ‘Cave of Doom’ but laughed when I tried to repeat it), and inside it was cool and echoey, almost peaceful except for someone’s phone alarm going off in their backpack. After that we drove right up to where the waves slam into the rocks — honestly, I didn’t expect them to be so loud or wild here. It’s not the calm postcard beach vibe; it’s raw and kind of beautiful in its own way.

There was a moment near an old windmill park where we all got quiet for a second — just engines cooling down, wind whipping past, and nothing else but that endless blue horizon. I still think about that view sometimes when things get too busy back home. The ride back was slower (I think everyone was tired or just soaking it all in), but Miguel kept pointing out little things — birds nesting in cacti, weird rock shapes — like he really wanted us to see his island through his eyes. It wasn’t polished or perfect, but maybe that’s what I liked most.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — UTV buggy tour exploring north side

• Start tour at buggy shop
• Drive UTV on rough terrain
• Explore sandy cactus plains of St Joris
• Visit hidden Arowaks Indians cave
• See natural bridge formation
• Walk on secluded north shore
• Watch spectacular crushing waves
• Visit beautiful geiser formation
• Continue off-road on St Joris trail
• Reach windmill park
• Drive back on road to buggy shop

Top questions

How long is the Curacao buggy adventure tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours from start to finish.

Where does the buggy tour in Curacao start?

The tour begins at the buggy shop across from Sunscape Resort.

What do you see on the north side buggy tour?

You’ll drive across St Joris plains, visit a natural bridge in formation (the Cave of Doom), explore a hidden cave, and watch waves crash on the north shore.

Is water included on this Curacao UTV tour?

Bottled water is provided during the tour.

Do I need previous experience to drive a buggy?

No previous experience is needed; basic fitness is recommended though.

Are goggles provided for dust protection?

Yes, goggles are included for each participant.

Can two people share one UTV vehicle?

Yes; tours are sold per vehicle for single or double riders.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; guests meet at the buggy shop location.

What’s included

Your adventure includes use of a UTV buggy (single or double), protective goggles so you won’t be blinking away dust all afternoon, bottled water to keep you going under that sun, plus guidance from a local who knows every twist of these wild trails before returning to where you started near Sunscape Resort.