Den Paradera Herb Garden
A garden of traditional medicinal plants founded to record Curaçaoan herbal knowledge.
Updated 2 September 2026
Dinah Veeris spent years travelling the island recording what older people knew about plants and their uses before that knowledge disappeared, and Den Paradera is the garden she made from it: hundreds of species laid out with their Papiamentu names and traditional applications, from aloe and calabash to plants used in ritual as well as medicine. Tours are guided because the point is the knowledge rather than the display, and products are made on site.
What to look for
- The medicinal species - hundreds of plants with their Papiamentu names and uses.
- The recorded knowledge - the oral tradition the founder gathered before it was lost.
- The guided tour - the explanation that is the substance of the visit.
- The on-site products - oils and preparations made from the garden.
When to go
Year round; tours run at set times and mornings are cooler. Booking is advised. It closes on some days.
What to expect
Visits are by guided tour only and must be timed to the schedule. The garden is modest to look at; the value is entirely in what is explained. Traditional uses described are not medical advice.
Nearby
Willemstad is east, and Sint Michiel is west.
What to pack for Den Paradera Herb Garden
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
