Matancia is a quiet residential neighborhood in the middle of Curaçao. You live among island residents and are a short drive from Willemstad and the beaches.
Where is Matancia?
Matancia sits in the central part of Curaçao, inland and away from the tourist strips along the coast. From here it's a short drive to Willemstad, to the island's larger shopping centers and to the beaches on the south coast. That central position is why many people pick Matancia: nothing is far away, yet the neighborhood itself stays quiet.
A local neighborhood, not a resort
There's no gate and no resort reception here. Matancia is where many island residents live, in characteristic houses that often stand on generous plots, typically larger than in some of the newer developments elsewhere on Curaçao. Between the existing homes you'll also find small new-build complexes with a handful of apartments around a shared pool. Living in Matancia means everyday island life, with quiet streets and neighbors who are there all year. If you want to experience Curaçao the way residents do, rather than from behind a resort gate, this is the kind of area to look at.
Groceries and getting around
Supermarkets and restaurants are a few minutes away by car. Schools and workplaces are within easy reach too, so the area works well for year-round living. Matancia is not on the water. You'll drive to the beach, to dinner in Willemstad and to do the weekly shopping, so plan on owning or renting a car. That's true for most of Curaçao, but more so here than in beach areas like Mambo Beach or Jan Thiel, where more is within walking distance.
Matancia rentals for your vacation
Proverties manages vacation apartments in Matancia in small, recently built complexes. The apartments are furnished in a modern style, have a fully equipped kitchen and share a pool with the other units in the complex. They suit a couple or a small family looking for a calm base who plan to explore the island by car. The homes currently on offer appear below this text. For rates and availability, send a WhatsApp or call +599 9686 5241, or email [email protected].
Buying a home in Matancia: what to check
Before you buy, find out whether the property sits on freehold land (eigendom) or on government leasehold land (erfpacht). With leasehold, the land usually stays with the government and you pay an annual ground rent for the right to use it. The purchase price is often lower, but the ground rent keeps coming back every year. Almost every home on Curaçao is sold with the buyer paying the closing costs, typically 6 to 8 percent of the price, which includes a 4 percent transfer tax. Buying into a complex with a shared pool? Ask how maintenance is arranged and what the homeowners' association charges. Foreigners can buy property on Curaçao without restrictions.
Who Matancia suits
Matancia works for buyers and renters who care more about space and quiet than about a beach on the doorstep. Families relocating to the island fit here, as do people who want to build or renovate on a larger plot, and visitors who would rather stay among residents than in a resort. If being able to walk to the beach matters most, also look at Mambo Beach or Jan Thiel. Proverties can walk you through the differences.
