WILLEMSTAD – Tourism company Corendon is expanding The Rif Resort in Otrobanda with 69 additional hotel rooms in a new three-story building called Amazonica, further increasing its accommodation capacity in Curaçao. The development has received a building permit and will be constructed directly alongside the mangrove area bordering the resort.
The new building will feature an architectural design inspired by nature, with wood and bamboo playing prominent roles in its appearance. Corendon confirmed that the development will be located on the resort's beachfront, on the site previously occupied by the Mondi Beach Club.
The planned building will have three floors, with ground-floor rooms offering access to a shallow swimming pool. The rear of Amazonica will face the mangrove park, while the front will overlook the resort's beach area, where guests have access to sun loungers and parasols.
Architectural plans also show a balustrade overlooking the mangroves and a pathway connecting the area to the Sunset Beach bar.
The expansion will add another accommodation option to The Rif, which operates as an all-inclusive resort under Hilton's Curio Collection. The property is situated next to Corendon's Mangrove Beach Resort and offers guests access to facilities at the neighboring hotel.
Expansion Raises Questions About Protection of Mangroves
The location of the new building is particularly significant because the mangrove ecosystem bordering the resort has previously been the subject of environmental discussions.
In 2023, Corendon received permission to carry out maintenance and cleaning activities in the mangrove area surrounding its hotel development. The work included removing accumulated sediment, improving water circulation, pruning vegetation, and clearing waste.
At the time, the company said it was working with certified contractors and consulting community and environmental organizations, including Grupo 6, Carmabi, and Amigu di Tera, on measures intended to protect and restore the mangroves.
The environmental importance of the area is also recognized in the government's Rif Area Master Plan. The planning document identifies mangroves as important habitats for juvenile fish and as natural systems that help filter pollutants from coastal waters. It specifically emphasizes the need to protect these ecological functions as tourism development continues.
Although Corendon has obtained a building permit for Amazonica, the available reports do not specify whether additional environmental conditions have been imposed because of the building's proximity to the mangroves.
It is also unclear whether the construction will require vegetation removal or other changes to the adjacent natural area.
Corendon Continues Investing in Curaçao
The new development forms part of Corendon's broader hotel expansion on the island.
In a recent interview with tourism publication TransPort, a Corendon representative said the company now has six hotels in Curaçao and is pursuing additional developments, including a planned DoubleTree by Hilton opening in March 2027.
The Amazonica project adds to these investments and is expected to increase the number of rooms available to visitors staying near Willemstad.
However, Corendon has not yet publicly announced a construction completion date, the investment amount for the 69-room expansion, or the number of additional jobs the project could create.
The development illustrates the continuing expansion of Curaçao's hotel sector, while also bringing renewed attention to the challenge of accommodating tourism growth alongside environmentally sensitive coastal areas.