De
Handelskade
Sea
Aquarium
Kura
Hulanda
Kura
Hulanda
Santa Martha
Bay
Ship Wreck
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Personal
Impressions
Curaçao is part of the ABC islands, the
three western-most islands of the Leeward
Antilles. All three islands are part of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, although they
remain outside the European
Union. Curaçao is the biggest and most
industrialised of the three islands,
located between Aruba and Bonaire. Aruba is
perfect for beach holidays, Bonaire is
perfect for scuba diving. In Curaçao
you can do both, less good, but still on a
high level. The crime rate is much higher
than in Aruba and Bonaire, but no serious
problem for tourists. I recommend to visit
all three islands during one trip, if you
have more than two weeks. Cruise ship passengers will enjoy Punda and Otrobanda.
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History
Curaçao was first inhabited by the Arawak people around 600 AD, who were later displaced by the more aggressive Caribs.
In
1499, Curacao was discovered by Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda, who
claimed the island for Spain. However, the Spanish did not establish a
permanent settlement on the island until the 16th century. The Spanish
used the island as a base for slave trade and as a place to stock up on
fresh water and supplies during their voyages.
In 1634, the
Dutch West India Company took control of Curacao from the Spanish. The
Dutch were primarily interested in the island's salt pans, which were a
valuable commodity at the time. The Dutch established a settlement on
the island and began to develop it into a trading hub. They also
brought in slaves from Africa to work in the salt mines and on the
plantations.
Over the next few centuries, Curacao became a major
center for international trade. The Dutch built a deepwater harbor on
the island, which became an important stopover point for ships
traveling between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The island's
strategic location and good harbor also made it a target for pirates
and privateers, who often attacked ships in the area.
During
World War II, Curacao played an important role in the Allied war
effort. The island served as a base for the Royal Netherlands Navy and
as a location for oil refineries that produced fuel for Allied forces.
In 1942, the German submarine U-156 attacked the island's oil
refineries, causing a massive explosion that killed over 60 people.
In
1954, Curacao became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the
Netherlands. The island's economy continued to grow, and it became a
popular tourist destination in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, Curacao is a
thriving multicultural society, with a population that includes people
of African, European, and indigenous heritage. Its economy is based on
tourism, offshore banking, and international trade.
Attractions
Willemstad
Curaçao gained autonomy from the
Netherlands in 1954, but the Dutch
influence is still very visible in
Willemstad's architecture and culture. With
the growth of the oil industry in Curaçao
in the early 20th century, workers and
their families came to the island from more
than 50 countries, providing a varied and
vibrant population.
The Historic Area of Willemstad is a
European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean
of outstanding value and
integrity. The Punda District once
fortified and walled along with its
neighboring districts of Otrobanda,
Pietermaai, Scharloo, preserve some 765
buildings as national monuments.
Fortifications
From the capture of Curaçao in 1634 until
the end of World War II, the Dutch never
felt completely safe on the island. So they
build eight forts, one at each vulnerable
spot on the island: Fort Amsterdam, Fort
Beekenburg, Fort Nassau, Fort Piscadera,
Fort Riffort, Fort Sint Michiel, Fort
Waakzaamheid and Waterfort.
Fort Amsterdam is the most important and
most visited of the eight forts on the
island. It was built in 1635 on the point
(Punda) of the eastern finger of land at
the harbor entrance. It was site of the
Governor's Palace and the 1769 Dutch
Reformed Church, guards the waterfront. The
church still has a British cannonball
embedded in it, and the arches leading to
the fort were tunneled under the official
residence of the governor.
Sea Aquarium &
Dolphin Academy
The Sea Aquarium has one of the most
extensive collections of Caribbean sea
life. Some of the bigger animals include
dolphins, seals, stingrays, sea turtles,
sharks and even flamingos. Many big and
small aquaria offer more than 400 specimens
from around the waters of Curaçao. There is
a big Touch Tank where you can touch
the animals yourself. At the Dolphin
Academy visitors get the opportunity to
swim with dolphins. Highlight of the
Dolphin Swim is the Dorsal Ride where two
dolphins will pick up the swimmers and give
them a ride by holding on to their dorsal
fins.
Kura Hulanda
Museum
Located in downtown Willemstad, the Kura
Hulanda Hotel is a cluster of 62 Dutch
colonial buildings that now house a hotel,
restaurants and a museum. The restored 18th
and 19th century Dutch Colonial Caribbean
buildings spread amongst several glorious
courtyards, multiple pools, and more. The
Kura Hulanda Museum educates the visitor on
the slave trade on Curaçao, but also
on the culture the slaves were taken from
and what the effects of the slave trade are
in the current time.
Curaçao Liquor
Factory
Shortly after the Spaniards discovered
Curaçao in 1499, they started planning the
agricultural development of Curaçao. One of
the plants they carried with care on their
long sea voyages from Spain was
the Valencia Orange. The nutrient-poor
soil and arid climate of Curaçao proved
unsuitable to Valencia cultivation,
resulting in small bitter fruit on the
trees. The project was forgotten and the
"misfits" of the Valencia Orange grew
wild and abandoned, not even touched by
goats. It was not until decades later, that
someone discovered that the peels of this
orange contained an ethereal oil with an
extraordinary pleasing fragrance.
To create the liqueur the laraha peel is
dried, bringing out the sweetly fragranced
oils. After soaking in a still with alcohol
and water for several days, the peel is
removed and other spices are added. The
liqueur has an orange-like flavor with
varying degrees of bitterness. It is
naturally colorless, but is often given
artificial coloring, most commonly blue or
orange.
Curaçao liqueur was first developed and
marketed by the Senior family in the 19th
century. The factory is located in the
Chobolobo Mansion, a Country House from the
early 1800's. It is close to Schottegat to
the north-east of Punda.
Hato
Caves
The Hato Caves are the biggest and
prominent caves of the islandare located on
the north side. They were formed below the
sea level millions of years ago. With the
Ice Ages the water level droped down
and Curaçao was born. The Hato cave is
the home to the beatiful limestone
formations, romantic pools and a waterfall.
Also inside the Cave is a colony of Seldon
seen long nose fruit bats.
Aloe Vera
Plantation
Curacao is gifted with abundant natural
Aloe Vera plants. This world famous plant
with it's natural healing power has been in
use for ages as a natural remedy for
various diseases. The aloe vera
plantation in Curaçao cultivates over
100,000 specimens of aloe vera (Barbadensis
Miller). The plantation concentrates on
producing in the most ecological way
possible and does not use any chemical
pesticides or artificial fertilizer. The
aloe vera gel is extracted from the leaves,
filtered, stabilized and processed to
concentrate in their production plant. The
plantation specializes in the production of
natural skincare products that contain a
high level of aloe vera extracted from
their crop, and sold under the name
CurAloe.
The
Beaches
Curaçao has 38 gorgeous white-sand
beaches. Some of the beaches have
changing and picnic facilities, while
others are wide open and free of
facilities. Most beaches on Curaçao that
charge an admittance fee have restaurant
establishments as well as other
traveler-friendly amenities.
Even though it is not common, nor
acceptable practice at all beaches, you may
see European visitors sunbathing topless.
Please note that this is not permitted by
law, but is tolerated at a few of the
beaches.
Boca Santa Cruz is one of Curacao's
quirkiest beaches, with a wide beach and
palm trees. Surrounding this beach is the
mangrove swamp, which means this beach is
not the best for snorkeling. Boca Santa
Cruz is noted for the quirky array of birds
that flock to the beach. This beach offers
unique opportunities for animal lovers to
enjoy the diverse bird-watching.
Jan Thiel Beach is located in a new
upscale residential area east of town, also
making it a safe location. There is littlle
sand, but children enjoy the semi-closed
wading area that resembles a swimming pool.
It offers great snorkeling
opportunities.
Knip Beach is very popular with the
Curacaoan's themselves. Halfway down
the beach is a gorgeous cliff. For the well
trained swimmers, the reef can be reached
from the beach. Snorkeling can be done much
closer to the shore near the rocks on
either side of Knip Beach.
The Blue Bay Beach is Curaçao's largest and
most spectacular beach, with lots of
facilities. The white sand of this beach is
one of its biggest attractions. The sea
floor slopes gently from the beach, so
children enjoy playing here. Families can
find a children's playground for kids and
weekly Sunday barbecues. Parents can find
lounge chairs provided by the beach, making
it comfortable to relax and watch the kids
play on the beach.
Another great beach for kids is Playa
Lagun. The water is very calm and
shallow and children can watch the fish
swimming in the water. Fishing is also a
popular activity at this beach. A cluster
of fishing boats gives this narrow cove a
picturesque air.
The National
Parks
Curaçao has several National Parks,
the best are Christoffelberg National Park
and Sheta Boka National Park.
Christoffelpark is the largest national
park of Curaçao. The park has a rich
variety of local flora and fauna. Nature
lovers will find the park teeming with
local birds and plants, including species,
which are not easily seen elsewhere on the
island. For example wild orchids, the
Palabrua, the rare native barn owl.
The Curaçao White Tailed deer and much
more.
The Sheta Boka National Park has some of
the most spectacular scenes as the ocean
crashes into the rugged north-coast of the
island. The most well-known and favorite
inlet for visitors is Boka Tabla.
Flora
The flora of Curaçao differs from the
typical tropical island vegetation. Xeric
scrublands are common, with various forms
of cacti, thorny shrubs, evergreens, and
the island's national tree,
divi-divis.
Cactus
Curaçao's most prevalent plant is the
cactus, and the island hosts hundreds of
species. The towering Kadushi Cactus is
more like a multi-trunk tree with thousands
of needles. The Yatu Cactus is also tall,
but has fewer needles, and is often used to
make fences. You'll find both these species
in abundance all over the island, sometimes
so tall they fall over from their own
weight.
Divi Divi
Tree
The island is also home to the Divi Divi
Tree, the famous leaning tree of the ABC
Islands that looks like a cartoon rendition
of a stretched tree bowing to an audience.
Indeed, the tree is bent by years of
exposure to the trade winds that blow from
east to west across the island. For that
reason, the tree always "points" to the
west.
Fauna
The island is subtropical and semiarid and
the vegetation is characterised by its
adaptation to the dry and windy climatic
conditions. Total vascular flora amounts to
about 450 species.
Mammals
A total of
11 native mammals are found on Curaçao.
These are the Curaçao White-tailed deer,
Odocoileus virginianus curassavicus, the
mouse Baiomys hummelincki, the cotton-tail
Silvilagus floridensis nigronuchalis and
eight species of bats.
Land
snails
A total of 26 land and freshwater molluscs
have been reported, two of which are
endemic to Curaçao (Guppya molengraaffi,
Tudora rupis) and six of which are endemic
to the Leeward Dutch Antilles and adjacent
Venezuelan islands (Brachipodella raveni,
Cerion uva, Cistulops raveni, Gastrocopta
octonaria, Microceramus banairiensis,
Tudora megacheilos).
Most species are associated with calcareous
geological formations and several show
significant morphological shell variation
between different parts of the
island.
Birds
More than a 168 bird species have been
recorded from Curaçao. Birders will
not be disappointed by the dozens of
species of hummingbirds, bananaquits,
orioles, and the larger terns, herons,
egrets, and even flamingos that make their
homes near ponds or in coastal areas.
Endangered breeding birds include the Barn
Owl, the Caracara, Polyborus plancus, the
White-tailed Hawk, Buteo albicaudatus, the
Scaly-naped Pigeon, Columba squamosa, and
several species of tern (Sterna
spp.).
Reptiles
Nine species of native reptiles are found
on Curaçao, two of which are snakes and
seven of which are lizards. You'll
also find several species of iguana, light
green in color with shimmering shades of
aqua along the belly and sides, lounging in
the sun here and there.
Four types of sea turtles are common in our
waters: the Green Turtle, the Hawksbil
turtle, the Loggerhead and the Leatherback
turtle.
Activities
Scuba
Diving
Curaçao offers a wide variety of diving
adventures with wall dives, wreck
dives, reef dives and shore dives.
There are over 60 dive sites and more than
40 permanent mooring buoys. Manta rays,
stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, octopi and
even seahorses are frequent. Among the
more popular dive sites is the Mushroom
Forest in the San Nicolas area. It got its
name because of the large number of
mountainous star coral growing vertical on
an sandy plateau for a "Forrest of
mushrooms". The mushroom shapes occurred
because the the coral heads have been
bio-eroded at their base to narrow columns
by boring clams and sponges. The Superior
Producer site is in the top 10 on Curaçao
and one of the finest wrecks in the
Caribbean.
Bird
Watching
Curaçao is home to a colorful diversity of
bird species. More than 168 bird species
have been registered on Curaçao. At least
51 of these species are breeding birds, 71
are migrants from North America, 19 are
visitors from South America, and 19 are
seabirds. The most common of the native
birds include the Trupial, a black bird
with a bright orange underbelly and white
swatches on its wings, and the Cuchubi, the
Caribbean mocking bird. Christoffel Park is
an excellent place to view the many birds
that inhabit the island's countryside. The
Jan Kok salt pans are home to Curaçao's
small flamingo colony. Sometimes they
congregate by the dozens in the shallow
waters quite close to the road.
Hiking
Curaçao is full of nice trails, many
unreachable by car and hardly ever visited.
A hike gives you the pleasure of many
different flowers, trees, birds and other
animals. You can walk along the rugged
northern coast, or walk around one of
the saltpans, where large colonies of
flamingos are still to be found. There are
forests, lagunas, old plantation gardens,
dams and ruins. The Christoffel National
Park has eight hiking trails,
allowing visitors the choice between
an easy stroll, or for instance, a
challenging hike to the top
of Christoffel Mountain. It is
advisable to do this early in the morning;
otherwise the sun will be relentless.
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Curacao Cat
Knip Beach
The North
Coast
Christoffelpark
Boca Tabla
Blowhole
Cocktails
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