Destination Overview
Part of the Netherlands Antilles group along with St Maarten,
Curaçao is the largest island in the archipelago, an arid and
largely flat island stretching about 40 miles (64km) in length. The
southern coastline is scattered with spectacular bays, beaches and
secluded coves and is more inhabited than the rough northern shore
where the weather-beaten terrain takes the brunt of the wind, and
cliffs are pounded by the rough surf. The best beaches are
scattered along the southwest coast where the calm, crystal clear
water also makes it a tropical paradise for divers, snorkellers and
swimmers; towards the east are the largest bays, where the main
port and historic capital city Willemstad is situated.Curaçao is an ideal holiday destination for underwater lovers,
as the excellent visibility, warm water, active reef conservation
and variety of dive and snorkelling sites ranks the island among
the most popular dive locations in the Caribbean. On land there are
also several interesting sites to visit, including the 'living'
Hato Caves where centuries-old stalagmites and stalactites are
still being formed; the protected wildlife preserve of Christoffel
Park encompassing Mt Christoffel, the highest point on the island,
with fantastic views over the island from among the park's exotic
flowers, bent divi divi trees and blue iguanas; and the dramatic
caverns carved out of the limestone cliffs by the crashing waves
within Shete Boka National Park.The capital city and seat of government for the Netherlands
Antilles, Willemstad has been a major international trading centre
for centuries, its society a mixture of different nationalities,
races and cultures and its shops filled with goods from around the
world. Old Willemstad dates from the 18th and 19th centuries and is
one of the most remarkable historic areas in the Caribbean with
charming alleys and superb Dutch colonial architecture housing
restaurants, museums, shops and hotels. Many of the beautiful Dutch
buildings have been adapted to life in a hot and breezy climate and
sport Caribbean-style shutters, porches and verandas, lending
further charm to the cheerfully painted historic structures.Whether the days are spent in sun-soaked relaxation or by taking
advantage of the endless activities on offer, on land or in the
water, when the sun begins to set the trend is to slip into one of
the bars, where happy hour is just the beginning of the night to
come.
