Curacao, part of the Dutch Antilles, is located in the south of the Caribbean Sea about 60 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela. This Caribbean island, with a size of 472 square kilometers, is the largest of the so-called ABC islands (islands under the wind), which include Aruba and Bonaire. The island of Curacao is about 64 km long and 16 km wide (at its widest point). The northern coast of Curacao is rough and rocky and the island’s constant strong winds create high waves that are perfect for surfers.

The golden sand beaches, however, along the 11 km south coast are tucked into many charming bays and are wind sheltered. Since October 2010, Curacao is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curacao is also located outside the „hurricane belt“, so that the island is protected from these storms as well as earthquakes and floods. Therefore, one can comfortably visit the island at anytime during the year and expect daytime temperatures between 27 and 32 °C along with steady trade winds. The water temperatures are around 28 °C throughout the year.

Willemstad is one of the most attractive shopping paradises in the Caribbean. After more than 100 years after closing the Floating Market held by the Venezuelans in the central district of Punda in March 2018 (which has always sold exotic fresh fruit and vegetables and adjacent fresh fish) the first sellers are have already returned and continue the long tradition of selling fruit. Extraordinary offers and local utensils, however, can be found in the new round market (Marshe’Nobo), which is also located in Punda. On the first floor you can try typical dishes from small kitchens and cookshops. Breedestraat, the main shopping street on Curacao, has many inviting and, sometime even inexpensive, shops. You can also buy typical souvenirs here. When there are ships in port, the shops are usually open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and then also on Sundays between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Curacao also has its fair share of shopping malls to offer its guests. Here is just a small selection:

• Sambil: about 80 shops, many fast-food restaurants, 1 cinema
• Renaissance Mall & Rif Fort: Approximately 50 shops, dining and entertainment center
• Zuikertuin Mall: about 25 brand shops, 5 restaurants, Italian ice cream parlor

The famous Blue Curacao distillery and the associated country house „Chobolobo“ are located northeast of Punda, near Schottegat. A visit there usually takes approximately 1 hour. There is no guided tour option for the distillery, but you can watch a video about the production and of course taste the different colored liqueurs yourself.

Especially because of its dolphins (which you can swim with!) this lovely aquarium is one of the main attractions on the island. However, the aquarium is also home to more than 400 other marine animals, including turtles, sharks, sea lions and many other inhabitants of the Caribbean waters.

Die Sehenswürdigkeiten auf Curacao sind im Übrigen alles in allem eher kleinerer Natur, dafür aber meistens reizend und liebevoll angelegt, so dass man an einem Tag auch mehrere Aktivitäten planen und realisieren kann.

The Christoffelpark is Curacao’s largest national park and is located in the west of Curacao on the road between Barber and West Point (where the entrance to the country house, Savonet, is located). The park can be explored by car, mountain bike or on foot. With approximately 500 different plants and about 80 species of birds, the grounds offer a rich variety of flora and fauna. The park also offers guided tours.

Many of Curacao’s sights are rather small, but also charming and lovingly created. This makes it possible to plan multiple activities in one day.

Curacao is considered to be one of the best dive sites in the Caribbean. A reef near the coast encloses the entire island. On many beaches, you only have to swim for a few minutes through shallow waters to reach the edge of the reef, which then drops like a steep wall into the depths.

Steady water temperatures of 25 to 28 degrees are ideal for the billions of small creatures that populate a coral reef. The water is also so clear that you can see up to 50 meters.

In addition to all kinds of colorful fish, you will also find barracudas, turtles, seahorses, lobsters, eagle rays, octopus, nurse sharks or dolphins.

On many beaches, you will find dive centers that offer visitors all necessary equipment. There is also a resort-owned dive center at Villapark Coral Estate, as well as one at the nearby Porto Marie beach.