Travel in Curacao – Hotels, Curacao Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide

Things To Do In Curacao: Part Of The ABC Island Chain

Colored houses of Punda by night, Willemstad, Curacao

The island of Curacao is located in the south Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela. Curacao is the largest and most populated island in the ABC island chain located in the Leeward Antilles. How Curacao got its name is still not understood, some believe it comes from the Portuguese word meaning heart (coracao) or it could be named cura (heal) after the healing plants that grow on the island.

One of the oldest synagogues in the Americas is the Mikve Isreal-Emanuel Synagogue in Willemstad, Curacao. Dating from the 1650's, the community consisted of Spanish and Portuguese Jews from the Netherlands and Brazil. During the 19th century reformation period, the two communities banned together and is now affiliated with Reconstructionist Judaism. The synagogue was originally purchased in 1674, while the current structure dates from 1730.

In 1984, the Curacao Sea Aquarium was built on the oceanfront near the largest coral reef on the island. The park is open to the public and welcomes visitors to swim and interact with the marine life. There is an observatory, feeding shows, and training shows with the Bottlenose Dolphins from the Curacao Dolphin Academy. At the Animal Encounter area, visitors can snorkel or scuba dive and feed sting rays, sea turtles and sharks. There is also a Sea Lion Encounter, Snorkel-Swim and Open Water dive offered.

The Curacao Hato caves had a historical purpose during the days of slave trading on the islands. Escaped slaves would hide in the caves for months at a time and use them for shelter. Prior to this time period, the Amerindian Arawaks also used the caves and left behind relics and artwork carved into the cave walls that are estimated to be around 1,500 years old. The caves are located to the north of Willsted and holds tours daily with informative guides that lead visitors through the caves and tell stories about the rich history of the caves.

The city of Willemstad dates back to colonial times when it was seized by the Dutch from the Spanish in 1634. At was at this point that the Dutch began to fortify the island and divided the city with two forts by the Santa Anna Bay. East of the harbor is the oldest part or Punda, which means “The Point”. The first permanent structure the Dutch built was Fort Amsterdam, which today serves as the seat for Curacao government and is the architectural focal point of the city.

On the west end of Curacao is Christoffel Park. Since 1978, the park has been a part of the national park system and is home to Mount Christoffel which is the highest peak on the island. The park also offers sunset tours, deer spotting tours, a safari, a Savonet history tour and guided climb up to the peak of Mount Christoffel. The park is also home to dozens of species of trees and plants, an orchid forest, numerous bird species, lizards and sea life.

The island is home to many beautiful Dutch-styled cottages, inns and hotels which offer stellar service and top-rated lodging. The Avila Beach Hotel is located in Willemsted, two amenities are 24-hour room service and a multilingual staff. There is also a restaurant, tennis courts, child care, valet and laundry services available to guests. The Bonbini Seaside Resort is located in Bapor Kibra and features a swimming pool and multilingual staff, which are just a few of the many other modern amenities and conveniences they offer to tourists who visit. Curacao is an island unlike any other in the world and has a warm, sunny climate all year round.