There are three islands in a small chain called the a,b,c islands of the Caribbean. These islands ranging in popularity are named Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.? Aruba, you may know as a very popular island frequented by many American tourists. Bonaire is the laid back, quiet island known for its scuba diving, but very little else. The largest island, situated between the two is Curacao. This island is a pleasant mix of its two sister islands. The scuba diving is comparable to Bonaire, but Curacao has more to offer for the non-diver.
Curacao
has been independent for the past 12 years, yet still has a great deal
of Dutch influence. Many Dutch vacationers come to spend their holiday
weeks basking in the sunshine. Some of the most beautiful beaches in existence
are here in Curacao. Willemstead, the capital is filled with bright, colorful
buildings which accentuate its Dutch roots. ? Again these islands are
part of the Netherlands Antilles chain, located less than 50 miles off
the coast of Venezuela, South America. The islanders speak two languages:
Dutch and papimento ( an island dialect). Of course, you will hear English,
but it is not as commonplace as other islands in the Caribbean.
There are many activities available on Curacao. The Northeast part of the island is home to the second largest Ostrich farm in the world. ( Africa being the first). A tour of the farm was enjoyable with the opportunity to hold a real ostrich egg in your hands. We later walked through a corral of 30 or so baby ostrich, only two feet in height. They surrounded us like a group of curious children looking for attention. We viewed many adolescent and adult ostrich as well, which are used for breeding and often raised for meat. Ostrich meat is actually very healthy for you. It is a very lean meat, that is low in cholesterol and tasty too!
Another attraction worth visiting is the Hato caves, located just 5 minutes from the international airport. These natural caves are a smaller version of Howe Caverns, which are located in New York state here in the United States. The Hato caves are beautiful and mysterious, with stories of slaves escaping their capturers long ago. There is also a botanical garden with walking trails to view the many types of fauna and flora. Many of the native wildlife is present in the gardens. It is a great place to escape the heat of the day and get closer to nature.
Warm
weather is always here no matter what time of year you visit. The islands
are considered out of the hurricane belt, with exceptions every 40 years
or so.The sea aquarium, located on the east end of the island is where
you can snorkel with turtles, sharks and other marine life. The marine
life is located behind a large wall of plexy glass that has tiny holes
in it for feeding these inhabitants. A really great place for young kids
with their parents who are interested in discovering the ocean. It’s
a family park, that also functions as an educational center.
The countryside of Curacao is mountainous to the North. Many good hiking trails are available in Christofel Park. You can also rent horses or mountain bikes if you are adventurous. There are small outdoor cafes that serve good drinks to take the dry heat away. The southern part of the island is the salt flats which is home to hundreds of flamingos. There they feed on shrimp which maintains the pink color of their feathers.
There
are a variety of hotels, resorts and condos available to stay in Curacao.
I prefer the Hilton Hotel which is a larger hotel turned resort located
directly on Piscadera Bay. It has its own private beach and 2 outdoor
swimming pools. It is located on the site of an old fort, which is still
partially visible along one of its borders. Amenities include: tennis
courts ( free day use), miniature golf, short walking trail, spa ( weight
room, Jacuzzi and sauna -free use), full dive shop with available use
of lockers, paddleboats & kayaks( free use of any non-motorized sports).
The property has a casino, wave runners/jet skis for rent, several restaurants
in and around the area and a free shuttle into Willemstead. The atmosphere
is relaxing and very comfortable. There is also a tour desk which will
assist in car rentals and days tours.
We did an unusual day tour on our last visit. There is a beautiful sailing vessel called "The Bounty" which runs day trips over to Klein Curacao, a very small, uninhabited island. The snorkeling and scuba diving are spectacular here because so few people travel to this protected reef. The day trip includes a morning snack, time on the island to explore, a buffet lunch and the afternoon to enjoy the ocean. This excursion was most enjoyable. Curacao, this treasure of the Caribbean is not to be missed!
For more information
on Curacao or any of our travel destinations,
Please call Laura at 413 562-7431.
