Curaçao is one of the Caribbean’s most sophisticated capitals. Don’t miss the Maritime Museum, the Sea Aquarium, and the Curaçao Postal Museum to see bright Antillean stamps. Visit the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the Caribbean’s oldest continuously operating synagogue, with a fine display on the island’s Jewish history. The winter-time Curaçao Carnival boasts parades with floats, Jump Ups (outdoors), Jump Ins (indoors) and outrageous costumes. Serious divers come for the spring Curaçao Dive Festival to participate in a weeks’ worth of workshops such as Underwater Digital Photography.
The western shores have a series of beautiful beaches, each one occupying a separate cove: popular Daaibooi, tiny Playa Lagun, and Knip, which opens onto a large bay of luminous water.
Also in the west is Christoffel Park. Drive, hike, or ride a horse through kadushi cactus, tamarind, divi-divi trees and lignum vitae trees, the road curving upward to amazing vistas of Mount Christoffel.
Curaçao also hosts a jazz festival, a gospel festival, a food festival and a kite competition. The locally famous Jazz Night at Blues Restaurant on a pier overlooking the sea is not to be missed. Classy, joyful and mellow, it’s the perfect summary of what’s so appealing about Curaçao.
International Airport HATO (CUR), located 7.5 miles from the capital, Willemstad.
Gateways/Flying Times: KLM fly from 14 regional airports in the UK via Amsterdam to Hato International Airport (CUR). Additional connections are available with American Airlines via Miami. Inter island flights are available with Dutch Caribbean Airlines (DCA) and BonairExcel. Amsterdam - 9 hours. Miami – 2.5 hours.
CLIMATE: Annual average temperature - 80 degrees F. Average humidity - 77%. Average rainfall - 21 inches. Windspeed 16 mph.
DINING: Cuisines from more than a dozen countries range from classic to exotic, local dishes also reflect an international influence. American, French, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Latin American, Gourmet, Fast food. Dress code varies. Service charge 10%.
LANGUAGE: Dutch is the official language. Multi-racial Curacaoans also speak English, Spanish and their own unique blend, Papiamento.
NIGHTLIFE: Entertainment available includes - Discos. Dinner/Dance. Theatre. Casinos. Nightclubs. Live Music.
SIGHTSEEING: Museums. Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. Landhouses. Forts. 16th and 17th Century Architecture. Curaçao Sea Aquarium. Curaçao Liqueur Distillery. Floating Market. Hato Caves. Amstel Beer Brewery. City Tour. Willemstad Walking Tour. Three Queens Bridges. Christoffel National Park. Boca Tabla Grotto. Shete Boka Park. Curaçao Ostrich and Game Farm. Willemstad Trolley Tour. Herb Garden.
FIND OUT MORE: Please visit
http://www.curacao.com