Curaçao

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Quick Facts

[edit]

Population

141.766 ^[1]

On Travellerspoint

• 1 Curaçao Apartments

Contributors

• Utrecht (74%)
  from http://utrecht.travellerspoint.com
• Herr Bert (26%)
  from A Dutchman in Madrid

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Introduction

Crystal clear water

© All Rights Reserved wian

Curaçao is one of the Netherlands Antilles and the capital is Willemstad. At least until the 10th of October 2010. On that date the island of Curaçao will become an autonomous region within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, just like Aruba.

Geography

Curaçao excists of two islands. The main island and Klein Curaçao, which lies about 24 kilometres to the southeast. The main island is about 59 kilometres long, and in the north and the south approximately 10 to 11 kilometres wide. In the middle of the island, near Grote Berg, the width is only 3,8 kilometres wide. The best beaches are in the south, and also conditions for swimming and diving are good. In the north the coast is rocky, and because of the strong currents, diving can only be done by experienced divers, and only when the conditions allow it. The Christoffelberg is Curaçao's highest hill with a height of 375 metres (1,230 ft) It can be found in the northwestern part of the island.

Cities

• Willemstad

Sights and Activities

Willemstad

Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao and is by far the largest town on the island. The Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour is placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here, the Dutch established a trading settlement at a natural harbour on Curaçao in 1634. Willemstad developed continuously over the following centuries and nowadays the modern town still has some fine historic districts whose architecture reflects European urban-planning concepts as well as styles from the Netherlands and even from the Spanish and Portuguese colonial towns with which Willemstad engaged in trade. Therefore, Willemstad makes for a great excursion if you want to get away from the beaches and diving which the islands are most famous for.

• Christoffel National Park - Curaçao
• Jewish Cultural Historical Museum - Willemstad
• Museum Kura Hulanda - Willemstad

Events and Festivals

Weather

The island of Curaçao has a very pleasant and constant climate. This means warm and humid weather yearround but with almost constant sea breezes cooling things of a bit. Temperatures average around 30 degrees Celcius during the day, cooling of somewhat to 23 degrees at night. Most rain falls between October and February but compared to the islands more north in the Caribbean it doesn't rain that much. July and August are high season and therefore the drier months of March to June are the best time for a visit.

Getting there

Plane

Curaçao has the best connections from Europe directly with a number of airlines available. Arkefly (website in Dutch) flies from the Netherlands with connections to Aruba. From Curaçao there are direct fligts to a number of neighbouring islands and countries and to the United States.

By Boat

There has been talk of re-installing ferries between Curaçao and Bonaire, but up until now there aren't any.

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Many of the hotels on Curaçao are based in and around Willemstad. Especially to the south, at the Jan Thiel Baai and Piscadera Baai there are many hotels. Still, there are some luxurious hotels right in the center of Willemstad as well. In the north and west there are far less luxurious hotels but again much more smaller hotels and apartments for rent.

• Kura Hulanda Hotel and Lodge - The hotel is in Willemstad and the lodge is at Westpunt in the northwest of Curaçao. Both offer luxurious rooms and the lodge has a private beach.
• Papagayo Beach Resort - Jan Thiel Baai
• Scuba Lodge - Willemstad, small scale lodge, especially catering for divers.
• Avila Hotel - Willemstad, 5 star luxury
• Landhuis Daniel - small scale cheap hotel on the road to the Westpunt
• Jan Kok Lodges - small scale hotel in the centre of the island