Curaçao

Curaçao is the largest of the Dutch Caribbean islands and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Willemstad's harbour district is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its Dutch gabled fronts painted in colours said to date from a governor who blamed his headaches on whitewash glare. Papiamentu is spoken alongside Dutch and English.

Known for Willemstad's painted waterfront, Papiamentu, the floating bridge, Christoffel park and shore diving.

Highlights

  • Willemstad, Willemstad: A UNESCO World Heritage city built around a natural harbour, with the Handelskade waterfront and the Queen Emma pontoon bridge that swings open for shipping.
  • Christoffel National Park, Westpunt: The island's largest park, covering Mount Christoffel at 375 metres along with dry forest, orchids and the remains of three plantations.
  • Shete Boka National Park, Westpunt: A stretch of the north coast where Atlantic swell drives into limestone inlets and blowholes; Boka Tabla is an undercut cave open to the sea.

Places in Curaçao

Getting around

Autobusbedrijf Curaçao, owned outright by the government, runs thirty-five buses over twenty-one routes a day, with terminals at Punda and Otrobanda in Willemstad. Smaller vans work the routes alongside them. A ride through the city and the east of the island costs ANG 2.00; the western routes to Banda Abou, Tera Kora, Lagun and Westpunt cost ANG 2.50. Passengers aged 65 and over pay ANG 1.75 and ANG 2.25 once they hold a SmartPass.