Christoffel National Park is situated on what used to be four separate plantations which were purchased in 1978 by the government and merged into this breathtaking park of highlands and coastal wilderness. Today it is a protected 4,000 acre space in the care of the CARMABI Foundation; alive with incredible wildlife, beautiful botanicals. Located at the west end of the island, Christoffel Park is about 40 minutes from Willemstad and proudly boasts the island’s highest point, Mt. Christoffel which stands a proud 1,240 ft.
The day started bright and early meeting up with our Yellow Adventures tour guide and other passengers. My boys and I are looking forward to a full day adventure on an off-road Jeep Safari tour to the Christoffel National Park. Following mention of some general safety rules to follow on the “Wild Curaçao” terrain, we leave the hotel to hit the paved road but minutes later, they are left behind then I notice smiles getting bigger as the ride gets bumpier. This tour was about to take us to the rough north shore on off-the-beaten paths, to the foot of Mount Christoffel and then a ride up to its glorious summit.
Our knowledgeable guide provides us with “inside info” on the natural history, folklore, geology, plant life, and local fauna that inhabit the landscape as we make our way to San Pedro Heights. On the way to the park it is surprisingly lush and green with giant cactus plants. With a keen eye and a little effort we spotted some birds of pray perched on top of cactuses and stumbled upon white orchids. We also appreciated these occasional stops to catch the breeze and the sound of silence.
Curaçao wind that never stops blowing.
They are the first thing many visitors see from the plane window as they approach the island: A row of tall white towers gleaming in the sun, stretching along the island’s rough north coast and pounding surf. These towers are two of the most successful wind-power plants in the Caribbean, and in terms of efficiency, anywhere in the world.
After we enjoyed our lunch in a local well-appointed restaurant, we continue our route towards Ladhuis Savonet which is the oldest plantation house on the island that serves as the entry point and visitor center to the park, it
We met up with our tour guide to enjoy a full day adventure on an off-road Jeep Safari tour to the Christoffel National Park and San Pedro Heights, discovering the “Wild Curaçao” terrain. This tour took us the rough north shore on off-the-beaten paths, to the foot of Mount Christoffel and then up to its glorious summit.
As we head off, our charismatic guide provides us information about the natural history, folklore, geology, local fauna and flora that inhabit these landscapes that are surprisingly lush and green with pink-flowering trees and giant cacti. With a keen eye and a little effort we spotted some birds of pray called Warawaras perched on top of cactuses and stumbled upon white orchids. We also appreciated these occasional stops to catch the breeze and the sound of silence on our way towards Ladhuis Savonet which is the oldest plantation house on the island. It serves as the entry point and visitor center to the park, it is also the Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
The Christoffel National Park combines beautiful nature and amazing historical sites. We will never get bored of the idyllic beaches on the South Coast of Curaçao, however the rugged NorthCoast of the island is a welcomed change. We follow the signs on the dirt road to Watamula, between the NorthPoint and the WestPoint and past Playa Kalki. On foot, we carefully approach the Curaçao Hole watching sea water suctionned then sprayed out of the cavity. When the waves are strong, the water splashes through the hole making sure you don’t escape before getting wet! The rocky coast line with contineous waves pounding against the massive limestone is surreal.
This rugged coast is safest to explore with a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and many tour operators offer quad tours as well. These little buggies are fun, safe and definitely get you dirty. Be ready to cross through the mud, race over rocks and really explore nature.
WATAMULA
We will never get bored of the idyllic beaches on the South Coast of Curaçao, however the rugged North Coast of the island is a welcomed change. We follow the signs on the dirt road to Watamula, between the NorthPoint and the WestPoint and past Playa Kalki. On foot, we approach the Curaçao Hole that pushes the water above creating a bubbly, misty pool. The rocky coast line with contineous waves pounding against the massive limestone is surreal.
This rugged coast is safest to explore with a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and many tour operators offer quad tours as well. These little buggies are fun, safe and definitely get you dirty. Be ready to cross through the mud, race over rocks and really explore nature.
Fun experience for kids.
We crossed paths with a quad tour and the tour guide graciously invited us to join in with their guests to explore a bat cave nearby.
We carefully enter ducking our heads through a narrow passage into a dimmer area leading us deeper into a dark, dewy habitat to a colony of fruit bats. My boys and I are following the group closely as we cut into little corners watching out for stalagmites and stalactites, some of which are hard to see in the darker areas.
There’s something mysterious about a cave that excites my kids and turns them into little explorers trying to locate secret passages. Our voices carry and reverberate on the cave walls. Everyone talks in whisper which adds to the eerie sensation. Why whisper? Did I not mention the colony of long nose fruit bats? To help them find their prey in the dark, most bat species have developed a remarkable navigation system called echolocation which makes them very sensitive to sound. We have never seen these many bats hanging around, literally.
From one cave ceiling to the next, they are perched upside down in clusters and many take flight over our heads. They are harmless creatures but one can’t help but squirm when there are this many.
It’s now time to head back to civilization, but before hitting the paved roads again, we have the chance to visit the Tera Kota wind farm consisting of 12 250-kilowatt turbines. They’re the first thing many visitors to Curaçao see, right from their plane window as they approach the island: A row of tall white towers gleaming in the sun, stretching along the island’s rough north coast and pounding surf.
Because Curacao’s wind turbines are located on the rocky and beachless north side of the island, with its dangerous waves and rip tides, few tourists venture there. But Curacao’s Tera Cora wind farm makes for an interesting day trip for the more adventurous tourist. You can drive right through with any of several jeep safari or buggy tours. What a fun-filled day!
written by Sheila Botton