Beach, Water Activities, Tours and Excursions

Beach Gems

Beach-lovers will never get bored on the blissful stretches of beaches in Curaçao. Curaçao is home to public and hideaway beaches for sports enthusiasts who can’t sit still, family fun seekers and romantic couples in search of quiet solitude under the vast sky. Beach hop and find the one to call your favorite.

Klein Curaçao

Fifteen miles Southeast of Curaçao lies Klein Curaçao, a windswept island with breathtaking white sand, clear water and a spectacularly colorful underwater life. Take a 2 hour boat trip to this deserted island for a spin around an otherwise inaccessible region of the island.

Curaçao Sea Aquarium

Awe, shock and splendor are just a few of the words to describe visitor reactions to the Aquarium’s unusual inhabitants. Get up close and personal with Curaçao’s finest underwater gems without ever getting wet.

Dolphin Academy

Ever dream of swimming with the dolphins? Swirl, hug and kiss these playful, friendly and intelligent marine mammals at the Dolphin Academhy for an unforgettable feel-good experience.

Ocean Encounters

Dive into one of the world’s top diving destinations. Descend into the depths of this island’s live underwater home and garden for the experience of a lifetime at excellent value. See for yourself why famed divers add Curaçao diving sites to their list of must do.

Water Activities

Ahoy adventure seeking novices and skilled repeat participants: Take your pick but start somewhere. Choose a beach, choose a sport, but choose something because Curaçao’s beaches are a breathtaking backdrop to the adrenaline packed fun that accompanies water skiing, jet skiing, kite surfing, wind surfing, kayaking and catching waves.

Sailing and Boat Tours

Observe nature’s beauty from under the open skies in its rawest form. Treat yourself to a sailing or boat tour and unwind in the wind of movement on water as you do nothing but bask in the glory of of the Caribbean waters. Let the pampering begin.

Christoffel Park

In keeping with the reputations of all national parks Christoffel Park offers the best in landscapes, geographic wonders and diversity of flora and fauna. Curaçao’s national treasure is just 20 minutes outside Willemstad. Take a guided walking tour, or rent mountain bikes, jeeps and four-wheel drive vehicles.

Hato Caves

Feel the history. Take a walking tour of these caves and listen to stories about the first known inhabitants of the caves 1,500 years ago. Check out the petroglyphs that are still left and experience what it might have been like to be a slave in hiding.

Bike, Cycle, Scooter or Horseback Ride

Move through miles of Curaçao’s exhilarating backdrop hoisted on the wheels (or horse!) of your choice for a sightseeing tour of the island. Much of Curaçao can’t be reached by car so to really experience the rugged terrain exercise your way through the exceptional landscape.

Curaçao Guided Walking or Bus Tours

A professional guided tour by people who live in and love the island open the window to the history and culture of the places you visit. City walks, nature tours and hiking too! Art & museum, architecture, plantation houses, real estate, Jewish heritage, wine-tasting tours and more. If you can think it, there’s a tour for it!

Annual Festivals and Events

Scheduling your next visit to Curacao around festivals, events and carnivals is a brilliant way to add some excitement and culture to your beach vacation. With year round idyllic weather there is ample opportunity to hold outdoor activities and competitions. See below for some to consider…

The Salsa Tour – Visit Curacao in August when the island swells with the hot and spicy beat of salsa. Feast on six days of salsa concerts, competitions, workshops and performances in six different indoor and outdoor locations.

For 203 dates and information call (599-9) 511-0586 or (5999) 516 2223

Heineken Regatta Curaçao – 2013 will be the 6^th annual Regatta,, a sailing festival that celebrates over 500 years o maritime history. It starts and finishes in Willemstad on the handelskade so everyone on and offshore can enjoy the Regatta’s beauty. info@heinekenregattacuracao.com

Drag Racing – Located at Ronde Kip Curaçao International Raceway is a state-of-the-art track. Come out on Queen’s Day or Labor Day to observe large-scale competitions and watch as international competitors win large cash prizes. www.curacaodrag.com

Amstel Race – The Amstel Curaçao Race attracts some very big names in the cycling world. The race is open to both pros and amateurs and offers a variety of festivities the week leading up to the race. This is an annual event. www.amstelcuracaorace.com

Carnaval – A grand parade with street dancing, musical bands, and bursts of color that lasts from January through February Carnaval is the most important cultural festival of the Antilles. People let loose, spirits soar and the soul of the people of this island comes alive in street parties, theater, folklore and history. For dates and times toll free1-800-328-7222 or visit: info@curacaocarnival.com

North Sea Jazz Festival – This is a renowned international event. The festival receives approximately seventy thousand visitors annually where international jazz, soul, world beat and Latin artists perform.

For more information visit www.curacaonorthseajazz.com

Museums…home to the history and culture of countries and people.

The Curaçao Museum housed in a spacious colonial style building, holds geological and pre-Colombian Indian artifacts; maps and charts, a traditional plantation kitchen; antique mahogany furniture and paintings by local artists (18th and 19th century) and more. Tel: (5999) 462 3873

Den Paradera means “the place where you feel at home”, and it is home to a garden that was begun one plant at a time by Dinah Veeris in 1991. Veeris studies and researches the preservation of traditional medicinal plants. Tel: (5999) 767 5608

Kurà Hulanda Museum Situated exactly where Dutch entrepreneurs traded and shipped African slaves, it has the largest African collection in all of the Caribbean. Here the Transatlantic Slave Trade is impressively retold through exhibits that span from slave capture in Africa all the way through relocation in the New World. Tel: (5999) 434 7765

Maritime Museum The museum, situated in a beautifully restored 17^th century building is complete with a gangplank, portholes and ship railings, all in wood and brass. Video presentations and multi-media displays are used throughout the museum to bring Curaçao’s maritime history to life. Tel: (5999) 465-2327

Mongui Maduro Library This museum presents a fascinating retelling of history with Mr. Maduro’s comprehensive collection of manuscripts, periodicals and so more. New publications are constantly acquired and added making this museum a wonderful source of information on the historical evolution of the island.

Tel: (5999) 737 5119

The Numismatic Museum Numismatics is the study of or collection of currency. The exhibit here illustrates the evolution of the Antillean currency. It is owned and operated by the Bank of the Netherlands Antilles.Tel: (5999) 462 5912

Savonet Museum Very recently opened this is the newest museum offering in Curacao. The historical plantation complex is an experience for the entire family where the running theme is the interdependence of humans and nature. Portal to Cristoffel park. Tel: (5999) 864-0363

Landhuisen The plantation houses in Curaçao boast colorful, decorative designs and tropical architecture that are unique in the Caribbean. Some you might want to visit are…

Landhuis Brakkeput May May, 1700, (5999) 767 1500

Landhuis Brievengat, 1750, (5999) 691 4961

Landhuis Chobolobo, early 19^th century, (5999) 461 3526

Landhuis Daniel, circa 1650, (5999) 864 8400

Landhuis Groot Davelaar, 1865, (5999) 738 3300

Landhuis Knip, early 18th century, (5999) 864 0244

Landhuis Jan Cook, 1840, (5999) 869 4965

Landhuis Zeelandia, late 18^th century, (5999) 461 6191

Forts

During the colonial period Curaçao was a treasured outpost, eight forts still remain. These are four of them and whatg you’ll find there:

Fort Amsterdam, 1635 – A recognized UNESCO World Heritage site

Find…the governor’s residence, the ministry , some government offices and the united aprtoestant Church

Fort Beekenburg, 1703 – The island’s most preserved colonial structure

Find: two public beaches where you can rent water sports equipment and visit the fort

Fort Nassau, 1797 – Houses a restaurant and is highly visited by tourists

Find: A beautiful restaurant serving international cuisine

Riffort village, shopping centre, restaurants, bars and a terrace overlooking the harbor