ON THE ROAD at Curacao in the Caribbean

Central America Caribbean » Curaçao
April 21st 2016

Published: April 8th 2016

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The Travel Advisor Group

Welcome to Curacao

You'll discover distinctive historic architecture, world class museums, pristine diving sites, uncrowded sandy beaches, secluded coves, lot of ethnic diversity, exciting international cuisine, and no fear of hurricanes ruining your vacation. Curacao is located approximately 44 miles north of the Venezuelan coast, and is part of an island group known as the ABC Islands. The island gets very little annual rain, and the average temperature year round is a pleasant 80 degrees. Curacao is a very cosmopolitan island with over 65 ethnic groups including African, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, Libanese, British West Indians, Surinamese, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, along with other groups.

The capital city Willemstad looks quite like the Dutch architecture overlooking the canals in Amsterdam. The pastel colored 17th and 18th century Dutch colonial buildings make this UNESCO World Heritage site one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean region. The buildings were built tall and narrow narrow to adapt to the lack of land due to the restriction of the defensive ramparts as well as the building taxes that at the time that charged per-foot with frontage to the street. The Dutch-looking buildings were bright white from plaster made of sand and shells. The colorful buildings of

Vision of the Seas

docking in Willemstad

Willemstad are a local tradition dating from 1817, when the previous style of white lime finish on a building exterior was prohibited, apparently to protect eyesight from the glare.

Curacao is home to the oldest surviving synagogue building in the western hemisphere. This synagogue was built in 1692, was reconstructed in 1732 and is still a place of worship today. The Kura Hulanda Museum focuses on Curacao's culture, and offers a chronicle of the Origin of Man, the African slave trade, West African Empires, Mesopotamian relics and Antillean art. comprised of 15 buildings, and 16,000 square feet.

I found that the ramparts of Rif Fort provide some wonderful photo opportunities of colorful Willemstad and of the outer port where some of the larger cruise ships dock. The Rif fort also houses some upscale shopping and interesting dining opportunities. If you are fortunate and on a smaller ship that docks in St Anna Bay, you will also have opportunities for great photos of the city and Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge.

Scuba Diver magazine rates Curacao as the healthiest marine environment in the entire Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea – and one of the top three in marine life