Willemstad's Pastel Waterfront and Island Spirit
Curaçao is a Caribbean island and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, lying in the southern Caribbean and known for the pastel-coloured waterfront of Willemstad, its beaches and its cultural mix. About 150,000 people live on the island, most near the capital, and speak Papiamentu, Dutch, English and Spanish. The historic centre of Willemstad, with its harbour and inner city, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, a rare Caribbean example of Dutch colonial town planning transplanted to the tropics.
Handelskade, the harbour front in Punda, is the postcard view, a row of gabled Dutch-style buildings painted in bright colours. The Queen Emma Bridge, a floating pontoon bridge, swings open for ships and links Punda with Otrobanda. The Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, dating from 1732, has a sand floor and is among the oldest synagogues in continuous use in the Americas. Neighbouring Aruba and Bonaire complete the ABC islands, making a Dutch Caribbean trip an easy proposition.
Kenepa, Westpunt and Christoffel Park
Curaçao's coast is a series of small coves rather than long strands. Playa Kenepa Grandi, on the west side, has white sand and clear turquoise water below a cliff, and Cas Abao and Playa Lagun are favourite snorkelling stops. Westpunt, at the northern tip, has fishing boats and sunset views, while the offshore uninhabited islet of Klein Curaçao is a day trip for beach lovers. Divers find a gently sloping reef right off the shore, with sites accessible from the coast and by boat.
Inland, Christoffel National Park surrounds Mount Christoffel, the island's highest point at about 375 metres, with hiking trails among cacti, iguanas and birdlife. The Hato Caves reveal limestone chambers with ancient markings, and landhuizen, the old plantation houses, tell the island's layered history. Food draws on Dutch, African and Latin traditions: stobá, a stew, and keshi yena are local staples, while Willemstad's Floating Market sells fresh produce from Venezuelan boats. A hotel group has a clear story in design-led boutique stays around old Willemstad.
Read the full Curaçao guide on Visit Travel Group, or see Curacao.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.