Curaçao – A unique Caribbean experience

Curaçao is a Netherland Antilles island in the southern Caribbean Sea located 40 miles from the coast of Venezuela.

It has a population over 150.000 in an area of 171 square miles. Until the dissolution of Netherland Antilles in 2010 it was administrated as  Island Territory of Curaçao. There are two official languages on the island Dutch and Papiamentu ( a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese and African dialects.)

In 16th and 17th-century Portuguese sailors who were getting scurvy on long trips were left on an island now known as Curaçao. After some time the ship would come back on its return trip and pick up the sailors, who by then were healed from eating lots of vitamin C rich fruits.

At that point, the Portuguese started calling the island Ilha da Curação (Island of Healing). The Portuguese word for heart is coração, but the Spaniards started calling the island Curação.

The first people who lived on the island were indigenous Arawak Indians, who occupied the South American mainland. The tribe’s name was Caiquetío. Their main occupation was fishing and also agriculture. They also collected salt to trade with the coastal populations.

In 1513 many Indians were captured by the Spaniards and were forced to be their slaves, working in copper mines. In 1634 Curaçao was defeated by the Dutch.

If you want to visit the Caribbean and you are searching for something interesting, with great history, then Curaçao is what you need. The hidden gem of the Caribbean is almost an architectonical copy of the colonial buildings in Amsterdam.

Curaçao has year-round 80-degree weather and 22 inches of rainfall which makes it a place with a perfect climate. The island is a desirable home for divers, snorkelers, windsurfers, kayakers, and swimmers.

This forever sunny island is the healthiest marine environment in the entire Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

There are more than 70 spectacular snorkel and diving locations that offer an amazing water based adventure. For even more fun visit Klein Curaçao (Small Curaçao) which is an uninhabited desert island off the south coast. It’s a divers paradise and also the site of a Tugboat that sunk around 30 years ago. Nowadays it is a famous location for shooting underwater pictures.

Yacht owners can participate in a race organized by Curaçao Yachting Organization. Another interesting thing you can do in Curaçao is visiting the Dolphin Academy and sign up for a dolphin encounter. This amazing experience is worth doing because it’s a great life experience.

One more must-see is the museum that will take you through the tragic story of slave trading and is one of the most interesting exhibits ever.

Curaçao is a unique island experience for everybody who wants to go sailing and play in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. The blue waters of Curaçao are waiting for the next visitor to come and explore the amazing underwater beauty that the island offers.

If you weren’t sure about where to head next, this is an excellent choice. Start planning your Curaçao trip and be ready for the best holiday ever.

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