Curacao , is a Lesser Antilles island in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, north off Venezuela .
It is the largest and most populous of the so-called ABC islands (for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). The population as of 1 January 2017 was 160 337. Curacao has an area of 444 square kilometers. Willemstad is the capital.
In 1954, the Netherlands Antilles, where Curacao was one of six islands, gained autonomy within the federal Kingdom of the Netherlands. The capital was located in Willemstad on Curacao, and the relationship between the different islands was never easy. In 2010, the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved and Curacao became a separate country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It controls itself in most areas, but the foreign and defense policy is a common matter dominated by the Netherlands.
Curacao is a multicultural society where several languages are spoken. Papiamento, Dutch and English are official languages. The majority are Catholics.
The economy is characterized by tourism, oil refining, banking and finance, trade and logistics. Shell’s oil refinery was sold to the Curacao authorities in 1985, which leased it to the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA. The agreement with PDVSA expires at the end of 2019.
The island of Curacao can be divided into four regions: The northwest is dominated by the Christoffel National Park, where you can hike. The southeast is practically uninhabited and not accessible by traffic. The land is privately owned, but government regulations prevent expansion. If one divides the island about in the middle at the narrowest point, then lies in the northwest former plantation country with a number of small villages and more and more threatened by decay plantation houses.
Opposite to the southeast is the international airport and the city of Willemstad with its industrial facilities around the inland Schottegat.
Major citys : Barber , Grote Berg , Hato , Jan Thiel , Lagun , Santa Rosa , Sint Michiel , Sint Willibrordus , Soto , Westpunt , Willemstad
Access : Coordinates: 12.183333, -69 / By boat : There is currently no ferry service to the neighboring islands of Aruba and Bonaire. / By plane : There are regular flights to and from Europe with KLM and TUI Airlines, as well as regular scheduled flights to North America, Colombia and Venezuela as well as to the other islands of the Netherlands Antilles.Dr. Albert Plesman Airport, Hato, IATA Code – CUR, ICAO Code TNCC. /
Get around : From the capital Willemstad there is a regular bus service to timetable in all parts of the island. The minibuses have up to nine seats and fares range from US $ 1 to US $ 1.5 per person. The drivers give a horn to passersby, if you are interested you can stop a bus outside of stops by hand signals. There are several taxi companies. In the capital, at the airport and in several hotels you can rent a car.
There is legal traffic! The maximum speed is 40 km / h in built-up areas, 60 km / h outside built-up areas. Most major roads have a tar deposit. The minimum age for renting cars is 23 years.
The use of mobile phones while driving is prohibited. On two-lane roads overtaking is allowed on the right and left. Through roads have right of way. If you come to a T-junction, then the vehicle has right of way, which is on the continuous road, even if it comes from the left.
Highlights :
- Hato Caves , north of town, near Hato International Airport / Landhuis Chobolobo: Home of the Genuine Curacao Liqueur , Salina, Willemstad, Curacao , Hours:Open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
- Shete Boka Park , The park begins at Boka Tabla, where huge waves thunder into an underground cavern , Shete Boka Boka Tabla z/n, Curacao , open every day of the week from 09.00am – 5.00pm
- Christoffelpark – national park of Curacao , Bandabou, Curacao , Hours: Mondays to Saturdays: 07.30 – 16.00 (No admittance afte 14.30)
Sundays: 06.00 AM – 15.00 (No admittance afte 13.30) Fees :USD 12 (approx. €10,76) for adults USD 4,50 (approx. €4,03) for children (6 – 11) Free for children under 6 years old. - Klein Curacao , The waters around Klein Curacao offer good diving and snorkeling opportunities
- The Curacao Museum , Van Leeuwenhoekstraat z / n , Willemstad, Curacao Opening Hours: Thuesday – Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Saturday: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
closed on Sundays and Mondays - Maritiem Museum Curacao ,Van der Brandhofstraat 1
Willemstad, Curacao , Opening Hours: Thuesday – Saturday: 9.00am – 4.00pm
The museum is also open on Sunday and Monday during the cruise ship season (oct-apr). - Jewish Cultural Historical Museum , Hanchi di Snoa 29 Punda, Willemstad, Curacao Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 11.45am and 2:30pm – 4:45pm.
- Postmuseum , Kaya Toni Prince Punda, Willemstad, Curacao Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday: 10:00am – 3:00pm - Kura Hulanda Museum ,Klipstraat 9 Otrobanda, Willemstad, Curacao Opening Hours:Monday – Saturday: 09.30am – 4.00pm
- Fort Church Museum , Kaya Toni Prince Punda, Willemstad, Curacao , Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 10.00am – 2.00pm
- Yotin Korta (coins and bank notes Museum)
Scharlooweg 11 Willemstad, Curacao , Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 09.30am -11.30am and 12.30pm – 4.00pm Closed on Saturdays and Sundays . - Savonet Museum ,Savonet z/n Savonet, Curacao Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 07.30am – 4:00pm Sunday: 06.00am – 3.00pm
- Fort Beekenburg , Fort Beekenburg lies on a rocky outcrop next to the Caracas Bay east of the city of Willemstad, on the Caribbean island of Curacao , Caracasbaai, Curacao
- Fort Amsterdam , Fort Amsterdam which guards the entrance to St. Anna Bay
- Curacao Seaquarium / Ostrich Farm / Santa Martha Baai great view spot, Landhuis Groot Santa Martha
Soto, Curacao Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 09:00AM – 5:00PM , / Landhuis Ascencion , This plantation house is one of the oldest plantation houses , Every first Sunday of the month you can visit this plantation house - Curacao’s Beaches : City Beach 88 / Westpunt Beach
- Knip Beach – Playa Kenepa Grandi / Playa Kalki / Playa Jeremi / Little Knip Beach – Playa Kenepa Chiki / Cas Abao
- Boca Santa Cruz / Daaibooi Beach / Playa Porto Mari / Kontiki / Cabana Beach / Pirate Bay Beach / Jan Thiel Beach / Mambo / Seaquarium Beach
- Klein Curacao / Barbara Beach
Events : Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival , Thursday, September 1, Friday, September 2 and Saturday, September 3. / KLM Curacao Marathon , The 6th edition of the KLM Curacao Marathon will be held on the November 24, 2019 / Curacao Carnival , first weeks of the year
Activities : Hiking , Boka Pistol Trail – Boka Wandomi Trail / Pickup Safari / Climb the Christoffel Mountain / Deer Spotting Sunset Tours / Curacao has multiple casinos, most of them with only slots / Nightlife on Curacao / Shops and Shopping in Curacao /
Mountain Biking Tours / Deep Sea Fishing / Sailing / Boat Trips / Scuba Diving / Snorkeling / Golf / Spa & Wellness / Windsurfing / Paddleboarding / Paddle Surfing
Go next : Aruba / Bonaire / Guyana / Saint Martin / Suriname / Venezuela / San Andres island / Roatan island
