Curaçao is a paradise for scuba divers. The coral reefs are in good condition, the visibility is usually excellent, the water is warm, and most of the best diving sites are ones to which you can swim from shore. We couldn't wait to begin exploring Curaçao's underwater world, and were invited to check it out with the two-man team of Scubacao.
After scratching wounds into our arms and legs during a prickly hike that started at the parking lot of Playa Porto Mari, we returned eagerly to the beach. Soft white sand, cool blue water, and incredible reefs for snorkeling... if this were always the reward, I would go hiking every day.
Sint Willibrodrus sits along the edge of the Jan Kok Bay, on the western coast of Curaçao. It's a small town, but one with big ambitions. As you approach, it's impossible to miss the "Williwood" sign on a hill in the distance. Actually, you might miss it, if your attention has been captured by all of the flamingos.
Watamula, at the northern tip of Curaçao, is a windblown wasteland of jagged volcanic rocks. It's not an area in which you'd want to spend a majority of your vacation, but it has a few geological features that are worth hunting down.
The eastern coast of Curaçao is completely different from the tranquil west. Here, the Caribbean Sea greets the shore with power and violence. You won't want to swim, but it's fun to watch massive waves smash against the rocks. And nowhere is the view more impressive than the Shete Boka National Park.
Two bridges connect Punda to Otrobanda. For cars, there's the towering Queen Juliana Bridge, which reaches a height of 56 meters above the Saint Anna Bay, and is the tallest in the Caribbean. And for pedestrians, there's the Queen Emma Bridge, which rises zero meters over the water. The Queen Emma, you see, is a floating bridge.
Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao and by far its largest city, with about 98% of the island's total population. In many respects, Willemstad is Curaçao. And for 91 days, it would also be our home.
