Destination Guide: Travel to Curacao

The small island of Curacao, located just north of Venezuela, is a treasure of the Caribbean. As one of the islands belonging to the Dutch in their Netherlands Antilles, the European influence is great there. This place is not one that the common American tourist visits, but it should be. They are very open to tourists and the people in Curacao are well educated. The country, with its Dutch influence, is very advanced. In Curacao, you will find all the amenities that travelers have become accustomed to experiencing. Curacao is not like many of the other islands in the area because the focus is not on the large and lavish high-rise resorts that line the beaches of say, Aruba. Instead, you will experience a cultural awakening and some of the world's finest shopping on this gem of an island.

The landscape in Curacao is similar to that of the dry southwestern United States. Once you get outside the capital city of Willemstad, it does not quite look like an island anymore, which is why most folks tend to keep to staying right around the prime city. Some of the top attractions of this country are the nice beaches. Although they are not quite as lush as some Caribbean nations, they are many in number. Almost forty beaches line the coast and they are each a little bit different. In Curacao, you will find beaches that range from being the beachfront of a hotel to the nicely secluded cove beaches that many people love. Blue Bay is the most popular beach on the island and is popular among tourists and locals alike. This beach sits just outside the fishing village of San Michiel and features enough space for just about anyone to enjoy themselves.

While the country is not high on normal Caribbean things like golf, it does feature a lot of options for the lover of watersports. Many of the island's resorts feature programs that will help people get started skiing or boating. Also, there are many chartered fishing trips that leave from the island. The fishing is some of the best in the world, with world class wahoo, barracuda, marlin, and tuna fishing. The locals are adept at these sports, as well, so they should be much help if you have some problems.

In all, Curacao is a country that is very modern and very European. They embrace travelers and the people there are educated and courteous. It will be a different experience than other places in the Caribbean, but you will enjoy your stay none the less.