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When the afternoon sun touches the idyllic beach of Cas Abao, the colour of the sea is almost too turquoise to believe. The Southern Caribbean island of Curaçao, part of the Netherlands Antilles, has dozens of these beautiful beaches which rersemble postcards from paradise. The most stunning of them are here in Westpunt, the scenic and less inhabited side of the island.
In Westpunt spreads also Christoffel national park, where hundreds of big iguanas and birds jump in the bushes and orchids and cactuses are flowering. Amazing rock formations on the coast tell about the volcanic origins of Curaçao. An essential part of a day trip to this area is a seafood lunch at the legendary Jaanchie´s Restaurant, a family run business with traditions dating back to 60 years and 3 generations.
On the other side of the island, in Curaçao´s pictureque capital Willemstad, beautiful 17th and 18th century Dutch colonial buildings are painted with bright yellow, green and pink. This delightfully colourful architecture, included in UNESCO´s world heritage list, creates a joyful atmosphere. Some walls are decorated with the imaginary atrwork of a local artist Nena Sanchez. Her gallery in the centre of the old town invites to step in and sets the visitors instantly in a good mood.
It is a great experience to sit with local people in one of the long tables in "Plasa Bieu" (old market) and enjoy a meal which is prepared in an open kitchen. Grilled fish with tomato and onion sauce, rice and fried bananas is simply delicious. Nearby on the floating market Venezuelans sell fruits and vegetables directly from their boats - it feels exciting that the South American coast is only 70 km away from here.
Although Curaçao is a colourful mix of nationalities, the majority of the people have their origins in Africa. The impressive Kura Hulanda museum tells a touching story of the slave trade in the Caribbean as well as other parts of the world - and is a must for every visitor. Another interesting sight is the Jewish synagogue and museum which reveals the history of this small yet important community on the island.
Those who want to experience a truly unique, pure white coral sand beach, take a few-hour swinging boat ride to the tiny and uninhabited Klein Curaçao. On this island which is flat like a pancake, fossilized coral formations, mysterious pink lighthouse and a rusty shipwreck inspire the imagination.
Another adventure awaits in Curaçao Dolphin Academy where it is possible to have a close encounter with bottle nosed dolphins. It feels touching to swim side by side with these kind and playful animals.
When the darkness falls over Curaçao like a velvet blanket, beach-side restaurants lid candles on the tables set on the sand. The local tumba music forms a wonderful combination with tasty Caribbean flavours, and the sand feels soft under the bare feet. It is time to enjoy the rythm of the paradise.
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