Curacao History & Geography
If you are looking for great diving and an intimate and unique Caribbean vacation, then the Dutch island of Curacao is the place to be. Curacao, one of the ABC islands (the other two being Aruba and Bonaire), is one of the best spots in the world for snorkeling and diving.
When visiting Curacao, it is mandatory to take a peek just below the surface of the beautiful Caribbean waters that surround her and enjoy all of the wonders below that this island has to offer.
The island of Curacao certainly maintains its Dutch heritage throughout its architecture. Alongside the St. Anna Bay in downtown Willemstad, Curacao's capital, the buildings are dressed in pastel colors and maintain the design of the traditional early Dutch colonial style buildings.
Willemstad is the center for all of Curacao's shopping, business and land exploring. The city is divided into two main parts, Otrabanda and Punda, by the St. Anna Bay. Buildings on both sides of the bay have a very similar look. The streets, however, do not. While Punda enjoys neat, perpendicular streets, Otrabanda's layout consists more of twisting and curving streets. Both sides of the city harbor rich, historical pasts. In both Otrabanda and Punda, you will find interesting museums that date back to Curacao's most interesting times over the course of centuries.
Curacao, the largest of the Dutch Caribbean islands, was settled by the Spanish in 1527. The Dutch gained power in 1634 and have primarily retained possession of the island to this day. In the 1600s, Curacao was the center of the West Indian slave trade. After the abolition of slavery in 1863, petroleum became a great economic strength to Curacao in the 20th century, along with the ever growing emphasis on tourism. Curacao does not hide its shameful past, however. Most, if not all, of the museums in the city of Willemstad, offer insight and knowledge of the "black holocaust" that forever changed the island. The museum located at Hotel Kura Hulanda has probably the largest collection of African artifacts in the Caribbean.
Although Curacao's strategic position and natural harbor were originally its most valuable assets, that is somewhat changing with the increase in interest in Curacao as a tourist destination. Modern Curacao has gained much of its fame from scuba gurus and is also well known for its excellent shopping and business district in Willemstad. Shopping can also be found at Curacao's Floating Market, where people from all over the Caribbean come in boat to sell everything from fresh fruit to crafts and art.
Punda, which means the point, is the oldest part of Willemstad. Otrabanda, which means the other side, is where the first buildings were actually constructed. Curacao's floating Queen Emma Bridge was built in 1888. The "Floating Lady" still functions as a major connection between the east and west sides of Willemstad and it still swings open many times a day to admit ships to the harbor.
Curacao is a melting pot. With a population of approximately 140,000, there are at least 55 different nationalities that inhabit the island. People of Curacao can trace their lineage to some combination of European, South American, African and native ancestors.
The official language on the island of Curacao is Dutch. However, English and Spanish are widely spoken as well as the local language of Papiamento. Papiamento is a Creole language taken from Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, Dutch and West African. It is believed to have originated in the 17th century to enable slaves from different regions in Africa to communicate with one another.
Geography
Curacao is located in the southwestern Caribbean, near its sister islands of the ABC group, Aruba and Bonaire. It is a mere 44 miles off the coast of South America. Curacao is the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles group. It is approximately 38 miles long and from 2 to 7.5 miles wide. Curacao is outside the hurricane belt, ensuring a perfect holiday vacation. The average temperature in Curacao is usually in the mid 80s year round. Trade winds blow from the east providing a comfortable temperature. The rainy season is typically October to February, which is marked by a mere annual rainfall of approximately 22 inches a year. During this time Curacao experiences short, occasional showers, usually at night and during the day, the sun reappears almost immediately.
The desert island is mostly flat, rocky and fairly barren due to its low rainfall, but there are many excellent beaches. Curacao is known to have at least 30 public and private beaches scattered along its coasts. There are not wide stretches of sand that you will find on her sister island, Aruba, but rather they are much smaller and more intimate. Seaquarium Beach is located just east of Willemstad. This beach is home to the Sea Aquarium as well as the Sea Aquarium Beach Resort. It is an excellent swimming beach because of its calm and beautiful waters. Another of Curacao's famed beaches is Blauwbaai Beach. It is probably one of the largest and most frequented. Westpunt, is located on the northwestern tip of the island and is probably best known for cliff diving. Its rocky turf is not ideal for the barefooted explorer though! If you are looking for a much more private beach and a more dramatic landscape to enjoy, you may want to try Knip Bay. It is north of Playa Lagun and is also a great spot for snorkeling.
Curacao's greatest natural beauty is in what lies beneath its waters. Curacao was formed millions of years ago out of undersea lava rock on which coral has grown. Around its shorelines, magnificent snorkeling and dive sites are found. For divers, a must stop is the Curacao Underwater Marine Park, located off the southern coastline. The park has 12 and a half miles of undersea coral, shipwrecks, and a reef shelf.
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At first sight, it looks almost too good to be true, this tiny Dutch island in the southern Caribbean, just a few miles from Venezuela. The neat little houses painted in candy stripe pastels (a former government complained that reflections from the previous sparkling white walls hurt his eyes) could have been transplanted from the Netherlands or Switzerland. Curacao, a sunny haven blessed with gentle trade winds, cool waters, and pristine diving, has an interesting terrain of arid countryside and coast outlined with rocky coves, craggy cliffs, inlets and bays. Here is the perfect place to recharge your spirit and enjoy a laid back picturesque vacation. Curacao is part of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) and is located 35 miles north of Venezuela. Its highest elevation is 1,239 feet and the spoken language is Dutch and English. 
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