Curaçao Island

Home to over 35 beaches with crystal clear turquoise water, Curaçao has become a true paradise for vacationers. Just 12° north of the Equator the Curaçao enjoys a tropical marine climate with year-round warm weather and a continuous cool breeze from tropic trade winds.

Colonized by the Netherlands in the 17th century, Curaçao’s Dutch influence can be seen in many of the historic colonial buildings and the local cuisine (traditional Dutch). Although there are a variety of diverse cultures that have made a home in Curaçao, African descendents make up the majority of the population. Most of the natives speak Papiamento (or Papiamentu), which is a combination of Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, and English, but English and Dutch are also commonly heard throughout the island.

Travelers are fans of Curaçao not only for its rich cultural heritage, but because of all there is to do on the island. Willemstad, the island's capital, is home to a 200-year-old fort. Originally built to protect the entrance to the largest natural deepwater harbor, the renovated fort is now lined with unique boutiques and sidewalk cafés. Tourists are also drawn to Fort Nassau, which houses a restaurant and disco. Here, diners can enjoy the cool breeze and commanding views from an open-air patio overlooking the entire Willemstad harbor complex.