subject: Curacao Vacation Information [print this page] Thinking about taking a Curacao Vacation? Well, before you head to your dream vacation, here are some of the things that you should know about this gorgeous island destination.
Curacao is actually a long and dry flat island located in the Southern Caribbean, right off the Venezuelan Coast. The island stretches about 40 miles from the southeast to the northwest. Curacao is actually the largest as well as the most populated of the ABC islands of the Lesser Antilles, which include Aruba and Bonaire. At its widest point, the island is roughly 10 miles with an area of about 180 square miles thus making the largest in the Netherlands Antilles group of islands.
Considered to be one of the best kept secrets of the Caribbean, the islands irregular south coastline has a plethora of inlets and small bays where people would be able to spend some time in solitude. Located in the western end of the island are its beaches and grandiose bays where visitors would be able to enjoy and take in the beauty of their surroundings. The largest of its bays are actually located in the central east and east end where visitors would also find the islands capital, Willemstad. In fact, the majority of the people who live in the island reside in and around the historic town.
But vacations in Curacao are not all about hanging out in beaches sipping cold drinks. If you are looking for an adventure off the beaten path then you would want to head to the long north coast of the island where you would be able to find various limestone cliff formations that are set upon volcanic rocks, which are known to be eons-old. This part of the island is constantly visited by the northeast trade winds thus the weather beaten terrain that one has to walk through. Compared to the south coast, this area is a lot less inhabited but it does have small villages here and there. Many of the Curacaos famous landhuis or plantation houses can be found here as well.
If all that adventure made you feel a wee bit tired then you can simply head on to one of the many Curacao accommodations located in the island. You have many choices available to you depending on your budget. The island has grand hotels and resorts as well as the smaller and inexpensive yet cozy guesthouses which are all located along the southern coast and the beach areas in Willemstad.
Luxury Hotels Curacao
When it comes to luxury hotels, Curacao has plenty. Theres the Otrobanda Hotel and Casino that are placed conveniently close to the islands best restaurants and the shopping centre of Curacao. Theres also the 4-star Floris Suite Hotel that is located in Piscadera Bay. Set with its own tropical garden, it really is like stepping into another world from the minute you arrive. Another great luxury hotel to check out would be the Papagayo beach resort that has private villas that all have a personal living room, a kitchen, a patio, 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms. It definitely is one of the best places to stay if you are looking for a bit of privacy.
Besides the ones mentioned above, there are plenty of other things that can be done in the island. You can go on a canoe safari and paddle your way through the stunning south coast of Banda Abou? If you get tired of looking at the pristine waters from above, why not enjoy the view of things under the water by taking a tour of some of the islands best snorkeling spots? Needless to say, the fun in the island never stops and there are plenty of things to do both in and out of the crystal clear waters.
