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Curacao Overview
Curacao History
Curacao Cruise Port
Curacao Attractions: Willemstad
Curacao Attractions: Outside Willemstad
​Curacao slideshow
​Curacao Museum
​Curacao Oldest Synagogue
Caribbean cruise destinations
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CRUISING TO THE CARIBBEAN:



CURACAO


Willemstad, Curaco

OVERVIEW

 Curacao is multi-dimensional.  Its capital city and port 
Willemstad is cultured and historic.  At first glance, it looks 
European but is actually a blend of European, African, South 
American and Caribbean cultures.  The area outside of 
Willemstad has small tranquil picturesque beaches and areas of 
crashing surf.  It has wild undeveloped expanses with cactus, 
aloe and exotic vegetation.

Geographically, Curacao is located 35 miles from Venezuela and some 40 miles from Aruba.  It is the largest of the ABC Islands - - Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

The island lies outside of the huricane belt but is occasionally 
affected by huricanes and tropical storms.  Its "wet season" is 
from October to Dcemeber.  Otherwise, the climate is 
semiarid.    

Politically, Curacao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of 
the Netherlands.  Until 2010 when the Netherlands Antilles was
disolved, it was the capital of that group of Dutch Caribbean 
islands.

Curacao has one of the highest standards of living in the 
Caribbean. Tourism is important to the island's economy but it is also supported by oil refining and by financial services.

Papiamentu, a blend of European and African langauges, is the 
island's official language.  However, Dutch, English and 
Spanish are widely spoken.

Curacao is a popular stop on Southern Caribbean cruises and 
Panama Canal cruises.  Itineraries also typically include the 
island's neighbors Aruba and, less frequently, Bonaire.   
Curaco
Antilles Lady, Willemstad, Curaco
Above: A statue of the Antilles lady outside the 
Governor's Palace in Willemstad.
Willemstad, Curaco
Willemstad, Curaco
Above:  The capital city of Willemstad is divided by the Sint Annabaai (Saint Anna Bay) into Ortobanda (above left) and Punda 
(above right).  The two sides are connected by a pontoon bridge, Queen Emma Bridge (pedestrians), that swings out of the way for ships and by the Queen Juliana Bridge (automobiles), which was built high above the bay so that ships could pass under the bridge.

Below:  Curacao outside of Willemstad is largely undeveloped.  There is a wild beauty to its northern coast (below left) while the 
interior presents an arid landscape. 
​
Curaco
Curaco
For more about cruising to Curacao

Click here for our page on the history of Curacao
Click here for our page on Curacao's cruise port
Click here for our page on attractions in Willemstad
Click here for our page on attractions outside Willemstad
Click here for our Curacao slideshow
Click here for our page on the Curacao Museum
Cruise destination travel guide - Curacao - Curacao home page
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