Trifter

Curacao, happens to be just one of the many gorgeous Caribbean islands located within the Lesser Antilles and in close proximity to South America.

It is the largest island as well as the most populated island of the islands considered part of the Netherlands Antilles. It is thirty-eight miles or sixty-one km in total length and is approximately a scant seven and one-half miles or twelve km in width.

Its capital, Willemstad has undergone a great deal of restoration and presents an array of beautiful and colorful towns houses, all located on the water.

My first article entitled: Curacao: A Most Inviting Travel Destination – regardless of the Season explored site-seeing opportunities within the historic colonial capital of Willemstad. Within this article, you will be “afforded” with site-seeing recommendations outside of the city (of Willemstad) and around the island itself.

If you have arrived at this article by way of reading my first article, you will have already discovered, in so reading it, the wonderful site-seeing opportunities that exist within the island’s historic and colonial capital of Willemstad. (If you have not read this article, I suggest you read it secondary, once you peruse this one.)

Within this second article, I provide you with site-seeing opportunities, outside of historic Willemstad, and, thus, through the rustic and unique countryside of Curacao.

Before you even begin listing site-seeing opportunities for your planned excursion, allow me to provide to you what you may expect when driving in a northwesterly direction on the Caribbean island of Curacao.

The roadway you will want to take for this northwest drive is referred to as the: Weg Mar Santa Cruz. As you travel down the winding road, you will notice cacti that reach without apology up to the sky; and dried shrubs painting an interesting austere landscape. The sun is brightly reflected off roofs made of aluminum that top the houses that dot the countryside.

As you continue your travel(s) you will see ladies busy at work engaged in concentrated efforts of pounding cornmeal; fishermen dragging nets and the occasional donkey possibly blocking the roadway.

Also, you will additionally note the historic plantation houses that are sporadically found throughout the cunucu; also known as the countryside.

If you want to travel east from the colonial capital of Willemstad, you will need to choose the coastal area road known as Martin Luther King Boulevard. Here you will travel approximately two miles (in total) or three km to Bapor Kibra.

Within this locale you will be able to visit the Sea Aquarium and the Dolphin Academy.

Should you journey farther eastward, you will come upon a beautiful nature park located at Caracas Bay. Additionally, there is a high-end residential area and marina.

Travel to the northeast, from this point, and you will eventually arrive at the island’s aloe plantation, also known as: Groot St. Joris. Also to the plantation’s credit, it is one of the largest breeders of the ostrich outside of the continent of Africa!

Now that you have been apprised somewhat, as to what you may expect traveling in either a north/northwesterly direction or in an east/northeasterly direction through the island’s countryside, the following provides you with a list of island site-seeing opportunities found outside of Willemstad and are highly recommended as to inclusion within your planned travel itinerary/agenda.

The first suggestion relative to your site-seeing agenda when visiting Curacao is the Curacao Aloe Plantation Factory.

Stop by the factory for a most informative tour that is designed to show you each stage of the production process as it pertains to the aloe vera plant.

You are provided with a viewing of everything from start to finish. This means you “glimpse” the fields where the aloe vera plant is grown, observe each step in the manufacturing process and witness the end result.

Visit the gift shop as items are available for purchase such as: soap, aloe gel, aloe juice, sunscreen and various other products useful as to the care of the skin.

The plantation and factory is in route to the Ostrich Farm mentioned briefly in a previous paragraph.

There are tours available throughout the day. The plant’s location is Weg Naar Groot St. Joris z/n, Groot St. Joris. You may phone them by dialing: 5999/767-5577. Their web address is: www.aloecuracao.com They conduct plantation and plant tours for the small fee of $4.00 Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The final tour is conducted at: 3:00 p.m.

The second site-seeing opportunity and suggestion to possibly place on your planned (site-seeing) agenda is a stop at: the Curacao Sea Aquarium.

If you are truly not a diver or one who engages in the activity of snorkeling, then the aquarium may be a good way for you to view the island’s sea life and still stay dry!

The Curacao Sea Aquarium has approximately four salt-water tanks exhibiting around four hundred different kinds of sea life.

Additionally, the Aquarium allows you to feed such sea creatures as turtles and stingrays. This opportunity exists at the section titled: “Animal Encounters”. If you are somewhat “skittish” about administering the feeding yourself, then a diver will do so for you.

Individuals, who prefer not to get their feet wet, or for that matter any other part of their being, are welcome to observe underwater sea life within an immovable semi-submarine.

If you are a swimmer, there is an opportunity to swim with the aquarium’s six adorably cute sea lions, originally imported from (the country of) Uruguay!

If you bring your children, youngsters as youthful as the age of three may have their pictures taken kissing one the lovable sea lions.

If you are interested in any of the “Animal Encounters” programs (this includes: swimming with the sea lions) you will need to make reservations twenty four hours in advance.

Additionally, a restaurant, a snack bar, souvenir-shop and two photo centers are located on the aquarium grounds.

The third site-seeing suggestion for your itinerary as it pertains to lovely Curacao is the Dolphin Academy.

At this location, you may watch a fun-filled dolphin show. The show is included with your admission to the Aquarium. You may also dive, swim and/or snorkel with the dolphins (however, additional prices apply).

The prices for the aquarium admission programs and associative dolphin shows and programs follow:

Sea Aquarium Admission – $15.00

Animal Encounters:

Divers – $54.00

Snorkelers – $34.00

` Sea Lion Programs – $39.00 to $149.00

The divers programs refers to diving/swimming encounters with sea life; the snorkeling program(s) refer to swimming snorkeling programs with sea life; and the sea lion programs refer to swimming, snorkeling, or diving with the dolphins.

The Sea Aquarium’s mail address is: Sea Aquarium Beach, Bipor Kibra z/n. Additionally, in order to receive further clarity or additional information as to these exciting programs, you may visit them on the “Web” at: www.curacao-sea-aquarium.com.

The hours of operation for the Sea Aquarium are: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (daily); and the hours for Dolphin Academy are: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (also, daily).

The fifth suggestion as far as site-seeing options to be possibly included on your itinerary is: Den Paradera.

If you are a “proponent” of the herbal medicinal arts, as I am, you will most certainly want to include this site-seeing opportunity on your travel itinerary. Den Paradera is a wonderfully rich organic herb garden wherein all of your senses will be truly “dazzled.” Knowledgeable guides inform and enlighten you as to a variety of herbs used in the treatment of all types of ailments!

The kitchen area has been turned into a factory of sorts where herbal plants are manufactured into useful and therapeutic items, in example, skin care and body care items. Some homemade products available for purchase and found in the gift shop include: Shampoos, ointments, and body oils all made from natural products like calabash and cactus.

The guided tour will require a reservation and is a reasonable $6.00. The wonderfully interesting and unique herb garden is located at: Seru Grandi Kavel 105A, Banda Riba. You may phone them up at 5999/767-5608. They are open on a Monday through Saturday schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The next highly suggested site relative to your travel itinerary is: Hato Caves. Hato Caves is an incredible two-hundred thousand years old. Here you will experience a whole new world of stalagmites and stalactites. You will find all types of historic secrets such as the 1500 year old petroglyphs left by the Indians who once inhabited the caves. Historically, also, runaway slaves used the shelter of the caves for a hideout.

The guided tours for the marvelous caves last an hour and end at the pools found within the cave’s many chambers. Bear in mind, there is a total of forty-nine steps to ascend to the entry of the cave.

In order to reach the destination of Hato Caves head in a northwesterly direction. You will be traveling toward the airport. Next, take a right onto Gosieweg and follow the loop right onto Schottegatweg. Next take another right onto Jan Norduynweg and one more right onto Rooseveltweg. After that, it is merely a matter of following the signs, directing you to the site.

The precise address is: Roosevelt z/n, Hato. You may reach them by phone at: 5999/868-0379. There is a $7.00 admission charge to the site and well-worth the price.

The next (and seventh) site-seeing suggestion to include on your “sites to see” agenda is the magnificent Landhuis Brievengat.

Landhuis Brievengat is a historical plantation house painted in a “stand-out” mustard color tone. The house is an exemplary example of the plantation houses found on the island in by-gone eras.

First you will be treated to a tour of the structure’s original kitchen. The walls of the home are an enormous eighteen inches in thickness; and it is filled with fine antiques. Lastly, there are the watchtowers rumored to be the historical meeting grounds for romantics.

Each Friday there is a party located on the house’s wraparound terrace. There are live bands playing and libations are reported to be plentiful. In order to attend the party, there is a nominal $6.00 cover charge.

The house holds a monthly “open house” on the last Sunday of each month. This event takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. During this span of time, the visitor is entertained with (various) craft demonstrations; and shows of a folkloric nature.

In order to reach historic Landhuis Brievengat simply drive northeast of Willemstad. You will journey for about fifteen minutes. The plantation house is in close proximity to the Centro Deportivo Stadium.

The address is: Brievengat. The phone number is: 5999/737-8344. The price of admission is $1.50. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The eighth site-seeing suggestion made herein is: Landhuis Kenepa. Landhuis Kenepa is the plantation site where a historic revolt occurred in the eighteenth century – 1795 to be more precise. This rebellion, predicated by the island’s slavery issues caused the abolition of slavery within Curacao.

The beautiful plantation house has undergone a meticulous renovation and is gloriously filled with antiquities and clothing associated with the period.

The site’s address is: Weg Naar Santa Cruz, Knip. The phone number is 5999-864-0244. The admission price is: $2.00. They are open throughout the week from: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and/or weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Another terrific suggestion, as to site-seeing opportunities and ninth on our list is: Museo Curacao (also known as Kas di Pal’i Maishi). Museo Curacao is a quaint cottage with a “story-book” thatch covered roof. The colonial-style cottage is typical of what you would have found as far as a way of life on the island in the 1800s.

Journey to the back of the historical property and you will discover a delightful vegetable garden. There is also a small farm with farm implements typical of the time period.

The interior of the house is full of antique furnishings and clothing reminiscent of the nineteenth century.

After you view the house, farm, and vegetable garden there is a snack bar located on the property for your convenience should you wish to pick up something to eat or drink before you continue on to your next site.

You may wish to jot down the first Sunday of each month as a time to visit Museo Curacao. It is on the first Sunday (monthly) that the site is the location of a festival showing the crafts of local artisans and playing “live” music. The precise address of the “whimsical” cottage is: Dokterstuin 27, Westpunt. It is on the road from Willemstad that leads to Westpunt. You may reach them by phone in dialing 5999/864-2497. The price of admission is: $2.00. They are open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The tenth suggestion and site-seeing opportunity you may wish to place on your site-seeing excursion(s) itinerary is the unique and children friendly Ostrich Farm.

The Ostrich Farm’s claim to fame and mentioned in a previous paragraph within this text is that it happens to be the biggest ostrich farm outside of the continent of Africa.

There is a guided tour each hour where the visitor is shown the complete development of the ostrich from beginning stages (egg) to total maturity.

The children will enjoy the chance to hold an Ostrich egg; observe a chick just a day or so old; and sit on top of one of the large-sized birds in order to have his or her picture taken.

There is a restaurant, on grounds known as the Restaurant Zambezi where visitors may sample ostrich specialties, or any number of terrific African dishes. It is recommended you make reservations for dining at the restaurant. The restaurant is not open on Monday and there is no dinner on Tuesday.

Venture into the site’s gift shop and you will discover beautiful handicrafts made in Southern Africa. Gift items include: wooden carvings, and leather goods. There are also other crafts on display and available for purchase made by the island’s artisans.

The address of the site is: Groot St. Joris. Their phone number is 5999/747-2777. You may visit them on the web here. The price of admission is $10.00. Hours and days of public admission include: Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The tenth recommendation as to your site-seeing agenda when visiting lovely Curacao is the: Shete Boka.

Shete Boka is a beautiful park; its name translated means “Seven Inlets.

As the name suggests, there are in fact, seven separate grottoes. The largest one is known as Boka Tabla. Travel here and you may listen to the constant motion of sea waves naturally crashing against the rocks situated underneath an overhang made of limestone.

Another inlet you will want to visit is Boka Pistol, where a most theatric wave-watching experience is in store for the park visitor. At Boka Pistol the waves crash against rocks, emitting enormous amounts of spray in the process and sometimes on wonderfully sun-shiny occasions leaving a rainbow, in sight, for the observer to glimpse in appreciative awe.

Additionally, many of the park’s caverns are areas where island turtles nest.

You may have the opportunity to see groupings of colorful parakeets and friendly sea gulls. The park is located off West punt Highway and just past the Village Center.

Although, the site-seeing opportunities on the island are quite fabulous, many travelers to the Caribbean are also interested in shopping; visiting galleries and dining out.

Therefore, my next article takes you through a day’s worth of shopping and gallery site-seeing activities. Further, you are introduced to the many fine dining experiences found on the majestic and romantic island. You may review this information by reviewing my article: Shopping activities, Gallery Viewing, and Dining Opportunities of which to engage when visiting the enchanting Caribbean Island of Curacao.

This article provides you with information and suggestions respective of the article’s title in order to effective plan your trip to the mesmerizing island. The article is now on the site or soon to be published.