Curaçao

Curaçao is a one of a kind island and is also best known as the Caribbean's hidden treasure. Curaçao was chosen in 2010 by Microsoft's Bing.com as the top 10 hottest destinations to visit. This year, AOL.com chose Curaçao as one of the top 10 hottest destinations to visit.

Willemstad City, the capital of the island is on the UNESCO World Heritage List alongside the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. Curaçao is well known for its stunning European Dutch influenced architecture which makes it a quite unique island in the Caribbean. Willemstad is also the most pedestrian friendly City in the Caribbean.

Curaçao has over 35 un-crowded beaches at extraordinary variety with crystal turquoise water and picture perfect weather. You can choose from long sandy beaches or rocky coves surrounded by immense cliffs. Curaçao has been rated #1 for the Healthiest Marine Environment in the Caribbean. The island offers 40 dive areas for diving and snorkeling where the underwater visibility averages 30 meters/100 feet. This makes it perfect for the ultimate diving experience.

Curaçao is represented by over 55 different ethnic backgrounds.  There are African-descendent, accompanied by numerous others representing the Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, Libanese, British West Indians, Surinamese, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant and other ethnic groups.

The official language of Curaçao is Dutch but the locals have their own language called ‘Papiamentu’. It’s a language spoken only on the ABC islands and is a mixture of African, Portuguese, English, Dutch and Arawak (native). Apart from Dutch and Papiamentu, Spanish and English is also spoken.

Curaçao has great museums that you can enjoy the wonderful culture and heritage of its people.

• The Curacao Museum is located in the western part of Otrobanda in an historic building dating from 1853. This spacious museum, Curacao's largest, showcases works by traditional as well as contemporary local and foreign artists.
• The Maritime Musuem is located in a mansion built in 1729 on the Waaigat inlet, just above the Floating Market renovations were done in maritime style complete with a gangplank, portholes and ship railings, all in wood and brass.
• The Jewish Cultural Historical Musuem is part of the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the oldest in continuous operation in the in the Western Hemisphere.
• The Posta Museum is a picturesque museum that features a complete collection of stamps from the Netherlands Antilles and other countries, as well as related artifacts such as old post boxes and scales.
• Other Museums are: The Fort Church Museum, The Kura Hulanda, The Numismatic Museum and The Tele Museum.