TORONTO — The Curaçao Tourism Board brought plenty of sun and destination updates during a recent visit to Toronto.
Jacqueline Sybrandy-Held, Regional Manager-North America of the Curaçao Tourism Board highlighted the many selling points of the destination, including its year-round summer, azure-blue bays, hidden beaches and pastel-coloured historic buildings.
Known as a melting pot with more than 50 nationalities, Curaçao has a rich cultural history, with many Afro-Caribbean traditions like Tambu music and spirituality. The culinary offerings are also diverse, with options like Asian-Caribbean, Spanish, Italian, To eat like the locals, visitors can opt for a Curaçao beach barbecue on one of the permitted public beaches, with one foot in the sand and one in the Caribbean Sea.
The capital city, Willemstad, is listed as an UNESCO heritage site. Its main tourist attractions include Handelskade, and the old pontoon bridge known as ‘The Swinging Old Lady.’ Caracas Bay is where visitors can meet with locals in a relaxed, musical, friendly atmosphere.
Carnival, which takes place from the beginning of January and lasts until Mardi Gras, is the main cultural event. It features a festive array of music, theatre, street parties, art, culture, history and folklore. The Grand Parade, a giant street party, is not to be missied.
For a glimpse into its fascinating history, visitors can visit one of 85 historic plantation houses on the island. Known as “landhuizen,” these historical landmarks have been preserved from inception to the second half of the 17th century. Visitors can also enjoy fine food, art, dancing and relaxation at one of these plantations. Some of the most popular ones are Landhuis Knip, Landhuis Dokterstuin, and Landhuis Chobolobo.
It’s recommended that the best way to discover the island is by car. Hertz, Budget, Avis and Alamo all operate at Curaçao International Airport. Car rental locations can also be found in larger hotels. Special weekly rates are available for longer rentals. It’s advised to book a vehicle in advance; no international driver’s license is required. For excursions on the island, clients should inquire about shuttles before booking their own transportation. For a fun alternative, tourists can mingle with locals while riding one of the local buses, which are known as ‘konvoi.’
And for those who love the water, there’s plenty of excellent diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kite surfing, flyboarding and SUP to be enjoyed. Visitors who wish to hit the links can play a round of gold at courses like Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, The Curaçao Golf & Squash Club and Blue Bay Golf. Thrill-seekers can also rent ATVs, quad-bikes, buggies or jeeps.
With a ‘live and let live’ attitude, Curaçao is very accepting of visitors of all races, religions and orientations. Also worth noting is the fact that the island has the most hotels and attractions with IGLTA membership in the Caribbean.
To discover more about this destination, visit Curaçao.com.
