Introduction to Curaçao

2007-04-03T00:36:00.001+05:00

Colonial, amicable, Dutch-flavored Curaçao - the largest of the ABC islands - surpassed 70,000 visitors all the way from Holland last year. True, English is widely spoken and the U.S. dollar market price is nearly twice the Netherlands Antilles florin ($1.00 = Naf 1.75), a little more than 45,000 of the island's visitors came from North America. If you live in North America, listen up: There's a come-and-get-it development spurt under way; hotels are upgrading with the latest and unparalleled amenities, and some are even adding sand to widen top beachfront. To keep up with anticipated growth, the international airport built a new terminal, part of a concerted large-scale plan to strengthen Curaçao's jet-set appeal.

The Dutch Colonial-style Avila Hotel (800-747-8162; www.avilahotel.com) in Willemstad unwrapped its modern 68-room Octagon Wing in December. Rooms come with flat-screen TVs, sweet natural stone and wood accents, and ocean-view balconies wrapping around a equidistant open-air plaza that will eventually house shops and eateries. An infinity-edge swimming pool and bar were added, and a spa center is under construction. Very impressive - and costly, at $1,200 a night in high season - is the 1,544-square-foot, two-bedroom Bolivar Suite, with a wraparound balcony and oooh, a grand piano. (The Venezuelan liberator took sanctuary on Curaçao during the early 1800s.)

The nearby Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino (800-223-6388; www.curacaomarriott.com) widened its private beach in September by adding 80,000 pounds of sand to Piscadera Bay, making space for a drove of new lounge chairs and umbrellas, as well as the surfer-style Board Room beach bar.

Due to open its doors late this year, the Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino (011-5999-461-3322; www.renaissancecuracao.com) will be a spacious waterfront mall in downtown Willemstad, enclosing 240 rooms and suites, eight tasty restaurants, boutique shops, a 6 screen movie theater, casino and a large man-made beach with boardwalk.

Hotel Kurá Hulanda (877-264-3106; www.kurahulanda.com), a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, added a fitness center and small casino, and a full-service spa facility in the capital city. Don't like the in-town crowd? Head to the west end of the island - Unruffled sister property Lodge Kurá Hulanda & Beach Club (800-223-6800; www.kurahulanda.com) opened a really cool two-level Tree House suite with a bathroom enclosed in stone and shower on the ground floor. A ladder leads up to a wooden floor with a four-poster queen-size bed in a canvas tent.

Long a popular haven for diving, Curaçao has included topside attractions to its mix of activities. The newest company, WannaBike Curaçao (www.wannabike.net), guides mountain bikers towards the island's rugged west side. Then there's Scooby's Rental Scooters' (011-5999-523-8618; www.scooterscuracao.com) three- and six-hour rides, with stops at fun locations like the famous Ostrich Farm and Shete Boka National Park. Finally, Yellow Tourism Solutions (011-5999-562-4895; www.tourism-curacao.com) for some off-road jeep safaris, and a island tour and a Christoffel National Park expedition.

Curacao is counting on 2.5 million international visitors annually by 2031. The Curaçao International Airport (www.curacao-airport.com) is currently in its sixth year of a program to situate itself as the Caribbeans' premier 21st-century destination. Last year new loading bridges were installed and now, the state-of-the-art terminal also features new check-in and ticket-sales counters with provisions for e-ticket machines, two large gardens, shops and restaurants.

Best Beaches of Curacao

Introduction to Curaçao