Willemstad, Curaçao

A nice place to walk? Head for the two historic areas of the city on the St. Anna Bay: Punda (existing since 1634) and Otrobanda (started developing around 1774), both of which determine the character of Willemstad. With their old colonial buildings and architecture, this legacy from the past reminds you of an open-air museum - it’s no wonder that both Punda and Otrobanda appear on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Punda, however, is not just a place to sample yesterday’s glories. It’s also the shopping center of Willemstad, particularly if you’re looking for jewelry. For a more tranquil, romantic atmosphere, head toward Otrobanda where little houses and countless narrow lanes have a charming effect on passers-by.

Distributed over the island are the many world-famous plantation houses of Curaçao that provide such unique views throughout the island. These plantation houses, however, are a far cry from the lushness of modern country estates. Instead, most of these are plantation houses of a bygone era (kas grandi) and feudal farmhouses (kas di shon). Many have been successfully restored to their former glory and are also open to the public. Recommended guided tours are given at the Kenepa, Jan Cock and Groot Santa Martha plantation houses.

On the western side of Curaçao is Christoffel Park, a national park featuring a real highpoint in the form of St. Christoffel Mountain. From its peak (elevation: 1220 feet), you have a breathtaking view of the island. In addition to its many hiking paths, this 8650-acre park also has three sandy routes requiring a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Nature lovers will be in their element here; the park is rich in flora and fauna such as the wind-sculpted Divi-divi trees, many cactus species and rare orchids. If you have the time, you can try spotting the rare Curaçaoan deer (White-tailed deer) among the iguanas, rabbits, wild donkeys and goats.