In the middle of the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles off the coast of Venezuela, lies the island of Curacao. Part of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao is the largest and most populous of the three islands along with Aruba and Bonaire.
Discovered in 1499 by Spanish explorers Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci, Curacao remained colonised by the Spanish until 1634 when the Dutch founded the capital Willemstad. Today travellers on flights to Curacao will land in the capital which most visitors use as a base from which to explore other parts of the island. Stay for a while and walk along its canals and narrow streets lined with gabled houses, reminiscent of old Amsterdam. Spend an afternoon in the Floating Market where boats from Venezuela and Colombia dock and vendors come out to sell fruits, vegetables and handicrafts.
Visitors coming off their Curacao flights who are eager to hit the beaches should head to Westpunt, where fearless divers dive off the rock cliffs into the crystal-blue waters, or to Blauwbaai on the south coast which has a good selection of restaurants and bars.
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