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In this town, you can explore history by visiting interesting museums and forts, or study intricate architecture on an old synagogue and merchant houses. It has four quarters but two of the most popular are Punda and Otrabanda, which sit across one another on the Sint Anna Bay (a narrow inlet that leads to the deep harbor of Schottegat). Curacao’s cruise port is found at the southern point of the island in Willemstad, the capital city of Curacao. Depending on the size of your cruise ship, you can either dock at the Mega Pier or the smaller cruise terminal, both of which are located on opposite sides of the Sint Anna inlet.
Fun Day at the Sea Aquarium
In Curaçao, enjoy a rum-tasting experience, or explore the island's unique landscape on a jeep safari. And in Bonaire, go diving or snorkeling to see colorful marine species, rays, and sharks up close. Cruising to the ABC Islands with Celebrity is the perfect way to explore these amazing islands on your next luxury getaway. Stroll through the colorful buildings in pastel shades of pink, yellow, and blue that line the UNESCO-protected section of Curaçao’s port city, Willemstad. Explore the charming, Dutch-influenced center of Kralendijk in Bonaire, known for its excellent shopping and dining.
Shopping in Curaçao
Less than a 5-minute walk from there you’ll reach the Queen Emma Bridge and the Punda side, where you can explore the main Willemstad highlights and historical landmarks. There is the main bus station as well, however, the buses don’t run regularly and I wouldn’t recommend you use them. This terminal is situated in Otrobanda and consists of Mega Pier 1 and Mega Pier 2 which can accommodate large cruise ships of all sizes. Located in the Lesser Antilles, in the southern Caribbean Sea, 65 km/40 miles north of the Venezuelan coast, Curacao island forms the group of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Bonaire. The island of Curacao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is the largest island of all three. Like the other two islands, Curaçao is hot and it's important to pack accordingly.
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You can swim to the boat directly from Tugboat Beach, and explore its beautiful marine life. Caracas Bay is a dynamic place packed with restaurants, bars, hotels, and recreational areas. The beach is located in the north of the island, around a 1-hour drive from the Curacao port. It is a laid-back, small sandy cove with a snack bar, and chair rental facilities, best known for diving and snorkeling.
Snorkel and Diving at Caracas Bay and Klein Curacao
The latter is seen during carnival month but you can see street festivities, impressive costumes, local music and creative parades all year long. The Bonbini Aruba Festival takes place every Tuesday and offers folkloric music and dance while the Caribbean Festival comes to life every Thursday night with performers, food stands, and crafts. Others include the Dera Gai celebration, the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival, and the Summer Music Festival during June. This Caribbean islands trifecta is famous for embracing different cultures and having some of the most iconic vistas in the tropics. Aruba is famous for its lively Caribbean spirit, while Bonaire is known for its quiet and remote vibe, and Curacao has colorful architecture and picture-perfect beaches. Walk around this quaint harbor town and you'll think you've travelled back in time to Old Amsterdam.
See the Pontoon Bridge in Action
The beach has a long stretch of powdery sands and crystal clear turquoise water, several beach bars, restaurants, plenty of gift shops, cabanas, sunbeds and umbrella rentals, and an aqua park. You can’t miss this spot as you pass through it on the way to Willemstad downtown from the Mega Pier cruise terminal. Rif Fort village is situated in the Otrobanda quarter, by the entrance to St Anna Bay and less than a 5-minute walk from the Queen Emma Bridge. On a Southern Caribbean cruise to Bonaire, you'll find flavorful dishes that often involve seafood and goat. Many come with a side of fungi (a type of polenta), rice and beans and plenty of fried plantains, demonstrating the Latin American influence.
Mega Pier Cruise Terminal
Once out of the fort, wander around the colorful streets surrounded by pastel-colored buildings featuring more shopping and eating outlets. Afterward, head over to Queen Emma’s bridge to cross over to Punda, considered the livelier side and the heart of Willemstad. When you cruise to the ABC Islands with Celebrity, you'll enjoy the best in service, entertainment, luxury accommodations, and style.
Getting Around Willemstad Curacao
A small, inhabited island (“Klein” means “little”) of Klein Curacao lies about 10 km/6 miles southeast of Curacao and is one of the most famous snorkeling and diving spots for turtle spotting. Hawksbill, loggerhead, and green sea turtles lay their eggs on the island’s beaches, and you can often spot them swimming in their wild, natural habitat. Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the calm waters at Mambo Beach are perfect for swimming. On cruises to Curaçao, visit the shops along Mambo Beach Boulevard and unwind with a refreshing piña-colada.
Willemstad, Curaçao Port Guide
Curaçao in top 7 cruise destinations in the Caribbean - Curacao Chronicle
Curaçao in top 7 cruise destinations in the Caribbean.
Posted: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Take it easy lounging on the sparkling white sand, or get your heart rate up with a friendly game of beach tennis. You can relax on miles and miles of tranquil, serene beaches on its southwest coast or go for adrenaline pumping outdoor pursuits on its northwest coast. If none of that interests you, there is always its glorious colorful town, rich with history, culture, excellent cuisine, and friendly residents.
Christoffel Park, found at the base of Mt. Christoffel on the northwestern end of the island, is the sight of exotic flora, fauna, history, mysteries, and beauty. The park is covered by a dense scrubland with exotic plants such as divi-divi trees, cacti rising over 10 feet tall, and fragrant wild orchids. Visit Curacao’s sea aquarium, one of the most unique aquariums in the world, where instead of large tanks of sea-water, the aquarium has real sea-water pools fed by the sea. To explore this unique side of the island which is bursting with creativity and is bound to make the wheels of your brain turn, visit an art gallery. It’s a good place to imagine what life must have been like in the previous centuries and what it meant for different people.
Explore the rural areas of Curacao as you pass by Sint Willibrordus, Flamingos Sanctuary, and Curacao’s plantation houses. There are many options, including Curacao ATV tours, jeep safari excursions, and more. You can also visit the cactus garden featuring hundreds of different cacti species, home to rare birds and friendly Green iguanas. You can often swim with these friendly sea creatures in the shallow, clear water of this small beach. Turtles often come to the shore, so you can swim directly from the beach.
If a cruise is threatened with a hurricane, however, the ships are often diverted and you may miss your chance to explore this amazing port of call. This beach has a soft white sandy beach with rather inviting sparkling clear turquoise waters. It’s a nice beach getaway, with plenty of parking for your rented car which is the most affordable and common way to get to the beach.
Afterward, indulge in a frozen drink at the thatched cabana at Blue Bay Beach Resort, or hit the links at its sweeping golf course for the perfect day in port on a cruise to Curaçao. It took hundreds of thousands of years for the Hato Caves to form, and today these coral limestone wonders are one of Willemstad’s most popular natural attractions. Learn the history and tall tales of the Hato Caves on a guided tour, then meander the trails and cactus garden in the park nearby.
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