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Welcome to Curacao on the Paradise Islands website. Located in the Leeward Antilles part of the West Indies which is situated in the southern region of the Caribbean Sea, just over 35 miles to the north of the coast of Venezuela and 42 miles east of Aruba.
The Leeward Antilles are divided into two groups of isles; the Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and this island; plus the Venezuelan isles of Las Aves, Magarita, Islas Los Roques, Orchila & Tortuga.
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| Curacao is the largest of the "ABC" islands, 38 miles long and between 2 and 8 miles wide, with a population of 142,000. Mostly flat or hilly, the highest point is Sint Christoffelberg at 1,230 feet above sea level. The land is dry and desert like with little vegetation or agriculture. Scrublands contain cacti, low shrubs and the national tree called the Divi Divi Tree. Fabulous beaches and coral reefs line the southern coast and the island is popular with divers. |
| The island's capital and main port is Willemstad, which is famous for it's pastel coloured houses and buildings which are built in the Dutch architectural style. Willemstad is split into two districts which are divided by the Santa Anna Bay harbour entrance channel and linked by the modern Queen Juliana bridge and a floating pedestrian Queen Emma bridge. The east side of the town is called Punda and the west side is Otrobanda. |
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Travellers arriving by cruise ship dock either at the cruise terminal on the the west side of Willemstad (Otrobanda side); or very large ships that are unable to pass under the main Queen Juliana bridge tie up at the "Mega Pier". Both terminals are a few minutes walk to downtown Willemstad, or cross over the floating Queen Emma foot bridge (known locally as the "Swinging Old Lady") to the Punda side for the main shopping area.
Air passenger arrive at the Hato International airport located in Plaza Margareth Abraham on the northern side of the island, which is a ten minute taxi ride to the capital. International destinations to and from Curacao are more limited than from Aruba airport and include Amsterdam, Miami, Valencia and Caracas as well as many routes within the Caribbean region, including the famously scary Princess Juliana Airport in Sint Maarten.
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| Travel, holiday, vacation and cruise guide to Curacao in the Caribbean Leeward Antilles. All text and images are Copyright Paradise Islands org. All photographs on this website are obtained with the permission of the owners and come from various sources including the island's tourist boards. |
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Quick Facts
Capital
Willemstad
Main Airport
Hato
International
Main Port
Willemstad
Language
Dutch
Currency
US Dollar
Government
Constitutional
Monarchy
Island Size
171
Square Miles
Population
142,000
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Willemstad
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Cruise Port Guide
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