Hotels Curacao

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Curacao is an island that was first settled by Arawaks, a group of Amerindian people that were native to the area. Europeans first showed up in the area around 1500 when explorers were sent out to map the South American borders and the islands surrounding them. The Spanish were not that interested in Curacao because farming was hard but in 1634, the Dutch West India Company claimed the island for its own and started to settle the area. Farmers began building plantations and growing peanuts, corn and native fruits. This rich heritage culture is still prevalent today along with many wonderful attractions and activities. When planning a trip to the area, the hotels Curacao has are plentiful and comfortable. Some of the accommodations are more like spacious apartments or villas with beautiful ocean views and full facilities. You can also book hotels Curacao has listed that are much more basic with all of the regular features and amenities. When you are in an area with this much beauty, it is difficult to stay with hotels Curacao presents that are too standard. You will likely want to find something with a unique flair and style and there are plenty of options from which to choose.

Curacao is an island that allows you to explore the city buildings, or venture to the countryside to see the rolling hills, tall cacti plants and plantation houses from over three centuries ago. There are many tours that visitors can enjoy to help them explore the areas they have the most interest in seeing.

Willemstad is a village in the area that was first founded by the Spanish in the 1500s. Dutch traders renamed it in the 17th century when they took over the natural harbor hideaway. This town has historic, red-roofed houses in many different pastel shades. The natural harbor is on a World Heritage List and the narrow streets are crossed with even smaller alleyways. The town is surrounded by the sea, an inlet and a tiny canal, which creates beautiful views no matter which direction you look in.

Saint Anna Bay goes right through the center of Willemstad. The bay is large enough that cruise ships can actually stop right in the town. If you are not taking a cruise in the area, you can still see the bay from one of two bridges that span the bay. The Queen Emma Bridge is for pedestrians only. This pontoon bridge floats on the water and opens frequently so boats can pass through. The more modern, Queen Juliana Bridge is a four-lane highway that is high enough to allow even the biggest cruise ships to pass beneath it. Walking the small bridge and driving the large one both offer wonderful views of the bay.

The downtown portion of the city has two main districts, one on each side of the bay. Punda, also called "The Point", sits on the east side. This area has wonderful, Dutch colonial architecture. The oldest part of the town is the original Dutch settlement in which ship merchants built buildings that were used as shops, warehouses and residences all in the same location. The galleries have shaded porches and large windows to help catch the cross breeze and cool the interior. Otrobanda is the western side of town on the other side of the bay. It holds the historic Rif Fort, which was built to protect the entrance to the bay. This fort was run by America during World War II.

The best way to view the entire city is to take a trolley tour. These tours last well over an hour and help to highlight the best parts of the city. Guests can take these tours and decide what they want to go back and visit to get a closer look. Walking tours are also available. These tours are great for those who want to get a detailed look at the various historic areas and architectural structures.

No matter what tour you take, you will want to take the time to stop by the Floating Market. This is an area where schooners tie beside the canal and offer tropical fruits, vegetables and handmade goods. This unique market is very special to the area and can really give visitors a sense of the culture.

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