Curacao is an island that masters the art of seduction. If it can't win you over with its modern luxuries, it'll get you with its natural simplicities.
It woos with its colourful Danish-style buildings, satisfies with a bustling shopping district, lures with its beautiful white-sand beaches and turquoise or sapphire waters and delights with its lush emerald foliage. You could resist Curacao's call, but why would you? Surrender to this island's charms and get to know this tropical destination a bit better.
Where is Curacao?
Curacao is a Dutch Caribbean island in the Leeward Antilles, a 2-1/2 hour flight south of Miami and just 70 km north of Venezuela. It lies outside of the primary hurricane belt and gets only an average of 22 inches of rain each year.
The island has an average temperature of 27ºC and its land size is 444 square km. Oil refinery fuels Curacao's economy, as does banking and tourism. Locals may speak English, Dutch and Papiamento (a mix of Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and English.)
Where to stay
The Kura Hulanda Hotel is the place to be for a palpable sense of history and enchanting beauty. Located in the capital city Willemstad, the 80-room hotel lies on the grounds of a historic village and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Today, a stroll on the Kura Hulanda Hotel's grounds is like something out of a fairytale storybook. Cobblestone streets, winding paths and a courtyard that's sheltered by magnificent mature trees are just a few of the delights you'll find here.
Kura Hulanda's past and present
Far from a typical holiday resort, the Kura Hulanda Hotel boasts a complex of 65 two- or three-story buildings that date back to the 18th and 19th century. Beautifully restored to their Dutch Colonial origins, some of these colourful homes have quaint shops below where you could just picture the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker setting up shop here once upon a time.
Today, you can find everything from woodwork decorations to insect repellent and souvenirs in the gift shops here. There's also a casino, spa, restaurants and cafés on site.
Hotel suites are furnished with gorgeous antiques and every room is unique and special. You'll feel like royalty in expertly appointed rooms, some with thick four-poster beds and wide plank hardwood floors. After a day of touring, you can return to your suite for sweet dreams as you fall asleep to the hypnotic songs of tree frogs and crickets outside.
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