How to Visit Curacao
If the cold temperatures are getting you down, stunning Curacao is the place to go for some fun in the sun. From busy discos to secluded beaches, Curacao has it all. The island was claimed by the Dutch in the early 1600s and retains a certain Dutch flavor, which can be seen in gift shops all around the island.
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Instructions
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Go to the beach. While Curacao's beaches aren't the only reason to visit this charming Caribbean country, they are a huge draw. There are several on the island that are worth seeing, including the beautiful Playa Abao, the popular Santa Barbara Bay and the Seaquarium Beach, where you can take part in water sports.
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See Boca Tabla. Generations of rough ocean waves battering the rocks have carved out caves along Curacao's shoreline, one of the most spectacular of these being Boca Tabla. Visitors can walk on the rocky landscape then climb down to the cave, which echoes with every crashing wave.
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Visit the Curacao Ostrich Farm, one of the largest outside of Africa. This unusual attraction lets visitors get closer to ostriches than they've probably ever been before. A safari jeep takes guests around the grounds as informative guides tell how the ostriches are raised. At the end of the tour, visitors can hold a baby ostrich. There are also pot belly pigs, emus and other animals to see, and there's a good restaurant on the premises for a filling meal.
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Go shopping in Willemstad. There are great finds to be discovered in the shops of Curacao. While there's plenty of windmills, wooden shoes and other Dutch-inspired knickknacks, Curacao has one of the world's busiest ports and a wide variety of wares make their way onto the island. The charming Punda neighborhood is a popular shopping destination in Willemstad.
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Take a stroll to Fort Nassau. Take a break from shopping in Punda to see the fantastic views of the island and the harbor from Fort Nassau. The fort also houses a restaurant and a disco, for a little nighttime fun.
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Head to Museum Kura Hulanda, an anthropological museum where you'll learn about the different cultures that have come together to form modern day Curacao. Here you'll find information about the African slave trade, pre-Columbian gold and more.
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See Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue. Built in 1732 by Dutch immigrants this is the oldest synagogue in the entire western hemisphere. Note the handsome mahogany altar and the chandeliers, some dating from the early 1700s. In the courtyard you'll find the Jewish Historical Museum.
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Swim with the dolphins. Head to the Curacao Sea Aquarium, where you can spend an afternoon seeing the different displays of sea creatures and watching the shark and dolphin shows, then head over to the Dolphin Academy to learn about dolphins and get to know them. The Academy offers a variety of dolphin swim programs, from getting a kiss from a dolphin in shallow water, to taking a ride on a dolphin, to snorkeling among the dolphins. This will be an adventure you won't soon forget!
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