Curaçao, what this dream island in the Caribbean is like

On a certain magical night, the body, mind and soul coincide on a Caribbean beach, wishing that the good energies of Curaçao will always accompany us, with the soft caress of its sea breeze, the musical sway of the waves and the peace of this promising summer.

Under a blanket of stars and with bare feet in the sand, we arrived at the hotel’s wooden dock with no other goal than to sit and contemplate the magnetic darkness.

Then we discovered a natural phenomenon that no one had ever told us about: from one moment to the next, dozens of silver flashes multiply in all directions on the surface of the sea. They are flying fish! And they expand everywhere at full speed, starring in a shocking flyover.

How long did we stay there, waiting for new gusts of silver over the waters? Who knows. But the anecdote will be shared by guests the next morning, when the hotel’s wooden dock itself is filled with oxygen tanks, for use by divers who go into the depths early in the morning.

On the other hand, most of us travelers enjoyed the resort’s abundant breakfast and bathed in the calm, warm and crystalline sea, among colorful fish: yellow and black striped, grayish or with small bluish “swords”, the schools can be seen with the naked eye or with the snorkel mask.

All is shower on the island of Curaçao (in Spanish it is also written Curacao), a word that is used for everything that is rich, beautiful, pleasant.

Precisely, Papiamento and Dutch are the official languages in the Netherlands Antilles, where English, Spanish, Portuguese and French are also spokenand the inhabitants jump from one language to the other with astonishing ease.

To get closer to the history of the place, it must be taken into account that until 2010 they formed an autonomous State made up of several islands in the Caribbean Sea (Saba, Saint Eustatius, southern Sint Maarten, Curaçao and Bonaire) and Aruba (autonomous since 1986).

And while some are constituent nations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – hence its Dutch imprint on architecture, language and food – this destination is known for belonging to the Dutch triangle. Caribe on of the so-called “ABC islands”, whose acronyms refer to their initials: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

Just an hour’s flight from Panama and about 50 kilometers from the South American coast, they stand out for being outside the hurricane belt, with an average temperature of 27 degrees, more than 300 days of sunshine a year and refreshing trade winds. Although there is no intense rainy season, the driest months are concentrated from February to June.

With 444 square kilometers and 150 thousand inhabitants, Curaçao is the largest of the three islands and is located between Aruba and Bonaire, distinguished by its capital Willemstadsince the historic area, the center and the port were declared World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Divided by the Bay of Santa Ana, the city has Pounds (tip) on one side, which is the oldest commercial part, with its iconic row of vibrantly colored houses that appear on every postcard. Like a small Amsterdam on the banks of the canal, there is not a single tourist who does not take photos, day and night, of the facades of the Dutch colonial period.

On the other side, Otrobanda (other side) represents the most residential and most modern district, but both sectors are connected by the Juliana vehicular bridge and by the famous Queen Emma floating and pedestrian bridgewhich grants passage to cruise ships and large ships.

This is how a loud bell rings several times a day and pedestrians hurry to clear the shifting bridge, which moves to one side and then returns to its place.

Even the many cruise passengers, who visit the port capital for a few hours, fall in love with the colors of Willemstad.

A good idea to explore the streets is to rent an electric motorcycle, starting from the central square where the large Curaçao sign is located: between public buildings, historic mansions, farms, museums, craft markets, bars, restaurants and shops, the promenade It offers unforgettable postcards with the wind in your face, the guide’s music at full volume and a stop at the heart sculpture where couples leave their locks and wishes on the Handelskade waterfront.

Not to be missed: take a walk through the neighborhood where you can breathe street art, from sculptures and murals in full colorto the great experience of attending a painting workshop at Bario Urban Street Food while we taste typical flavors.

Curacao residents also recommend visiting the Serena Art Factory to learn how the famous and colorful silhouettes called Chichi are made, which are hand-painted by local women and have their greatest exponent in sculpture, which is located a few meters from the iconic signs with letters that form the words Curaçao and Dushi.

Accompanied by the local Tourist Office and with a three-wheeled Can-Am motorcycle, we traveled to the other side of the island to experience an incredible day at the beach in Kenepa Grandi.

Instagrammable, it is ideal for snorkeling and nature lovers: you rub your eyes before the colors of the sea and it is hard to believe that a place like this exists.

With more than 35 beaches, there are many options to explore in Curaçao, until each traveler decides which ones are their favorites.

While Jan Thiel Beach and Mambo Beach are the busiest – with services and places to eat -, Kenepa Grandi, Cas Abao, Jeremy or Porto Marie propose stunning landscapes.

But without a doubt, there is a beach that everyone should know: Klein Curaçao It is a tiny island of 3 square kilometers that can be reached by catamaran.

Uninhabited and without services, it has an old abandoned lighthouse, a couple of shipwrecks, ghost stories and nests of green turtles, whose juvenile and adult specimens usually swim in the crystal clear waters.

In addition to the classic Caribbean water sports, among which stand out diving and snorkelingtourists find in Curaçao the possibility of taking submarine rides, going down 5.5 meters in the glazed tube Ocean Lens to observe colorful fish and dolphins, participate in a tasting at the distillery of the renowned Curacao liqueurjeep safari to the national parks and Hato caves, or visit a aloe vera plantation where its properties are explained and high quality local products are sold.

The bars and the gastronomic excellence of the restaurants complete the wide offering of the island.

In the room with an ocean view at the Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino, on the first day a box of typical Curaçao sweets was waiting for us, with high doses of coconut, peanuts and sugar. According to local tradition, sweets are given to show appreciation, celebrate or give thanks.

With this sweet welcome we began to live the “Paradise Dream” experience, thanks to the initiative of Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH) and its directors Wilhelmus Ignacio, Priscilla Duin-Circkens and Giordano Molina, as well as multicultural radio Dushi FMby Antonella Paladino Chappex and her husband Gassan Dannawi.

Originally from Córdoba, with a degree in Social Communication and a presenter, Antonella chose Curaçao as a vacation destination in 2018 and, upon receiving a job offer, decided to follow an inner calling, change her life and live in the Caribbean.

I was already beginning to think about a multimedia project called “Sueño Paraíso”, but everything was precipitated in March 2023 when an interview went viral that they made him from the Cordoban channel El Doce following a match between the Argentine National Team and Curaçao.

She spoke so passionately about the benefits of the island that Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH) proposed promoting the destination to link Argentina and Curaçao.

In dialogue with Clarion, Antonella highlights the energy of the island, the people, the “dushi vibes”: “On the radio we use the slogan of rhythm, energy and talent. And we believe that Curaçao has all that, the warmth of the people, the culture, the languages, the gastronomy, the sports, the beaches…”

Why do travelers have to know the island? Antonella does not hesitate: “It is a destination that is not exploited, it is a place that will allow you to experience a before and after in life because it is absolutely transformative. Furthermore, it is economically accessible and what you pay is worth it, that is why “Many people return. Dream Paradise is an experience to live, to feel, so that people are infected with these emotions.”

For his part, Wilhelmus Ignacio, CEO and general director of Curaçao Airport Holding, says: “Based on her note, we contacted her to work on disseminating the place: where Curaçao is, what we have to offer… And when “People want to come, and so do the airlines.”

According to him, “we are focused on achieve a direct charter flight which we hope to take place in June, June and August 2024. There are already direct flights from Europe, the United States and Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Now We are waiting for the flights with Buenos Aires and Córdoba”.

How to get. From Buenos Aires to Curaçao there are flights with Avianca (via Bogotá) or Copa (via Panama). Depending on the date, the ticket costs from US$1,200.

Where to stay. The accommodation offer is varied: all inclusive, half board, rental houses and apart hotels, etc. At Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino, the all-inclusive room, on a double basis with sea view, costs US$350, depending on the time of year.

● Catamaran to Klein Curaçao Island with Irie Tours, US$ 120.

● “Can-Am” tricycles from Premium Paradise Tours with guide, US$ 220.

● Green Wheels electric motorcycles in Willemstad (full day), US$ 35.

● Rastamarán boat ride from Irie Tours along the south coast to Santa Ana Bay at sunset, US$69.

● Visit to the Sea Aquarium, US$ 12; children from 5 to 12 years old, US$ 7.

● Ocean Lens, US$ 59; chicos, 29.

● Jetski Tourrific Curaçao, US$120.

● Jeep Curaçao Activities, visit to cave and beaches, US$ 119.

● Jeep + snorkel en playa, US$ 85.

Currency. It is the guilder, but dollars are accepted. 1 US$ is equivalent to 1.75 florin.

● Instagram: @sueñoparaiso.oficial