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Otrobanda: the other side of Willemstad

The word Otrobanda, used for the district on the opposite side of the famous pontoon bridge in Willemstad, is Papiamento for ‘the other bank’. Many people cross the bridge to take the much-seen photo of the pastel-coloured houses on the Handelskade in Punda. And in addition to these splendid views, the other bank also features many restaurants, luxury hotels and a great shopping mall.

Arts & Culture

Unusual 5-star hotel village

Towards the end of the 19th century, the new district of Otrobanda was as large and upscale as Punda. But it didn’t last long. The colonial warehouses and small palaces became run down and Otrobanda was inhabited by criminals. UNESCO nonetheless put the district on its World Heritage List to protect it from further decay, and this attracted the interest of Dutch entrepreneur and multimillionaire Jacob Gelt Dekker. Dekker had a vision. He purchased 100 colonial houses and converted them into a beautiful 5-star hotel village, including swimming pools, shops, restaurants, bars, a spa and a slavery museum. The project was a success and Kurá Hulanda, Papiamento for ‘Dutch Court’, is now a member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World association. Many employees actually come from the former problem area in Otrobanda which has also been largely restored since the hotel was built. Together with Punda, Otrobanda now comprises the centre of Willemstad.

From Dutch fort to shopping mall

Another great example of the amazing transformation of Otrobanda is the Riffort, one of the 8 fortresses on Curaçao. Built in 1828 on the eastern point of St. Anna Bay, its 56 cannons were supposed to protect the fort. In WWII, the fortress was used by the American army which closed off the harbour to German submarines by using a huge steel net. The stronghold went to seed after the war until a new purpose was found: the metres-thick walls of the Riffort now accommodate a luxury shopping mall, expensive restaurants and a 5-star hotel.

All

Romance

Water sports

Beach

Nature

Arts & Culture

Romance

Curaçao is a popular destination for a full-service holiday. The selection of hotels is therefore mostly limited to affordable resort hotels, usually not the most romantic accommodations. However, there are a few exceptions. These 3 boutique hotels ensure a romantic stay – complete with a couples’ massage, a bottle of bubbles or a bed full of rose petals.

Water sports

Swim amongst sea turtles, barracudas and manta rays: diving on Curaçao is a dream. Admire schools of angel fish, parrot fish and trumpet fish, or take a closer look at swaying marine sponges. But to explore this underwater world, one must first learn how to dive. There are around 30 diving schools in Curaçao so take your pick!

Beach

Curaçao’s beach clubs are world renowned. In the daytime you can laze around and tan for hours, and at night the lounge beds, tables and chairs are moved aside and the party kicks off until dawn. The temperature rarely falls below 24 degrees – the ideal temperature to dance the night away with your feet in the sand.

Romance

Long ago, Curaçao was home to as many as 100 plantations that grew sugar cane, aloe and indigo. The centrepiece of each plantation was the estate: a spacious mansion that housed the plantation owner, the family and the house slaves. The house was usually set on a beautiful location such as a hilltop, with sweeping views of the plantation and the other buildings. Approximately half of these estates still stand and dozens have been beautifully restored and renovated. Today many of these mansions operate as a museum, restaurant or boutique hotel.

Nature

Far from Willemstad and Mambo Beach is Christoffel Park, tucked away in a pristine corner of Curaçao. This rugged nature reserve is full of rare wild orchids, gigantic cacti and enormous iguanas, surrounded by elegant colonial mansions, an impressive rocky coast and of course the deep blue Caribbean ocean. Welcome to Curaçao's Wild West. You won’t find many tourists in this beautiful corner of the island.

Romance

Gorgeous beaches are one of the main attractions of Curaçao. The island has dozens of sheltered bays devoid of the crowds you may find on the more famous beaches. With so many different stretches of sand to choose from, there is always something fun to do: enjoy a delicious barbecue with the locals or relax on a luxurious lounge bed and sip a refreshing cocktail.

Romance

Curaçao is a popular honeymoon destination. It is easy to see why: dreamy tropical beaches, luxury resorts, excellent restaurants, and almost year-round sunshine. On a sultry evening enjoy a candlelight dinner overlooking the colourful warehouses in Punda and you may never want to leave this paradise. But even without getting married, this tropical Caribbean island offers the perfect romantic getaway.

Beach

A peaceful underwater encounter with a sea turtle is an unforgettable experience. Although a threatened species, these prehistoric armoured mammals can often be spotted in the waters around Curaçao. Which turtle species live here? Where do they swim? When do they come to shore to lay their eggs on the beach? And where is the best spot to observe the hatching of a turtle nest and watch the tiny baby turtles crawl to the ocean?

Water sports

Both Aruba and Bonaire are known as diving and snorkelling paradises, but Curaçao is just as beautiful. Many of Curaçao's best spots are very accessible; the coral reef lies very close to shore and is only a short swim from the beach. Just put on your snorkel and mask or bring your oxygen tank and dive into the Caribbean Sea to explore the amazing underwater world of colourful coral and bright fishes.

Water sports

Snorkelling in turquoise blue water among turtles and dolphins. Looking for shells in the surf. Relaxing in a hammock under a palm tree. Diving among colourful coral reefs and underwater caves. Eating fresh fish with your feet in the sand. Strolling along a tropical beach on an uninhabited island. Does this sound like a dream come true? On Klein Curaçao, everybody can play Robinson Crusoe.

Arts & Culture

The clock gables on the Handelskade are featured on most postcards sent from Willemstad. The photogenic houses are reminiscent of the Amsterdam canals with one major difference: the buildings are brightly coloured in ochre, orange, blue or pink. The first Dutch Governor said that the sunlight reflecting off the white gables was giving him a headache and ordered the houses to be painted. It later transpired that he had struck a deal with a Dutch paint factory!