Jan Thiel and Caracasbay
Provides superb anchorage for large and small boats with at the back the picturesque Table Mountain, back ground for many boat and sailboat races from Spanish Water, a lagoon east of Willemstad, offers a view of its beaches islands, peninsulas, weekend colonies. It is headquarters for water sports, boating, sailing, fishing and the Curacao yacht club. Nice view over the Spanish Water, where the Spaniards discovered Curacao in 1499.
Caribbean handcraft store
A souvenir shop with the most variety of souvenirs, with the most spectacular view over the Spanish Water.The authentic Curacao Liqueur Factory
This is the home of the authentic Curacao Liqueur named Curacao of Curacao to differentiate it from other brands of the Curacao Liqueur that are not original.
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Punda
Punda is part of Willemstad, our Capital. The name Punda derives from the word Point.
Fort Amsterdam was first built in 1635, one year after the Dutch invasion.
The people of the Netherlands established a trading settlement at a fine natural harbour on the Caribbean island of Curacao in 1634. The town developed continuously over the following centuries. The modern town consists of several distinct historic districts whose architecture reflects not only European urban-planning concepts but also styles from the Netherlands and from the Spanish and Portuguese colonial towns with which Willemstad engaged in trade.
In 1997, The Unesco World Heritage Site committee selected the historic city of Willemstad - one of just six Caribbean sites chosen
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Justification for Inscription
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of cultural criteria and considering that the Historic Area of Willemstad is a European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates the organic growth of a multicultural community over three centuries and preserves to a high degree significant elements of the many strands that came together to create it.
Fort Amsterdam
Built by the Dutch shortly after they took the island from the Spaniards (1634-1675 West Indian Company). In the back is the old Fort-church (Dutch reformed church now the United Protestant Church, rebuilt in 1763.
Handelskade
Looking at the Handelskade in Punda.Breedestraat in Punda, towards the Queen Emma Bridge.
Floating market
The Floating market is just around the corner from the Handelskade, it’s one of Curacao's most beautiful, famous and picturesque sights. The Venezuelan merchants selling their fresh produce from small fishing boats.
Scharloo
Ancient Jewish residential area
In addition to Willemstad’s historic city center, other inductees include the beautiful restored mansions of Scharloo dating to the 1700s. This was the ancient Jewish residential area. The Jewish community on the island is the oldest one of the western hemisphere and has also the oldest synagogue of the western hemisphere built in 1732.
This eighteenth century residential area is now fully renovated.
Boca Tabla cave
This is a spectacular site and one of 7 inlets of the park Shete Boka located at the northern side of the island. Millions of years of pounding surf have carved out a wide cavern underneath the limestone terrace. You can enter the cavern where
you can watch and listen to the surf rolling in. Above you will see the breathtaking waves crashing against the north coast cliffs for miles in each direction. Here is where you will meet the sound of nature.
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West Punt
Lunch (not included in the price)Knip Beach or Playa Kenepa
Swimming/Snorkle
The Big Knip is very popular with locals, especially in the weekends. A good site for an all day outing for the whole family. The beach underwent development a few years ago. The beach is sandy and shaded. Walk down a steep flight of steps with your gear to the water’s edge. The bottom is a sandy plateau and the water is normally crystal clear with over 30 m (100 ft) visibility and little surf or current. Snorkeling is good straight out from the beach and near the cliffs to the left at Playa Kenepa. Look for spotted morays, needlefish, squid, parrotfish and lots of well developed coral. If you are lucky, you may spot sea turtles. Bring your snorkel equipment.
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Jan Kok
Flamingo´s
The saltflat of Jan Kok was the first one built on the island in 1650 with the first plantation house (Plantation house Jan Kok) built the same year by the W.I.C. (West Indian Company).
During the rainy season, plantation activities and during the dry season, harvesting of salt on the saltflats. Nowadays the saltflats are the habitat for the flamingo’s.
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