Based on its natural beauty, authentic Dutch architectural heritage, and cultural diversity, Curaçao offers exciting opportunities as a tourist destination in the Caribbean. It can be said that Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao and the Netherlands Antilles, is one of the richest cities in the world in terms of culture and diversity. Willemstad itself is actually divided into two sections "Punda" and "Otrobanda", and both sections provide visitors with duty-free shopping. Another great feature about Willemstad is that the entire scale of the city is set to human dimensions; in fact, almost all of the stores are located within an eight block radius and most of the downtown area is closed off to automobile traffic.

Many tourists enjoy visiting the various sites in Curaçao from the only floating pontoon bridge (Emma Bridge) in operation in the world to the oldest functioning synagogue (Mikve Israel-Emanuel) in the Western Hemisphere. At any time you can expect to see many different types of ships from all over the world in our harbor.

Since Willemstad is a seaside town the harbor is adjacent to the downtown area and many people take advantage of the fresh produce and seafood being sold at the floating market.

Curaçao also offers deep sea fishing, a breathtaking underwater park, the famous Hato caves, and the Christoffel National Park (an 1,860-hectare national park, which features a mountain for hiking and the island's semi-arid vegetaion and wildlife). Other activities include our exciting casinos, not to mention the excellent international and local "krioyo" dining.

During the day our visitors love relaxing by the beautiful beaches, enjoying the sun and the tropical climate with its constant cooling tradewinds. There are also countless locations for those who wish to take advantage of the world class diving, snorkeling and wind-surfing Curaçao has to offer.

Snorkelers and divers are in for an opportunity of a lifetime as Curacao’s waters are home to many superb sea specimens. There are literally hundreds of species of crabs, fishes, anemones, sponges and corals in the surrounding reefs. In fact, many consider the quality of snorkeling and diving around Curaçao to be one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences available. Quite a few divers have described Curaçao as the best kept secret of the Caribbean. There are many distinct types of sea life to examine while exploring the bottom of the Caribbean Sea near Curaçao.

After a long hot day of having fun most people enjoy sitting back and relaxing while watching our spectacular sunsets.

Key Market Segments

The key market segment of tourism in Curaçao are the following:

• Vacationers from North America, Europe and Latin America with the most rapid growth in North America and Europe.
• Business executives associated with the financial sector, International Trade Center.


• Center, refinery and other businesses.


• Caribbean and South American visitors interested in shopping and recreation.


• Dive and water sports visitors.

For more information, please contact:

Curaçao Tourism Board
Pietermaai 19
Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
Phone: (599-9)-434-8200
Fax: (599-9)-461-2305 or 461-5017
Email: ctdbcur@attglobal.net
Website: http://www.curacao.com (general tourist info)