Travel guide - Curaçao

Originally discovered by the Spaniards in 1499 and taken over by the Dutch in 1634, Curaçao has been slower to develop the kind of tourist industry its neighbours are famed for, though its capital city - and recently designated UNESCO World Heritage Site - Willemstad , rivals any in the Caribbean for picturesque charm.

The island also offers decent diving and swimming possibilities, especially on the leeward side, with its secluded coves. More active pursuits can be had in the rugged and hilly interior: Christoffel National Park , in the north, is overgrown with towering cacti, scrubby vegetation and gnarled divi divi trees, well worthy of a hike around it. Besides such flora, island inhabitants include goats, bats, lizards, iguanas and countless species of colourful birds. The various plantation houses that dot the island are remnants from Curaçao's history as the Caribbean's busiest slave depot in the seventeenth century; the trade was finally abolished here in 1863.

The majority of visitors fly to Curaçao's Hato International Airport (tel 5999/868-1719), 12km northwest of Willemstad. Numerous car rental agencies, taxis and buses wait for passengers outside the arrival terminal. A taxi to downtown Willemstad usually costs US$8, while a ride to most hotels outside the city will set you back US$14 to US$20. Alternatively, many hotels provide a shuttle bus to and from the airport.

There are two cruise terminals in the capital, both of them in Willemstad's Otrobanda district. The mega-pier is located near the Riffort by the harbour entrance, a ten-minute walk from downtown. The smaller terminal is closer to downtown in Santa Anna Bay.