The Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao Alive! (Hunter Travel Guides)

383 Pages·1996·2.84 MB·English

by  Susan Brushaber

Aruba,
Bonaire &
Curacao
E
V
L I
A
Susan Brushaber & Greenberg
HUNTER
HUNTERPUBLISHING,INC.
130CampusDrive,Edison,NJ08818
732-225-1900;800-255-0343;Fax[phone]
[email protected]
ISBN1-55650-756-9
©1997AliveTravelBooks,Ltd.
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orotherwise,withoutthewrittenpermissionof
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Thisguidefocusesonrecreationalactivities.As
all such activities contain elements of risk, the
publisher, author, affiliated individuals and
companies disclaim any responsibility for any
injury, harm, or illness that may occur to any-
onethrough,orbyuseof,theinformationinthis
book.Everyeffortwasmadetoinsuretheaccu-
racy of information in this book, but the pub-
lisher and author do not assume, and hereby
disclaim, any liability for any loss or damage
caused by errors, omissions, misleading infor-
mation or potential travel problems caused by
this guide, even if such errors or omissions are
the result of negligence, accident or any other
cause.
MapsbyLissaDailey©1999HunterPublish-
ing,Inc.
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Contents
TheABCIslands 1
TheAttractions 1
GettingThere 4
ByAir 4
ViaCruiseShip 5
Inter-IslandTravel 6
GettingReady 6
EntryRequirements 6
6
MoneyMatters-Currency 7
Accommodations 7
Restaurants 9
CustomsRegulations 9
PackingtoGo 10
Climate 11
ElectricCurrent 12
Language 12
TimeZone 13
Newspapers/BroadcastMedia 13
Telephone 14
ACapsuleHistory 14
TheIslandsToday 16
IslandGovernment 17
ThePeople 18
AntilleanCuisine 19
Flora 22
Fauna 25
MarineLife 27
Aruba 31
IslandHistory 32
TheGovernment 36
ThePeople 37
Festivals&Holidays 37
iv Contents
Location&GettingThere 41
IslandOrientation 44
Arrival&GettingToYourHotel 46
GettingAroundTheIsland 46
WhereToStay 50
Dining 67
SunupToSundown 82
Beaches 82
Diving 86
Sailing&Watersports 94
SailingTrips 95
DeepSeaFishing 98
WatersportsGalore 99
ActivitiesOnDryLand 99
TouringTheIsland 104
SightseeingInOranjestad 112
TripsToCuraçao,Bonaire&Venezuela 116
Bonaire 117
IslandHistory 117
TheGovernment 121
ThePeople 121
Festivals&Holidays 122
Location&GettingThere 125
IslandOrientation 127
Arrival&GettingToYourHotel 129
GettingAroundTheIsland 129
WhereToStay 132
Dining 144
SunupToSundown 157
TheMarinePark 157
LifeOnTheReef 159
TheSeaTurtlesOfBonaire 163
Diving 165
Fishing 175
SailingCharters 176
SeaKayaking 177
Swimming 177
Contents v
Windsurfing 178
Biking 179
ToTheTopOfSeruLargo 179
ADayAtARanch 180
NatureTour 181
Tennis 181
Bonaire’sFlamingos 181
TouringTheIsland 183
Shopping 213
AfterDark 216
BonaireA-Z 218
Curaçao 222
History Of The Island 222
TheGovernment 233
ThePeople 233
TheMusicOfCuraçao 237
Festivals&Holidays 240
Location&GettingThere 244
IslandOrientation 246
Arrival/GettingToYourHotel 247
GettingAroundTheIsland 248
WhereToStay 251
Dining 264
SunupToSundown 275
TheBeaches 276
Diving 284
Sailing 299
DeepSeaFishing 301
ActivitiesOnDryLand 301
DayTripsToAruba&Bonaire 302
WillemstadWalkingTours 303
TheBridgesOfWillemstad 323
TheFortsOfWillemstad 325
TheMuseumsOfCuraçao 328
OtherAttractions 333
Landhuisen 334
IslandTours 342
vi Contents
Shopping 359
TheCasinos 367
AfterDark 367
CuraçaoA-Z 371
The ABC Islands
For many, the Caribbean either stops at Barba-
dos,ordoesn’tevenreachmuchbeyondtheBaha-
mas or Virgin Islands. Little is known about the
threeleewardislandsoffbythemselvesjustafew
milesnorthofVenezuelaandtuckedsafelybelow
the hurricane belt. Yet Aruba, Bonaire and
Curaçao,theA,B,andCoftheABCIslandsoffer
everythingyoucouldeverwantfromaCaribbean
holiday.
TheAstandsbothforArubaandtheabundanceof
worldclassrestaurants,casinos,andtopnotchen-
tertainment you’ll enjoy there. The B is Bonaire,
synonymous with bountiful marine life and bu-
colic landscapes. The C, Curaçao, is best known
foritscosmopolitanqualityandDutchCaribbean
charm.
The Attractions
Though many have yet to discover the ABC Is-
lands, those who have return again and again.
Hereareafewofthereasonswhy:
(cid:1) With nary a cloud in the sky, the islands enjoy
azureskiesandturquoiseseas12monthsayear.
Temperatures in the low 80s and a constant
breeze are a given. Best of all, the ABC Islands
arelocatedoutsidethehurricanebelt!

3
(cid:1) Diving and snorkeling are the best in the
Caribbean.Crystalclearwatersrevealpris-
tine reefs and fantastic wrecks. Aggressive
protection programs and environmentally
conscious dive shops guarantee that they’ll
staythatwayforyearstocome.
(cid:1) Those same tradewinds that propelled the
merchant ships of the Dutch West India
Company now provide ideal conditions for
sailing and windsurfing and keep
beachgoerscomfortablycool.
(cid:1) Active vacationers have a wealth of activi-
tiestochoosefromonlandaswellasinthe
water,including,golf,tennis,horsebackrid-
ing, hiking and biking. Nature lovers and
birdwatcherswon’tbedisappointed.
(cid:1) Shopping is first-rate, especially on Aruba
and Curaçao where prices for fine fra-
grances and designer fashions are as much
as20%lessthanwhattheyareathome.
(cid:1) Allthreeislandsofferavarietyofaccommo-
dations,fromsmallbedandbreakfastsand
country inns to luxurious five star resorts.
Types and prices vary by island, but
affordabilityisbetterthanonotherislands
intheCaribbean.
(cid:1) Dining on all three islands is first class, of-
fering a variety of cuisines guaranteed to
satisfyeventhemostdiscriminatingpalate.
(cid:1) Amiable, Benevolent and Caring best de-
scribe the people of the ABC Islands.
Warmthandhospitalityare nationaltraits.
(cid:1) Comparedtootherislands,theABCIslands
are relatively crime-free. (No matter where