Detailed itinerary
Depart from ship for a guided tour of Curacao Museum
Photo stop for the Salt Flats
Guided tour of the Hato Caves
Guided tour of Chobolobo
Re-board your transportation and return to your ship
Tour Overview
Board your air-conditioned transportation for a scenic drive from the colorful sights of Willemstad to the Curaçao Museum in Otrobanda. Founded in 1946, the museum, housed in a colonial-style building dating back to the 1800s, showcases contemporary and traditional art from both local and international artists. There is a lovely permanent collection that features antique furniture, maps and charts from the Caribbean region, pre-Columbian Indian artifacts, and mahogany woodwork that dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Special exhibits are installed regularly, so there is always something new to discover and the outside grounds are shaded and perfect for a stroll. Continue with a guided driving tour through the island's north countryside. This is a unique opportunity to see the area's stark landscape and dramatic salt marshes. Bright pink flamingos dot the monochromatic landscape and small traditional villages can be seen.
Arrive at Hato Caves where you'll join a knowledgeable guide for a walking tour through the dramatic underground grottos. Marvel at the imposing stalactites and stalagmites, which produce unusual shadows in the caves' eerie lighting. Your guide will point out the "Pirate's Head," the "Sea Turtle" and the "Giant." Within the caves you will find unexpected crystal-clear pools and waterfalls that form in the limestone's depths. The caves are also a haven for a colony of rarely seen long nose fruit bats. The cave was originally used as a hiding place for runaway slaves and prior to that as a shelter for island natives. It is possible to find cave drawings on the rock walls that date back over 1000 years. Outside of the caves you can see the famous Madonna statue. From underground to above ground, your tour continues as you cross the Queen Juliana Bridge. At 185 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest bridges in the Caribbean and affords magnificent panoramic views of the city and the harbor.
The next stop on your tour is Chobolobo, the Dutch colonial country estate where the famous Curaçao liqueur is distilled. Created from the peel of the Valencia orange planted by the Spaniards when they discovered Curaçao, Chobolobo has been producing Blue since 1946. But it almost wasn't so. The different climate and soil conditions changed this juicy fruit into a kind of bitter, almost inedible produce. It was not until decades later that someone discovered that the peels of this orange contained an essential oil with an extraordinarily pleasing fragrance. During your guided tour of the distillery you will gain a good understanding of the process and will have an opportunity to sample the liqueur and purchase bottles to take home. Upon your return, you have the option of remaining in town for independent sightseeing or shopping. You are then responsible for your return to the ship, which is a short walk or taxi ride away.
Board your air-conditioned transportation for a scenic drive from the colorful sights of Willemstad to the Curaçao Museum in Otrobanda. Founded in 1946, the museum, housed in a colonial-style building dating back to the 1800s, showcases contemporary and traditional art from both local and international artists. There is a lovely permanent collection that features antique furniture, maps and charts from the Caribbean region, pre-Columbian Indian artifacts, and mahogany woodwork that dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Special exhibits are installed regularly, so there is always something new to discover and the outside grounds are shaded and perfect for a stroll. Continue with a guided driving tour through the island's north countryside. This is a unique opportunity to see the area's stark landscape and dramatic salt marshes. Bright pink flamingos dot the monochromatic landscape and small traditional villages can be seen.
Arrive at Hato Caves where you'll join a knowledgeable guide for a walking tour through the dramatic underground grottos. Marvel at the imposing stalactites and stalagmites, which produce unusual shadows in the caves' eerie lighting. Your guide will point out the "Pirate's Head," the "Sea Turtle" and the "Giant." Within the caves you will find unexpected crystal-clear pools and waterfalls that form in the limestone's depths. The caves are also a haven for a colony of rarely seen long nose fruit bats. The cave was originally used as a hiding place for runaway slaves and prior to that as a shelter for island natives. It is possible to find cave drawings on the rock walls that date back over 1000 years. Outside of the caves you can see the famous Madonna statue. From underground to above ground, your tour continues as you cross the Queen Juliana Bridge. At 185 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest bridges in the Caribbean and affords magnificent panoramic views of the city and the harbor.
The next stop on your tour is Chobolobo, the Dutch colonial country estate where the famous Curaçao liqueur is distilled. Created from the peel of the Valencia orange planted by the Spaniards when they discovered Curaçao, Chobolobo has been producing Blue since 1946. But it almost wasn't so. The different climate and soil conditions changed this juicy fruit into a kind of bitter, almost inedible produce. It was not until decades later that someone discovered that the peels of this orange contained an essential oil with an extraordinarily pleasing fragrance. During your guided tour of the distillery you will gain a good understanding of the process and will have an opportunity to sample the liqueur and purchase bottles to take home. Upon your return, you have the option of remaining in town for independent sightseeing or shopping. You are then responsible for your return to the ship, which is a short walk or taxi ride away.
Arrive at Hato Caves where you'll join a knowledgeable guide for a walking tour through the dramatic underground grottos. Marvel at the imposing stalactites and stalagmites, which produce unusual shadows in the caves' eerie lighting. Your guide will point out the "Pirate's Head," the "Sea Turtle" and the "Giant." Within the caves you will find unexpected crystal-clear pools and waterfalls that form in the limestone's depths. The caves are also a haven for a colony of rarely seen long nose fruit bats. The cave was originally used as a hiding place for runaway slaves and prior to that as a shelter for island natives. It is possible to find cave drawings on the rock walls that date back over 1000 years. Outside of the caves you can see the famous Madonna statue. From underground to above ground, your tour continues as you cross the Queen Juliana Bridge. At 185 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest bridges in the Caribbean and affords magnificent panoramic views of the city and the harbor.
The next stop on your tour is Chobolobo, the Dutch colonial country estate where the famous Curaçao liqueur is distilled. Created from the peel of the Valencia orange planted by the Spaniards when they discovered Curaçao, Chobolobo has been producing Blue since 1946. But it almost wasn't so. The different climate and soil conditions changed this juicy fruit into a kind of bitter, almost inedible produce. It was not until decades later that someone discovered that the peels of this orange contained an essential oil with an extraordinarily pleasing fragrance. During your guided tour of the distillery you will gain a good understanding of the process and will have an opportunity to sample the liqueur and purchase bottles to take home. Upon your return, you have the option of remaining in town for independent sightseeing or shopping. You are then responsible for your return to the ship, which is a short walk or taxi ride away.
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