Klein Curacao, also referred to as Little Curacao, is a desert island spanning 2/3 sq. miles, positioned six miles off the japanese coast of Curacao. Regardless of its turbulent historical past, the island has reworked right into a serene paradise.
Embark on a visible exploration of this intriguing tropical vacation spot to see if this little slice of heaven is asking your title.
Port at Barbara Seashore Marina
A journey to Klein Curacao begins on the lovely Barbara Seashore Marina, a few 30-minute drive east of Willemstad. Since we have been Sandals visitors and booked our tour via Island Routes, we solely needed to stroll right down to the docks from the foyer to board Miss Ann. For those who’re staying in Willemstad, pick-up service is accessible from most lodges.
Scenic Boat Experience
Sandals visitors board first, so we selected out of doors seating on the bow sundeck. Very quickly, we had pulled out of port and have been on our manner.
The crossing over to the island was highlighted by colleges of flying fish leaping out of the bow wave, and the return voyage featured rum drinks served by the crew. In about 45 minutes, we might see the define of Klein Curacao on the horizon, and quarter-hour later, we had set anchor and began boarding tenders to achieve land.
Crystal Blue Water
The very first thing you discover is how clear the water is and its distinctive shade of turquoise. Caribbean Blue is greater than an Enya music; it’s our backdrop for a rare seaside day. The extra we appeared, the extra nuances revealed themselves, just like the darker blues of corals that we knew have been teeming with colourful fish.
Prettiest Seashores within the Caribbean
The outboard motor of the tender sputtered to a cease, and we splashed onto what many think about the prettiest seaside in your complete Caribbean. Empty white sand stretched out in each instructions, and we might hardly wait to start out exploring. The island has no everlasting inhabitants and little vegetation aside from a number of coconut palms and salt grasses.
Loads of Seating and Shade
Regardless of the desolation, there was a quaint, charming seaside home with a seaside bar, ample shade, swings, sunbeds, bathrooms, and a freshwater bathe. We claimed our patch of shade underneath a palm-frond-covered palapa and laid our towels out on the seaside chairs. Though we have been miles from civilization, the attentive Miss Ann crew was there to pamper us.
Meals and Drinks
They serve a continental-type breakfast with scrambled eggs and breakfast meats.
By the point lunch rolled round, we might odor the cookout earlier than they introduced it. We had our alternative of rooster with Thai peanut sauce or burger with a facet of juicy contemporary fruit.
The crew distributed memento plastic cups to your drink choice. We began with the complimentary mushy drinks as a result of we had our eyes on diving. Nevertheless, we loved a blended mango mojito or two after our final dive. Normally, this is able to be a paid further, but it surely was included as a part of our Island Routes tour since we have been Sandals visitors.
Historic Lighthouse
A path leads from the picnic shelter in the direction of the island’s inside and the historic 1879 lighthouse. You possibly can think about a time when a lonely lighthouse keeper dealt with this construction, however immediately, the sunshine is powered by an automated photo voltaic LED. The 66′ tall tower nonetheless retains wayward sailors off the rocky coast, however the masonry constructing is slowly returning to nature.
Maria Bianca Guidesman Shipwreck
Past the lighthouse sits the island’s indignant japanese shore. Watching the waves crash, you understand why the crew warned us to not enter the ocean right here and the lighthouse’s very important function. Nevertheless, not each ship heeded the warning.
The Maria Bianca Guidesman is an oil tanker that ran aground within the 1980’s. She’s the island’s most well-known wreck however not the one one. Different wrecks and particles dot the ragged shoreline, together with a French crusing yacht, the Tschao. Our crew stated the captain was sloppy drunk when he ran ashore. All of the sailors made it again safely, however the captain’s return voyage was in handcuffs.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling was prohibited on the japanese shore, however the western seaside held loads of crannies to discover. We picked up a snorkel set on the seaside bar and have been free to discover. Some visitors reported seeing turtles and reef fish on their solo journeys. Nevertheless, the crew took no possibilities. They led a guided dive that included fish feeding and made positive everyone had an opportunity to see the underwater world.
Scuba Diving
Though we spent per week diving at Sandals as an included exercise, we couldn’t resist paying the small upcharge for a one-tank dive at Klein Curacao. We debated it briefly, however we’re so glad we pulled the set off.
The reefs have been superb, wholesome, and vigorous. We noticed turtles, eels, and the most important puffer fish ever. Our DM, Mieke, was pleasant, and with solely three skilled divers and shut boat assist, we had virtually as a lot backside time on our one-tank dive as two tanks with Sandals.
Open Air Therapeutic massage
You would possibly ask how something might be extra stress-free than sitting within the shade on a abandoned island. The reply can be an open-air therapeutic massage. What we beloved in regards to the setup was that they occupied a second-floor area, so you can see the seaside, hear the waves, however stay sand-free.
Simply What’s Klein Curacao’s Darkish Previous
This little island wasn’t all the time a paradise. The Dutch West India Firm introduced many slaves from Africa to Curaçao and used Klein Curacao to separate the sick, useless, and dying. The stays of the primary quarantine constructing may be discovered within the northwest of the island, and unmarked graves dot the southern shore. The Dutch West India Firm additionally hunted the now-extinct Caribbean monk seals on Klein Curaçao. From 1871 until 1886, a lot phosphate was mined from the island that it sank far sufficient into the ocean to trigger an ecological collapse. Feral goats and cats worn out what remained of the delicate net of life.
The goats have been eradicated in 1996, as have been feral cats by 2004. The CARMABI Marine Analysis Station is main a reforestation effort, and the island was designated as a protected Ramsar web site in 2018. With ecotourism as a backing, the island is starting to get well and once more develop into an essential nesting location for each seabirds and sea turtles.
Simple Reserving With Island Routes
Each Sandals visitor (and even non-Sandals visitors!) ought to think about reserving with Island Routes, whether or not it’s a ship journey to Klein Curacao, a tour of Willemstad, or a beach-hopping journey to Westpunt. Their service was completely built-in into the Sandals expertise, with a foyer storefront and well-practiced departures from the property.
With how nicely Island Routes executed our journey and the professionalism proven all through, we now have each confidence that any of their excursions might be professionally run, and you should have a good time on the journey!
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