Authentically Curacao
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Port
Willemstad, Curacao
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Activity Level
Easy
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$44.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 2½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Board an air-conditioned motorcoach at the pier and set out on a relaxing panoramic drive through the Otrobanda section of Willemstad.
Founded in 1707, Otrobanda is the newer section of the city, and its name translates to 'other side.' You'll see a lovely array of historic mansions as you drive past the Queen Emma Bridge -- the famous floating bridge that connects both sides of Willemstad. Traveling over another famous bridge, the Queen Juliana Bridge, is an exhilarating experience. This is the tallest bridge in the Caribbean; you'll find yourself 185 feet above sea level with expansive views of the city and harbor below.
Stop at Chobolobo -- the Dutch colonial country estate where the famous Curaçao liqueur has been distilled since 1946. It is created from the peel of the Valencia oranges planted by the Spaniards when they first arrived. The family has been producing Blue Curaçao since 1886. During a guided tour of the distillery, sample the liqueur, distilled in 100-year-old barrels, and purchase a souvenir bottle to take home.
Continue to the eastern part of the island to visit the Aloe Vera Farm to taste aloe juice. Some tempting and interesting products are available in the gift shop.
Next up is the Chichis Workshop. Chichis is a nickname for the women of Curaçao. At the workshop, local women make sculptures and paint them in charming tropical colors so that every sculpture is unique.
Your tour ends with a short drive through Punda -- the oldest part of Willemstad -- before you return to the ship.
Notes:
The Chichis Gallery is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and holidays; a visit to Fort Nassau will be substituted. Named for the House of Orange-Nassau, 16th-century Fort Nassau provides a charming 360⁰ view over a large part of the island.