Tropical Tidbits – Spring 2024

by Sue C Travel

Full circle Dutch Caribbean trip
This year I found myself celebrating the 25th anniversary of my writing about the beautiful ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao), and subsequently becoming a bonafide Dutch Caribbean expert. My first foray down there (I am based in Montreal, Canada,) was to the Curacao Sea Aquarium where I was asked to chronicle their opening and shadow their staff for two weeks to truly understand what their mission was all about. One of my tasks involved hand feeding sharks underwater in their new Animal Encounters enclosure. I had never even snorkeled before, and I was terrified of what lies beneath the waves. But before I could say “You’ve got the wrong writer,” they had me tethered to the dock with an air hose and suited up to scuba in the lagoon full of colorful fish and even stingrays. (The sharks resided on the other side of a Plexiglass wall, thank goodness!) That experience changed my life. My fear quickly gave way to an absolute enchantment with the underwater world, and I’ve been a snorkeling fanatic ever since. Each trip back to these islands to sleuth out all the new things to write about, I carve out time to learn more about the magical world of my underwater friends. It has become my happiest place to be.

A quick bounce through Bogota
On this last recent trip down there, I tried a different route. Avianca Air now flies to Curaçao via Bogota, Colombia. Summer travels to the Dutch Caribbean from here are challenging as direct flights are rare and typically much more expensive than high season. But this flight was overnight and then made a long pit stop in Bogota before heading on to Curacao. I ‘d never been there, and I wanted to check out some of the famous Colombian street art that spawned so many of these islands to do the same in their old neighborhoods. I had also noted that my favorite VIP airport hosts “First Class Experience Aruba” had recently opened a satellite operation in Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport. So I knew I would be assured of friendly faces greeting me and quickly dispatching me through the customs and security lines and settling me into the gorgeous El Dorado VIP lounge to refresh and fuel up between flights. I even had a shower there. They also booked me a great, yet short private tour to see some of the famous street art between flights. I thoroughly enjoyed a walking tour of the original warehouse graffiti district with local Ludwyn Lasso. (He works with bogotagraffiti.com and others, and I highly recommend him.) My quick trip into Bogota had me already planning to return, and I landed in Curaçao by 6pm the same day just in time to head to the annual Kaya Kaya Street Art festival downtown Willemstad that night. Perfect beginning.

Making new memories in Curaçao
I bounced around the island as always, my stays included checking out the gorgeous newly refurbished rooms at Wind Creek Renaissance downtown, they’ve also added a 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill there right off the cruise terminal, and totally renovated their casino. Other notable downtown improvements include lots of new outdoor art, fun new food and beverage escapes like The Swinging Old Lady Brewery named after the famous floating Queen Emma bridge that swings between the two sides of Willemstad. And the colorful district of Pietermaai downtown has a fabulous new boutique hotel called Wynwood and all kinds of great new eateries along that newly lively street including the Mexican Taqueria and the Italian Mi Familia. Nearby, the trendy new BKLYN Gastrobar is also well worth checking out.

Elsewhere on the island, I enjoyed a stay at Sunscape all-inclusive and enjoyed great snorkeling off their beach again. That was my original stay 25 years ago when it was the Princess Beach Hotel! Next door, I went seeking all new along the beach at Mambo Beach Blvd and stayed at the LionsDive hotel for the first time beside it. (See review here. ) I noticed a new queen conch farm at the sea aquarium well. My good expat Canadian buddy Bryan Horne who runs the island’s absolute best dive portal https://www.divecuracao.info/ recommended I try the new private charter boat called Millennium with Ocean Encounters. So, I gathered a group of 20 local friends and colleagues to try out their sunset cruise to Spanish Waters. I highly recommend it on all fronts. Snorkeling stops on their trips are also an option. I also spent some time snorkeling at Dreams Curaçao Resort and checked out their brand new adult-only all-inclusive installation of ‘kabinas’ (like little trailer pods for couples) on their own private beach called Il Mare. They are very cool. And I had to spend some time helping the grand old Dame the Avila Beach Hotel ( where the Dutch royal family always stays,) to celebrate their 75th anniversary offering signature classic hospitality on this island, too. too. Again, I enjoyed great snorkeling off their beaches as always, they have two private coves protected by a rocky manmade breakwater. This time I got to stay in the coveted adult-only Blues Wing. The Oceanfront Blues rooms are all-wood and built on a pier, they are an ideal romantic nook for couples, and I could see fish right below my deck, I did not even need to snorkel! And the sunset off that deck was surreal as well. I also revisited the first place I ever attended a Happy Hour on this island at their famous pier bar and restaurant now called Blues Caribbean Kitchen. Beyond excellent island cuisine they are most famous for their Thursday nights live jazz shows where the band is literally perched right above their bar inside. Magical!

I managed to connect with all my fishy friends just about everywhere I went on this trip though I was really busy sleuthing out so much new and cool I can’t cover it all here. But I can’t wait to return to explore and enjoy more of this charming little island that changed my life. For lots more island information on things to do and see, visit MyCuracaoGuide (https://www.mycuracaoguide.com/) you can also pick them up on the island for free. I’ve been writing for them for over 25 years since they were originally Curacao Nights magazine, the publication that made it possible for my ABC journey to begin with in the first place. Also visit the tourism board’s website at: www.curacao.com.

Award-winning travel journalist Sue Campbell is based in Montreal but makes it her business to be on top of everything cool, hot, and new under the sun throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

World Traveler welcomes her as a regular columnist. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @suectravel