Caracasbaai Peninsula

Index

Hiking On Curaçao

To The Starting Location

Related blogs on my website

Hiking On Curaçao

I wanted do a long walk on Curaçao. There were about three organizations that offer this, but all their walks are on the other side of the island. Without a car I will not get there at 7 am, the starting time. In addition, there are no marked routes, so walking alone is not an option in unknown nature reserves. And then I came across one on the peninsula of Caracasbaai.

Caracasbaai Peninsula

I know that there is a building there, the quarantine building and I have also dived there twice at directorsbay in the past, but apparently there is more in the area. I'm curious. The start is on Saturday morning at 7 am a short half hour walk from my mothers house where I am staying.

To The Starting Location

I leave on time. The walk to the starting location is not so interesting, because I walk along a road with houses and then along the beach and parking places. The starting location is the parking space before a restaurant on the beach. I see a small group and that turns out to be the group.

The Hike

I first start on asphalt, but soon I walk on a beautiful stretch at the fort. Fort Bekenburg, I can climb it and see remnants and enjoy the view. I visit the fort and walk in the mondi (forest) around it. A few weeks later, the surrounding of Fort Bekenburg is the place where I conduct an interview with an artist about being an artist on Curaçao. It is one of the places that inspires her, and I can see why.

Quarantine Building

I walk further up to the quarantine building. The house or hospital where people who were infected had to be quarantined and were taken care of. The building is full of graffiti and in poor condition. Watch out when visiting it.

Nature

After the quarantine building I go into nature. I walk past Directorsbay, which has that name because the directors of Shell were the only once allowed to swim here. Sharks are not common on the south side of the island, but they were still afraid of losing the directors' as the folkstales say and therefore placed nets against sharks in the bay.

Beautiful Views

Back to the hike with now a view of the Spanish water I walk through a mangrove forest. It is low water, I keep my feet dry. From there I walk back to the entrance of the peninsula. In total I hiked for 3 hours with a short break at a few rocks to eat some fruit which was included with the hike. I paid a small amount to hike with the guide. I could pay in the national currency or in dolars. This area, Caracasbaai peninsula is definitely worth a visit, very beautiful. Go during the day and do not take valuables.