7 facts about Curacao

1. Curacao enjoys year-round warm temperatures and sunny skies. The highest temperature ever measured on the island is 100.94 Fahrenheit (38,3 degrees Celsius) and the lowest is 68 Fahrenheit (19.7 degrees Celsius).

2. Curacao’s name comes from the Portuguese word “coracao”, meaning “heart.” The island may also have been named after an archaic Portuguese word for “cure” or “healing”. Inhabitants call their home Kòrsou.

3. UNESCO designated the capital, Willemstad, as a World Heritage Site for its historic inner city and harbour. The two city parts, Punda and Otrobanda, are connected by The Queen Emma Bridge, known as the Pontjesbrug, or the Old Swinging Lady

4. Curacao’s rich cultural heritage includes around 60 former plantation houses, built in the 18th and 19th centuries. most plantation houses were used for agriculture or salt and remain intact today.

5. With a population of 160,000, Curacao is the largest of the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. The second largest is Aruba (110,000 inhabitants), followed by Bonaire (22,500).

6. Curacao’s tap water is soft and contains no chlorine and almost no calcium. Island water is tasteless and odorless, with a good bacteriological composition. It’s widely considered better quality than most bottled water.

7. Curacao is home to the Caribbean’s largest and longest-lasting carnival celebrations. The party starts before the Lenten period leading up to Easter and lasts for two months. Peaking during the last week, the unique event takes over the entire island with Calypso festivals, beauty pageants, and street parties.