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Tropical Triathlon
By : Chanize Thorpe
Photos J. Kevin Foltz
Beach bumming on a Caribbean island is a no-brainer, but if you're seeking a more active vacation, Curaçao's got the goods for thrill-seekers. Sign up for all three of these options and think of it as an Ironman vacation.
Climb Every Mountain
Beat the sun's rays with an early morning hike up Mt. Christoffel, which lies in the island's northwest corner. At 1,200 feet, it's Curaçao's highest peak and a prime spot for nature lovers who embrace the challenge of traversing some of the 4,500 acres of government-designated natural preserve. Among others, the park has these three well-marked trails: the Zorgvlied route runs along the eastern flank of the mountain, passing by old Caquetío Indian caves; the Zevenbergen trail takes in the southwest corner of the park, where 10-foot-high cacti blooming with rare orchids grow and white-tailed deer, wild goats and blue iguanas roam; and the Christoffel trail, which offers panoramic vistas and is the perfect spot for bird-watching. Guided tours are also available either by jeep or on foot.
carmabi.org
One if by Land
The best way to take in Curaçao's eastern landscape is on wheels. Bypass boring bus tours and instead ride an ATV for an exhilarating safari through the desert-like terrain. Eric's ATV Adventures offers a three-hour tour on easy-to-navigate Honda Ranchers and Bombardier Outlanders. There are a few hair-raising dips and turns during the trip (a more kid-friendly tour is also available), but your heart will skip a beat in awe, not fear, when you stop at the island's dramatic coastline and take in the view of sister island Bonaire, about 20 miles away. The bonus? At the end of your trip, you'll receive a free CD with pictures of your fun ride.
www.curacao-atv.com
Two if by Sea
With sea temperatures a delicious 82 degrees and a 12.5-mile protected coral reef fronting the island, water fun is tops on Curaçao. Both snorkelers and divers can discover the secrets of the deep with more than 40 dive areas. Locations have unusual and often comical monikers like Hell's Corner and Seldom Reef, named for the deep 90-degree wall that's both spectacular and seldom dived, and No Way, the phrase often uttered by experienced divers upon seeing this challenging site. Not only will participants get a glimpse of the Caribbean's popular sea life like eagle rays, puffer fish, Creole wrasse and sea turtles, they'll also see the remnants of a sunken tugboat, ship, car and airplane. One of the most exciting sights is a trippy underwater cave called the Blue Room. This hidden treat, inside the Mushroom Forest dive site, gets its name from the dazzling blue color of the water when viewed from inside. Ocean Encounters West, located next to the Alice in Wonderland dive site on Playa Kalki in Curaçao's Westpunt area, offers daily excursions, PADI courses, equipment rental and an air-filling station.
oceanencounterswest.com
For more information about visiting Curaçao, please visit: experiencecuracao.com
How To Get There: American Airlines provides service to Curaçao. Visit aa.com.
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