It may seem obvious to say that visitors’ spirits usually lift while walking through a centuries-old mango forest gently swaying in the island breeze in Curaçao. But among these trees in Hofi Mango, it might be more than just the trade winds energizing passersby. The Caribbean island is said to be situated at the center of a vortex where two ley lines intersect—a place locals believe raises healthy vibrations and helps people feel more grounded. That alone is reason to investigate this coy island, but these lush lands hold even more secrets.
Curaçao, a volcanic island in the Dutch Caribbean, was first settled by Arawak people who came from South America. Europeans arrived in 1499, when it was taken over by the Spanish and then, eventually, the Dutch, who currently still claim the semi-autonomous country. Now the ruins of those Spanish and Dutch settlements and forts dot the island as a reminder of the desire to inhabit an island so strategically placed in the exploitative triangular trade.
The capital, Willemstad, is a riotous palette of pastel, lining the water’s edge with pink, blue, yellow, orange, and green. Stroll through town, and you’ll find decaying mansions of the wealthy colonial neighborhood of Pietermaai. You can walk through a cathedral made entirely of acacia thorns. You may even visit the oldest surviving synagogue in the Americas, with a floor completely covered in sand.
Farther inland, you’ll find vast fields once home to thriving aloe, indigo, and sugarcane plantations. You can still wander through a spiny green expanse of aloe vera plants—and then head nearby to the Curaçao Ostrich Farm, one of the largest outside continental Africa. And don’t forget the underwater world, a domain of coral, fish, and turtles gliding around the ocean and in underground caverns. A bonus for divers: Watch for stacks of rusted out cars and plane wreckage.
— Jennifer Billock
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Get ready for an adventure! Delta Airlines and Atlas Obscura will soon unveil the top 24 destinations for 2024. Stay tuned!
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