Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao (Adventure Guides Series) by 2002, Lynne M. Sullivan

Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
Regional History 2
Pre-Columbian Inhabitants 2
Europeans Arrive 4
Government & Economy 6
Land & Sea 7
Location & Layout 7
Geography & Topography 9
Climate 10
Plants 10
Wildlife 11
The People 19
Cuisine 21
Music 22
TRAVEL INFORMATION 25
When to Go 25
Planning the Trip 25
Celebrations & Events 26
Carnival 27
Holidays 29
Documentation 29
Passports 30
Visas 31
Clearing Customs 31
Entering the ABCs 32
Duty-Free Allowances 32
Money Matters 34
Currency 34
Credit Cards, Banks & ATMs 35
Going Metric 36
Electricity 37
Time 37
Health & Safety 37
Insurance 39
Traveler's Medical Assistance Insurance 39
Lost-Luggage Insurance 39
Trip-Cancellation Insurance 40
Non-Refundable Ticket Insurance 40
Insurance Agencies 40
Travelers With Special Needs 41
Getting Here 41
Air Service 41
Charter Air Service 43
Cruising 43
Island Hopping 45
Inter-Island Airlines 45
Inter-Island Ferry 45
Package Vacations 45
Yachting 46
Getting Around 46
Driving 46
Taxis 47
Buses 48
Accommodations 48
Accommodation Rates 49
Getting Married 49
Aruba 49
Catholic Church 50
Protestant Church 51
Synagogue 51
Bonaire 52
Curaçao 53
ARUBA 55
Overview 55
A Brief History 56
Early Inhabitants 56
The Puzzling Discovery 57
European Influence & Control 58
Oil & Tourism 59
Official Business 59
Unique Celebrations 60
Annual Events 60
Getting Here 62
By Air 62
By Cruise Ship 63
Leaving Aruba 64
Getting Around 65
Taxis 65
Taxi Rules & Fares 66
By Car 67
Car Rentals 67
By Bicycle, Scooter & Motorcycle 68
By Bus 69
Touring the Island 71
Getting Oriented 71
Guided Tours 71
Walking Tour of Oranjestad 73
Island-Wide Sightseeing 76
San Nicolas 83
Savaneta 84
Adventures on Water 84
Best Beaches 84
Adventures Underwater 88
Scuba 88
Boat Dives 89
Dive Operators 93
Glass-Bottom Boating 95
Windsurfing 95
Sailing 96
Kayaking 98
Water Thrills & Toys 98
Deep-Sea Fishing 99
Adventures on Land 100
Horseback Riding 100
Golf 101
Biking 102
Hiking 103
Climbing 103
Tennis 104
Skydiving 104
Shopping 104
Mainstreet 106
Royal Plaza Mall 107
Seaport Village Mall 108
Seaport Marketplace 109
Supermarkets 109
Where to Stay 110
Resorts & Hotels 111
Oranjestad 111
Palm Beach High-Rise Resorts 112
Low-Rise Resorts 115
Hotels off the Beach 118
Rental Agencies 120
Where to Eat 121
Oranjestad 123
In the Resort Areas 126
North End 129
South End 130
Nightlife 131
Party Buses 131
Dinner & Party Cruises 133
Casinos 133
Clubs & Bars 135
Island Facts & Contacts 136
BONAIRE 139
Overview 139
A Brief History 141
Early Inhabitants 141
Europeans Arrive 141
Oil & Tourism 143
Official Business 144
Unique Celebrations 145
Annual Events 145
Getting to Bonaire 146
By Air 146
By Cruise Ship 147
By Inter-Island Ferry 147
Leaving Bonaire 148
Getting Around 148
By Taxi 148
By Car 148
Car Rentals 148
By Bicycle, Scooter & Motorcycle 150
Touring the Island 151
Getting Oriented 151
Guided Tours 151
Self-Guided Tours 152
Walking Tour of Kralendijk 152
South of Kralendijk 154
North of Kralendijk 156
Washington-Slagbaai National Park 158
Klein Bonaire 159
Adventures on Water 160
Best Beaches 161
East Coast Beaches 164
Beaches South of Kralendijk 164
Beaches North of Kralendijk 164
Beaches on Klein Bonaire 165
Diving & Snorkeling 165
The Guided Snorkeling Program 167
Dive Vacation Planners 167
Top Dive Sites 168
Dive Operators 171
Windsurfing 176
Windsurfing Operators 176
Boating 177
International Sailing Regatta 177
Day Sails & Charters 177
Fishing 180
Fishing Operators 180
Adventures on Land 182
Birdwatching & Nature Hikes 182
Biking 182
Shopping 183
Where to Stay 185
Resorts & Hotels 186
West Coast 186
East Coast & Inland 189
Rental Alternatives 190
Where to Eat 190
In Kralendijk 192
Resort Restaurants 197
Elsewhere on the Island 198
Nightlife 199
Diving 199
Slide Shows 200
Party Boat 200
Live Bands 200
Bars & Dance Clubs 201
Casinos 202
Island Facts & Contacts 202
CURAÇAO 205
Overview 205
A Brief History 206
Early Inhabitants 206
European Influence & Control 206
Cultures Mix 208
Curaçao Today 209
Official Business 210
Unique Celebrations 210
Annual Events 211
Getting to Curaçao 213
By Air 213
By Cruise Ship 214
Leaving Curaçao 214
Getting Around 215
Taxis 215
By Car 216
Car Rentals 216
By Bus 217
Touring the Island 217
Getting Oriented 218
Guided Tours 218
Self-Guided Tours 219
Willemstad - UNESCO World Heritage Site 219
Sightseeing Southeast & North of Willemstad 229
Sightseeing West of Willemstad 235
Adventures on Water 239
Best Beaches 239
Diving & Snorkeling Sites 241
The Curaçao Underwater Park (Onderwaterpark) 243
West of Willemstad 243
The Central Shore, from Bullen Bay to Jan Thiel 244
Dive Operators 245
Sailing 248
Windsurfing 249
Deep-Sea Fishing 249
Adventures on Land 249
Tennis 249
Golf 250
Hiking 250
Horseback Riding 250
Biking 251
Shopping 251
Where to Stay 253
Resorts & Hotels 254
In & Near Willemstad 254
East of Willemstad 256
West of Willemstad 258
Rental Agencies 259
Where to Eat 260
Waterfort Arches 261
In & Near Willemstad 263
East of Willemstad 268
Elsewhere on the Island 269
Nightlife 270
Casinos 270
Resort Bars & Music 270
Other Nightspots 270
Movies 271
Island Facts & Contacts 271
Maps
Getting to the ABC Islands 8
Aruba 70
Oranjestad 74
Aruba Driving Tour 77
Bonaire 140
Kralendijk 153
Bonaire Marine Park 163
Curaçao 207
Willemstad Area 220
Punda 225
Otrabanda 228
Curaçao Eastern Driving Tour 231
Curaçao Western Driving Tour 236
Curaçao Beaches & Dive Sites 242