Netherlands Antilles sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

The Antilles are well known as a center of beach tourism. Guests of the islands will be pleased to find several hundred beautiful beaches, magnificent parks and nature reserves, as well as numerous historical landmarks, interesting architectural sights and museums.

The best way to get acquainted with main landmarks of the islands is to visit the island of Curacao, which is home to the biggest medieval complex - Fort Amsterdam. The fort was built in 1635 and is currently used as the government's residence. In the past, the fort was used as a protective facility, so all the inner premises were turned into casemates in order to counter a possible attack. The Museum of Curacao, which is open in one of old buildings, is among the most interesting cultural destinations on the island. The museum exhibits different collections and many interesting items, such as pictures, elegant furniture, maps, old working tools, craftworks and much more. Tourists are also recommended to pay attention to the following museums: the Marine Museum, the Fort Amsterdam Church Museum, the Jewish Cultural and Historical Museum and Kura Hulanda Museum.

Travelers, who want to get acquainted with local flora and fauna, are recommended to visit the island of Bonaire. This island has quite an unusual nature - its northern part is covered by hills and dense forests, while the southern part is mostly a steep one. Thanks to such a unique contrast, it's possible to see many different species of animals and numerous types of plants. There are particularly many birds on the island - more than 200 species. Fans of scuba diving will also fall in love with this place as local waters are home to more than 500 species of fish, rare sea turtles and more than 70 types of seaweed. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Continue your exploration of the Antilles with a visit to Kralendijk as this island has much to offer to travelers. Magnificent parks, old architectural landmarks, museums - Kralendijk is very diverse. An excursion to Fort Oranje, which was built in the seventeenth century, will leave many pleasant memories. A part of halls of the fort was transformed into the historic and marine museums, while the remaining rooms have become port offices. There is a lighthouse near the fort, which has become one more symbol of the island. The museum of Bonaire is a great place to learn more about the culture and history of native Indian tribes.

Fans of wild nature should not forget to visit the uninhabited island of Klein Bonaire (Small Bonaire). This small island has nothing but spacious beaches, numerous birds and impenetrable jungles. The part of the island is a reserve zone and is protected by the government, and the remaining territory is free to visit. Finally, the oldest buildings on the Antilles can be found on Rincon. There are also several interesting markets and restaurants on the island.

History and Entertainment

All in all, the archipelago comprises more than 50 islands, the total area of which is over 228 m2. The etymology of the islands’ names is connected with few interesting legends. The modern name was first mentioned in the 15th century. In the middle of the 20th century, an old map was found. Venetian mapper Zuane Pizzigano marked an unknown “ghost” island with the same name on it. Subsequently, the medieval name was given to the entire archipelago that is now famous for its luxurious beaches, romantic hotels and exotic nature.

For nature admirers and divers, one of the most interesting islands is Sint Eustatius. Its distinctive feature is picturesque beaches with white sand. Some lush bushes start near the coast and turn into the impassable tropical forest in the heart of the island. This place attracts drivers with the incredible beauty of coral gardens that caused multiple shipwrecks hundreds of years ago. Approximately, there are almost 200 sunken ships in island waters.

One of the most populous islands of the archipelago is Haiti. Almost 20 million people permanently reside in its territory. It is not surprising that the largest resorts with upscale hotels welcoming a lot of world-famous celebrities are located exactly here. Despite the people’s exploration, the populous island has managed to preserve its unique nature attractions. Today, there are several national parks and a complex of lakes called the Blue Pool. It includes three magnificent lakes linked by waterfall cascades. The color of lake waters is blue and saturated, which is explained by a high cobalt content.

The Antilles are really unusual and remarkable from the geographical point of view. The matter is that some islands of the archipelago are of land origin and others are of volcanic origin. Due to this, on the islands, there is an incredible number of rare plants, birds and animals that cannot be met in other regions of the world. Here, you can also admire evergreen forests that are a great rarity.