Given the cold temps and ice in Tennessee this last month, Tammy and I were glad to have a warm Caribbean trip planned, and what better place to go than Curacao?

Situated in the lower part of the Caribbean, it’s part of the ABC islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, and as the name title implies, sits in the middle of the three just north of South America.

After an overnight in Miami, we boarded the just over three-hour flight to the island, where we were met with sunny skies and mid-80’s temperatures.

After arriving and getting settled at Sandals with a bite of late lunch, we headed to the waterfront to soak in the warmth of the approaching sunset and enjoy the white sand between our toes.

We started the next day by sleeping in without an alarm, then headed out for a walk to explore the resort and the surrounding area before grabbing a mid-afternoon coffee. Many unique flowers lined our walking path, many bright and beautiful.

This evening gave us an even better sunset as it faded down across the bay. An evening of sushi and live entertainment followed.

Being at a Sandals resort gives us the opportunity to be spoiled in a way. It’s all inclusive, so a vast food array can be had at all hours of the day, a steady stream of activities, as well as a fun nightlife. So much fun.

On Wednesday, we were up early, heading out at 5:45 with a local guide for a hike inside the Christoffel National Park. With the heat and sun, any hiking should start early, and after a ride across the island, we began our trek shortly after dawn. So much to see along the way, from ruins of an old settlement to what the locals call “tree of life” and we jokingly tagged as “plants that want to maim you”. Our guide, Elton, carried a pair of pruning shears because of so much vegetation creeping into the trail and for the dreaded “spike trees”… yes, bushes and trees with spikes sticking out from their limbs and branches. Wow. Oh, and did I mention cacti? Never saw as many cacti as we did here, constantly trying to poke you and sometimes succeeding. Never again will we not bring our hiking pants. Lesson learned.

The views from the three mountain tops were incredible, able to see for miles, villages off into the distance, and surrounded by the ocean. One mountaintop even had a specific type of palm trees growing on it, which was really unique to see them there.

Another hike took us to one of the six salt flats of Curacao, created by saltwater lakes evaporating and leaving the white and thin salt layer behind. A bit further, we found crystal-clear water and a cave to explore.

After our hikes, we had a late lunch at a local restaurant, a converted plantation home that’s been serving local patrons for nearly 30 years. We had quite the choice of local favorites, but we settled on stewed oxtail, boiled cornmeal, and black beans and rice, washed down with oregano punch and banana Fria. It was quite tasty.

On our way back to the resort, we took a detour to a McDonald’s. Not quite the same menu as in the States, but the frappes hit the spot.

After cleaning up from a long day, we enjoyed dinner and desserts on the sand and made our way inside for a welcoming early night. Sleepy time.

Full album of pictures: https://photos.destinationsawait.com/Curacao-Part-One