Both above and beneath the sea, Bonaire is a colorful island. The south is flat, blessed with 15,000 resident flamingos (2,000 more than the number of people) and miles of pink coral-rock beaches. Kralendijk, its capital, sparkles with bright, pastel buildings. To the north, narrow roads wind through green mountains and cactus-laden deserts where more than 190 species of tropical birds reside. Rare species include bright green Amazona parrots, ruby-topaz humming-birds, pearly-eyed thrashers, and Caribbean parakeets. At the island’s southern tip, home of the Antilles International Salt Company, mountains of glistening white salt offer a striking contrast to the blue ... [read more]

Curacao, the largest of five islands that make up the Netherlands Antilles, which include Bonaire, Saba, Saint Maarten and St. Eustatius, is a dry and hilly island completely surrounded with rich coral reefs – many within a stone’s throw of shore. Its coastline sparkles with beautiful sand beaches, secluded lagoons and snorkeling coves.

Willemstad, its capital, is delightfully Dutch, with open-air markets, narrow streets and rows of shops offering imports from all over the world. It is best known for its colorful Dutch-colonial architecture. According to legend, the first governor of Curacao suffered from migraine ... [read more]