Curacao, along with Bonaire and Aruba, form the ABC islands, which are located near the coast of Venezuela. Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island, is famed for its tucked-away beaches and enormous coral reefs teeming with marine life. Curacao has two main docking areas, one of which is the new Curacao Giant Pier, which is meant for megaships. Smaller ships dock at the Curacao Cruise Terminal (Mathey Wharf), which is a short walk from the floating Queen Emma Bridge, which connects the city’s main shopping and business districts. This pier is in West Willemstad, just a short walk from downtown. Willemstad, the capital, boasts pastel-colored colonial buildings, a floating Queen Emma Bridge, and the sand-floored Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue from the 17th century. It also serves as a gateway to western beaches such as Blue Bay, a popular diving destination.
