Active Pursuits

Cruises

The two-masted Bounty, Sarifundy Marina (tel. 599/9-767-9998; www.bountyadventures.com), operated by Bounty Adventures, offers 4-hour snorkel, swim, and swing outings that include lunch, an open bar, a rope swing, snorkel gear, and a guided snorkel safari at both a tugboat wreck and shallow reef. Bounty sails every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 10am to 2:30pm. The fare is $69 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. Bounty Adventures also has a catamaran that sails to Klein Curaçao on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday; the cost is $89 for adults and $45 for children 4 to 12. The trip includes BBQ lunch, open bar, and snorkel gear. All boats leave from the Boathouse, Brakkeput Ariba z/n. Hotel pickup and drop-off can be arranged for an additional charge.

Travelers looking for an experience similar to the sailing days of yore should book a trip on the Insulinde, Handelskade (tel. 599/9-560-1340; www.insulinde.com). This 37m (121-ft.) traditionally rigged clipper offers afternoon snorkel, scenic tour, beach swim, and sail safaris for $50 for adults ($30 for children), and day trips to the island of Klein Curaçao for $90 (children $50). These trips depart at 6:30am and return at 6:30pm and include breakfast and lunch. Boats leave from right next to the Queen Emma Bridge in town. Occasional live-aboard weekend cruises to Bonaire and exotic cruises to uninhabited islands are featured on the website.

Diving & Snorkeling

Curaçao offers spectacular underwater treasures when it comes to marine environments, where scuba divers and snorkelers can enjoy healthy reefs and good visibility. Stretching along 20km (12 miles) of Curaçao's southern coastline, the Curaçao Underwater Park features steep walls, shallow wrecks, gardens of soft coral, and more than 30 species of hard coral. A snorkel trail with underwater interpretive markers is laid out just east of the Breezes resort and is accessible from shore.

The two most spectacular dive sites are the Mushroom Forest and Sponge Forest where oversize coral heads and sponges abound. Two good wreck dives are the Superior Producer, a sunken vessel near Willemstad Harbor, and the tugboat near Caracas Bay. Dramatic vertical drops abound and can be explored at Knipbai and Blauwbaai. Due to the abundance of marine life, night dives are particularly rewarding in Curaçao.

Ocean Encounters Diving (tel. 599/9-461-8131; www.oceanencounters.com) offers the most complete dive facilities and services at many hotels, including Breezes, Lions Dive & Beach Resort, Hilton Curaçao Resort, and both Kurá Hulanda properties. It offers daily two-tank dives for $87 and afternoon snorkel trips for $44; wreck dives and night dives run $65. Ocean Encounters can even arrange interactive open-water dolphin dives together with the Dolphin Academy for $242. Weekly trips to Mushroom Forest and East Punt and Klein Curaçao are also offered for $130 with its fleet of seven custom dive boats. The Kid's Sea Camp offers underwater educational activities for children.

Coral Above and Below -- After emerging from an awe-inspiring dive to a healthy reef that was a patchwork of pink, purple, and green corals, waving fans containing a Carnival of topaz, yellow, and pink fish, I glanced skyward. As if to not be outdone, a flock of pink flamingos silently glided overhead in a perfectly synchronized single-file display. Thank goodness salt water conveniently masked the tears of awe. Awwww.

Sustainable Diving & Snorkeling -- Touching any coral -- including soft corals such as sea fans -- is forbidden in any marine protected area and should be avoided at all costs everywhere. Even the lightest contact is deadly to the coral and can scrape and cut you as well, leaving rashes and stings much like that of a jellyfish (coral's free-floating cousin). Divers and snorkelers are also not permitted to touch, pet, or otherwise harass any fish, including eels and rays, whose delicate skin is coated with antibacterial slime, which protects them from potentially deadly skin infections.

Feeding fish is similarly dangerous, however innocuous it seems. It can alter natural feeding behavior or, worse, cause the fish to sicken or die from ingesting unfamiliar food.

But wait, there's more. By applying sunscreen or insect repellent before entering the water, divers release harmful chemicals to the water and can mimic the coral's hormones causing them premature death and illness.

It seems the more scientists learn, the more delicate these systems appear. Want to make up for past infractions? Check out REEF, the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (www.reef.org), a volunteer monitoring program that allows divers to log in and add their fish sightings to a gobal database used by scientists to monitor populations.

Fishing

Proximity to the continental shelf of South America and wanton overfishing significantly limit the likelihood of catching large pelagic fish, and their rarity significantly limits the pleasure of hauling these spectacular top predators from the sea as either a prize or a meal -- it also ain't cheap. Deep-sea fishing costs $350 for a half-day tour (six-person maximum) and $525 for a full-day tour, with drinks and equipment included. Let's Fish (tel. 599/9-561-1812; www.letsfish.net) offers small-scale fishing charters, including bonefishing trips on the flats, which are strictly catch and release, and therefore much more sustainable.

Golf

Blue Bay Golf and Beach Resort (tel. 599/9-868-1755; www.bluebaygolf.com) provides 18 holes close enough to the Blue Bay Beach that you can leave the spouse and kids there for the day and still meet for lunch at the adjacent restaurant. This par-72 course at 6,815 yards opened in 1999 and takes advantage of the island's natural terrains and arid landscape. Designed by Rocky Roquemore, it's a challenging course, with some holes over water, but it provides stunning views of the Caribbean. Greens fees start at $85, including cart rental. It's open from 7am to 7pm daily.

Horseback Riding

Criadero El Hijo de David, Seru Lora naast 175 (tel. 599/9-465-1166), can arrange 2-hour tours along scenic trails that pass by Salt-Lakes near Jan Theil Bay for $50, or 3-hour tours to Caracasbaai for $75. It also offers beginner lessons in an outdoor ring. Call ahead for an appointment.

Mountain Biking

Curaçao hosted the Union Cycliste Internationale's 2006 Mountain Bike World Cup, so it should come as no surprise that the trails here can be pretty challenging. Wanna Bike (tel. 599/9-527-3720; www.wannabike-curacao.net) offers guided tours for riders of all levels. In addition to well-equipped bikes and helmets, the knowledgeable guides provide an insightful historic narrative of key historic sites and ruins. Bike tours lasting from 8am to 11pm cost $32.

Off-Roading

ATV excursions into rugged off-road areas can be arranged through Eric's ATV Adventures, Martin Luther King Boulevard across from Lion's Dive (tel. 599/9-524-7418; www.curacao-atv.com).The cost for a half-day tour is $90 for a single and $140 for a two-person machine suitable for two adults or one adult and one child. These hefty four-wheel behemoths, reminiscent of a large tractor mower, can take on the steepest and rockiest terrain. The vehicle is relatively easy to operate, if rather loud and extremely hot underneath you. Goggles and helmets are provided. Sunscreen, eye protection, long pants, and closed shoes are highly recommended. A valid U.S. or international driver's license is required, and all drivers must be at least 16 years of age. The Bike Shop Curaçao, Sta. Rosawegn 27a (tel. 599/9-560-3882; www.thebikeshop.nl), also rents motorcycles and scooters.