A Great Variety in the East, The eastern part of Curacao is where most of the population lives. The trails here often cover more than one type of ecosystem. These trails are also more heavily traveled by hikers and mountain bikers.
The southeastern part of the island is home to the Jan Thiel Nature Reserve. The area offers a variety of terrain for mountain biking through clusters of mangrove trees, around a lagoon, and past historical structures like an old fort Bekenburg and a 200 year old quarantine building! For those not up to a mountain bike ride, tourists can also hike around the lagoon. It’s a more low-intensity activity, and can be completed in just a few hours of relatively level walking, although if the water level of the lagoon is high, staying out of the water can be tricky.
Another beach-to-hill hiking trail starts at Boka St. Michiel known as Boca-Sami to the locals. From the top of the 344-foot hill, enjoy a bird’s eye view of the fishing village and small beach below. Many hikers enjoy seeing wild birds on this walk. This could be a good alternative to Mount Chrisoffel, and a little less strenuous.
For hikers seeking a bit more culture, the self-guided Indian Trail at Hato Caves takes less than half-an-hour. The cave drawings of the indigenous Arawak people of Curacao are still visible on these coral limestone cavern walls. And hundreds of years ago, escaped slaves hid in this same caves. As much of the hiking on Curacao is out in the open, with minimal shade areas, this diversion can be a welcome change of pace.
And perhaps the most dynamic trail on Curacao spans St. Joris Baai to Koraal Tabak, a dramatic looking, airy cave at the top of a hill. While most of the other trails stay within one or two ecosystems, this trail offers perhaps the greatest variety of sights and sounds, making for an interesting and challenging excursion. While many of there other trails could be hiked or biked, this one is best seen by bike. Mountain bikers tour mangroves, salt flats, cliffs, and caves. They stand on rocky shores and sandy beaches, and pass coastal windmills turning lazily. As the trail winds down at the Malpais Nature Preserve, bringing the trail full circle from sea to shore.