Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019 Issue

There’s lots of new and cool in the
Dutch Caribbean ABC Islands, and
a great new family resort coming to
Cancun, as well! Let’s have a
look…
New in Curacao
A new Museum of Natural History has just
opened on the grounds of the beautiful lush
forests of ex-plantation Landhuis Bloemhof
(bloemhof means garden of flowers,) just
outside of downtown Willemstad. Now visitors
of all ages can enjoy informational
tours, wonderful interactive exhibits, and
indoor and outdoor activities centering
around the island’s fascinating geological
past. Also, on the grounds is one of the most
incredible art installations in the Caribbean
called “The Cathedral of Thorns”. Local
visionary Herman van Bergen is the creator;
he has been painstakingly building this lifesized
structure from locally sourced thorns
that, when completed, will be an impressive
shrine to religions from all over the world.
It’s a must-see when on island.
Visit: naturemuseumcuracao.com
On the marine life front, the annual
Curacao Dive Festival is returning this year
(Sept.29-Oct.5th) and it will be bigger and
better than ever. The week-long event features
all kinds of underwater adventures,
professional training, gala parties, and
informative conferences, and many resorts
are offering great stay and dive packages to
promote it.
Visit: scubadivingcuracao.vacations
Photo: Stan Bysshe
There’s also a new stand-alone private
island stay owned by luxury resort Baoase
called “Isla Kiniw”. Located off their property
out in Spanish Waters with Table Mountain
as the backdrop, the tiny island hosts one
luxe Caribbean style villa that sleeps up to 8
people with its own private beach, infinity
pool, and access to a private boat, a putting
green, a helicopter pad and watersports
gear. It’s bound to be a visiting celebrity
favorite, especially during the famous
Curacao North Sea Jazz festival.
Visit: baoase.com/villa-suites/isla-kiniw-private-island/
New in Bonaire
Though well known as a diver’s paradise,
Bonaire has not really been on the discerning
diner’s radar… until now! Ever since the
new upscale Delfins Beach Resort added
divine seaside eatery Brass Boer to their
offerings, foodies in the know have been
flocking there in droves to sample the
unique gourmet fare inspired by none other
than Dutch Chef Jonnie Boer and his
Michelin star restaurant De Librije in the
Netherlands. Chef Jonnie and his wife
Thérèse are big fans of Bonaire, so they
decided to bring a taste of their favorite specialties
to its shores. The menu is designed
for sharing, the concept is to choose three or
four small plates each and share them communal
style, and there is also a selection of
dishes specifically designed to be shared by
two. You can also book a private pier dinner
(Table 14) for up to six people, and their
wine list is also top notch.
Visit: www.brassboar.com
New in Aruba
Photo: Delfins Beach Resort
Ever wanted to sleep in a luxury treehouse?
At Aruba Ocean Villas, now you can! The
latest creative stay to be added to their
selection of South Pacific style overwater
bungalows and chic beach villas is a splitlevel
treehouse. The thatched palapa style
abode has a living area, a deep soaking
tub, and even a real piano inside so you can
rock-a-bye your baby in the treetops all
night long. This lovely little boutique resort in
Savaneta now also offers guests complimentary
reef-friendly sunscreen made by locally
owned Aruba Aloe since the island has now
legally banned sunscreen that contains
coral-killing chemicals. See all their seriously
special stay options here:
www.arubaoceanvillas.com
New in Cancun
Opening December 2019, the new Now
Natura Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa will be
the latest AMResorts’ installation to grace
the shores of Mexico’s most popular winter
escape region. When complete, this new
family-friendly all-inclusive resort complex
will offer 556 rooms on its own beach along
with their signature “Unlimited Luxury ®”
program that includes scads of fine food
and drink at numerous outlets as well as
24/7 room service. The new resort will also
have all kinds of cool things for families to
enjoy like a lazy river, waterslides, and a
‘rollglider’ ride, plus their signature supervised
Explorer’s Club and Core Zone Teen
Club will keep the kids busy with all kinds of
fab activities so parents can slip away to
enjoy the signature Spa by Pevonia fashioned
after a tropical grotto. Keep your eye
on their website this fall as there’s bound to
be lots of great opening special packages.
Visit: www.nowresorts.com/natura
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Award-winning travel journalist
Sue Campbell is based in Montreal but makes it
her business to be on top of everything cool, hot,
and new under the sun throughout the
Caribbean and Latin America.
World Traveler welcomes her as a
regular columnist.
Follow her on
Instagram and Twitter @suectravel
Photo: Ken Theysen
Photo: AMResorts
Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019