Experience Curacao’s West coast with us
August 19, 2017The ultimate day trip, Go to Klein Curacao
October 13, 2017
The pink lighthouse of Klein Curacao
Right in the middle of the 1.7 square kilometers uninhabited island called Klein Curacao, stands
the iconic pink lighthouse. The first lighthouse was built in 1850, but destroyed by unforgiving
hurricanes in 1877. The next lighthouse, which still survives, was built in the interior of the
island. It was home to fearless lighthouse keepers, who stayed in the adjoining rooms, without
running water or electricity
Standing alone in the middle of the island, it is now abandoned. The wooden stairs to the top of
the lighthouse are still intact, as are the two stories of rooms. The 22 meters (66 feet) tall tower
had to be rebuild three times but is still functioning today. Due to the many shipwrecks, putting
the lighthouse back to work was more than necessary. Despite all the technologies we use
nowadays,
Klein Curacao is still a very difficult island to maneuver around. Most recent, in 1982
a large oil tanker, the Maria Bianca Guidesman, stranded on the windward side of Klein
Curacao. And not just ships, also yachts have fallen victim to its ferocious waters. In 2008, the
light tower got a LED beacon with solar panels, still flashing every 15 seconds.
Klein Curacao is a low, flat island which makes it hard to spot from the bridge of a ship. The
island has even been called “a worthless cliff” and “being in the way of the traffic on the
ocean”. However true, many shipwrecks on Klein Curacao are because of the very strong
currents and the unforgiving northeast winds. This combination of wind and current make it
very hard for even the best of captains to steer their vessel around the island.
The all-important pink lighthouse is definitely one of the sights to go and admire while on Klein
Curacao. The distance from the bounty beach where the recreational boats anchor to the
lighthouse is not too far for a walk. Try to go there first as it can gradually get very hot and wind
still in the middle of the island as the day progresses.
It’s not every day that you get to say you visited an uninhabited bounty island, full of history
and mystery. So, take a boat trip to Klein Curacao for some well-deserved bragging rights and
some surreal photos!