Today, we release a new country/regional souvenir for Curaçao! If you have found a geocache in Curaçao, you automatically receive the souvenir on your profile.

Curaçao sits at the southern end of the Caribbean. Although this small Caribbean island stretches just 40 mi (64 km) in length, it is home to bright and stunning murals, over 30 beaches, and incredible biodiversity from the coral reefs to its highest mountain peak. The island also boasts an incredible linguistic diversity. The locals commonly speak at least two, if not all, of four languages: Dutch, English, Papiamentu, and Spanish.

Geocaches are sprinkled throughout the island. If you would like to see Curaçao’s various shades of blue ocean water, GC7E8XC brings geocachers to a beautiful view of the coast. Adventurous geocachers looking for a challenge head to Christoffel National Park and seek GC2BC7B. Here you can climb to the top of the island’s tallest mountain, Mt. Christoffel.

A geocaching journey in Curaçao, however, typically begins by admiring the pastel Dutch colonial architecture and colorful murals in the capital city of Willemstad, a World Heritage site.

Here lies our Geocache of the Week, Curacao’s “Swinging Old Lady” (GC2M1VJ). The most Favorited geocache in Curaçao brings geocachers to one of the country’s most unique sights. From the cache’s location next to the water there is a view of this historic bridge farther down the bay. The cache page details what you see as you arrive to begin your search. Willemstad’s Queen Emma Bridge is a floating pontoon pedestrian bridge built in 1888 that swings open to allow ships through St. Anna Bay. For this reason it is known as the “Swinging Old Lady.” Once the bridge swings open parallel to the shore, travelers can still cross the bay by taking a ferry to the other side. While locals might dart across the bridge when it starts to swing open, tourists love to stay on board and enjoy the unique experience.

When the floating bridge swings back, visitors can walk between the two sides of Willemstad, Punda and Otrobanda. Searching for Curacao’s “Swinging Old Lady” also gives geocachers the opportunity to learn fun facts about this interesting piece of Curaçaon history. As the cache page details, the bridge had a toll in the past that depended upon whether or not pedestrians were wearing shoes. Many pedestrians would simply take off their shoes to cross and avoid paying the toll! Today, the bridge is free to cross.

After logging a find, you can decide to take a walk across this swinging bridge yourself! 

We know geocachers love country and regional souvenirs and we do too! We are releasing at least one new country/regional souvenir per month starting in January 2019. These new souvenirs will be featured alongside Geocaches of the Week in each region and shared on the third Wednesday of each month. Check out all of the Geocaching souvenirs here.

Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world. Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.

Source: Geocaching