It’s tempting to do really little except chilling during your stay on Curaçao. This Caribbean Antilles island is made for it. However, I’d urge you to get off your ass for a couple of hours and drive to the north of the island… Mt. Christoffel – the highest peak of the island (372 metres / 1,220 ft) – is waiting for you to be conquered over there.
This is it – the peak ↓ – and while driving to upper part of the island you can already see it from farrrr away.
Mt. Christoffel or Christoffelberg (which is its literal Dutch translation; one of the languages spoken on the island) is located in a big reserved park. Whereas Willemstad is a little crowded, this side of the island is inexplicably green. Personally, I thought it was lovely to get a breezy break from the crowds in the south.
Go without a guide, but with a buddy
The best way to visit the peak is just by driving there yourself and hiking up without a guide. You really don’t need one in here. As I’m always a bit wary when travelling on my own, I was firstly thinking of joining a tour. During my stay at Bed&Bike in Willemstad, I heard there’s an organisation that offers trips for $40,- USD per person. But in hindsight I wouldn’t recommend going on one of those.
It’s not about the money, because renting a car and paying the entrance fee really will already be more expensive (if going just by yourself). But during our hike up I saw one of those tour groups and they were like some VERY slow moving train. Step by step to the top, taking forever. I figured it must be really annoying to walk in a row with such a big group to the top. Also, their guide wasn’t explaining anything. Just leading the way. But trust me, the road is pretty self explainable. Just go up.
I met another girl at Bed&Bike, the place where I was staying in Willemstad, and we decided to go together. I would recommend hiking with a buddy in general, as you never know what will happen. Just in case you twist your ankle. But that’s it – no guide needed. It’s safe enough and there are also other people on the trail in general if you decide to go on your own anyway.
Before you can enter the park you have to buy an admission ticket (Nafl. 25.00 or US$ 14.50 per person, not per car). Drive up to the main entrance on the northeastern side of the island (see the map below if you want to know the precise location) and park your car over there. Go inside the building, get your ticket and head back to your car. Afterwards they will open up the road for you on the other side of the highway.
Check the opening hours + other information about the park in here if you want.
A very bendy road will lead you (after a 10-minute drive) to the parking lot at the base of the mountain. There’s ample space in here, so you don’t have to worry about not finding a spot.
And thus the conquest can begin! Up up and away.
The best tip I can give you regarding to this hike is to start as early as possible. Boy, it’ll get hot during this hike. Especially when the sun’s out. The park opens at 6 am and I think it really is best to get going as soon afterwards as possible for you.
Also bring plenty of water and snacks. And really sturdy shoes – a must! I saw a couple of girls heading out on flip flops and that seemed like the hardest way ever to make it. Especially after a bit of rain the road up to the top can be so slippery. You could easily slips from the rocks, so really prepare on this one.
It took us something like an hour to climb all the way up. Most of the hike is a very well-marked path, but the last bit can be quite tricky. Like the goats in the area you really have to climb up to the top! Watch where you put your hands though… I placed mine right into their droppings, yukkk hahah!
Take it easy on this climbing part and if you’re not in great shape (knee-wise for example) or when you’re wearing bad shoes, do not attempt to go up there at all.
The view from below the climbing part is already nice as well (second picture ↓). But yes, the very top is also very worth much it 🙂 (First picture↓)
You’ll be rewarded with a smashing and breezy 360° view! I loved it this hike – for me it was a literal highlight on the island!
Here’s where to find that giant on the island of Curaçao! ↓
Amy Mitchell
August 5, 2021 at 4:21 pm
My husband wants to do this climb and he is convinced it will be easy. I, on the other hand, am more realistic. I have two hip replacements and a knee replacement. Some of the pictures of people climbing on rocks just freaked me out. My question is this–is there a path that doesn’t involve climbing/squeezing between rocks? I can do uneven terrain, but the tricky part at the end…is that the only scary part? Appreciate your honesty.
Kristel
August 6, 2021 at 12:55 am
Hi Amy, thanks for your comment. Though the view is rewarding, this really isn’t a hike for the faint-hearted! You almost have to crawl a bit at the latter part of the hike. I can’t specifically recall the first bit of the hike, but I do remember there are some steep bits. So all in all, I would not recommend this hike for you, if only because you’d miss the most rewarding part. Every morning people are doing this hike, so maybe your husband could find a buddy at the entrance or something. Best wishes, Kristel