Shete Boka National Park

Shete Boka National Park protects a dramatic stretch of the windward north coast, where the open sea meets the island head on. The name means "seven mouths" in Papiamentu, a reference to the chain of bokas, rocky inlets and coves, that the surf has carved into the limestone shore. This is the wild, raw face of Curaçao, the opposite of the calm leeward beaches, and the contrast is the whole point of coming.

The star of the park is Boka Tabla, a sea cave you can climb down into and stand inside while waves thunder through an opening below your feet. Along the coastal cliffs the swell forces water up through natural blowholes that erupt in spray on a good day. A coastal hiking path links several of the bokas, with crashing surf the constant soundtrack.

Turtles and the rough coast

Quiet pocket beaches inside the park, such as Boka Grandi and Boka Kalki, are important sea-turtle nesting sites, and you may spot turtles in the water or, in season, signs of nesting on the sand. The water here is far too rough for swimming, so the park is for walking, watching, and photographing rather than bathing.

• Stay back from the cliff edges and never turn your back on the sea; rogue waves and slippery rock are the real hazards here.
• Wear proper shoes for the sharp limestone and bring sun protection, as there is almost no shade.
• Pair it with neighbouring Christoffel National Park for a full day on the wild west of the island.

The park lies in the Bandabou countryside near Westpunt, an easy add-on to a day spent hiking or beach-hopping on that end of the island.