The park consists of three former plantations and offers 20 miles of one-way driving trails abundant with flora and fauna, including prickly pear cactus, divi divi trees and exotic flowers. Here, cacti reach up to ten feet in height, and several different species of orchids, some of them extremely rare, can be found blooming on them. Protected wildlife includes iguanas, rabbits, donkeys, several species of birds and between 150-200 small, white-tail Curaçao deer which historians believe Indians brought from South American coastal areas, particularly Colombia and Venezuela, in the 14th and 15th centuries. Since 1926, the deer has been a protected animal on Curaçao.
Deer watching is offered year-round; sessions are held in the afternoon, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Guides lead small groups (maximum of eight people) on a ten-minute walk to the observation tower, for a presentation and to wait for the deer. The cost is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 15, and advance reservations are required. Other special events include cave excursions, full moon walks, slide and video shows and live bird and animal presentations.
The Savonet plantation house (one of the oldest on the island) at the entrance to the park serves as a nature conservancy and visitors' center, and houses the new Museum of Natural and Cultural History. A guidebook of the park may be purchased here to point out the geological, botanical, and zoological features for hikers taking any of the park's eight well-marked trails.
Visitors are welcome to explore the park on foot, horseback, by mountain bike, car or jeep. Walking tours are popular and may be arranged in advance through most hotels. Mountain bikes, jeeps and four-wheel drive vehicles are available for rent.
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The park is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission to the Park is US$9.00. Guided walking tours are US$15.00.
Horseback riding day and moonlight tours are US$40 for two hours. Jeep tours (max. 5 persons) are $85.00 (including entrance fee).
Please make all reservations in advance.
Tel: +(599-9)- 864 03 63.
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