Klein Curaçao

A Lighthouse that’s just about still standing…

Name: Jonathan Jagot
Age: 26
Specialty: has been sailing around the world since the age of 13

The lighthouse at Klein Curaçao is still in working order, but its structure is now falling into disrepair...

No, that’s not a rock jutting out from the shore, but a wreck at the foot of the lighthouse.

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Published 27/09/2024

By Jonathan Jagot

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Issue: 198

Published: nov. / dec. 2024

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Istopped overnight at Klein Curaçao, a flat islet in the southern Caribbean Sea, sandwiched between the main island of Curaçao and Bonaire. This stopover was only meant to be a chance to rest for the night before continuing on to Aruba.

As I wiped the sleep from my eyes at dawn, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the amazingly beautiful and photogenic scenery.

One day more or less doesn’t make much of a difference to a long journey, so I decided to stay a while...

My first stop was the island’s lighthouse; it’s the only one you’ll see, yet Klein Curaçao is infamous for the many ships that have run aground on its rocks. The most famous of these is the Maria Bianca Guidesman, whose rusting hulk can still be seen on the island’s beach. This Venezuelan tanker ran aground in the 1960s. Today, only the stern deck remains above water.

Built in 1850 to guide ships through the sometimes- dangerous waters around Klein Curaçao, the lighthouse has been renovated several times over the decades. Originally, the ...

This article was published in the issue 198. To read the full article, purchase this issue or subscribe from $3/month.