Barber in Curaçao: Nature, History and Sunday Market

Barber offers travelers several distinct points of interest: nature at Hòfi Pastor, cultural and architectural history around the Barber plantation and Landhuis Barber, and the weekly Sunday market. Another historical aspect is the printing press established in Barber in 1843. The wider destination of Curacao also offers its own cultural and natural attractions.

Nature at Hòfi Pastor

According to historical accounts, the striking kapok tree at Hòfi Pastor was brought to Curaçao by the Caiquetios more than 400 years ago. Local wildlife includes butterflies, harmless colorful snakes, iguanas, wild donkeys and small hawks. These animals are native to Curaçao. The tree and wildlife offer different perspectives: the account takes you into the island’s past, while the animals offer a glimpse of its native fauna. Those interested in nature can include Hòfi Pastor in their choice of destination.

Plantation, country house and printing press

Barbara van Extreen founded the Barber plantation in the first decades of the 18th century. Landhuis Barber is of architectural and cultural-historical significance. Its rectangular main building is surrounded by galleries; this architectural style is typical of country houses on Curaçao. Both the early history of the plantation and the country house’s distinctive architecture are therefore part of the local cultural heritage.

Another historical thread is connected with education and religion: in 1843, Mgr. Niewindt established Curaçao’s second printing press in Barber. It supplied schools and churches on the island with schoolbooks and religious books. Barber’s history thus extends beyond plantations and architecture to include the history of printing and education.

Sunday market in Barber

The Sunday market in Barber offers Curaçao specialties such as fish soup, stewed papaya, baked sweet treats and homemade drinks. The market takes place weekly; check locally in case the date has changed. This adds a specific culinary attraction to the town’s historical and nature-related offerings.

More to explore in the wider destination of Curacao

Curacao offers other cultural and landscape attractions. Punda is the oldest district of Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao. It was founded in the 17th century on the eastern side of Sint Anna Bay, next to Fort Amsterdam, and was the only district with defensive walls and ramparts. Its urban history offers a different focus from Barber’s plantation and country house heritage.

In Christoffel Park, the northern route (blue) and the mountain route (green) are paved and accessible to any car. Bromeliads, orchids, lichens and Spanish moss can be found along a hiking trail in the park. In Shete Boka National Park, visitors can walk above the cave along the limestone cliffs. Curacao therefore offers a choice of different ways to experience nature, including designated driving routes, a walking activity and plants along a hiking trail.

Cultural attractions in the wider destination offer their own highlights: the Savonet Museum tells the story of the Savonet plantation and the neighboring Savonet area in a 19th-century plantation house. Hato Cave covers 4,900 m² and contains limestone formations, pools, a waterfall and a statue of the Madonna. It is also home to a colony of long-nosed fruit bats, which are rarely seen.

Discover more destinations: Tera Kora, Sint Willibrordus, Sint Michiel, Newport, Jan Thiel, Sabana Westpunt

Go to the main travel overview: Curacao.