Frequently Asked Questions

Curaçao is situated in the Atlantic Standard Time -0400 UTC zone. Curaçao does not observe daylight savings time, so during summer we’ll be in the same timezone as US’s East Coast and during winter we’ll be one hour ahead. From Europe, during summer the time difference with Western Europe is 6 hours, but during winter the difference is 5 hours.

Yes, most ‘Yu di Korsou’ (people born and raised in Curaçao) speak English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu. Recently many people have also picked up Portuguese due to the influx of visitors from Brazil and the fact that our native language Papiamentu is closely related to Portuguese.

Curaçao’s native language is Papiamentu: a Creole blend of African, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, and Arawak Indian. The official languages in Curaçao are Dutch, Papiamentu, and English, but of those Papiamentu is used the most in local TV shows, in parliament, and on the street.

Historians believe that Papiamentu — derived from the Portuguese “papear” (to speak or converse) — originated in the 17th century as a means of communication between slaves, who hailed from various African regions, and their Portuguese masters. Unlike other Creole languages, Papiamentu is spoken through all levels of society and has become a major characteristic of the island’s identity.

You can travel to Curaçao by air with direct flights from North America, Europe, and South America, or by sea on a cruise or yacht. 

Before arriving on the island, be sure to fill out your Embarkation-Disembarkation (ED) Card and know what you can bring with you through customs.

Download the Summer 2021 air service schedule. Please note that this is subject to change without prior notice and always check with the airlines directly for the latest flight information.
For more information visit the Curaçao Airport Partners website.

Curaçao also offers general aviation services at the International Airport of Curaçao. Visitors arriving on their private planes are more than welcome. And there are several companies that provide Curaçao air charters.

Airport departure fees are assessed for International destinations of USD $42.00 (FL. 75.60 and USD $10.00 (FL. 18.00) for transfer.
The fee for Aruba and St. Martin is USD $30.00 (FL 54,00) and Bonaire is USD $ 15.00 (FL 27.00). Children under the age of two (2) are exempted of payment.

The airport departure fee is incorporated in the ticket price for passengers traveling with:

American Airlines
KLM
TUI
Air Canada
West Jet
Copa Airlines
Avianca
Surinam Airways
Divi Divi

Whether or not you need a visa to visit Curaçao depends on your nationality. On this website you’ll find a complete list of nationalities that don’t need a visa.

There are some exceptions where people who would need a visa based on just their nationality, but can be exempt if they have – for example – a multiple-entry short stay visa for a Schengen country, or a residence permit from the US or Canada. You can read more about this here: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/travel-and-residence/caribbean-visas/do-i-need-a-visa-for-the-caribbean-parts-of-the-kingdom

Should you require a visa for Curaçao, you can apply for one at your nearest embassy or consulate of The Netherlands.

The currency used in Curaçao is the Antillean Guilder (ANG), also called the Florin. The Antillean Guilder’s exchange rate is fixed to the US Dollar at a price of 1 USD = 1.80 ANG. When exchanging money at a bank the exchange rate is 1.78 or 1.82 ANG, depending on if you’re buying or selling.

You can use US Dollars everywhere in Curaçao. In stores and restaurants and such the exchange rate used is usually 1 USD = 1.75 ANG for ease of calculation.

Located in the tropics, just 12° north of the Equator, Curaçao has a warm, sunny climate year-round. The average temperature is about 27°C (81°F) with noon temperatures generally over 30°C (86°F). Trade winds blow constantly from the east, providing a welcome cooling effect.

International weather websites commonly show a chance of rain in Curaçao, due to clouds being directly over the island, but much of this rain never reaches the ground.

Hiking in the kunuku (what we call ‘the wild’) is safe in that we don’t have wild animals that you need to look out for; also, on such a small island, you’re never very far away from anything. However, much of the island is privately owned and if you go through the kunuku you may unwittingly wander onto private property.

Having said that, there are several good areas where you can hike through some beautiful terrain. Some examples are Christoffel National Park, the Jan Thiel Lagoon and Salinas, Caracas Bay Peninsula, Santa Martha Bay, Sint Joris Bay, and Shete Boka National Park.

If you decide to go hiking, we advise going with an experienced guide; don’t go hiking at night; bring enough water and something to eat; wear proper clothing; go during the cooler hours of the day; and bring a cell phone.

Curaçao is so much more than just the beach. There are watersports galore (see above), you can swim with dolphins, visit the largest ostrich farm outside of Africa, learn all about the local herbal remedies with Dinah Veeris, paint your own unique chichi doll souvenir, visit the Aloe Vera plantation, discover the deep sea at 1,000 feet with a mini-submarine – and that’s just the east side of the island. 

In Willemstad you’ll find 100 different food and drink experiences; a poignant slavery museum and many other museums; a UNESCO World Heritage site downtown area with some amazing examples of colorful Dutch colonial architecture; street art; shopping; the original Curaçao Liqueur distillery; and of course the local people. 

The west side of the island is a more quiet and rural area with winding roads; roadside bars; an old system of caves (Hato Caves) with a long history; “Landhuizen” (plantation mansions) that have been restored to their original architecture (and quite a few that are not); Christoffel National Park with Mount Christoffel (which can be hiked); Shete Boka National Park looking out onto the north coast’s rough sea; Jaanchie’s Restaurant with their walking menu and local dishes; Playa Piskado where the fishermen and turtles have developed a symbiotic relationship; Playa Forti where young people go cliff diving; and so much more.

It’s authentic local fare that draws adventurous foodies to places like Marsche Bieuw, the Old Market landmark where Curaçaoans go for lunch in downtown Willemstad. Portions are generous, and prices can’t be beat. Seating is strictly first come first serve, so arrive early.

Curaçao also has its famous roadside “sneks” found all over the island where you can buy drinks, pastechis (savory pastries) and a lot more.

When in Curaçao, be sure to try local dishes like Kabritu Stoba (goat stew), Yuana (iguana, usually stewed), Keshi Yená (cheese stuffed with meat), and Ayaka (spiced meat wrapped in cornmeal dough and folded in banana leaves, usually only served around Christmas).

Places to go and larger planned events can be found on curacao.com. For a more detailed list of what’s happening at night (happy hours, parties) get yourself one of the widely distributed free “Pasa Bon” flyers. Online you can also visit the Pasa Bon website or the Curaçao Party Guide.