Everything about Curaçao
Clear answers about the island: rules, money, language, weather, getting around and more. Written by locals, updated when things change.
Can you drink the tap water in Curaçao?
Health & safety · 4 min read
Yes. Curaçao’s tap water is made from seawater, and the Curaçao Tourist Board says it is safe to drink. The island’s utility, Aqualectra, says people can enjoy it straight from the tap, and we found no boil-water notices when we checked. Health agencies such as the US CDC give no specific verdict for Curaçao.
The bridges of Willemstad: which to walk, drive and photograph
Getting around · 6 min read
Willemstad has five bridges. Two cross St. Anna Bay between Punda and Otrobanda: the Queen Emma Bridge, a floating footbridge that swings open for ships, and the Queen Juliana Bridge, a road bridge about 56 meters high. You cannot walk over Juliana, so on foot you use Queen Emma, or a free ferry while it is open.
What does the flag of Curaçao mean?
Language & culture · 4 min read
The flag of Curaçao shows where the island sits. The blue stands for the sky and the sea, the yellow stripe for the sun, and the two white stars for Curaçao and its small neighbor Klein Curaçao. It was first raised officially on 2 July 1984, and the island celebrates it on that date every year.
Traffic signs on Curaçao: what they mean and who has priority
Driving · 5 min read
Curaçao drives on the right and its road signs follow the Dutch system, so many drivers will recognise them. Two rules surprise visitors: at a crossroads traffic from the right has priority unless a sign says otherwise, and at a T-junction the road that ends gives way to the through road. The limit is 40 km/h in built-up areas and 60 km/h outside.
Best time to visit Curaçao: weather and events month by month
Weather · 4 min read
You can visit Curaçao all year: it is warm in every month and the island lies on the southern edge of the hurricane belt. February to May is the driest time and October to December the wettest. The best month depends on what you want: dry days, Carnival, or a quieter island at a lower price.
Klein Curaçao boat trips compared: five day trips side by side
Beaches & nature · 6 min read
Adult prices for the five day trips below run from USD 135 to USD 170. Powerboat Caribbean is the fastest, at about 45 minutes out. Miss Ann and Mermaid have their own beach houses. Gold Seahorse is the cheapest, and BlueFinn includes beer, wine and cocktails in its USD 140 price.
Klein Curaçao: a day trip to the uninhabited island
Beaches & nature · 3 min read
Klein Curaçao (Little Curaçao) is a small, flat island about 10 km southeast of Curaçao where nobody lives. It has the longest and whitest beach of Curaçao, an old lighthouse, a stranded tanker and crystal-clear water for snorkelling. The only way to get there is by boat, on a day trip from Curaçao.
From Curaçao airport to Willemstad: taxi, rental car or bus
Getting around · 2 min read
Curaçao International Airport (CUR) lies in Hato, on the north side of the island, about 12 km from Willemstad. Most visitors take a taxi or pick up a rental car at the airport. Taxis have no meter, so agree on the price before you get in. There is no Uber or Lyft on Curaçao.
The Tugboat wreck: snorkel a shipwreck at Caracasbaai
Beaches & nature · 2 min read
The Tugboat is a small sunken tugboat just off the shore of Caracasbaai, on the south coast of Curaçao east of Willemstad. It lies only about 5 metres deep, so snorkelers can see the whole wreck from the surface. Covered in coral and full of fish, it is one of the island’s most popular snorkel and dive sites.
Is Curaçao safe? What to know as a visitor
Health & safety · 3 min read
Yes, Curaçao is generally a safe island to visit. The US government rates it Level 1, exercise normal precautions, and the Dutch government’s travel advice is green. The main risk for visitors is petty theft, such as bags left alone on the beach or valuables in a rental car. With the same common sense you use at home, you can relax and explore.
The Blue Room: Curaçao’s glowing sea cave
Beaches & nature · 3 min read
The Blue Room is a small sea cave on the west coast of Curaçao, in the Santa Cruz area of Banda Abou. You swim in through a low gap at the waterline, and inside the light that enters under water turns the whole cave an electric blue. Most visitors snorkel it on a boat or jet ski trip.
Curaçao in December: Christmas, pagaras and New Year’s Eve
Language & culture · 3 min read
December is one of the liveliest months on Curaçao. It falls in the rainy season, but most days are still warm and sunny. The island celebrates Christmas on 25 and 26 December, Willemstad is full of lights, and in the last days of the year the pagaras go off: long strings of firecrackers lit to chase away bad luck. On New Year’s Eve the fireworks go on for hours.
Curaçao Carnival 2027: dates, parades and tips
Language & culture · 3 min read
Carnival is the biggest celebration of the year on Curaçao. It starts in the first week of January and ends on the night before Ash Wednesday. In 2027 Ash Wednesday falls on 10 February, so the Gran Marcha, the big daytime parade, is expected on Sunday 7 February 2027 and the farewell parade on Tuesday 9 February. The organiser has not published the official 2027 programme yet.
Which languages are spoken in Curaçao?
Language & culture · 2 min read
Curaçao has three official languages: Papiamentu, Dutch and English. Papiamentu is what most people speak at home, and most locals also speak English, Dutch and Spanish, so visitors get by in English everywhere.
Dollars, guilders or card? Paying in Curaçao
Money · 2 min read
Curaçao pays in Caribbean guilders (XCG), but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and you usually get your change in guilders. Cards work in most shops, restaurants and hotels. Taxis and some attractions want cash.
Can you drive in Curaçao with your own licence?
Driving · 2 min read
Yes. Most visitors drive in Curaçao with the valid licence from their home country. If your licence is not written in Latin letters, bring an International Driving Permit too. Each rental company sets its own minimum age, usually between 21 and 25.
Do you need a visa for Curaçao?
Entry & visas · 4 min read
Most visitors don't. Citizens of the Netherlands and the rest of the EU, the US, Canada, the UK and many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean come to Curaçao on holiday without a visa. Others need a short-stay Caribbean visa, unless they hold certain US, Canadian, UK, Irish or Schengen visas or residence permits. Every visitor fills in the Digital Immigration Card before travelling.
The Digital Immigration Card, step by step
Entry & visas · 2 min read
Every visitor to Curaçao, children included, fills in a Digital Immigration Card online before arriving, on the official site dicardcuracao.com. You show the confirmation at check-in and at immigration.