General Facts
Curacao is introduced in the so-called ABC island chain, along with the islands of Bonaire and Aruba, while also being part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Lesser Antilles.
When you fly to Curacao, you land at the main Curacao airport, the Hato International Airport, which is about 9.5 kilometres (6 miles) from Willemstad, the island’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beautiful, historic, Dutch colonial-style buildings in bright pastel shades, such as yellow, orange, and red. These include former plantation estates (aka Landhouses) and former slave quarters in impressive West African-style architecture scattered across Curacao. Some of these dwellings have been restored and turned into museums that everybody can visit.
As for the official currency, that would be the Antillean Guilder (ANG). However, the US dollar is also widely accepted throughout the island, which means that US travellers do not need to exchange their money when visiting Curacao. That being said, though, it would be wise to carry some cash with you rather than just your credit card as the local businesses tend to prefer being paid in cash, especially the gas stations.
Interesting Notes About Curacao:
- Curacao is also very close to Venezuela – about 64 kilometres (40 miles) north of it.
- The official language in Curacao is Dutch, followed by Papiamentu, which is an interesting blend of Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and Dutch.
- In reality, Curacao is multilingual, as most people speak a total of four languages (English, Spanish, Papiamentu, and Dutch) or a mix of them all!
- Curacao is one of the most colourful nations in the Caribbean.
- Curacao is also home to a smaller, separate island that is called Klein Curacao or Small Curacao which is totally deserted and free to explore. There, you will be greeted with wreckage and a lighthouse, and is a fantastic place to visit to explore amazing marine life and see natural spectacles very few get to see.
- Curacao is famed to be a deep-sea diver’s heaven as it has more than 60 dive spots and numerous locations and bays that are ideal for snorkelling, such as the Mushroom Forest. The Curacao underwater universe hides corals, shipwrecks, boulders, and a stunning abundance of marine life.
- Curacao lies under the Caribbean hurricane belt, which means that it is rarely hit by a hurricane, though it can be affected by one. This means that the island might experience some rainfall, but it will hardly ever be too windy.
- The island runs on 127V at 50Hz frequency. Nevertheless, depending on the region, the hotel, or the city, you may come across 220V. This means that you might need a voltage converter or adapter to use your appliances or devices in Curacao. Some resorts and hotels, though, provide their guests with the needed adapters.
The Early Curacao Settlers
That would be the Arawak people, a tribe considered to be the original Curacao inhabitants before the Dutch made it their colony and introduced slavery and trade. The ancestors of the Arawaks were South American immigrants who fled the country and migrated from the Amazon Basin to Curacao many centuries before the Europeans arrived.
Hundreds of years later, the Dutch West India Company turned Curacao into a trade port after coming to the island to find gold and failing. In fact, that very same company founded the Curacao capital, Willemstad, due to its natural harbour that proved perfect for trade.
The Curacao Religion
Surprisingly, you won’t find any official religion in Curacao, which is quite unusual. This is because religion varies significantly across the island. However, Curacao is where you will come across accounts of the oldest Jewish community in the entire Caribbean region, while the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the island’s oldest synagogue, is located in the heart of the island’s capital (aka the Punda quarter).
It seems that the Sephardic Jews were an important part of the local economy and culture after settling Curacao along with the Dutch. Their ancestors were from the Iberian Peninsula, while the very first Jew to make Curacao his home was an interpreter with Dutch-Jewish roots called Samuel Cohen, who reached the island in the early-1600s on board a Dutch ship.
Curacao’s Food Scene
The local gastronomy has influences from several different cuisines, including the Dutch, Spanish, and the Arawak, which makes sense given the island’s profound diversity ethically and culturally-wise. All this has resulted in a rich food culture where dishes like Keshi Yena, Bitterballen, Oliebollen, Tutu, and Funchi, along with countless seafood flavours are the stars of the show.
Of course, the most popular drink in Curacao is the Curacao Blue Liqueur, which owes its distinct taste to the dry peel of a local fruit called lahara orange, followed closely by rum. The Blue Liqueur is, in fact, the basic ingredient for many cocktails served across the bars, clubs, beach clubs, and restaurants on the island.
As for the best place to find delicious, traditional Curacao dishes, the locals seem to swear by the Old Market (aka Marshe Bieu) which also serves flavoursome options for vegetarians. Having said that, though, don’t be surprised if you see iguana meat being featured as a favourite menu item.
Top Curacao Attractions
The historical city of Willemstad, along with the Hato Caves, the Natural parks (Christoffel Park and Shete Boka Park are must-see), the sea aquariums featuring over 400 species from the open sea, the semi-submarine tours, the Underwater Marine Park, the Dolphin Academy that enables visitors to swim with dolphins, and the amazing beaches (i.e., Mambo Beach is the longest and whitest shore, Kenepa is one of the most popular ones, and Porto Marie is a great family-friendly option) are all worth your time and will reward you with exquisite experiences.
Other than that, travellers get to entertain themselves with activities like playing golf, snorkelling, scuba diving, or visiting places like the Ostrich Farm which hosts over 600 animals and allows visitors to see all stages of an ostrich’s life, from egg to adulthood. And, let’s not forget the Curacao Liqueur Factory which reveals much about how the popular Curacao drink is made while letting you sample it along the way!
General Facts
Curacao is introduced in the so-called ABC island chain, along with the islands of Bonaire and Aruba, while also being part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Lesser Antilles.
When you fly to Curacao, you land at the main Curacao airport, the Hato International Airport, which is about 9.5 kilometres (6 miles) from Willemstad, the island’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beautiful, historic, Dutch colonial-style buildings in bright pastel shades, such as yellow, orange, and red. These include former plantation estates (aka Landhouses) and former slave quarters in impressive West African-style architecture scattered across Curacao. Some of these dwellings have been restored and turned into museums that everybody can visit.
As for the official currency, that would be the Antillean Guilder (ANG). However, the US dollar is also widely accepted throughout the island, which means that US travellers do not need to exchange their money when visiting Curacao. That being said, though, it would be wise to carry some cash with you rather than just your credit card as the local businesses tend to prefer being paid in cash, especially the gas stations.
Interesting Notes About Curacao:
- Curacao is also very close to Venezuela – about 64 kilometres (40 miles) north of it.
- The official language in Curacao is Dutch, followed by Papiamentu, which is an interesting blend of Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and Dutch.
- In reality, Curacao is multilingual, as most people speak a total of four languages (English, Spanish, Papiamentu, and Dutch) or a mix of them all!
- Curacao is one of the most colourful nations in the Caribbean.
- Curacao is also home to a smaller, separate island that is called Klein Curacao or Small Curacao which is totally deserted and free to explore. There, you will be greeted with wreckage and a lighthouse, and is a fantastic place to visit to explore amazing marine life and see natural spectacles very few get to see.
- Curacao is famed to be a deep-sea diver’s heaven as it has more than 60 dive spots and numerous locations and bays that are ideal for snorkelling, such as the Mushroom Forest. The Curacao underwater universe hides corals, shipwrecks, boulders, and a stunning abundance of marine life.
- Curacao lies under the Caribbean hurricane belt, which means that it is rarely hit by a hurricane, though it can be affected by one. This means that the island might experience some rainfall, but it will hardly ever be too windy.
- The island runs on 127V at 50Hz frequency. Nevertheless, depending on the region, the hotel, or the city, you may come across 220V. This means that you might need a voltage converter or adapter to use your appliances or devices in Curacao. Some resorts and hotels, though, provide their guests with the needed adapters.
The Early Curacao Settlers
That would be the Arawak people, a tribe considered to be the original Curacao inhabitants before the Dutch made it their colony and introduced slavery and trade. The ancestors of the Arawaks were South American immigrants who fled the country and migrated from the Amazon Basin to Curacao many centuries before the Europeans arrived.
Hundreds of years later, the Dutch West India Company turned Curacao into a trade port after coming to the island to find gold and failing. In fact, that very same company founded the Curacao capital, Willemstad, due to its natural harbour that proved perfect for trade.
The Curacao Religion
Surprisingly, you won’t find any official religion in Curacao, which is quite unusual. This is because religion varies significantly across the island. However, Curacao is where you will come across accounts of the oldest Jewish community in the entire Caribbean region, while the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the island’s oldest synagogue, is located in the heart of the island’s capital (aka the Punda quarter).
It seems that the Sephardic Jews were an important part of the local economy and culture after settling Curacao along with the Dutch. Their ancestors were from the Iberian Peninsula, while the very first Jew to make Curacao his home was an interpreter with Dutch-Jewish roots called Samuel Cohen, who reached the island in the early-1600s on board a Dutch ship.
Curacao’s Food Scene
The local gastronomy has influences from several different cuisines, including the Dutch, Spanish, and the Arawak, which makes sense given the island’s profound diversity ethically and culturally-wise. All this has resulted in a rich food culture where dishes like Keshi Yena, Bitterballen, Oliebollen, Tutu, and Funchi, along with countless seafood flavours are the stars of the show.
Of course, the most popular drink in Curacao is the Curacao Blue Liqueur, which owes its distinct taste to the dry peel of a local fruit called lahara orange, followed closely by rum. The Blue Liqueur is, in fact, the basic ingredient for many cocktails served across the bars, clubs, beach clubs, and restaurants on the island.
As for the best place to find delicious, traditional Curacao dishes, the locals seem to swear by the Old Market (aka Marshe Bieu) which also serves flavoursome options for vegetarians. Having said that, though, don’t be surprised if you see iguana meat being featured as a favourite menu item.
Top Curacao Attractions
The historical city of Willemstad, along with the Hato Caves, the Natural parks (Christoffel Park and Shete Boka Park are must-see), the sea aquariums featuring over 400 species from the open sea, the semi-submarine tours, the Underwater Marine Park, the Dolphin Academy that enables visitors to swim with dolphins, and the amazing beaches (i.e., Mambo Beach is the longest and whitest shore, Kenepa is one of the most popular ones, and Porto Marie is a great family-friendly option) are all worth your time and will reward you with exquisite experiences.
Other than that, travellers get to entertain themselves with activities like playing golf, snorkelling, scuba diving, or visiting places like the Ostrich Farm which hosts over 600 animals and allows visitors to see all stages of an ostrich’s life, from egg to adulthood. And, let’s not forget the Curacao Liqueur Factory which reveals much about how the popular Curacao drink is made while letting you sample it along the way!