Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curacao is a country of the Lesser Antilles sitting only 65km (40.4 miles) north of Venezuela, in the southern laps of the Caribbean. Before heading to the beautiful, tropical island that is a pole of attraction for hundreds of thousands of tourists that rush to the popular destination every year, here are a few basic things to bear in mind to come prepared for a fantastic vacation.
Currency
The local currency in Curacao is the Netherlands Antilles Florin or NAFL.
If you want to make purchases at the open market, you will find cash coming in handy. The truth is that the major credit cards are accepted (primarily VISA and MasterCard) across all main shops in Curacao. There might only be some issues with credit cards like American Express as not all establishments accept them in Curacao. So, kindly check with the restaurant, hotel, or shop you are at that your American Express card is accepted before you rack up a large bill.
That aside, most local businesses still prefer to be paid in cash, which is particularly true for gas stations that largely reject credit card payments. As for the US dollar, it is a common currency to pay for goods or services in Curacao. Nevertheless, the exchange rate might vary.
Language
The official Curacao language is Dutch. However, Spanish and English are also widely spoken here. Another language you may hear is a mix of Latin American languages called Papiamento which primarily combines Spanish with Portuguese.
Voltage
The standard current outlets in Curacao provide 120V at 50Hz. For some appliances, though, you might need special adaptors or plugs, since the standard plug type of Type A (two pins) power plug, is the same as in the USA but different from that in Europe and other parts of the world. In this case, most establishments will provide an adaptor for your devices/appliances, though some hotels have both 110V and 220V outlets which you can easily identify.
Transportation
You may use either a taxi or bus to get from point A to point B in Curacao. It should be noted, though, that there isn’t a super-strict or specific schedule and bus stops to hop on a bus as they (the buses) tend to drive by random points across Curacao. Perhaps the most convenient way to go anywhere you like is by driving a rental car.
Internet & Data
Curacao has a high internet speed of around 16Mbps which can climb to 26Mbps, which is great, especially for Curacao-visiting digital nomads that work remotely. Of course, free Wi-Fi is also available in the majority of museums, public spaces, and restaurants.
When it comes to telecommunications, you can get a SIM card that costs around US $30 (with 2GB of data) and connect with either UTS (Chippie) or Digicel – the two main telecom operators in Curacao. The first also has a kiosk at the baggage claim area at the Curacao airport.
Renting a Car
You won’t find any Uber or other ride-sharing services on Curacao, but you can get around with a rental car unless your hotel or resort offers a shuttle service to the capital and/or the main attractions. Do check with the front desk to figure this one out, please.
Now, if you don’t want to be reliant on other people’s schedules for the day ahead, first consider all the activities you desire to be doing while vacationing in Curacao. This will help you pick the right car size and type, and also whether you want a car with a manual or automatic transmission.
The reason for this is that most vehicles on rent are subcompact or compact in size, which may make travelling with gear and tanks a bit of a challenge. Furthermore, the island is characterised by many hills and traffic circles, which may make driving a car with a manual transmission difficult.
Tip: Consider purchasing vehicle insurance if your auto insurance only covers renting a car in your home country. It is a great way to ensure that nothing will disturb or ruin your vacations in the unfortunate case you run into an auto accident (it can be quite costly without auto insurance).
Special Needs Services
There are two companies in Curacao that specialise in care for travellers with special needs – Joseph Cares and Carin Cares. The first assists in transportation and making arrangements for things like mobility scooters and beach wheelchairs. The latter will arrange home care-related matters, such as any special equipment you may require during your Curacao vacations.
Final Travel Tips
- The people in Curacao love dressing up, especially when going out. This is why you will always see them sporting distinctive clothes, like dresses, dress shirts, summer suits, and well-ironed clothes. You may follow this dress code and go with the flow or have your own style and have everybody looking at you with a question mark in their heads!
- Good manners matter a lot in Curacao. For this reason, it is considered impolite not to greet one another, either before you start a conversation with them or when entering a store, with “good morning” (bondia), “good evening” (bonochi), or “good afternoon” (bon tardi).
- The locals are particularly friendly and will gladly help you find your way if you get lost or need any other type of assistance. They may even offer you a ride, just to ensure you made it to your destination without losing your way.
- The majority of the local businesses close between 12 and 2 pm for lunch.
- Most beaches in Curacao are free to the public, which means that you don’t need to pay an entry fee, especially those on the western coast. However, kindly pack some essentials when visiting them as many of them don’t have tourist facilities.
- Although tipping is not required, it is highly appreciated.
- Most of Curacao’s shores are not the white-sand beaches you are used to, rather than dotted with rocks and dead corals. However, the water is absolutely magnificent and transparent and the scenery is beyond stunning.
Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curacao is a country of the Lesser Antilles sitting only 65km (40.4 miles) north of Venezuela, in the southern laps of the Caribbean. Before heading to the beautiful, tropical island that is a pole of attraction for hundreds of thousands of tourists that rush to the popular destination every year, here are a few basic things to bear in mind to come prepared for a fantastic vacation.
Currency
The local currency in Curacao is the Netherlands Antilles Florin or NAFL.
If you want to make purchases at the open market, you will find cash coming in handy. The truth is that the major credit cards are accepted (primarily VISA and MasterCard) across all main shops in Curacao. There might only be some issues with credit cards like American Express as not all establishments accept them in Curacao. So, kindly check with the restaurant, hotel, or shop you are at that your American Express card is accepted before you rack up a large bill.
That aside, most local businesses still prefer to be paid in cash, which is particularly true for gas stations that largely reject credit card payments. As for the US dollar, it is a common currency to pay for goods or services in Curacao. Nevertheless, the exchange rate might vary.
Language
The official Curacao language is Dutch. However, Spanish and English are also widely spoken here. Another language you may hear is a mix of Latin American languages called Papiamento which primarily combines Spanish with Portuguese.
Voltage
The standard current outlets in Curacao provide 120V at 50Hz. For some appliances, though, you might need special adaptors or plugs, since the standard plug type of Type A (two pins) power plug, is the same as in the USA but different from that in Europe and other parts of the world. In this case, most establishments will provide an adaptor for your devices/appliances, though some hotels have both 110V and 220V outlets which you can easily identify.
Transportation
You may use either a taxi or bus to get from point A to point B in Curacao. It should be noted, though, that there isn’t a super-strict or specific schedule and bus stops to hop on a bus as they (the buses) tend to drive by random points across Curacao. Perhaps the most convenient way to go anywhere you like is by driving a rental car.
Internet & Data
Curacao has a high internet speed of around 16Mbps which can climb to 26Mbps, which is great, especially for Curacao-visiting digital nomads that work remotely. Of course, free Wi-Fi is also available in the majority of museums, public spaces, and restaurants.
When it comes to telecommunications, you can get a SIM card that costs around US $30 (with 2GB of data) and connect with either UTS (Chippie) or Digicel – the two main telecom operators in Curacao. The first also has a kiosk at the baggage claim area at the Curacao airport.
Renting a Car
You won’t find any Uber or other ride-sharing services on Curacao, but you can get around with a rental car unless your hotel or resort offers a shuttle service to the capital and/or the main attractions. Do check with the front desk to figure this one out, please.
Now, if you don’t want to be reliant on other people’s schedules for the day ahead, first consider all the activities you desire to be doing while vacationing in Curacao. This will help you pick the right car size and type, and also whether you want a car with a manual or automatic transmission.
The reason for this is that most vehicles on rent are subcompact or compact in size, which may make travelling with gear and tanks a bit of a challenge. Furthermore, the island is characterised by many hills and traffic circles, which may make driving a car with a manual transmission difficult.
Tip: Consider purchasing vehicle insurance if your auto insurance only covers renting a car in your home country. It is a great way to ensure that nothing will disturb or ruin your vacations in the unfortunate case you run into an auto accident (it can be quite costly without auto insurance).
Special Needs Services
There are two companies in Curacao that specialise in care for travellers with special needs – Joseph Cares and Carin Cares. The first assists in transportation and making arrangements for things like mobility scooters and beach wheelchairs. The latter will arrange home care-related matters, such as any special equipment you may require during your Curacao vacations.
Final Travel Tips
- The people in Curacao love dressing up, especially when going out. This is why you will always see them sporting distinctive clothes, like dresses, dress shirts, summer suits, and well-ironed clothes. You may follow this dress code and go with the flow or have your own style and have everybody looking at you with a question mark in their heads!
- Good manners matter a lot in Curacao. For this reason, it is considered impolite not to greet one another, either before you start a conversation with them or when entering a store, with “good morning” (bondia), “good evening” (bonochi), or “good afternoon” (bon tardi).
- The locals are particularly friendly and will gladly help you find your way if you get lost or need any other type of assistance. They may even offer you a ride, just to ensure you made it to your destination without losing your way.
- The majority of the local businesses close between 12 and 2 pm for lunch.
- Most beaches in Curacao are free to the public, which means that you don’t need to pay an entry fee, especially those on the western coast. However, kindly pack some essentials when visiting them as many of them don’t have tourist facilities.
- Although tipping is not required, it is highly appreciated.
- Most of Curacao’s shores are not the white-sand beaches you are used to, rather than dotted with rocks and dead corals. However, the water is absolutely magnificent and transparent and the scenery is beyond stunning.