Basic Facts About the Digital Immigration Card

The DIC (Digital Immigration Card) is your way to clear immigration and is a mandatory form for all Curacao visitors. The card is filled out and issued online (only). If you get accepted, you may choose to either receive a confirmation email with the submitted information in a PDF attachment or as a PDF document that you may download. You will be required to produce the printout or digital form once you arrive in Curacao. Here is your application: Curacao Entry Portal (dicardcuracao.com)

When is a Traveller Considered a Visitor?

You are regarded as a Curacao visitor if you are staying on the island for at least 24 hours and up to 90 days for family matters, business, and/or leisure. It is paramount, though, that you perform no work in Curacao for which you will be paid by a local legal entity or a local resident during your stay. The maximum length of your stay in Curacao as a visitor cannot surpass 180 days within a calendar year.

Driving in Curacao

Driving in Curacao is done on the right-hand side of the road. Also, all traffic on roundabouts and crossings is driven from the right unless a road sign states otherwise.

Now, to rent a car in Curacao, you will need to have a valid driver’s licence, while some car rental companies may even require a minimum age and/or a specific amount of years of driving experience. So, before renting a car, kindly check these details with the preferred rental company.

Getting to Nearby Islands

If you would like to explore Aruba and other islands nearby Curacao (or even Venezuela), you could charter a boat with a captain to take you to wherever you need to be. Unfortunately, at the moment of this writing, there are no ferries connecting Curacao with either Venezuela or the islands.

Nevertheless, to travel off Curacao, your best shot is to take an aeroplane because a captain of a chartered boat will only take you to Bonaire (most of the time) – from there, you will need to find another option to reach your intended destination. It is also highly unlikely you will find a captain to take you to Venezuela.

Another possible option is to rent a yacht or charter and get there yourself. But, this is something you will need to discuss with the local boat rental companies.

Service Charges, Tipping & Taxes

You don’t need to tip (though it will be appreciated if you do). Most of the time, waiters are tipped between 5% and 10% of the bill, porters get 1 ANG per bag, and taxi drivers can be tipped 10% of the total fare. As for service charges, they are around 12% in hotels and 10% in restaurants and are usually included in the bill. Finally, the sales tax in Curacao is 7% for accommodation and 6% for other services per transaction. If you see the price of a product posted on it, its price includes the sales tax.

Useful Application to Download for First-Timers

Curacao has created a handy app that allows visitors to find their way to practically everywhere with relative ease and convenience. It is called the Curacao Travel Guide App and offers information ranging from ready-to-go itineraries and what to do to where to stay and other significant travel advisory information.

You may even find offline maps, which come in handy as they give you freedom and convenience without requiring you to be connected to the internet to access them and navigate the island.

You can download the app for either an iOS or Android phone under the name maps.me. You can download the app from the Google Play Store (MAPS.ME: Offline maps GPS Nav - Apps on Google Play) or the App Store (MAPS.ME: Offline Maps, GPS Nav on the App Store (apple.com)).

Culture in Curaçao

Although the official Curacao language is Dutch, the majority of the local population speaks a Portuguese-based Creole called Papiamento. However, English is also widely spoken and understood. As for the local culture, it is deeply rooted in African traditions. This has mainly to do with the influences brought to the island by enslaved Africans. These influences are also evident in the local music (see Tumba and Tambu music), while there are distinct elements from Latin American cultures, as noticed in bachata, salsa, and merengue music that is often played at bars across Curacao. The same applies to the local dialect and food.

Safety in Curacao

For the most part, Curacao is a welcoming, safe, and friendly island in the Caribbean with a relaxing vibe. Of course, some issues may arise, as is the case with every other destination in the world, especially petty theft and street crime. However, applying common sense resolves issues or prevents all problems that may come forward.

So, kindly hide your valuables when travelling and never leave them in plain sight in your car or unattended while swimming or doing water sports. Also, walking down unlit or deserted areas at night should be avoided, as with any other place on earth.

Final Tips Before You Travel in Curacao

• As in all the other Caribbean islands, you can bring your pet to Curacao with you, provided that you have a vaccination and health certificate and fulfill some other requirements needed. The same applies to travelling with service animals.
• The telephone code in Curacao is +5999 and is usually accompanied by seven more digits. If the phone number begins with a 6 or 5, it is a cell phone number. Anything else, other than 5 and 6, refers to a landline telephone number.
• The weather in Curacao is pretty good, in general, like the other Lesser Antilles. Plus, chances are your vacations won’t be affected by the hurricane season which could be disastrous in other parts of the Caribbean. However, you do need to watch out for nature in Curacao and ensure you don’t push yourself too hard, especially when trying activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, and swimming because the heat might be intense and the sun quite hot. Please always wear sunscreen (at least SPF30) and stay out of the sun unprotected because there is a serious risk of getting sunstroke or sunburn.