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CURACAO
The Facts For Your Curacao Vacation
Curacao vacation guests find that Curacao is so small that its capital city of Willemstad is its only city. Culturally, Curacao is extremely diverse, with more than 40 nationalities present on this small Caribbean island. All of these different cultures are tied together by a shared Dutch heritage, and diverse Caribbean cultures blend together into one unique island atmosphere pleasant for all Curacao travel guests.
Curacao somehow takes contrasting elements and makes them seem like a sensible way of life. Despite being home to one the world's largest oil refineries, Curacao vacation guests will see that Curacaons take great care of their environment. Gorgeous tropical Curacao beaches clash with an arid desert inland. At the same time, the island's location has made it a popular business center. And despite being reliant on the Netherlands for defense and foreign affairs, this little Caribbean island governs itself almost entirely.
Your Curacao Vacation: Facts at a Glance Currency Curacao vacation guests will find that the official currency of Curacao is the Netherlands Antillean Florin (NAF), also called a guilder, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. The exchange rate is 1.79 NAH to $1(USD). Electricity Curacao operates on 110-130 volt system, but many Curacao hotels have transformers available for European visitors. Check with your hotel when booking. GDP Per Capita The average per capita income is $11,400(USD). Island Size The island is approximately 171 square miles in area. Language Curacao travel visitors find that Dutch is the official language of Curacao, but locals also speak English and Spanish; many islanders also speak Papiamento, a local blend of Dutch and African languages. Population Curacao is home to 197,500 residents. In addition, the island sees 204,600 Curacao vacation guests annually, 16 percent of whom are from the U.S.
Getting There
Curacao travel guests typically arrive via air at Curacao's Hato International Airport. Direct flights from the U.S. and Canada are available to Curacao vacation guests, often connecting through Miami and New York. Connecting flights are also available from Caribbean regional air carriers through the airports at Santo Domingo and San Juan. Hato International services a variety of airlines, including, but not limited to, ALM Airline, Aerosucre, Aerovenca, Air Aruba, Allegro Air, American Airlines Cargo, American Trans Air, Amerijet, Atlas Air, Avensa, Avianca, Condor, Cubana, DHL Air, Guyana Airways, KLM, LAV-Venezolana, Las Americas, Martinair Holland, Merlin Express, Pacific Airlines, SLM, Sky Jet, Sobelair, Star Air, and VASP making travel for Curacao vacation guests easy.
Unmetered, government regulated taxi services will take you to your final destination or Curacao hotel. Be sure to agree on a fare to your specific destination before you get in the taxi, and remember that rates go up after 11:00 p.m. Fares from Hato International Airport to most Curacao resorts around Willemstad are generally about $20(USD).
Entry Requirements
An original birth certificate and official photo ID are acceptable for nationals of the U.S. and Canada, but a valid passport is preferred and recommended for all Curacao travel visitors. Citizens of all other countries, including those of the Caribbean, are required to have a valid passport. All Curacao vacation guests must have a return or ongoing ticket.
Curacao Weather Curacao vacation guests find relatively moderate climate, with little variation in seasonal temperatures. Temperatures in January range from a low of 76 to a high of 79, and from a low of 84 to a high of 89 in July for perfect weather for Curacao beaches (all temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit). Curacao is also drier than many of the tropical Caribbean islands, experiencing only 21.3 inches of rainfall annually. And, unlike many of the Caribbean islands, Curacao is located outside the hurricane belt, greatly reducing the risk of major storms during your Curacao vacation. Geography Curacao travel guests learn that Curacao is part of the Netherland Antilles, Caribbean members of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Sisters to Bonaire, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, and Saba, this group of islands is located approximately 35 miles north of Venezuela. At its largest point, Curacao is 37 by 7 miles wide.
Health and Safety Being home to peaceful people, the Island is not rife with crime against Curacao vacation guests. Still, it is wise for all Curacao vacation guests to follow commonsense rules and safeguard any valuables at your Curacao hotel or Curacao beach. As far as water is concerned, Curacao is home to a modern desalination plant, making water safe to drink for all Curacao travel visitors. Willemstad is home to one of the most up-to-date hospitals in the Caribbean, so medical attention is readily available in the unfortunate event of an emergency during your Curacao vacation. People Curacao travel guests find Curacaons are adept at languages due to the diverse group of people who live on the island. Despite the official Dutch status of the island and the introduction of English as the language of business, Curacao vacation guests find African-rooted Papiamento is still alive and well today, demonstrating Curacao's strong ties to African culture. Curacao travel guests see that African heritage is also evident in the island's music."Tambu" is an ancient form of music and dance originally brought to Curacao by slaves. Despite being banned, first by slave owners and later by the Catholic church, tambu has survived to the present day by being transmitted from generation to generation. Drums play the main musical role in this art form, a great joy for all Curacao vacation visitors.
