Travelling to Curaçao is limited mainly to air traffic, although boats bring commercial goods from the nearby South American coastline to the city of Willemstad every day…

Travelling to Curaçao is limited mainly to air traffic, although boats bring commercial goods from the nearby South American coastline to the city of Willemstad every day. The only airport on the island is Curaçao International Airport, which lies a mere 20-minute drive from the heart of the city. You don’t need a car or even public transport inside the Old Town as the main sights are all within walking distance. The best way to head out to the beaches or other attractions on the island is to hire a car, but you can also take a public bus or hail one of the many minibuses that traverse the city and its outskirts. Taxis are easy to find and offer flat rates for most destinations.

High season in Curaçao mirrors that in much of the Caribbean: basically from mid-December through mid-April. In the off-season, rates will be reduced at least 25% and often more. Hurricanes and severe tropical storms are very rare—though still possible—in Curaçao, which means the island has good weather almost year-round.

Tourist entry is generally only for 14 days, but 30 days may be given.
Extensions are available at immigration. Dutch passport holders may stay for up to 180 days, but must get an extension first from immigration. Tourists who apply for an extension beyond the 30 days must have travel insurance (medical & liability) for the duration of their extended stay.

For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the
Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Curaçao is served by a number of airlines and boasts the longest runway in the Caribbean at 3,410 meters in length and 60 meters in width. The runway is capable of handling almost
any type of aircraft including jumbo jets.

Curaçao has daily nonstop air services from the U.S., and daily flights to Venezuela and from the Netherlands. Curaçao also offers flights to Germany,Canada,Brazil, Surinam,
Colombia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Domingo, Bonaire, Aruba, and St. Maarten. Connections can be made to any part of the world.

Cruise Ships

Several major U.S. and European cruise lines stop at Curaçao. The island has two docking spots for cruise ships – the mega ships can dock at the Mega Pier and the smaller ships can dock at the cruise terminals within the harbor. All cruise terminals are connected to the city’s main shopping and business areas. Curaçao seaports are all natural, sheltered ports that offer safe, fast, efficient and reliable handling of both ships and cargo. Two cruise terminals are located in the Otrabanda section of Willemstad so duty free shopping areas can be easily reached by foot. The Mega cruise ships can dock at the Mega Pier and the smaller ships can dock at the Mathey Wharf, which is the cruise terminal located in the harbor.

You’ll find a stretch mall full of car rental agencies at the airport, in a building left from the arrival area. We suggest you place a reservation for your car in advance. This will save you time and money when you come to pick up your car. Nothing worse than having to stand in line, only to find out that the car you want is no longer available.

Taxis in Curacao are easily recognized by having a license plate that is marked with the letters “TX”. Taxis fares are unmetered, and drivers may have faresheets
available. A 25% surcharge will be added to taxi fares if there are more than four passengers or if it is before 06:00am or past 11:00pm. There can also be small fees for large or an excessive amount of
luggage. Many taxi drivers can also act as tour guides and will take passengers to different parts of the island. Fares are per taxi, not per person!!!

Currency

The local currency in Curacao is the Netherlands Antillean guilder (also called the florin), which is abbreviated as Nafl. Or Ang. U.S. dollars circulate freely, so it is possible to get by using only American dollars or credit cards. Please note that vendors can rarely supply change in U.S. currency