On this page you will find helpful information about the island Curacao. This page will help you with information about the climate, the currency, holidays and a couple of important words from the local language "Papiamento".
Het klimaat
Curaçao has a tropical savanna climate (type Aw according to the Köppen-Geiger classification). Temperatures are fairly constant throughout the year. The difference between the lowest average daily temperature and the highest is only 3 degrees within one year. There is, however, a clear difference in the precipitation pattern. From February to June it is dry, the number of millimeters of rain almost always remains below the limit of thirty millimeters. January, July, August and September are slightly wetter, with amounts between forty and fifty millimeters per month on average. The last three months of the year form the significantly wetter period, with monthly precipitation of around one hundred millimeters. Not enough to speak of a real rainy season, but considerably more than the other months.
Climate statistics for Curacao
The long-term climate averages for Curaçao can be summarized as follows:
- The average maximum temperature is between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius.
- The average minimum temperature is between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius.
- On an annual basis there is about 400 to 600 millimeters of precipitation (always in the form of rain).
- The annual number of hours of sunshine is approximately 2900 to 3200 hours.
- The seawater temperature is between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius.
- The average relative humidity is 78.3%.
- On an annual basis, there are about 70 days in which there is at least 0.1 mm of precipitation.
Customs
If you come to Curaçao as a tourist, you must have the following:
Your passport is a maximum of 10 years old.
Your passport is valid for the entire duration of your stay.
You must be able to demonstrate that you can return to your country of origin or continue your journey to another country. This is possible with a passport, a residence permit or a visa.
You can prove the reason for your stay, for example a hotel reservation or an invitation from family or friends.
You have enough money to pay for your stay and to pay any other costs.
You have valid health insurance or travel insurance that covers medical expenses. The insurance must cover at least the medical costs, including hospital care, emergency treatment and repatriation (including in the event of death).
You are not considered a threat to public order, public health, national security or international relations.
Belastingvrij – Tax Free
You can obtain exemption from import duties and excise duties for certain goods if you import them as traveler's luggage and if you are 16 years of age or older.
- Cigarettes, 200 pieces or Cigars, 5 pieces or Cigarillos (weigh max 3 grams per piece) 50 pieces or Smoking tobacco 250 grams
- Spirits 1 liter
- Goods other than those intended with a total invoice value of no more than Afl. 400,-
Items 1 & 2: these goods are intended for personal use, not for trade or for use in a business or profession.
If you take more than these maximum quantities, you will have to pay import duties and excise duties.
Money
If you want to enter the country with more than $10,000 in cash, you must declare this at customs. The declaration form is available from the Customs authorities at the airport.
Medicines
Be careful when taking medicines with you. We recommend that you bring your “medicine passport” or also known as a European Medical Passport (EMP). This is available from your pharmacy and it is highly recommended that you take medicines with you in the packaging from the same pharmacy just to be clear. It is possible that your medicines fall under the Opium Act, ask your pharmacy about it.
This is almost always the case with sleeping pills and sedatives (even Valium and Seresta are included), strong painkillers (eg Morphine), ADHD drugs (eg Ritalin, Concerta) and medicinal cannabis.
Currencies
About the Caribbean guilder
The currency of Curaçao is the Caribbean Guilder (Cg). The Caribbean Guilder was introduced on March 31, 2025. This currency is used in both Curaçao and Sint Maarten and has the same value as the former Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG). To ensure stability, the Cg is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed exchange rate of USD 1 = Cg 1.79. For commercial transactions, the exchange rate, as with the Netherlands Antillean Guilder, is USD 1 = Cg 1.82.
Feestdagen op Curacao
January 1st: New year's day
Dates vary: Carnival
Dates vary: Good Friday
Dates vary: Easter
April 27th: Kingsday
May 1st: Labour day
Dates vary: Ascension Day
July 2nd: Day of the flag
October 10th: Curacao Day
December 25th: first Christmas Day
December 26th: Second Christmas Day
Belangrijke telefoonnummers op Curacao
Police and fire brigade: 911
Ambulance: 912
Tourist Emergency Number: 917
Coast guard: 913
POLITUR (tourism police)
Curaçao Beach Boulevard (BLVD)
Sea Aquarium Beach, Curaçao
+ (5999) 735 0044 politurcuracao.cw
Curacao Medical Center
J.H.J. Hamelbergweg , Willemstad
Tel: +(5999) 745-000 cmc.cw
Language on Curacao
To come to the island well prepared, we have listed a few important words and phrases below.
Greet / Say goodbye
| DUTCH | PAPIAMENTS |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Bon Bini |
| Goodmorning | Bon dia |
| Good afternoon | Bon tardi |
| Good evening | Bon nochi |
| Goodbye | Ayo |
| Until next time | Te otro bia |
| See you later | Te akiratu |
| See you soon | Te awero |
| See you later | Te despues |
| See you tomorrow | Te mañan |
Nuttige zinnen
| DUTCH | PAPIAMENTS |
|---|---|
| How are you? | Kon ta bai? |
| How are you doing? | Kon ta bai ku bo? |
| Everything alright? | Tur kos ta bon |
| How is life? | Kon ta ku bida? |
| Very good! | Hopi bon! / Tremiento! |
| Have a nice day | Pasa un bon dia |
| What is your name? | Kon yama bo? |
| Can you speak Papiaments? | Bo por papia papiamentu? |
| Not yet | No aínda |
| How old are you? | Kuantu aña bo tin? |
| I am Dutch | Mi ta Hulandes |
| Where do you live? | Unda bo ta biba? |
| I live in the Netherlands | Mi ta biba na Hulanda |
| Where are you? | Unda bo ta? |
| I am hungry | Mi tin hamber |
| I want to eat | Mi ke kome |
| What do you want to eat? | Kiko bo kier come? |
| I am thirsty | Mi tin set |
| I want to drink | Mi ke bebe |
| What do you want to drink? | Kiko bo kier bebe? |
| I am tired | Mi ta kansa |
| I am ill | Mi ta malu |
| It is warm! | Ta hasi kalor! |
| It is going to rain | Awa ta bai yobe / Awa seru ta kai |
| How late is it? | Kwan tor tin? |
| I need to go | Mi tin ku bai |
| Let's go home | Ban kas |
| I don't feel like going | Mi no tin gana di bai |
| I'll be back | Mi ta bai bin! |
| What are you going to do today? | Kiki bo ta bai hasi awe? |
| Let's go out | Ban dal un trip |
| What movie is playing today? | Ki pelicula ta hunga awe? |
| My phone number is... | Mi number di telefon ta… |
| Call me | Bél mi |
| Do you have a lighter? | Bo tin un laiter? |
| What does it cost? | Kuantu e ta kosta? |
| I am going to hit you | Mi ta bai dal bo |
| I love you | Mi ta stimabo |
| I love you to | Ami tambe stimabo |
| My baby | Mi dushi |
| Kiss for you | Sunchi pa bo |
| Can you speak Papiaments? | Bo por papia papiamentu? |
| Now i can | Awor ami por |
Getallen
| DUTCH | PAPIAMENTS |
|---|---|
| Zero | Sero |
| One | Un |
| Two | dos |
| Three | Tres |
| Four | Kuater |
| Five | Sinku |
| Six | Seis |
| Seven | Shete |
| Eight | Ocho |
| Nine | Nuebe |
| Ten | Dies |
| Eleven | Diesun |
| Twelve | Diesdos |
| Thirteen etc. | Diestres enz… |
| Twenty | Binti |
| Thirty | Trinta |
| Fourty | Kuarenta |
| Fifty | Sinkuenta |
| Sixty | Sesenta |
| Seventy | Setenta |
| Eighty | Ochenta |
| Ninety | Nobenta |
| Hundred | Shen |
| Thousand | Mil |
Days of the week
| DUTCH | PAPIAMENTS |
|---|---|
| Monday | Djaluna |
| Tuesday | Djamars |
| Wednesday | Djarason |
| Thursday | Djaweps |
| Friday | Djabièrnè |
| Saturday | Djasabra |
| Sunday | Djadomingu |