Curacao
General Information for Curacao
Geo-political:
Capital City: Willemstad. 12° 06.00′ N, 068° 55.00′ W
Nationality: (noun) Curacaoan, (adjective) Curacaoan; Dutch.
Population: 151,345 (July 2020).
Communications:
Major Languages Spoken: Papiamento 79.9% (official; a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish,
Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages
and the language of the Arawak), Dutch 8.8% (official), Spanish 5.6%, English 3.1%
(official), others 2.9% and unspecified .3% (2001 census).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillan Guilder (ANG) of 100 Cents.
Exchange Rates:
(as of September 2024)
USD 1.00 = ANG 1.79
ANG 1.00 = USD 0.56
Exchange rates under licence from
XE.com
Main Industries: Tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial
and business services.
Agricultural Products: Aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables and tropical fruit.
Imports: Crude petroleum, food and manufactures.
Exports: Petroleum products.
Commodities: Crude: Imports 191,300 bbl/d. Products: Production 189,800 bbl/d. Exports 167,500 bbl/d.
Imports 45,800 bbl/d.
Environment:
Coastline Extent: 364 km.
Natural Resources: Calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables and tropical fruit.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 29° C | 24° C |
| June | 31° C | 26° C |
| September | 31° C | 26° C |
OVERVIEW:
Curacao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. Curacao,
which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curacao,
is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; from the dissolution of
the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, the BES islands Bonaire, Saba, and St
Eustatius were given the status of public body (often referred to as ``special municipality'')
within the Netherlands, while the islands of Curacao and Sint Maarten are independent
states within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Curacao is the largest and most populous of the three ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire,
and Curacao) of the Lesser Antilles, specifically the Leeward Antilles.
MEDICAL:
Curacao has three local hospitals. Curacao Medical Center is the largest hospital
with an extensive emergency room and the only intensive care unit on the island. Taams
Clinic and The Antillean Adventist Hospital also offer a wide range of medical services
and specialists. In case of an emergency, the attending doctor will be able to make
an informed decision on the best hospital to send you to if necessary.
There is a risk of Zika virus transmission in Curacao. Recommended vaccines are tetanus,
dengue, hepatitis B and rabies.
There is no risk of yellow fever in Curacao. However, there are certificate requirements:
Under International Health Regulations, proof of vaccination against yellow fever
is required from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries with risk
of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited for more than 12
hours through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
are not valid in Aruba. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible
funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
POLICE/AMBULANCE/FIRE:
Police T: 911. Ambulance T: 912. Fire T: 911. Coastguard T: 913.
HOLIDAYS:
New Year's Day; Carnival Monday (February); Good Friday; Easter Monday; 27 April (King's
Day); Labour Day; Ascension Day; 2 July (National Flag); 10 October (Curacao Day);
25 December (Christmas Day); 26 December (2nd Christmas Day). ``No work'', holidays
for cargo operations: New Year's Day; Good Friday; Labour Day and Christmas Day.
WEATHER/TIDES:
The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November.
You should monitor local and international weather updates from the Meteorological
Department of Curacao (serving all islands within the Dutch Kingdom) www.meteo.cw
and the US National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov and follow the advice of the
local authorities.
SHORE LEAVE:
Petty theft and street crime are a concern. There are violent crimes related to the
illegal drugs world, but the main tourist areas are generally safe. Take precautions
such as avoiding isolated areas, including beaches, after dark, keeping valuables
secure and out of sight, and being on the look-out for bag snatchers.
Criminals continue to use the islands of the Dutch Caribbean to smuggle illegal drugs
from South America to Europe and North America. Because of this problem, never leave
luggage unattended when departing the country. Do not discuss or agree to carry a
package for anyone. You may be asked to have a body scan at some airports. Dutch authorities
generally screen all baggage and passengers from the Dutch Caribbean.
Check that a taxi is registered and agree the price before taking the ride. Most taxis
do not have meters. Registered taxis have number plates that start with TX.
REPATRIATION:
See
Caribbean Netherlands – Repatriation.
IDENTIFICATION CARDS:
You must always carry a copy of the photo page of your passport with you.
