Explore: Curacao
Facts
- Curacao together with Aruba and Bonaire form the ABC islands. They are the three western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean. Curaçao lies off the coast of Venezuela between Aruba and Bonaire.
- Aruba is a flat island, exposed to the ocean currents. Bonaire and Curaçao are surrounded by reefs, and so are much more sheltered from the weather. Both Bonaire and Curaçao’s reefs form popular tourist destinations.
- Curacao is part of the former Netherlands Antilles. As of October 2010, Curacao has become an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- Curacao has a population of approx. 160,000.
- Dutch, English, and Papiamentu (Portuguese Creole) are all official languages of Curacao. Most people speak at least two of these languages. Dutch is the sole language for administration and legal matters.
- The official currency is the Antillean guilder (also called the florin), which is abbreviated as Nafl. U.S. dollars are also widely used and accepted.
- The timezone is Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-4)
- Curacao is outside the hurricane belt. For more info see weather below. Because of this, it is a favourite stop for yachts en-route to Panama. Application for a 180-day visa is now possible, making this an option to wait out the hurricane season. Be sure to reserve in advance for haul out and dry storage space for hurricane season.
- There are two main ports; Willemstad harbour (together with adjacent Piscadera Bay) and Spanish Water. The latter is probably one of the best hurricane holes in the Caribbean.
- The capital Willemstad is a busy city and commercial port, so many yachts prefer the protected anchorage at Spanish Water where there are several marinas. Willemstad does, however, have many historical buildings and sites, and sail through the city centre is a worthwhile excursion.
- The coastline along the south is irregular, peppered with small bays and inlets, including the spectacular bays and beaches at the west end of the island. The largest bays are located along the central-east and east end of the island, where Willemstad is located.
- Yacht services on the island are good and three facilities in Curacao have a bonded warehouse status; meaning that yachts can be stored without a time limit when uninhabited. See Yachting Essentials for more information.
Security
Overall Crime and Safety
Most visits to Curaçao are trouble-free. However, petty theft and street crime is a concern. There is a violent crime among members of the illegal drugs world, but this rarely affects tourists. The main tourist areas are generally safe, but you should take normal precautions. Avoid remote areas at night. Make sure purses and handbags are closed and not easy to snatch.
Maritime Issues:
Cruisers should take basic safety precautions and use common sense when leaving the boat or going ashore at night.
Dinghy and outboard thieves operate throughout the Caribbean and theft reports continue to come in from Curacao. Best advice is to place your dinghy and outboard on deck and properly secure them overnight. Dinghy and outboard theft continue to be reported in Spanish Water.
If leaving your boat for a period of time in a boatyard or marina, be sure to secure all items of value below decks and revisit the locking/security system on hatches and doors.
Reported Incidents:
Spanish Water November 2018: Attempted theft of locked dinghy from Pirates Nest dock.
Spanish Water April 2018: Outboard stole from Pirates Nest Dock.
Spanish Water September 2017: Unlocked dinghy and outboard was stolen overnight from a yacht on the anchor.
The Caribbean Safety and Security Net provide information by anchorage or by the island. If you experience a boarding, robbery or attack on your yacht or have information about a yachting-related security incident, go to the CSSN homepage and click on the “Report an Incident” icon. Also, be sure to check the noonsite Piracy & Security Pages
General Emergency Numbers: For more detail see General Info
Last updated: December 2018
Weather
Curacao is outside the hurricane belt and has a sunny climate all year. The average temperature is about 27° C (mid-80s F). The trade winds blow constantly from the east, picking up in the spring months. The rainy season is October to February and is marked by short, occasional showers, usually at night. Sometimes a tropical storm elsewhere in the Caribbean can cause cloudy weather for a day or two.
Meteorological Department Curaçao (MDC)
Provides weather services for Curacao, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and Saba, within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
There is a Cruisers Net on VHF Ch. 72, Monday to Saturday at 0745.
See the Caribbean National, Regional and Island Weather Websites report for more.
For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page
Main Ports
- Ports of Entry: Willemstad
- Other Ports: Spanish Water
