As a country plagued with such unrest, it should be no wonder that the Curacao poverty rate is over 25 percent. A small island country located in the Caribbean, much of the economy in Curacao is based around tourism and is thus highly sensitive to fluxes in the world market.
The best time to visit Curaçao is from May to November, during the off-peak season. During these months, you'll find the lowest airfares and hotel rates, with rooms often priced up to 50 percent lower than they are in the high season (especially during summer).
#2: The Island Is One Big PartyNightlife is one of the best things to do in Curacao, with annual festivals like Carnival and King's Day among the largest and most fun. Music festivals come to the island frequently, and many of the beaches turn into popular bars and clubs at night with DJ sets and live music.
Porto Marie is Curacao's best-in-show beach. It has plenty of chairs in the shade to relax, vibrant, blue water for swimming and snorkeling plus a floating platform for kids. But the best feature is the mega-long pier that's great for snapping vacation photos.
Taxis are available from Curaçao's major airport, Curaçao International Airport (CUR), about 8 miles northwest of Willemstad. However, cabs can be expensive, especially if you are planning to use them frequently. Otherwise, expect to pay around $30 for a one-way taxi ride from the airport to Willemstad.
Are there ride-sharing services on the island (i.e. Uber, Lyft)? No, there are no ride-sharing services in Curaçao.
The currency used in Curaçao is the Antillean Guilder (ANG), also called the Florin. You can use US Dollars everywhere in Curaçao. In stores and restaurants and such the exchange rate used is usually 1 USD = 1.75 ANG for ease of calculation.
Curacao is not that expensive. If you go to the west side of the island you can find some nice hotels and you can go to a different beach every day (free of charge). So if you look for a place to stay look into West punt hotels.
What is the money in Curacao?
Netherlands Antillean guilder
The name starts with a hard 'C', while the 'ç' (c-cedilla) is pronounced as an “S”. So, this means that Curaçao is pronounced as 'Cure-ah-souw'. The blue version is then called Blue 'Cure-ah-souw'.
Eat – Going out for dinner can get quite costly in Curacao. For lunch or a quick bite you pay anything between five and ten dollar. A soda can cost you three to five dollars and alcohol is a lot more expensive. Cocktails start around $11, beers $5.
Here are 8 great things to buy in Curacao, all made right on the island.
- Gift Packs of Orange Liqueur. Curacao is famous for its orange-flavored liqueur by the same name.
- Chichi Doll.
- Tropical-Inspired Handcrafts.
- Aloe Vera Products.
- Dutch Cheese.
- Colorful Paintings by Local Artists.
- Dutch Delft Blue Souvenirs.
- Jewelry.
It's flavor comes from the peel of the Laraha citrus fruit (which has been dried) and is grown on the island of Curaçao, hence the name. The blue color in the liqueur comes from food coloring which has been added to give it it's distinctive coloring. It is similar to Triple Sec in that it is citrus flavored.
The most popular areas in Curacao
- Curacao is a great holiday destination for people of every age. The versatility of the island makes it an attractive place for everyone.
- Bapor Kibra (Sea Aquarium) One area that you absolutely do not want to miss is Bapor Kibra.
- Westpunt.
- Jan Thiel.
- Punda & Otrobanda.
10 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Aruba Vacation
- Don't plan your trip to Aruba around hurricane season.
- Don't stay only on Eagle or Palm Beaches.
- Don't just stick to bottled water in Aruba.
- Don't think flamingos are native to Aruba.
- Don't pack formal clothing for your Aruba getaway.
- Don't ignore Aruba nightlife.
- Don't hide your sexuality in Aruba.
The 4 Best Neighborhoods in Aruba for Tourists
- Palm Beach. Palm Beach is the central location on the island and has the most to offer.
- Eagle Beach. Eagle Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island with its wide strip of white powdery sand.
- Arashi Beach/Noord.
- Downtown (Oranjestad)
Substation Curaçao has a shark-centered deep-dive excursion that is dedicated to spotting local shark species, including big-eyed Cuban dog sharks, sevengill sharks, and green murray sharks.
Unfortunately there are no ferries between Aruba and Curacao or the other way around. The only way to travel between Curacao and Aruba is via Insel Air or a private charter.
Yes, most 'Yu di Korsou' (people born and raised in Curaçao) speak English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu. Recently many people have also picked up Portuguese due to the influx of visitors from Brazil and the fact that our native language Papiamentu is closely related to Portuguese.
Aruba is really what YOU make of it. If you don't go anywhere except downtown and the Pallm Beach area, then yes, it will seem very Americanized and touristy. Luckily we read many posts and rented a car and left our hotel in the Palm Beach area to go exploring. We did find SOME local culture, but not much.
Well Curacao and Aruba do have the same trade winds, but Curacao is a very hilly island, so the winds gets broken up. Aruba on the other hand is a flat island with one hill, so the wind is much stronger there. Hope you enjoy your vacation in Curacao!
Curacao is definitely known for its beaches, and by far one of the best on the island is Klein Knip beach. Pristine sand, spectacular views, and the startling bright hues of the Caribbean sea combine to make this beach incredible. It's a favorite of locals which means it's well-worth a visit.
The best time to visit Aruba is from April to August – a huge window of time when the island's high prices take a holiday. And since the island sits well outside the hurricane belt, there's very little threat of tropical storms at this time. January to March features pleasant weather, but the room prices can soar.
Here's our guide to the top 10 dishes you can't miss in Curaçao.
- Keshi Yena. Keshi yena is widely considered the signature dish of Curaçao.
- Bitterballen. A traditional Dutch bar snack, bitterballen are flavorful meatballs.
- Oliebollen.
- Funchi or Tutu.
- Stroopwafels.
- Stoba.
- Poffertjes.
- Seafood.
The sea in Curaçao is warm enough to swim in throughout the year: the water temperature reaches a low of 26 °C (79 °F) in February and March and a high of 29 °C (84 °F) in September and October.
The rainy season in Curacao starts in October and ends in January. During this period, there's an average of 100 millimeters of rain per month; significantly more than during the rest of the year, but too little to speak of a real rainy season.
Packing List for a Seven-Day Trip in One Carry-On Bag
- 5 shirts.
- 3 shorts or skirts.
- 2 dressy options (mix and match with accessories and outerwear)
- 1 outerwear — sweater or jacket.
- 1 pair sneakers.
- 1 pair dressy shoes.
- 1 pair flip-flops.
- 1 hat.
