Location: Southwestern Caribbean, 65 km / 40 miles north of Venezuela.
“C” in ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao).
Area: 444 km2 / 171 sq m.
Climate: Tropical dry with daily sunshine. Average midday temperature
31 C (88 F). Sea 27 C (81 F). Refreshing trade winds.
October-February, short, occasional showers, usually at night. Located
outside the hurricane belt, Curaçao is together with
neighbors Aruba and Bonaire a perfect year around destination.
Time: Atlantic Standard Time, US EST -1, GMT -4.
Population: 160,000 of more than 50 nationalities.
Language: Papiamento, Dutch, English, Spanish.
Religions: Catholics (80%), Protestants, Jews.
Capital: Willemstad. Central, historical parts on UNESCO world heritage
list.
Government: Curaçao form, along with neighboring Bonaire and north
Caribbean islands St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba, the Netherlands
Antilles.
Entry Requirements: Citizens of most countries do not need a visa for
entering Bonaire. Only valid passport and a return flight ticket are
required.
Currency: US$ and Netherlands Antillean Florin (also called Guilders),
abbreviated Nafl, are used parallel. US$ 1 = Nafl 1.75. Major Credit
Cards are widely accepted. Bring bills of 50 US$ or smaller. Euro is
generally not accepted, however most banks exchanges Euro and other
foreign currencies.
Banking Hours: Mo-Fr 8:00am - 3:30 pm. Airport bank open Mo-Sa 8:
00am-8:00pm, Su 9:00am- 4:00pm. ATMs disburse US dollars.
Medical Treatment / Health care: As protection against the tropical sun,
a sun protection lotion, sunglasses and a hat are recommended.
Curaçao has no malaria or similar tropical diseases, and no
vaccinations are needed. Eat and drink freely. If you need pharmaceutics,
look out for "Botica". St. Elisabeth Hospital is a modern and well
equipped hospital, also containing a decompression chamber. The
Hospital can be reached within 20 minutes from almost anywhere on the
island.
Drinking Water: Pure, delicious, distilled sea water direct from tap.
What to Wear: Casual tropical wear. Beware of strong sunshine. Some
restaurants prohibit shorts or sandals; some casinos also require
jackets for men. Bathing suits belong to the beach. Sturdy shoes if you
go for a hike in the countryside.
What to Bring: Film and video cassettes, batteries, sunscreen,
disposable diapers, sporting goods and books are all generally more
expensive on Curaçao. Local stores carry a good selection of most items.
Cellular phones / Internet: Travelers can use their cellular phones.
Direct international call from hotel room, hotel internet service and
internet cafés.
What to buy: International brands of electronics, cameras, watches and
jewelries. Look out for good bargains on fashion and shoes.
Tipping: It is customary to tip porters Nafl 1 per bag, and taxi drivers 5-
10% of the fare. Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge to the
bill; you can leave a couple more Florins change if you like.
Transport: ABC-busses (“big bus”): runs on frequent schedule in
Willemstad area, outside town once every hour. Mini bus (9-12 seats):
Runs all over from before dawn to round 10pm, just waive to stop the
van. Taxi: easy to recognize by their signs and the TX on their registration
plates. Taxi’s on Curaçao has taximeter.
Traffic: Drive to the right. Asphalt roads in good condition.
Driving License: Foreign and international licenses are accepted.
Electricity: 110 - 130 volts/ 50 cycles. Dual voltage appliances from
Europe and South America will need an adapter plug. For sensitive
electronic devices and computers consider using a surge regulator. It's a
good idea to charge underwater strobes and videos on the regulated
systems at dive shops and photo centers.
Criminality: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are in general considered to be
safe and secure destinations. You will find yourself in a much more
comfortable environment than most well known tourist destinations and
towns around the world. However, this doesn’t mean that you should not
take the obvious measures of course: use the hotel’s safe for any
valuables, precious jewelries, cash, etc; don’t leave wallets, purses,
cameras, etc out of sight; don’t leave valuables visible in your parked car.
Note: It is prohibited to collect and export any kind of coral stones and
shells!
“C” in ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao).
Area: 444 km2 / 171 sq m.
Climate: Tropical dry with daily sunshine. Average midday temperature
31 C (88 F). Sea 27 C (81 F). Refreshing trade winds.
October-February, short, occasional showers, usually at night. Located
outside the hurricane belt, Curaçao is together with
neighbors Aruba and Bonaire a perfect year around destination.
Time: Atlantic Standard Time, US EST -1, GMT -4.
Population: 160,000 of more than 50 nationalities.
Language: Papiamento, Dutch, English, Spanish.
Religions: Catholics (80%), Protestants, Jews.
Capital: Willemstad. Central, historical parts on UNESCO world heritage
list.
Government: Curaçao form, along with neighboring Bonaire and north
Caribbean islands St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba, the Netherlands
Antilles.
Entry Requirements: Citizens of most countries do not need a visa for
entering Bonaire. Only valid passport and a return flight ticket are
required.
Currency: US$ and Netherlands Antillean Florin (also called Guilders),
abbreviated Nafl, are used parallel. US$ 1 = Nafl 1.75. Major Credit
Cards are widely accepted. Bring bills of 50 US$ or smaller. Euro is
generally not accepted, however most banks exchanges Euro and other
foreign currencies.
Banking Hours: Mo-Fr 8:00am - 3:30 pm. Airport bank open Mo-Sa 8:
00am-8:00pm, Su 9:00am- 4:00pm. ATMs disburse US dollars.
Medical Treatment / Health care: As protection against the tropical sun,
a sun protection lotion, sunglasses and a hat are recommended.
Curaçao has no malaria or similar tropical diseases, and no
vaccinations are needed. Eat and drink freely. If you need pharmaceutics,
look out for "Botica". St. Elisabeth Hospital is a modern and well
equipped hospital, also containing a decompression chamber. The
Hospital can be reached within 20 minutes from almost anywhere on the
island.
Drinking Water: Pure, delicious, distilled sea water direct from tap.
What to Wear: Casual tropical wear. Beware of strong sunshine. Some
restaurants prohibit shorts or sandals; some casinos also require
jackets for men. Bathing suits belong to the beach. Sturdy shoes if you
go for a hike in the countryside.
What to Bring: Film and video cassettes, batteries, sunscreen,
disposable diapers, sporting goods and books are all generally more
expensive on Curaçao. Local stores carry a good selection of most items.
Cellular phones / Internet: Travelers can use their cellular phones.
Direct international call from hotel room, hotel internet service and
internet cafés.
What to buy: International brands of electronics, cameras, watches and
jewelries. Look out for good bargains on fashion and shoes.
Tipping: It is customary to tip porters Nafl 1 per bag, and taxi drivers 5-
10% of the fare. Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge to the
bill; you can leave a couple more Florins change if you like.
Transport: ABC-busses (“big bus”): runs on frequent schedule in
Willemstad area, outside town once every hour. Mini bus (9-12 seats):
Runs all over from before dawn to round 10pm, just waive to stop the
van. Taxi: easy to recognize by their signs and the TX on their registration
plates. Taxi’s on Curaçao has taximeter.
Traffic: Drive to the right. Asphalt roads in good condition.
Driving License: Foreign and international licenses are accepted.
Electricity: 110 - 130 volts/ 50 cycles. Dual voltage appliances from
Europe and South America will need an adapter plug. For sensitive
electronic devices and computers consider using a surge regulator. It's a
good idea to charge underwater strobes and videos on the regulated
systems at dive shops and photo centers.
Criminality: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are in general considered to be
safe and secure destinations. You will find yourself in a much more
comfortable environment than most well known tourist destinations and
towns around the world. However, this doesn’t mean that you should not
take the obvious measures of course: use the hotel’s safe for any
valuables, precious jewelries, cash, etc; don’t leave wallets, purses,
cameras, etc out of sight; don’t leave valuables visible in your parked car.
Note: It is prohibited to collect and export any kind of coral stones and
shells!
| Västindien |
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list” SUSAN SONTAG
© Tord Elfwendahl
Things to do on Curacao Swim with Dolphins Dolphins… the grace and beauty of their form and movement amazes us…their playful, curious nature charms us… and their built-in grin amuses us. Our ancient desire to understand them has given rise to a wealth of myth and legend, but what are the realities about dolphins? Indulge your curiosity, and let Dolphin Academy’s intimate and informative programs reveal how the truth about these magnificent animals is more fascinating than fiction ever imagined! Boat Trips Sailing ship “Insulinde” Originally built in 1931 in Belgium, as a "Zeilogger" or sailing fishing ship ; the 120 feet ( 37m ) long "Insulinde" proved to be a vessel which combined grace and speed and was subsequently put to good use as a "packer" racing fresh catches from the Icelandic fishing grounds to the great coastal cities of Europe. Following a period of mixed use and some neglect the "Insulinde" was completely restored in Enkhuizen , Holland in 1987 and fitted with 9 two person cabins, including a couple of well-proven honeymoon suites. The ship, while not luxurious, is most comfortable and very well maintained. About 30 to 80 passengers make day trips, wedding and private parties, and smaller groups of up to 12 enjoy fully inclusive live-aboard mini-cruises to exclusive destinations. Safety has a high priority, and the ship is certified with the Dutch Shipping Inspection for worldwide voyaging with passengers. The owners of the "Insulinde", Phil and Laara, are most experienced seaman respectively gourmet cook. Phil and Laara have lots of humorous stories to tell of their adventures, and of their passengers and crew who keep on coming back time after time. “Ïnsulinde” features: Comfortable live-aboard accommodations for up to 12 passengers, delicious international and vegetarian cuisine, comfort stairway provides safe and easy access to and from the sea, lots of cushions also for your comfort, lots of sun covers for shade, fresh water showers on deck, fine trade-wind sailing, fully equipped to handle groups of up to 12 qualified divers. “Insulinde” is the perfect way to have parties for up to 75 passengers, weddings, conventions and incentives. A trip to Paradise.... Klein Curacao with “Mermaid” “Mermaid” has the only beach house on Klein Curaçao! With a large thatched-roof patio, picnic benches and cool drinks it's a great shady shelter from the heat of the sun. Bathrooms are clean and well maintained. The “Mermaid” provides all the facilities you need for a nice day on the beach. A fantastic buffet lunch at the beach house awaits you: Chicken, pork chops, corn on the cob, salads and fruits are prepared to perfection. Beer, wine, juices and soft drinks are provided. For snorkelers and Scuba-divers, Klein Curaçao has much to offer. Klein Curaçao has beautiful coral formations, a vertical drop-off and a couple of underwater caves. The “Mermaid” offers one morning and one afternoon dive. Drift-diving from a rubber dinghy, divers will explore both the northern and southern tips of the island. As diver you have to bring your gear and tanks. “Mermaid” is popular amongst divers! And, sadly, at about 4pm, it's all-aboard-time as the “Mermaid” heads back to Curaçao. Before this memorable tour is over, you can enjoy the scenic Caribbean sun set. City Walking Tour A guided tour through historical township Punda – the very centre of Willemstad and one of Caribbean’s most scenic towns. The walk takes you to Fort Amsterdam, build 1634 by the Dutch - The beautifully restored Fort Church - “Swingin’ Old Lady”, the famous floating bridge - The oldest synagogue of the western hemisphere – The floating market with fruits and vegetables – History of one of America’s most busy harbors. Diving Wedding & Honeymoon Island Tours Mountain Biking Ostrich Farm/Aloe Farm Trekking Caribbean Cooking Our Escorted tours |
Our Hotels on Curacao
Curacao
Home Cruise Grupp Air ticket Bocas del Toro Bröllop Shop About Us Contact us Privacy Policy Diving Dolphins Site map Links Private tours
© 2006 AbsoluteCaribbean/all rights reserved. Us of this website constitutes acceptance of AbsoluteCaribbean Last update 12.2 2008
