Curacao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in the southern Caribbean Sea and in the so-known Dutch Caribbean located in the north part of the Venezuela coast.
Social influences that are felt by tourists while traveling here are due to the mixture of Dutch, Indian, and African traditions.
Even if Dutch is the official language of the territory, English, as well as Spanish, are widely spoken there as well, and this serves as another sign that this island serves as a meeting point of a few nationalities that makes it a very interesting attraction point for tourists.
Warnings & Dangers in Curacao
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Most visits to the island are trouble-free, however, there are some crime concerns, but these rarely affect tourists as these areas are mostly safe.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Taxi is the most used mean of transportation used on the island and recommended to the tourists as it is believed to be the most developed and safe one.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Pickpockets are often met here as it is all over the world and for these to be avoided try to watch your belongings whenever you go.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Most hurricanes pass to the north of Curacao and the season for them runs from June to November, however, there are no records of these ones happening in recent years, but just occasional tropical storms.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
There are really few cases of mugging as this island is considered of being a low-leveled criminal activity country, but still, all the measures should be taken in order to maximally avoid these cases.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Even if there is no historic data of any terrorist attack happening on the islands, there is still a chance for this to take place, so in that case, just follow all pieces of advice given by public authorities.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Scams cases on the islands have happened but these could be easily avoided through using your common sense and trying not to be easily influenced.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
It is believed to be a very safe place even for sole women traveling, but still, be aware of all the risks that have been mentioned above.
So... How Safe Is Curacao Really?
The island is still considered to be the point of transportation of drugs to Europe and the Americas and you as a tourist should be aware of this and do not leave your belongings unattended, do not discuss or agree to carry someone’s package as this can affect your security.
Even if it is believed to be a trouble-free traveling point theft and street crime is considered to be a problem here due to the main illegal occupation of the inhabitants.
Touristic areas of the island are generally considered to be safe, but it is advisable to not walk alone there at night and do not carry all your expensive things with you or leave them in not so secure place as the car you will be driving or the room you will be staying in.
Keep an eye on all the updates made by the state-owned websites regarding natural disasters and follow all the recommendations given on them.
From other perspectives, it is a safe place for traveling if and only if you will take care of yourself, follow the listed pieces of advice as well as recommendations in case of emergency given by public authorities.
How Does Curacao Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Curacao | 80 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Qatar | 84 |
| United Arab Emirates | 79 |
| Montenegro | 70 |
| Denmark | 94 |
| Poland | 84 |
| Lithuania | 79 |
| Argentina | 70 |
Useful Information
Visas
British passport holders do not need a visa for visiting the island, while for others it depends on nationality and should be checked out on the national website.
Currency
The locally used currency is Antillean guilder (ANG), but the US dollar is widely accepted as well on the islands. There is a fixed exchange rate set between these two currencies and mainly that 1.80 ANG is equal to $1.00 US dollar.
Weather
The climate is tropical, which means that it is hot all year round and one can enjoy sunny weather in whatever season you will decide to come.
Airports
Curaçao International Airport is the primary airport of the island and connects Europe, Americas as well as Carrabians.
Travel Insurance
As it is always recommended to have travel insurance while traveling, no matter the destination Curacao is not an exception.
Curacao Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
| High °F | 82 | 84 | 86 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 84 |
| Low °F | 75 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 77 |
It's great!
Having been to Curacao over 15 years ago with family, I was curious to see if it was still a safe place to visit. You always hear about travel precautions and I just wasn’t sure. My brother and I are hoping to visit Curacao next fall. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the information!
My favorite
Do not hesitate to visit Curacao! I was able to go thanks to a cancellation in my friend’s family and it is absolutely amazing. I did not feel unsafe, not once. We even did a bit of sightseeing at night and everyone was extremely friendly. I loved seeing the different colored architecture and buildings. I will go back sometime in the future with my wife and kids when they are a bit older.
This is a gem
Very safe and quite the gem this is. The prices are ok and there aren’t many threats like in other places. Not many tourists so it’s not crowded and they have a lot of very nice beaches so you can get a proper tan. Kenepa Beach or Cas Abao are really great. As for food make sure to try the Poke Food Station.
One of the best island experiences so far
If you plan to rent a car for your stay – which makes moving around the island so much easier – do not leave anything in the car, regardless how safe you might think the neighborhood might be. You could also opt for hotel shuttles but they don’t cover that much ground so you won’t get to see all that Curacao has to offer. Quick trips won’t set you back by much but if you want to go on a longer tour you will have to spend quite a lot since most taxis aren’t metered. I never jump in without asking for an estimate first. We rented a car for the whole stay – 7 days – which cost around $350, and would do the same again.
Also, they don’t take kindly to drinking and driving so just don’t do it.
I’ve heard people saying that the west side of the island is not that safe for tourists but tbh, never went there so I have no idea.
You could also book a stay via Airbnb, as I discovered after we booked. They have options ranging from apartments that are perfect for families traveling with kids to beach villas.
Treat this destination just as you would normally do: avoid having your valuables in sight while doing your best to avoid poorly lit areas. I never felt unsafe during our whole stay and we’ve explored quite a bit, we’re not the stay all day in the sun and lounge kind of people.
There’s ton of outdoor activities from snorkeling to ATV rides, hill climbing. Their flora is beyond insane, so many flowers and lush greens all around. However tempting it might be, leave it alone or you will end up being ticketed.
Do your research, find an itinerary and activities suited for your age and range of hobbies. I guarantee you will have a blast!