LOCATION
Curaçao is located in the southwestern Caribbean, at latitude 12° North and longitude 68° West. The Island is 56 Km (35 miles) off the coast of Venezuela which is a 45 minute flight from Caracas, 2 ½ hours from Miami or 9 hours from Amsterdam.
LANGUAGE
Dutch is the official language while Papiamentu is commonly used. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.
CLIMATE
Curaçao has a warm, sunny climate year round, with an average temperature of about 27°C (in the mid-80°F).
ELECTRICITY
110-130 volts AC(50 cycles).
DRNKING WATER
Curaçao desalinizes seawater so it is safe to drink. Imported bottled water is also available.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Tourist emergency number
(24 hours): 917
Ambulance : 912
Fire Department: 911
Police Department: 911
Coast Guard: 913
MEDICAL FACILITIES & PHARMACIES
St. Elizabeth Hospital:
462-4900 or 910.
Taams Clinic: 736-5466
Adventist Hospital: 737-1992
Over the counter medicines are found at the local pharmacy “Botica”. Most are open all day until 6:30pm and some stay open 24 hours on a rotating schedule.
CURRENCY
The local currency is the Antillean guilder, but the US dollar is widel y accepted. The exchange rate varies between 1.77- 1.80 for 1 US dollar. Euros are also accepted in some hotels and restaurants.
BANKS
Banks on the island
operate Monday to Friday, from 8:00am to 3:30pm.
Maduro & Curiel’s Bank:
466-1111
RBTT Bank: 763-8000,
Banco di Caribe: 432-3000
Giro Bank: 433-9999
ATM, strategically located on the island, provide easy access to cash withdrawals using your VISA, MasterCard, American Express or any card with a Cirrus, Maestro, Cashnet,
PIN or Plus logo.
CAR RENTALS
Thrifty Car Rental: 461-3089 /521-5056
Budget Rent a Car: 868-3466
National Car Rental: 869-4433
Hertz Car Rental: 888-0088
TAXI SERVICE
Typically found at the airport, Punda, Otrobanda and the majority of hotels.
Airport: 868-1220
Central: 869-0747
AIRLINES
Air Jamaica: 839-1200
American Airlines: 869-5707
Air Canada: 888 247-2262
JetBlue:1-800-JETBLUE
KLM: 736-1422
Dutch Antilles Express:
868-2233
Insel Air: 737-0444
TOURIST INFORMATION
Curaçao Tourist Board:
434-8200 www.curaçao.com
Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association:
465-1005 www.chata.org
Curaçao Apartment and Small Hotel Association: 888-6201
www.apartmentscuraçao.com
TOUR OPERATORS
Curaçao Actief/Explore Curaçao: 433-8858
Destination Curaçao: 463-6494
Taber Tours: 737-6713
Yellow Tourism Solutions N.V:
462-6262
CONSULATES
Canadian: 466-1115
US: 461-3066
Colombian: 461-4663
Venezuelan: 461-3100
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