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