Curacao - Facts

Curacao FAQs

Pre-Arrival Boat: Customs use SailClear which should be completed online in advance of arrival. See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: Immigration forms can be completed online in advance. Visas are granted on arrival. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? Arriving yachts wishing to anchor proceed to Spanish Water and travel via land to Willemstad, the port of entry. See Clearance for full details.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There are no clearance fees during normal working hours. An anchoring permit is required. See Fees for details.
What security concerns should I know about? Most visits to Curaçao are trouble-free. See Security for more info.

Curacao Facts for Sailors

• Curacao together with Aruba and Bonaire form the ABC islands. They are the three western-most islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean. Curaçao lies off the coast of Venezuela between Aruba and Bonaire.
• Aruba is a flat island, exposed to the ocean currents with a barrier reef along the south coast providing protected lagoons. In contrast Curaçao has bays with relatively narrow entrances offering protected waters inside, and Bonaire can only offer shelter in the marinas.
• Curacao is part of the former Netherlands Antilles. In October 2010, Curacao became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• Curacao has a population of approx. 160,000.
• Dutch, English, and Papiamentu (Portuguese Creole) are all official languages of Curacao. Most people speak at least two of these languages. Dutch is the sole language for administration and legal matters.
• The official currency is the Caribbean guilder as of 31 March 2025. U.S. dollars are also widely used and accepted. For more details see General Info – Money.
• The timezone is Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-4)
• Curacao is outside the hurricane belt. For more info see Weather for more information. Because of this, it is a favorite stop for yachts en-route to Panama. Application for a 180-day visa is now possible, making this an option to wait out the hurricane season. Be sure to reserve in advance for haul out and dry storage space for hurricane season.
• There are two main ports; Willemstad harbour - the busy commercial port and city (together with adjacent Piscadera Bay) and Spanish Water, which is where all pleasure yachts should anchor for clearance. Spanish Water is probably one of the best hurricane holes in the Caribbean.
• The coastline along the south is irregular, peppered with small bays and inlets, including the spectacular bays and beaches at the west end of the island. The largest bays are located along the central-east and east end of the island, where Willemstad is located.
• Yacht services on the island are good and three facilities in Curacao have a bonded warehouse status; meaning that yachts can be stored without a time limit when uninhabited. See Yachting Essentials for more information.