Curaçao Travel Checklist: 9 things to arrange before you go

Lucky you, a vacation to Curaçao is coming up! But a trip often starts with packing stress: have you arranged everything? With this checklist you won’t forget a thing. We list the 9 most important things to sort out, plus a packing list and a checklist you can tick off, save and print.

• Go to the checklist
• The 9 things
• Packing list
• FAQ

9 things to arrange before your trip to Curaçao

In order of importance. Without the first two you won’t even get into Curaçao; the rest makes your vacation easier, cheaper and more fun.

1. Passport (and entry requirements)

U.S. citizens don’t need a visa for Curaçao, but you do need a passport that’s valid for your entire stay, with a blank page for the entry stamp. Children need their own passport too. Immigration may also ask for a return or onward ticket, your accommodation details and proof that you can pay for your stay. Renewing a passport can take weeks, so check expiry dates now.

2. DI Card: fill it in and print it

Everyone traveling to Curaçao, children included, fills in the Digital Immigration Card (DI Card) in advance. Without it you won’t get through immigration, and your airline already checks for it at check-in. Our DI Card guide explains step by step how it works.

• When: from 7 days before departure. The easiest moment is right after online check-in, about 24 hours before your flight.
• Print it: bring the DI Card on paper. A version on your phone is officially not accepted.
• Cost: free on the official website. Watch out for sites that charge a fee.
• Faster through immigration: depending on your passport, you may be able to use the eGates at Hato airport. Otherwise you line up at the counter and get a stamp in your passport: your first souvenir!

How to fill in the DI Card

3. Book excursions in advance (especially Klein Curaçao)

There’s plenty to do in Curaçao, but not everything has unlimited space. A day trip to Klein Curaçao is the highlight of the vacation for many people, and the boats are often full days ahead.

Our advice: book the excursions you really want to do before you leave. That way you can plan your vacation calmly, and with our lowest price guarantee you often pay less than on the spot. For most excursions you only pay a small deposit online.

• Klein CuraçaoAll boats and prices compared
• Snorkel with dolphinsSmall groups, sell out fast

4. Arrange a rental car or taxi

Want the freedom to go wherever you like? Then a rental car is almost a must. Public transport is limited, taxis are pricey and walking isn’t an option in the heat. With a car you’ll reach the beautiful coves in the west, Christoffel Park and local spots like Jaanchie’s. You can drive in Curaçao with your valid U.S. driver’s license, on the right side of the road.

Rental cars are scarce around Christmas, in the summer months and during carnival. So book your car in time. Not picking up a car at the airport? Then book an airport taxi from Hato in advance, so someone is waiting for you after a long flight.

5. Cards, cash and Caribbean guilders

Debit and credit cards work almost everywhere in Curaçao. Let your bank know you’re traveling and check the foreign transaction fees on your cards, so you don’t get surprised or blocked.

Bring a credit card in any case. It’s accepted almost everywhere and is often required for the deposit on your rental car; the amount is only put on hold. Some cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees at all.

Since March 31, 2025, Curaçao’s currency is the Caribbean guilder (Cg), which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder. U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere, so you hardly need to exchange money.

6. Travel insurance and health coverage

Many U.S. health plans, and Medicare, offer little or no coverage abroad, while a hospital visit or medical evacuation can be expensive. Check what your plan covers outside the U.S. and consider travel medical insurance. It doesn’t cost much, and if something happens you’ll be glad you have it.

7. Phone, internet and navigation

Using your regular plan abroad can get expensive. Check your carrier’s international options, get an eSIM for Curaçao, or buy a local SIM card on the island.

You don’t need a GPS device for your rental car (in Curaçao it’s called a ‘wara wara’, by the way). Download an offline map of Curaçao in Google Maps or Maps.me over Wi-Fi at home. Then you can navigate without mobile data, using just your GPS.

8. Check the weather (and take a sneak peek)

The weather in Curaçao is almost always good, but during the rainy season (roughly mid-September to early January) a heavy shower can fall now and then. It usually passes quickly. A rain radar for Curaçao shows where it’s raining. Or just keep an eye on your favorite weather app.

Can’t wait? Watch Mambo Beach, the Handelskade or Klein Curaçao live through the webcams in Curaçao.

9. Pick restaurants (and reserve)

Eating out in Curaçao is a treat, but the best restaurants are spread across the island. If you only look around your hotel, you’ll miss a lot. Pick a few favorites in advance and reserve the popular ones, especially on Friday and Saturday nights and around the holidays.

Restaurants in Curaçao