Book cheap flights to Curaçao

Curaçao experiences a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year, even during the rainy season. The rainy months are from October to February and are marked by short bursts of rainfall that fall mostly at night. The island is unaffected by the hurricane season and sunshine kisses the island throughout the year, so any time is a good time to visit Curaçao. However, if you want to experience the wild celebrations of Carnival the best time to visit is from January to February. Diving is also great throughout the year but is particularly popular between September and December. For thinner crowds, lower hotel rates, and cheap flights to Curaçao, the best time to visit is between May and November.

South African passport holders need a Caribbean visa to visit Curaçao. You will not need to apply for a Caribbean visa if you have a valid Schengen visa. You will need to ensure your passport has a validity of at least six months and two blank pages for entry stamps.

Visa applications should be done through VFS Global in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria or Johannesburg. More information can be found on the Netherlandsandyou.nl website.

Curaçao is considered a relatively safe destination. Obtaining travel insurance to cover theft and medical expenses and familiarising yourself with the local laws is recommended.

As with most countries around the world, you should take precautions such as keeping valuables in a safe place and avoid wandering into isolated areas alone at night. The only other concerns are poisonous fish and urchins. Watch your step when walking in the water to avoid stepping on one of these.

A yellow fever certificate is required if you are travelling from an infected country. Mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika virus, dengue, and chikungunya are a risk, so precautions should be taken to avoid bites and infection. Vaccinations against hepatitis A & B and rabies are recommended. Routine vaccinations include tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, MMR, and polio.