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Curacao is a vacation spot offering something for everyone. Visitors can tour the streets of historic Willemstad, where the colonial Dutch architecture creates a scene right out of Amsterdam. Located just 35 miles north of Venezuela, Curacao is the largest of the Netherlands Antilles. The countryside is arid and the coast is lined with rocky coves, craggy cliffs, and secluded inlets lined with mangroves. Many of the islands beaches are tucked into small bays surrounded by limestone outcroppings and cactus-topped cliffs.
Curacao has served as a cultural crossroads for centuries and today the island is home to some 50 nationalities. Descendants of the original Dutch settlers, Portuguese Jews, and African slaves who found themselves on Curacaos shores centuries ago mingle with residents who trace their roots to North and South America, the Far and Middle East, and the rest of Europe. The local language of Papiamentu is a combination of Portuguese, Dutch, English, Spanish, and African dialects.
Curacao has 38 beaches ranging from well-populated strands to secluded coves. The island is a sports mecca swimming, windsurfing, sailing, water-skiing, deepsea fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving are all options. The Curacao Underwater Park is a series of protected reefs that stretch for 12 miles along the south coast, offering divers the chance to see beautiful coral beds, steep walls, and two shallow wrecks.
Punda is the heart of Willemstads shopping scene. Here youll find excellent prices because there is a very low import duty. Cameras, electronics, jewellery, perfume, cosmetics, china, crystal, and linens are among the items for sale.
Travel Documents Needed
When travelling outside of your home country you should always have a valid passport.
Valid passport and return or outward ticket.
Always check with your travel agent regarding current entry requirements.
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Netherlands Antilles Public Holidays |
| New Year's Day (01Jan); Valentine's Day (14Feb); St. Patrick's Day (17Mar);
Good Friday (14Apr); Easter Sunday (16Apr); Easter Monday (17Apr); Queen's Birthday (30Apr); Labor Day (01May); St. Maarten's Day (11Nov); Kingdom (of the Netherlands) Day (15Dec); Christmas (25Dec); Boxing Day (26Dec).
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Netherlands Antilles Visas |
U.S. citizens require one of the following:
A valid passport and a return/continuing ticket.
A birth certificate with raised seal and photo identification and a return/continuing ticket.
Naturalized citizens must show an original naturalization certificate with photo identification and a return/continuing ticket.
Permanent Resident (Green Card) holders must have a valid passport and a return/continuing ticket.
Canadian citizens require one of the following:
A valid passport and a return/continuing ticket.
A certified copy of birth certificate, a photo identification and a return/continuing ticket.
Canadian residents require a "Landing permit" (Permanent Resident Card) with valid passport and return/continuing ticket.
European Community citizens require:
A valid passport and a return/continuing ticket.
Nationals of the following countries listed below require a visa for entry into the Netherlands Antilles for a maximum stay of 3 months (effective January 1, 2005) :
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, China, the Peoples Republic, with the exception of Hong Kong SAR en BNO document holders, Colombia, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-Democratic Republic (formerly Zaire), Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic,
East Timor, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, G uinea-Bissau,
Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia (formerly the Republic of Yugoslavia), Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Northern Marianne, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestinian Authority, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro (Yugoslavia), Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Island,
Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,
Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Samoa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
For other countries, kindly contact your closest Dutch Embassy/Consulate.
Airport Departure Tax:
For International destinations, there is a departure tax of US$30.00 for those age 2 and up. This departure tax might be already included in the airfare of certain airlines.
For islands within the Netherlands Antilles, the departure tax is US$10.00.
Some have made provisions to include the departure tax in your airline ticket.
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