Living on Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean
Curaçao is the largest of the “ABC Islands” (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao). It has an area of 444 square kilometers (182 square miles) and is 61 km (37 miles) long and 5 to 14 km (3 to 8 miles) wide.
Location
South American International University is located on the beautiful island of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Curaçao is located in the southwestern Caribbean, at latitude 12’ North and longitude 68’ West. The island is just 70km (44 miles) north of South America (Venezuela). It is about 2 ½ hours by air from Miami. The island is one of the jewels of the Dutch Caribbean renowned for its scenic beauty, beaches, clear skies and sun, not to mention the rich island life.
Curaçao is a well-known international business center. Located on the crossroads of major shipping routes, Curaçao has an affluent economy, a low rate of inflation, a stable currency (pegged to the US dollar), and one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.
The island also boasts the region's largest deep-water port, state-of-the-art container transshipment terminal, superior telecommunications, and a full service international airport. As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the seat of the government of the Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao has close juridical and political ties to the Netherlands.
The island is a politically stable, parliamentary democracy. The island is a gateway to European, American, Latin American and Caribbean markets and is developing into a major Caribbean logistics center.
Weather
Located in the tropics, just 12’ north of the Equator, Curaçao has a warm sunny climate all year round. The average temperature is about 27’ C (in the mid 80s F). The rainy season, October to February, is usually marked by short, occasional showers, mostly in the night. Curaçao is outside the hurricane belt. Only three hurricanes have come near the island since 1900 and none have caused substantial damage.
Most of the rainfall on Curaçao occurs during the rainy season. The ABC islands have a semi-desert climate, very similar to the southwest United States, with cacti, scrub brush, and lizards sunning themselves on rocks. Although the climate is hot and dry, fresh cooling ocean breezes blow constantly from the east.
Population
Curaçao has approximately 150,000 inhabitants. The vast majority of the population lives in Willemstad, the national capital, and in the outlying areas that surround it. The picturesque city of Willemstad is the cosmopolitan heart of Curaçao, enhanced by 17th and 18th century Dutch architecture, which at the same time is pleasantly touched by a very tropical influence. Willemstad, with its many historical colonial buildings, has an international flavor and a true historical and cultural value, one reason why it has been placed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
Government
Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten are autonomous parts of The Kingdom of the Netherlands. Locals are Dutch nationals and carry European Union passports.
Religions
Over 60 different nationalities live on the island. Curaçao has a well-earned reputation for religious as well as ethnic tolerance and harmony. Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims all have their own houses of worship and practice their religions freely.
Language
Ninety percent of the population speaks Papiamentu, a Portuguese-based Creole language. Dutch is the official language and the language of education in the elementary and secondary school. Official documents are in Dutch. However, English and Spanish are widely spoken. The majority of Curaçaoans speak all four languages fluently. Englishspeaking students will experience no difficulty with daily living on Curaçao.
Time Zone
Curaçao is on Atlantic Standard Time (AST) all year round. From the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April, the time on Curaçao is one hour ahead of time in the eastern U.S. From the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October, when the U.S. sets its clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time, the time on Curaçao is the same as the time in the eastern U.S.
Money and Banking
The local currency is the Caribbean guilder (also known as the Netherlands Antillean guilder), abbreviated XNG or ANG. It is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a stable rate of US$1 = NAF 1.80 but will vary between NAF1.78 and NAF1.82, depending on if you are buying or selling. Exchange rates for other currencies are posted in the banks and listed in the daily papers. There are no restrictions on how much money you can bring into the country. US dollars are accepted everywhere but merchants usually give an exchange rate of only NAF1.75 for US$1.00. However, most business do not accept denominations of US$100.
Banks are usually open nonstop from 8:00am – 3:30 pm Monday till Thursday, and later on Friday. The airport bank is open 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday till Saturday, and from 9:00 am till 4:00 pm on Sundays for money exchange. The airport also has a 24-hour automatic currency exchange machine. All banks have ATMs that disburse US dollars and there are numerous ATMs on the island.. Checks are no longer used.
To open a bank account, you may be required to present a letter of reference from your home bank. It is advisable that you bring enough money to cover housing costs and living expenses for the first semester. Although we cannot specify exactly how much you should bring, we recommend at least $2,000-$3,000 in traveler's checks and $200-$300 in cash for one semester.
Water and Electricity
The tap water on Curaçao is one of the purest you will find anywhere in the world. All tap water is either distilled or reverse-osmosis sea water. It tastes delicious and is completely safe to drink.
Electricity is 110-130 volts/50 cycles, similar but not identical to the US standard. Most electrical appliances from the United States will function properly, although mechanisms that have an internal clock will not keep the correct time (run faster) and hairdryers and curling irons may overheat. Universal voltage appliances from Europe and South America will need an adopter plug, which is readily available on the island. Although electrical current is generally reliable, a surge protector for sensitive electronic devices and computers is a very good idea.
Telecommunications
Curacao's international country code is 599 and the island code is 9; there are no internal area codes. US 1-800 numbers can be reached from Curacao by dialing 1-300 and the number. NOTE: These calls are NOT toll-free. They are billed at the applicable international rate.
As in most countries today everyone has a mobile phone. Internet is stable and widely available on the island.
Customs
Persons will generally not have problems bringing in items for personal use and gifts to Curaçao. Prescription drugs, especially if they contain narcotics, should be clearly marked. Unlike Holland and some other European countries, possession of even a small amount of marijuana or other illegal drug is a serious offense.
Medical care
Curaçao provides the tertiary care for all the islands in the Dutch Caribbean. Consequently, there are excellent hospital facilities and every type of specialist is to be found on the island. Curacao Medical Center (CMC) is one of the most modern and well equipped hospitals in the Caribbean, an internationally recognized teaching hospital affiliated with several medical universities in the Netherlands.
Additional information
Additional information may also be requested at info@saiuniv.org or you may feel free to contact our administration office and ask for the "Welcome Committee", who oversees new student orientation on Curaçao.We can be reached at +599.9.724.1000 (SAI 1000).
Much of the information in this catalogue was provided by the Curaçao Tourism Development Bureau (CTDB). For additional information, contact the CTDB at:
Curaçao Tourism Development Bureau Pietermaai 19 Willemstad Curaçao Telephone: +599.9.561.6000 Web site :www.curacao.com
Activities
When students need a break from their studies, Curaçao is a year round paradise for anyone looking for outdoor activities. We demand that our students to studyhard but we encourage them to take time for regular exercise to balance mind and body. From beaches to nature trails, from museums to shops, there is something for everyone on Curaçao, and everything is easily accessible from the South American International University Campus.
Beaches
Curaçao has around thirty public and private beaches, ranging from intimate rocky coves to long strands of bustling activity. The waters are teeming with underwater life: multi-colored parrot fish, silvery barracuda, spotted French angel fish, and colorful butter-fly-fish are just a few of the varieties you are most likely to encounter. Beaches are common locations for both snorkeling and scuba diving (shore dives).
Some of the best beaches on the western end of the island (outside the populated area) are Kas Abou, Playa Porto Maria, Playa Kalki, and Playa Knip. On the eastern end of the island, close to the city of Willemstad are Seaquarium Beach, Jan Thiel, Baja Beach, and Kontiki Beach. Most beaches have snack bars, showers, toilets, and rentals (from snorkels to jet skis).
Sports and Recreation
Being a major center in the Caribbean, every possible type of sport and recreation is available in Curaçao. There are soccer and baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts, and a full-service fitness center adjacent to the University.
Getting around the island
It is possible to get around the island by bus. Curacao has two types of public transportation: the large yellow or blue busses called “konvoi” and on the most traveled urban routes, collective cars and vans called "bus" (You can recognize them by the BUS on the license plate).
Major bus terminals are located in Punda and in Otrobanda. Busses run most city routes hourly and less frequently on Sundays. Bus schedules and Routes are published by the Transportation Department. The administration office can assist in securing a copy of the bus schedule. The vans and cars run more frequently, but with no fixed schedule.
Driving on Curaçao
At some point in time students and faculty will most certainly become road users on Curaçao. For this reason it is imperative that you become knowledgeable of the local traffic laws.
Following are some general guidelines regarding driving on Curaçao. You will be permitted to drive with a foreign license for a maximum of three months. Please visit the administration office for information on obtaining Curacao driver’s license. It may be advantageous for students to obtain an international drivers license before coming to Curacao. American students can obtain an international driver’s license from the American Automobile Association (AAA). Drivers with an international driver’s license are not required to take a road test in order to get a Curacao driver’s license.
The driver should always have the following documents with him:
- a valid car insurance policy
- a valid receipt for number plates
- a valid driver’s license
- valid car inspection card
Although it is legal to drink an alcoholic beverage while driving, it is prohibited to drive a vehicle when under the influence of alcohol (blood alcohol level > 0.08), or any other situation which inhibits the driving ability.
Most of the traffic signs are European, many of which are quite different from North American traffic signs.Many traffic regulations will be familiar, such as at intersections and traffic circles, yield to traffic coming from your right unless signs indicate otherwise.
At all T-crossings, through traffic has priority. The speed limit is 45 km/hour in town and residential areas and 60-80 km/hour outside the city and on the four-lane Ring Road. Most gas stations are self- or full-service and are open late at night and on Sundays. You must pay first. An important piece of information is that the roads become very slick and slippery when it rains. Please visit the administration office or contact the local police department for additional information regarding traffic rules.
Postal Services
Students can receive mail at the following address:
South American International University "Student's Name" Neptunusweg 16 Willemstad, Curacao Dutch Caribbean
The mail is generally reliable, the time it takes a letter to reach its destination can vary. Delays in December and January when mail volume goes up must be taken into consideration.There are three main post offices, one in Punda, one in Otrobanda, and one in Groot Kwartier, as well as small branches at the World Trade Center and at the airport.
Opening hours are from 7:30 am - 12:00pm and from 1:30 pm - 5:00pm on weekdays.On Saturdays the hours are 7:30 am - 11:30 am.
As an alternative to the conventional postal system, students can subscribe to a special mail service provided through the local post office for faster delivery of foreign mail to Curaçao. This service assigns you a P.O. box address in Miami, Florida for general correspondence. The mail box emptied regularly and transported to Curacao. Further details and application information are available through the University's administrative office. FedEx, DHL, and UPS delivery services are also available on the island.
Travel Services
From Hato airport in Curacao, there are (often daily) flights available to:
| COUNTRY | CITY | AIRLINES |
| NETHERLANDS | AMSTERDAM | KLM TUI CORENDON |
| UNITED STATES | MIAMI, NEW YORK,ATLANTA | AMERICAN AIRLINES,JETBLUE ,DELTA |
| CANADA | TORONTO | WESTJET |
| DUTCH CARIBBEAN EZ/AIR | NARUBA,BONAIRE,ST MAARTEN | JET AIR, DIVI DIVI, |
| CARIBBEAN | STO DOMINGO ,JAMAICA,TRINIDAD | ET AIR |
| SURINAME JET AIR | PARAMARIBO | SURINAME AIRWAYS, |
Other travel sites which offer many special deals in general are: www.expedia.comand www.travelocity.com.