Safety and Security

There are no known terrorist or extremist groups, areas of instability or organized crime on Curaçao.  However, gangs and drug trafficking organizations do operate on the island.

To stay connected:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements.
• Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook.
• Bookmark the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
• Follow the U.S. Consulate on Facebook and visit the Consulate’s website.
• In the event of an emergency, contact us at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or via a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries.
• Take some time before traveling to consider your personal security and checking for useful tips for traveling safely abroad.

CRIME: The crime threat on Curaçao is generally considered medium, and travelers should always take normal precautions when in unfamiliar surroundings.  Drug smuggling and other criminal activities continue to be problems on Curaçao, and this may affect visitors adversely.  Several bystanders were injured during a gang-related homicide at the Hato International Airport in 2014.  In response, local authorities stepped up security controls at the airport.

Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft. Robberies of private homes also occur. Purses, cameras, passports, tablets, and other handheld electronics are most frequently reported stolen.

Car theft can occur. Take extra precaution and do not leave personal items or purses in cars and in plain view. Vehicle damages or losses may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged.  Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles, jet skis, and other items.  The parking lot around Mambo Beach is considered to be high-risk for car break-ins, so visitors should exercise extra precaution when visiting Mambo Beach.

While violent crime against tourists is not common, thefts and assaults are reported more often in some isolated areas.  Please take care when visiting isolated areas (i.e. nature areas, small parking areas used by divers, etc.), where some tourists have reported day-time assaults and robberies.  Some U.S. travelers have reported their items were taken from hotel rooms and safes while they were on night scuba dives in more remote areas of the island.  Extra precautions should be taken to secure personal property at all times.  U.S. travelers should have a copy of their valid U.S. passport in a secure location in case their passport is stolen.  Some of Curaçao’s many beaches charge a fee for access, but also provide some security or surveillance of the area, which provides some deterrent to crime.

Parents of young travelers should be aware that the legal drinking age of 18 is not always enforced on Curaçao, so extra parental supervision may be appropriate.  Young travelers in particular are urged to take the same precautions they would when going out in the United States, e.g. to travel in pairs or in groups if they choose to frequent Curaçao’s nightclubs and bars, and if they opt to consume alcohol, to do so responsibly.  Anyone who is a victim of a crime should make a report to Curaçao police as well as report it immediately to the nearest U.S. consular office.  Do not rely on hotel/restaurant/tour company management to make the report for you.

VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  We can:

• Replace a stolen passport.
• Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of violent crimes such as assault or rape.
• Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and if you want us to, contact family members or friends.
• Help you understand the local criminal justice process and direct you to local attorneys, although it is important to remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.  
• Please call “911” for emergency police assistance on Curaçao.

Please see our information for victims of crime, including victim compensation programs in the United States.