Travel Health Guide: Curaçao

Health risks in Curaçao

Curaçao is a popular Dutch Caribbean island with a generally favourable health profile for prepared travelers. Sitting in the southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, it lies outside the malaria zone, so the health focus is on food- and water-borne illness and on mosquito-borne viruses rather than malaria.

The leading vaccine-preventable concerns are Hepatitis A and, for many travelers, typhoid — both spread through contaminated food and water and endemic across the Caribbean. Dengue fever is the main mosquito-borne risk; it is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which bites during the day, and occurs periodically across the region. Zika and chikungunya, carried by the same mosquito, can also circulate. There is no vaccine available in Canada for dengue and no specific treatment, so mosquito-bite prevention is the key strategy.

A practical advantage of Curaçao is its drinking water: the island desalinates its tap water, which is high-quality and safe to drink. Even so, Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccination remain worthwhile as protection against the most common travel-related food-borne illnesses.

There is no malaria risk on Curaçao.

Vaccines in detail

Hepatitis A is recommended for essentially all travelers to Curaçao. A single dose provides 1–2 years of protection, and the full two-dose series gives lifelong immunity. Typhoid is recommended for many travelers, particularly those eating at local restaurants and markets rather than exclusively at resort buffets.

Routine boosters — MMR, polio, and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis — should be confirmed current before any international trip, along with seasonal influenza and COVID-19 as appropriate. Hepatitis B is worth considering for extended stays, healthcare exposure, or activities such as getting a tattoo abroad.

Traveller tips from Dr. Saldanha

Mosquito protection is your most important everyday measure: use a DEET-based repellent (20–30%) during daylight hours, since dengue and Zika mosquitoes bite in the daytime, and choose air-conditioned or screened accommodation where possible. Sun and sea: the Caribbean sun is intense — use SPF 50, reapply after swimming, and stay hydrated. If you plan to dive or snorkel Curaçao’s reefs, allow appropriate surface intervals before flying home.

Food and water: tap water is safe, but as anywhere, choose busy, freshly prepared food and enjoy the island’s cuisine with confidence once you’re vaccinated against the common food-borne risks.

When to get vaccinated

Book your Curaçao travel consultation 4–6 weeks before departure to allow time for multi-dose vaccines and full immunity to develop. Traveling sooner? Call us — same-day appointments are often available for single-dose vaccines like Hepatitis A, and a travellers’ diarrhea kit can be prescribed at your visit.

What to bring to your appointment

Bring your passport, any existing vaccination records, a list of current medications, and your detailed travel itinerary including destinations, accommodation type, dates, and planned activities — particularly diving, snorkelling, or extended stays.