We hope you have a relaxing and accident-free stay on Curacao! Nevertheless, something can go wrong, whether it’s a punctured tire, an accident or even a medical emergency. Here you’ll find emergency numbers and our advice on how to handle an emergency situation.

Medical emergency

Curacao has a brand new hospital with the latest technology – including several beds in the intensive care unit (ICU) with ventilation facilities. The Medical Care Center (CMC) is conveniently located in Otrabanda. The staff are very helpful and empathetic and the treatment meets international standards. You can get medical help by phone via:

Ambulance: +5999 912
Hospital (emergency number): +5999 910
Hospital (direct, emergency): +5999 745-0026
Hospital (direct, central): +5999 7450000 / +5999 6504500

Direct link to CMC / Google Maps: CMC, J. H. J. Hamelbergweg, Willemstad, Curacao

Just a heads-up: You don’t need the area code for the emergency numbers. So dial the three-digit emergency number directly (or the four-digit number for the medical on-call service).

Important: If you need an ambulance and can’t get through on 912, don’t call 910 at the hospital because they can’t send an ambulance. Keep trying on 912 or call the police on 911 to have the police connect you.

In general, the ambulance won’t take you if you’re stable and transportable. Then you’ll need to see a doctor yourself. If you have international health insurance, make sure you get all the tests you need and don’t be fobbed off with “not necessary”. Safety first!

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to get through on the emergency number. It’s best to go to the hospital yourself whenever you can. If you’re in a resort, the reception will be able to help. You can also call security at the gates of residential parks. If you’re staying in private accommodation or don’t have a car, don’t be afraid to ring the neighbors’ doorbell. The people of Curacao are very welcoming and helpful!

Diving accident

It is certainly reassuring for all divers to know that the Curacao Medical Center has a decompression chamber. With more than 80 dive sites and more than 35 beaches, the island is a diver’s paradise and therefore well prepared for emergencies of this kind. The decompression chamber at the CMC can accommodate 10 people at a time, so there is no need to worry about capacity constraints.

Accident / breakdown with the car

If you have an accident with a rental car, don’t move away from the scene of the accident under any circumstances. Please don’t drive the car to the side (if it is still roadworthy). Don’t change anything at the scene of the accident – this is important! Then call the emergency number given to you by your rental company. If you haven’t been given a number, be sure to call the police to report the accident. Wait for them to arrive! And of course, if necessary, give first aid!

Police: +5999 911

Bicycle policemen in front of the Polis Office in Otrobanda

In the event of a “normal” breakdown, you can contact roadside assistance. Most car rental companies are connected to this service, which is why you probably have a telephone number. If that’s not the case, you can still contact the breakdown service around the clock, but you’ll probably have to pay for the assistance on the spot. Here’s a little mnemonic for remembering the number 247: The breakdown service is available 24/7. Fortunately, we’ve never needed to use the following number:

Roadside assistance service: +5999 247

Tourist police Politur

Curacao has a special police force, the Politur. They are specially trained to help tourists. The police officers speak several languages, usually English, Dutch, Spanish and of course Papiamentu. The police offers you security and protection. They guard the beaches and patrol so that you feel comfortable during your vacation. There are two Politur offices in Curacao:

Politur on Mambo Beach Boulevard: +5999 735 0044
Politur at the WTC (World Trade Center) in Piscadera: +5999 463 6542

Other emergencies

If you need to contact the police, fire department, or coastguard (if you have an emergency at sea or on the beach), you can reach them on:

Police: +5999 911
Fire department: +5999 911
Coastguard: +5999 913

Fire department Brandweer building in the Breedestraat

A Curacao Tourist Boards (CTB) security guard is present on all beaches during official opening hours. Speak to them if there is a problem on a beach or in the bay. An example of this would be if a child has accidentally eaten a poisonous manzanilla apple.

Emergency medical service

Curacao has a general practitioner on-call service, the so-called Huisartsenpost (HAP). If you need medical attention in the evening, at night or at the weekend, you can call the following number in urgent cases:

Emergency medical on-call service: +5999 92 52 or +5999 462 92 52

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: from 17:00 to 8:00 the next day
Saturday and Sunday: 24 hours

Pharmacies

Did a doctor prescribe medication for you during your visit, or are you missing something in your first-aid kit that you hadn’t thought of before? This is usually not a problem, as the pharmacies on Curacao are well stocked. Plus, you don’t always need a prescription from a doctor for all medicines.

A pharmacy on Curacao is called Botica or Botika. Look out for this name on houses and stores. It doesn’t always say Farmacia or Pharmacy. Symbols are also useful for identifying what you need: The snake from the staff of Aesculapius is the emblem, sometimes the international symbol RX for prescription drugs (RX stands for ‘prescription’). You’ll also see a mortar with a pestle.

The Pharmacy in Tera Cora

Boticas are also drugstores and often have products that you know from home (Colgate, Sensodyne…). And they’re not even that expensive, so you don’t have to worry about paying pharmacy prices. We did a direct price comparison: For instance, the cooling menthol spray Glacial and a 2-pack of kitchen roll were cheaper at Botica Tera Kora than at the California supermarket next door.

Most Botikas close between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. However, there are always at least 2 emergency pharmacies. These are called “Botika na Warda”. The pharmacy on duty is open from 19:00 until 8:00 the next day. If you need the medicine between midnight and 8:00 am, then the Botika of the previous day is responsible. Just click here to find out which emergency pharmacies are open.