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What to Know Before Going

Don’t Worry About What Your Weather App Keeps Telling You

If you’re like me, you’re probably checking the weather at your upcoming destination weeks or even months out from your trip.  I tend to obsess over these types of things sometimes, as weather in tropical destinations can sometimes ruin a trip.  When we first went to Curaçao back in September of 2013 for our honeymoon, I was of course checking the Apple weather app on my iPhone incessantly in the weeks before we were going.  September is hurricane season in the Caribbean, so everything we had read about going to a Caribbean island in the fall said to be sure to get travel insurance because of the high chance of a major hurricane sweeping through. So naturally, when my weather app showed those terrifying thunder cloud icons every single day, I panicked and started to try to convince myself that even if we were relegated to the inside of our hotel room, our trip wouldn’t be ruined.  Much to my dismay, even though the forecast continued to look the same when we got there, we didn’t see a drop of rain.  It rained lightly very late at night while we were sleeping and we actually had the pleasure of watching a really cool lightening storm off the coast, though we still never felt a drop of rain. 

This weather forecast issue has remained a constant in the many years I have been going to Curacao.  In the fall, the forecast almost always says thunderstorms every day, despite the fact that you won’t be affected by any.  What it does say, however, is that every single day is a forecasted high of about 91 and a low of about 81.  That is true—the weather is almost always the same each and every day.  There is a very consistent 10-degree temperature swing year round, though the highs and lows vary depending on the time of year.

The weather in Curaçao really is great year-round.  Curaçao has a tropical climate with a dry season from January to September and a wet season from October to December.  The locals will tell you that there are three seasons in Curacao—the rainy season (from October to February), the windy season (from March to July) and the summer season (from August to November).

High season runs from December to April, when all the Canadians, Dutch, and Northeastern Americans are trying to escape the bitter cold.  It’s also cooler in Curacao during this time though (high 70s to low 80s), so we actually prefer the low season.  Again, thee temperatures are relatively constant with small differences throughout the year, so unlike a lot of other destinations you can take advantage of the beautiful weather even in the low season. The trade winds bring cooling during the day and the same trade winds bring warming during the night. The coolest month is January with an average temperature of about 80 °F and the warmest month is September with an average temperature of 84 °F (see what I mean about it being the same year-round??). 

I think the summer season really is the time to go, unless you are looking for a more temperate climate for vacation.  The locals always complain of the heat and the humidity in the summer season, though we found that is actually our favorite time to go because we love that Caribbean heat.  The only negative is that with the heat, the humidity and the lighter winds, comes the mosquitoes, which eat me alive.  Just be prepared and bring some bug spray and you’ll be fine.  Though most bug sprays come in large, non-carry-on size cans, both off and Avon Skin So Soft make travel size spray cans and towelettes.  You can find the ones I use HERE.

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